What Does a Dirty Chimney Look Like?

What to Expect From Professional Dryer Vent Cleaning Experts

Read on to find out what to expect from dryer vent cleaning experts – and learn about how these services guarantee better performance!

Did you know that firefighters respond to about 13,820 house fires caused by dryers every year? These unfortunate and dangerous accidents often cause fire-related injuries and cost a great deal of money in property loss. What’s more, they are often preventable: 34% of the time, these fires are often the result of simply not cleaning the dryer vent. To keep your dryer safe and running smoothly, schedule a dryer vent cleaning experts services at least once a year for a thorough cleaning and inspection.

Expect a Thorough Cleaning

With professional services, you will get a deeper and more thorough cleaning than you would from cleaning the dryer yourself. That’s not to say you shouldn’t still clean your Orinda dryer vents regularly – doing so will keep buildup and clogs to a minimum – but professionals have the specialized equipment and techniques to extract a high volume of lint and dust. Clean dryers can dry clothes faster, run on less energy, and last longer than dirty dryers.

Expect High-Quality Equipment & Techniques

Professionals have been trained to use specialized equipment that can reach every nook and cranny in your Orinda dryer vents and ducts. The process usually involves a flexible vacuum brush, snake brush, or suctioning tool, which can reach inside the dryer vent and collect all of the debris within. After the cleaning, technicians perform an inspection using a digital airflow meter to ensure that the airflow has improved.

Expect Improved Fire Safety

Lint is essentially kindling sitting in the hot environment of the dryer vents. By keeping ducts and vents free of lint, dust, and debris, there is a greatly reduced chance of fire. Without anything to ignite, sparks won’t catch. Professional cleaning services are an investment in the fire safety of your home.

Expect High-Quality Results

Clean and maintained dryers work better, faster, and last longer. Though maintenance requires foresight and action, it offers long-term benefits for your household appliances. After dryer vent cleaning experts services, you can expect improved performance, faster drying times, reduced energy usage, reduced damage to your dryer, and reduced wear and tear on your clothes on each cycle.

Signs your dryer vents and ducts need cleaning:

It takes more than one cycle to fully dry clothes
Clothes smell musty after going through a dryer cycle
The laundry room feels hot or maybe damp while the dryer is running
Clothes are too hot to touch at the end of a cycle
The dryer sheet picks up sour or musty odors

Schedule a Dryer Vent Cleaning Experts Now

The Irish Sweep specialists can get deep into your vent system where most household cleaning methods can’t reach, so you can enjoy a safer and more effective system for years to come. Our top priority is safety and we customize our services with our client’s best interest at heart. To schedule an appointment with an expert, call us at (510)521-4088, or use this simple contact form by clicking here.

Is There Flammable Debris Inside Your Chimney?

Flammable debris inside your chimney can be a serious fire hazard. If you notice any of these signs, contact a professional chimney sweep immediately.

Whether you have a wood burning chimney or a fireplace with a gas log lighter, flammable debris can build up on the inside—where it’s out of sight and out of mind. Let’s take a look at the top offenders when it comes to fireplace safety.

Soot

Soot is a natural byproduct that accumulates from burning wood. If you have a wood burning chimney in your home, you can be sure you’ve got soot too. Not only is soot flammable, but it’s also fine enough to inhale and contains toxic elements. Be sure to have it removed from your chimney at least once a year.

Creosote

Creosote is a tar-like material that you can find inside a wood burning chimney that hasn’t been cleaned in a while. This substance is highly flammable, so it’s essential to have it removed by a professional chimney sweep. Although, there are a couple ways you can cut back on creosote buildup, such as only burning seasoned wood. Not only does green wood not burn as well, but it also produces more smoke and creosote deposits.

You definitely don’t want to allow creosote and soot to build up inside your chimney. It can spark into a chimney fire that puts your home at risk, but you might not even notice until it’s too late. Another important issue to highlight is that if enough creosote builds up, it can even block toxic gases from exiting the chimney, causing them to remain indoors.

