???? Technical Questions ????
Are you having a problem with your chimney, heating appliance, or
air conditioner? There could be a simple solution.
Read some of the common questions, problems, and solutions below.
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Chimney Technical Section
1. Why is my woodstove smoking?
2. I burn my fireplace for a while, then it starts to smoke
3. My fireplace is smoking and it has never done that before
4. While starting my fire, the smoke comes straight back into the room
5. Why is there black tar running down my stove pipes?
6. When it rains, I have an odor coming from my fireplace
7. When it rains, water drips into my fireplace
8. Why do I have brick chunks falling off of my chimney?
9. The wall plaster along the ceiling over my fireplace is bubbling
10. How do I know if my chimney needs cleaned?
11. I have cracks in my chimney tile, what should I do?
Why is my woodstove smoking?There are numerous reasons your woodstove could be smoking. The best way to find out is to have your system inspected. Some of the common problems are:
- The chimney or pipes are plugged
- The stovepipes are smaller in diameter than the stove outlet
- The flue liner is too small for the appliance
- The room the appliance is in is air tight
- The wind or weather pressure has caused a down draft
These are just a few of the reasons for a smoking woodstove. If you have smoking, the best solution is to have the system inspected to locate the problem.
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I burn my fireplace for a while, then it starts to smoke
Although there are a few reasons that this could be happening, the most common reason is related to the fireplace construction. When fireplaces are built, there are sizing specifications that must be followed. For example, the flue must be sized according to the fireplace face opening. Many times, when these specifications are not met, the fireplace will smoke. If your fireplace has construction problems like this, don't fret, There are Solutions.
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My fireplace is smoking into the house and it has never done that before
If your fireplace has always worked fine but suddenly starts smoking back into the house, here are some things to look for:
- Is your chimney or chimney cap plugged?
- Is your damper opening properly?
- Have you done recent remodeling such as insulation, new windows or doors in or near the fireplace room?
- Is the wood you are using excessively wet?
Rectifying any of these problems will more than likely be your solution.
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While starting my fireplace, the smokes comes directly back into the room.
Most of the time when this happens it's due to your room being air tight. When the room is air tight, no fresh air is introduced into the room and a vaccume is created in the room. This vaccume will actually pull air down the chimney causing the smoke to enter the living area. This problem can be solved by cracking open a door or window for a few seconds to introduce fresh air into the room. This will usually reverse the flow on the chimney and your smoke will now go up the flue.
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Why is there black tar running down my stovepipes?
The black tar you see is creosote, the substance created when you burn wood. When the creosote is in liquid form, you are either burning wet wood or burning to small of a fire and letting it smolder. When this liquid creosote dries it will be a black, shiny, glaze. This is the worst type of creosote to have as it is extemely flamable.
If the creosote is running down the outside of your pipes, the pipes are installed wrong. When installing your stovepipes, always direct the male end of the pipes downward and back into the stove. Now, if the creosote runs, it will remain inside the pipes.
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When it rains, I have an odor coming from my fireplace
These odors usually ocurr when water in the air from rain or high humidity reacts with the creosote present in your chimney. Usually, the worse the creosote buildup, the worse the odor. Have your chimney cleaned and deodorized.
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When it rains, water drips into my fireplace
This usually occurrs when you don't have a cap on your chimney. Imagine having a 12 inch by 12 inch hole in your roof. Don't you think the water will come into the hole when it rains? The same is true with the top of your chimney. You should have a cap installed to not only stop the water but also to stop leaves, birds, and animals from entering your fireplace.
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Why do I have brick chunks falling off of my chimney?
When the faces of bricks begin to crack and pop off, this is called Spalling. Spalling ocurrs when moisture enters the brick and then undergoes freeze and thaw cycles. As the moisture freezes it expands inside the brick causing cracking and finally the faces begin coming off the brick. The best way to solve the problem of spalling is to stop it before it starts. Make sure the crown/wash on your chimney has no cracks and that your entire chimney top is solid and sprayed with a good masonry water repellent. Chimney Saver has an excellent product for this. You can get the information in our product store.
