Blog

You may have heard of using pellets as fuel for a fireplace.  It’s a unique and great technology that comes with many benefits to the homeowner.  Pellet-burning fireplaces typically are made as inserts – pre-built, ready-to-run units that are inserted into the opening of a current pre-fabricated fireplace. Advantages to pellet fireplace inserts and why they gain popularity. Easy to install Pellet-burning […] Read more

There’s more to traditional masonry fireplaces than meets the eye.  To the average observer, a fireplace is an appliance in which wood is burned, and a chimney is a device through which smoke is channeled.  But really, that’s just the beginning.  There are a number of pieces and functions of a fireplace and chimney that homeowners should know about in order to operate their […] Read more

“How important is a chimney inspection?” We hear this question a lot from residents in the tri-state area of Southwest Wisconsin, North Illinois and East Iowa. It is a smart question to ask. We all like to cut corners when we can to save money. An annual inspection is one expense you shouldn’t skip. Carbon monoxide poisoning […] Read more

You’ve finally decided it’s time for a fireplace.  You know what kind you want, you know where it’s going to go in the home, and you know your expectations for years of performance and enjoyment of your appliance.  Now you need to know a little about who’s going to install it.  Here are four questions to ask a potential installer. […] Read more

A chimney performs critical tasks in allowing smoke and toxins to be vented from the firebox to the outside air while providing a safe barrier between intense heat and surrounding building materials of the home.  No chimney, however, can do its job optimally without that little thing that sits on the top – the chimney cap. Running a fireplace […] Read more

The temperature has dropped quickly here in the tri-state area where Southwestern Wisconsin, Northern Illinois and Eastern Iowa meet. On chilly, dreary days like these, there is nothing better than a roaring fire to drive away the cold. It might too soon to light up your hearth if you haven’t had your home’s chimney […] Read more

Fire Prevention Week is October 8-14, and it’s a great time for everyone to re-familiarize themselves with fire safety tips that could save their lives.  Sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the 2017 Fire Prevention Week theme is “Every Second Counts – Plan 2 Ways Out.” It is highly advised to have an Annual Chimney […] Read more

When you think of a chimney sweep, a mental picture of a soot-covered Dick VanDyke from Mary Poppins might come to mind. If you don’t know much more about chimney sweeps beyond that, don’t worry, you aren’t alone. Many homeowners don’t realize that chimney sweeps are qualified to do a lot more than just clean out soot […] Read more

Chimneys do an amazing job in filtering smoke from a fireplace out into the outside air.  To accomplish this, there’s a lot going on behind the scenes with chimneys that most people aren’t aware of.  Many parts work together to provide efficient and safe operation.  When any of these chimney parts is damaged or worn out or not working optimally, problems are […] Read more

Cold weather’s right around the corner, and in Wisconsin that means there’s plenty to do to get ready for another winter.  If you run a fireplace in your home, one task that must be seen to is making sure your chimney is clean and ready for the burning season. Having your chimney inspected and cleaned before the winter season really sets […] Read more