Mold In Chimney

Did you know that mold can grow inside your chimney as well? If there’s moisture in your chimney system, it can lead to unchecked mold growth. This can be caused by things like deteriorating mortar, poorly maintained roof gutters or a faulty chimney cap, so be sure to have a professional chimney sweep look for any chimney damage that could result in this health hazard.

Chimney Flue Damage

In order for your fireplace and wood burning chimney to function properly, the flue needs to be in tip-top shape. But without a professional chimney inspection, it’s tough for homeowners to discover this kind of damage on their own. That’s because a special camera is often needed to really see inside your chimney. If the flue isn’t intact, combustible parts of your home can be exposed to extreme heat, making this scenario a hidden fire hazard.

Animal Nests

Unfortunately, animals sometimes climb into a chimney and become trapped and unable to find their way back out. Another common situation we see is birds or rodents looking for a warm, dry place to build their nests. Nesting materials are flammable, not to mention the mess you’ll find the next time you want to build a fire.

If your wood burning chimney doesn’t have a cap to protect it, don’t be surprised if you’ve had some unexpected visitors, such as bats, raccoons, squirrels, or birds. Even snakes have been found in chimneys from time to time.

Schedule an Inspection

Has it been a while since your last chimney inspection? To schedule an appointment with The Irish Sweep, call us at (510) 521-4088, or use this simple contact form by clicking here. Your safety is our number one priority, so we’re always happy to answer any questions you have. We look forward to hearing from you.

Tips on Having Your Dryer Vents Cleaned

When was the last time you had your Danville dryer vents cleaned? Read Article about Tips on Having Your Dryer Vents Cleaned by a Professional

If it’s been a while, don’t put this essential home maintenance off any longer. Did you know that a clogged dryer vent that accumulates lint is actually a fire hazard? Dirty dryer vents start thousands of fires each year in the United States. Here are some basics you need to know about Danville dryer vent maintenance.

A Messy Chore

It’s a messy chore, but someone has to do it. At the bare minimum, your Alameda dryer vents should be cleaned out on a yearly basis to keep the appliance working at peak performance. This is especially true if some of the occupants of the house have long hair or if there are pets in the home that shed. Also did you know that dryer sheets leave a sticky residue inside the vent and, of course, the lint from the dryer is prone to sticking to that residue.

There are some common signs to watch out for, such as a burning smell, clothes that just won’t seem to dry no matter how long you leave it running, and also a dryer that becomes hot to the touch.

Cleaning Your Alameda Dryer Vents

First things first, a professional will disconnect your dryer before getting to work. Whether it’s gas or electric, it can simply be unplugged from the outlet, so know that we don’t need to touch the gas supply valve. The vent can be found at the back of the dryer, and the exhaust should always vent to the outside atmosphere. A professional will then pull the appliance about a foot away from the wall so they can access the vent and the area behind the dryer. After a pro has taken these steps, they will disconnect the vent connector from the dryer and the vent. If the vent connector is made from plastic or other flammable material, it will be replaced with an all-metal, non-combustible option.

Wearing protective gloves, they will then clean out all the lint from the back of the dryer by hand, and then use a brush with a series of rods to brush the lint from the interior venting ductwork. Once completed, a leaf blower will be attached to the vent and all loose debris will be cleared to finish the job. And finally, the exterior vent cover will also be removed and cleaned out before the dryer is reconnected for use.

Schedule a Danville Dryer Vents Cleaning

A professional will also be able to make sure that everything is up to code and doesn’t need to be replaced. Your safest option is always to call an expert who can make sure your dryer isn’t a fire hazard. Carbon monoxide poisoning is also a risk if a dryer isn’t installed correctly, or maintained over the years.

At The Irish Sweep, we have the experience you need for such an important job. If you’re in the Alameda area, give us a call at (510) 521-4088. We’re available to answer any questions you have about dryer or fireplace safety in your home. You can also view our customer testimonials by clicking this link.

Is the Height of Your Chimney a Seismic Liability?

