HOME
CONTACT US
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
COMPLETE LIST OF SERVICES
CHIMNEY ARTICLES
SERVICE AREA
CHIMNEY & FIREPLACE      TERMINOLOGY
HELPFUL LINKS


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.
GAS LOGS
FIREPLACE INSERTS
WOOD PELLET STOVES
FIREPLACE ACCESSORIES
Some of the communities in our service area are:

Alpine 91901, Alpine 91903, CHIMNEY CLEANING Bonita 91902, Bonita 91908,Bonsall 92003, Borrego Springs 92004, Boulevard 91905, Campo 91906, Cardiff by the Sea 92007, CHIMNEY SWEEPING Carlsbad 92008, Carlsbad 92009, Carlsbad 92010, Carlsbad 92011, Carlsbad 92013, Carlsbad 92018, Chula Vista 91909, Chula Vista 91910, CHIMNEY MAINTENANCE Chula Vista 91911, Chula Vista 91912, Chula Vista 91913, Chula Vista 91914, Chula Vista 91915, Chula Vista 91921, CHIMNEY REPAIR Coronado 92118, Coronado 92178, Crest 92021, Cuyamaca 92036, Del Mar 92014, Dehesa 91901, Descanso 91916, Dulzura 91917, CREOSOTE REMOVAL El Cajon 92019, El Cajon 92020, El Cajon 92021, CHIMNEY SWEEPING El Cajon 92022, Encinitas 92023, Encinitas 92024, Escondido 92025, Escondido 92026, Escondido 92027, CHIMNEY SERVICE Escondido 92029, FIREPLACE CLEANING Escondido 92030, Escondido 92033, Escondido 92046, Fallbrook 92028, Fallbrook 92088, Granite Hills 92019, CHIMNEY CLEANING Harbison Canyon 92019, Hidden Meadows 92026, Guatay 91931, Imperial Beach 91932, Imperial Beach 91933, CHIMNEY MAINTENANCE Jacumba 91934, Jamul 91935, Julian 92036, La Jolla 92037, La Jolla 92038, La Jolla 92039, La Jolla 92092, CHIMNEY SWEEPING La Jolla 92093, La Mesa 91941, La Mesa 91942, La Mesa 91943, La Mesa 91944, Lake Morena 91906, Lakeside 92040, CHIMNEY CLEANING Lemon Grove 91945, Lemon Grove 91946, Lincoln Acres 91947, Mount Laguna 91948, National City 91950, National City 91951, CHIMNEY SERVICE Oceanside 92049, Oceanside 92051, Oceanside 92052, Oceanside 92054, Oceanside 92056, Oceanside 92057, CHIMNEY SWEEPING Oceanside 92058, Pala 92059, Palomar Mountain 92060, Pauma Valley 92061, Pine Valley, 91962, Potrero 91963, CHIMNEY CARE Poway 92064, Poway 92074, Rainbow 92028, Ramona 92065, Ranchita 92066, Rancho San Diego 92067, CHIMNEY MAINTENANCE Rancho San Diego 92091, Rancho Santa Fe 92067, Rancho Santa Fe 92091, San Diego 92101, San Diego 92102, San Diego 92103, San Diego 92104, San Diego 92105, CHIMNEY SWEEPING San Diego 92106, San Diego 92107, San Diego 92108, San Diego 92109, San Diego 92110, San Diego 92111, San Diego 92112, CHIMNEY CLEANING San Diego 92113, San Diego 92114, San Diego 92115, San Diego 92116, FIREPLACE CLEANING San Diego 92117, San Diego 92119, San Diego 92120, CHIMNEY SERVICE San Diego 92121, San Diego 92122, San Diego 92123, San Diego 92124, San Diego 92125, CHIMNEY REPAIR San Diego 92126, San Diego 92127, San Diego 92128, San Diego 92129, San Diego 92130, San Diego 92130, CHIMNEY MAINTENANCE San Diego 92131, San Diego 92132, San Diego 92134, San Diego 92135, San Diego 92136, San Diego 92137, San Diego 92138, San Diego 92139, San Diego 92140, San Diego 92142, CHIMNEY SWEEPING San Diego 92145, San Diego 92147, FIREPLACE REPAIR San Diego 92149, San Diego 92150, San Diego 92152, San Diego 92153, San Diego 92154, CHIMNEY CLEANING San Diego 92155, San Diego 92158, San Diego 92159, San Diego 92160, San Diego 92161, CHIMNEY SERVICE San Diego 92162, San Diego 92163, San Diego 92164, San Diego 92165, San Diego 92166, San Diego 92167, San Diego 92168, San Diego 92169, CHIMNEY RPAIR San Diego 92170, San Diego 92171, San Diego 92172, San Diego 92173, San Diego 92174, San Diego 92175, CHIMNEY SWEEPING San Diego 92176, San Diego 92177, FIREPLACE CLEANING San Diego 92179, San Diego 92182, San Diego 92184, San Diego 92186, San Diego 92187, CHIMNEY MAINTENANCE San Diego 92190, San Diego 92191, San Diego 92192, San Diego 92193, San Diego 92194, San Diego 92195, CREOSOTE REMOVAL San Diego 92196, San Diego 92197, San Diego 92198, San Diego 92199, San Luis Rey 92068, San Marcos 92069, CHIMNEY CLEANING San Marcos 92078, San Marcos 92079, San Marcos 92096, San Ysidro 92143, San Ysidro 92173, Santa Ysabel 92070, CHIMNEY SWEEPING Santee 92071, Santee 92072, Solana Beach 92075, Spring Valley 91975, Spring Valley 91976, CHIMNEY REPAIR Spring Valley 91977, Spring Valley 91978, Spring Valley 91979, Tecate 91980, Tecate 91987, Valley Center 92082, CHIMNEY SERVICE Vista 92081, Vista 92082, Vista 92083, Vista 92084, Vista 92085, Warner Springs 92086, CHIMNEY SWEEPING San Diego County, North County San Diego, FIREPLACE CLEANING East County San Diego, South Bay San Diego, Parts of the Inland Empire

Chimney sweeping, chimney cleaning, chimney maintenance, chimney inspections, chimney care, chimney service, chimney masonry repair, chimney caps, chimney cap installation, fireplace cleaning, stove cleaning, wood stove cleaning, pellet stove cleaning, chimney crown repair, dryer vent cleaning, air duct cleaning, air conditioning duct cleaning, heating duct cleaning, chimney sweeping San Diego, chimney cleaning San Diego