Chimneys R Us

San Diego County
(619) 280-4700

Chimney Sweeping In San Diego!

CHIMNEY & FIREPLACE TERMINOLOGY
Ash	– The powdery residue that is the byproduct of the combustion of wood. It is usually less than two percent of the volume of the wood burned in an efficient fire.
Ash Dump	– A trap door located the floor or the back wall of the fire chamber that serves as a portal to the ash pit.
Ash Pit	– An empty space that usually below, but sometimes behind the firebox, which serves as a safe storage compartment for ashes that are swept or pushed through the ash dump, where they remain until a convenient time to clean out the pit.
Ash Pit Door	– A metal door in the basement that provides access to the ash pit so that the accumulated ashes can be easily removed.
BTU	– British Thermal Unit – Approximately the amount of energy that it takes to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit, about 1,055 joules.
Carbon Monoxide	– A potentially fatal colorless, odorless gas that is the result of inefficient or incomplete burning of fuel, which is often caused by poor chimney maintenance or poor heating appliance maintenance. It is also known as, “The Silent Killer”.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning	– low level carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms are similar to those of routine winter ailments (headaches, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, even seasonal depression), so many cases are not detected until permanent damage to the brain, heart and other organs and tissues has occurred. Heavier exposure can prevent the blood from absorbing oxygen and in effect suffocating the victim before they realize what is happening.
Chase	– The air space inside a factory built chimney that is between the flue and the exterior walls of the chimney.
Chimney	– The physical structure that houses one or more flues.
Chimney Cap or Rain Cap	– A protective device that covers the top of a flue pipe that is usually composed of a top plate, a mesh screen and an anchoring mechanism. The purpose of the chimney cap is to keep ashes in the flue and to keep out rain, leaves, birds and other animals and bees, while allowing the free venting of smoke from the top of the chimney’s flue.
Chimney Fan	– A remotely operated fan that mounts on top of a flue and come equipped with a self-contained chimney cap. Chimney fans are use to regulate the draft and thereby, to control the blaze of the fire in the fireplace.
Chimney Fire	– A very hot burning fire that takes place in a smoke chamber or flue. They are typically fueled by creosote deposits, debris and soot deposits that coat the inside of a poorly maintained chimney. Chimney fires are extremely dangerous because the intense heat generated by the combustion of the creosote can crack clay flue pipe and surrounding masonry and thereby allow the heat to transfer to the framing of a home and ignite it.
Clay Flue Liner	– The “typical” orange flue pipe that is used to line the inside of masonry chimneys.
Combustion	– Burning. The oxidation of material rapidly enough to yield heat and light.
Creosote	– A highly flammable dark brown or black tar like residue that is a byproduct of burning wood or coal. Creosote accumulation in the flue is a leading cause of chimney fires.
Crown Or Wash	– The concrete pad at the top of the chimney, through which the flue or flues extend for a few inches. The crown is sloped to direct water away from the flue or flues toward the outside of the chimney, where it can run off.
Damper	– A throat damper is an adjustable flat metal plate at the top of the firebox and the bottom of the smoke chamber that is used to regulate the draft, when the fireplace is in use and can be closed when the fireplace is not in use to keep cold down drafts from coming down the chimney entering the home, while keeping heated air in the room from escaping. Also see “Top Sealing Damper”.
Damper Cable	– A component of a top sealing damped that is connected to the damper and runs down the chimney through the flue and smoke box and terminates at the firebox, where it connects to a handle that is used to open and close the damper
Damper Pull	– A tool used to adjust the opening of a throat damper.
Factory Built Chimney	– A chimney that is manufactured in a factory and assembled at the home site. They are not of solid construction like masonry chimneys and contain air space (the chase) between the flue and the exterior walls of the chimney.
Fire Brick or Refractory Brick	– A special heat resistant brick made of refractory ceramic material that is used to line the inside of a fireplace (the firebox).