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The wall plaster along my ceiling over the fireplace is cracking and bubbling
This generally means that water is entering into that area. Check the chimney flashing to make sure ir is properly installed and sealed. Also, be sure to check other areas of the roof around the chimney.
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How do I know if my chimney needs cleaned?
As general rule, if your flue contains a consistant 1/8 inch coating of soot or creosote it should be cleaned. Whether your system needs cleaned or not, you should have it inspected at least once per year.
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I have cracks in my chimney tile, what should I do?
If your chimney contains cracked flue tile or no flue liner at all, the chimney should NOT be used. Your danger of a house fire increases if either of these situations exist. Don't give up hope. Most systems can be repaired by simply properly installing a stainless steel chimney liner.
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How often should I have my furnace/air conditioner Maintenanced?
It is recommended that you have your furnace checked at least once per year. If you don't have your furnace checked at least once per year the efficiency of your furnace will drop and cause you to use more fuel. A dirty burning furnace could cause carbon monoxide to enter your living area. If you have an oil furnace it should be cleaned at least once per year because oil furnaces do leave a residue or soot when they burn.
If you plan on using your air conditioner, it should be checked once per year. Routine maintanence will help the units efficiency, plus keep it running on those hot days.
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How often should I change the filter in my furnace?
Every house is different. If your house seems to be dustier than usual, then it is a good indication that your filter needs changed. Changing the filter depends a lot on the type and style of filter you are using. As a general rule, you should check your filter at least once a month.
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Why is my oil furnace so noisy and why do I smell oil?
If your oil furnace is very noisy while it's burning and you can smell oil, chances are you either have a plugged or dirty nozzle or an inline fuel filter that is dirty. These items should either be replaced or cleaned.
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Why does my furnace only run for short periods of time?
When your furnace runs a lot for short periods of time, it is called "Short Cycling". There are a few reasons that your furnace will Short Cycle.
- The gas pressure should be checked to make sure it is within the proper range for the furnace.
- Your duct work may not be sized properly for the furnace system.
- The furnace may be too large for the area you are heating.
It is very important when having a new furnace installed that the unit is properly sized for the area you are heating.
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Do I need to oil anything on my furnace?
Most of the newer furnace motors and inducer motors have a sealed bearing unit and do not have to be oiled. If you have an older furnace or are using an older motor, there are ports on the motor for oiling the unit. This should be part of the routine maintanence.
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Why does my furnace seem noisy when the fan comes on?
If your furnace is excessively noisy when the blower fan kicks on, you should have the system checked to make sure that nothing has come loose. Most of the time this noise indicates a bad bearing or that your the belt wheel may be out of balance.
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Why is my air conditioner unit freezing up?
If your air conditioning unit is freezing up, it could be doing so for a number of reasons. To find the actual reason, you should have the unit checked. Here are just a couple of things to check for.
- Make sure the units filter is not plugged.
- The unit could be low on R22 or 410A gas.
- If the unit is belt driven, the belt may be bad or completely off.
Keep in mind that it is always good practice to have your A/C unit inspected before you use it.
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Does my air conditioner unit need charged every year?
NO. The only reason that an air conditioner should need recharged is that it has a leak somewhere. If this is the case, you should locate and fix the leak before recharging.
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Should I cover my air conditioner when it is not being used?
It really doesn't matter if you cover your A/C unit because it is made for outdoor use. If you do cover it, leave a little of the bottom open to let moisture out. Otherwise, the moisture and condensation will cause your unit to rust.
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I am not getting as much hot water as I usually do from my hot water tank. Why?
If you have an electric hot water tank, it's a good chance that the thermostat or one of the heating elements is bad. Normally, the bottom element is the first to go bad. If you have a gas hot water tank and hot water is minimal, the gas valve is bad or the thermostat on the valve is not set right. If you are getting NO hot water, check the pilot light. It is probably out.
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