Fireback	– A heavy decorative cast iron plate that is placed in the fireplace behind the grate that reflects heat out into the room and protects the back wall of the firebox from excessive heat.
Firebox or Fire Chamber	– That part of a fireplace where the grate is placed and the fire is situated.
Fireplace Doors	– A set tempered glass or ceramic glass doors that cover the fireplace opening. Glass fireplace doors are decorative, while improving the overall efficiency of the fireplace primarily by reducing heat loss when the fireplace is not in use.
Fireplace Inserts	– Heating appliances (stoves) that are designed to fit inside a fireplace. There are different designs to burn various fuels including wood, pellets, coal and gas.
Fireplace Screen	– A protective screen that is placed in front of the fireplace to keep sparks and embers from escaping the fireplace into the room.
Flashing	– Sheet metal that is attached to the exterior of the chimney where the chimney meets the roof to direct water to the top of the roofing material and keep it out of the home.
Flue	– A mostly vertical passageway in and through a chimney through which exhaust gasses pass from a fireplace or heating appliance to the atmosphere. In some older homes they can be constructed of just plain brick, but most are lined with terracotta clay flue pipe or stainless steel chimney liners.
Grate	– A metal rack, usually made of cast iron, that is placed in a fireplace to hold the burning firewood off the inner hearth to allow greater airflow, which aids the combustion process.
Hearth	– The area directly in front of the fireplace opening. It is constructed of masonry, slate, or some other non-combustible material, whose purpose is to shield the room floor from sparks, embers and excessive heat exposure.
Mantel	– A shelf that protrudes from the flat surface above the fireplace opening.
Masonry Chimney	– A chimney that is constructed in place and is made of masonry materials (rock, brick, mortar, flue pipe, etc.)
Rain Cap or Chimney Cap	– A protective device that covers the top of a flue pipe that is usually composed of a top plate, a mesh screen and an anchoring mechanism. The purpose of the chimney cap is to keep ashes in the flue and to keep out rain, leaves, birds and other animals and bees, while allowing the free venting of smoke from the top of the chimney’s flue.
Refractory Brick or Firebrick	– A special heat resistant brick made of refractory ceramic material that is used to line the inside of a fireplace (the firebox).
Refractory Material	– non-metallic material having chemical and physical properties that makes it suitable as building material for for structures that are exposed to environments above 1,000 °F.
Seasoned Firewood	– Firewood that has been split and allowed to dry out for at least six months and contains less than 20% water by weight.
Smoke Box	- The portion of a chimney that is between the bottom of a flue and the top of the throat damper. It is the chamber where, at the start of a fire, smoke accummulates until it starts to rise up the chimney and the draft gets stronger. Because the smoke lingers there at the beginning of each fire, it tend to collect creosote deposits in greater amounts that the associated flue. It also contains the smoke shelf.
Smoke Shelf	- The almost flat "floor" at the back of the smoke box that catches debris and rain water that falls down the chimney to keep them from interfering with the operation of the throat damper.
Stainless Steel Chimney Liner	– Stainless steel tubing (can be flexible or rigid) that is used to reline damaged clay flue pipe inside masonry chimneys.
Stove	– A closed burning appliance designed for local space heating. Stoves can be designed for various fuels, such as wood, wood pellets, coal or gas.
Throat Damper	– An adjustable flat metal plate at the top of the firebox and the bottom of the smoke chamber that is used to regulate the draft, when the fireplace is in use and can be closed when the fireplace is not in use to keep cold down drafts from coming down the chimney entering the home, while keeping heated air in the room from escaping.
Therm	– A unit of heat measurement equal to100,000 BTU’s
Tuck-Pointing (Repointing or Pointing Up)	– A masonry term for the process of repairing the mortar joints between bricks.
Wash or Chimney Crown	– The concrete pad at the top of the chimney, through which the flue or flues extend for a few inches. The crown is sloped to direct water away from the flue or flues toward the outside of the chimney, where it can run off.