When was the last time you took a good look at your chimney? If you’re like most homeowners, it’s probably been a while since you gave it any thought. But a word of warning from a local chimney cleaner, the height of your chimney can actually become an earthquake liability, especially here in California. Should you reduce the height of your chimney?

Bay Area Chimneys

Chimney height reduction or seismic liability reduction are the same thing. In the Bay Area, we get most of our wet weather coming in from the south. What this ultimately means for homeowners is that south-facing chimneys deteriorate faster than they would if they were built on any other side of the house. Remember, the mortar that holds them together is water soluble. As a Lafayette chimney cleaner, this is one of the most dangerous things we see.

Reasons to Reduce Your Chimney Height

Over time, chimneys in our area become unsupported masonry structures that were exposed to the elements for a hundred years. Just think of what you would look like if you stood outside for decades in the rain and the sun!

A good reason to reduce the height of your chimney is to lower the risk of earthquake damage. More than a couple significant fault lines cross through the Bay Area, including the San Andreas Fault and 6 others that pose considerable risk. Just imagine the destruction of your chimney crashing into the yard, or in the direction of your neighbor’s home. Any Lafayette chimney cleaner will tell you what a serious hazard a leaning or broken chimney is.

Note that an unlined chimney is more susceptible to seismic activity, meaning it’s more likely to break during an earthquake. This is a good reason to reduce your chimney’s height and install a gas burning fireplace insert.

When Mortar Turns to Sand

Here’s an example of a broken chimney that had become a worrisome seismic liability. As you can see in the photo, this is an issue of poor water management around the perimeter foundation of the house. Because mortar is water soluble, chimneys wick up groundwater. So, if there are downspouts dumping water near the base of the chimney, it draws in the water, turning the mortar into sand. Of course, this process doesn’t occur overnight, but given enough time, it creates a dangerous situation that needs to be taken care of.

Bear in mind that the chimney is the heaviest part of any house, so this would be problematic even in states where earthquakes are uncommon. When the soil around the base of the chimney gets wet, that soft soil allows the chimney to sink. This is something most homeowners aren’t aware of, but it’s common knowledge if you’re a Lafayette chimney cleaner. It’s a glacially-slow process, but after enough rainy seasons have passed, it can weaken the entire structure. This creates a chimney that is more vulnerable to seismic activity. In fact, the chimney can be pulled apart from the fireplace fascia.

Talk to a Lafayette Chimney Cleaner

Gas-burning fireplace inserts don’t need a lot of height for venting, so you might consider installing one if you choose to reduce the height of your chimney. To schedule an appointment with The Irish Sweep, call us at (510)521-4088, or use this simple contact form by clicking here. Your safety is our number one priority. That’s why our team is taking special precautions during the pandemic. We look forward to hearing from you.

Can a Wood Burning Fireplace Cause Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?

If you have a wood burning chimney, it’s essential to understand what carbon monoxide poisoning is and how to protect your household. Here are the main things you need to know about this deadly gas and the importance of scheduling chimney cleaning services.

What is Carbon Monoxide?

Carbon monoxide is responsible for most poisoning fatalities in the United States, but CO poisoning is completely preventable. Awareness is key for homeowners with a wood burning chimney. The main reason CO is so dangerous is that it’s a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that can’t be detected through your senses. In contrast, most of us have smelled the rotten egg stink of propane. But unfortunately, there’s no way to recognize this silent killer by scent alone.

What happens on an anatomical level? Carbon monoxide can actually replace the oxygen (O2) in your blood because red blood cells pick up CO more readily than O2. Without enough oxygen, permanent tissue damage can occur, including injury to your organs, nervous system, and respiratory system. At high enough levels, CO poisoning can quickly result in death, sometimes within minutes. This is especially dangerous for children, the elderly, pregnant women, or anyone with underlying health conditions.

According to the Center for Disease Control, close to 500 people die from carbon monoxide poisoning each year in the US, and an average of 50,000 seek critical emergency services. Most of these incidents occur from December through February, during the cold winter months when people are trying to stay warm in their homes, only to accidentally poison themselves with fuel-burning appliances. Bear in mind that symptoms of exposure can initially be mistaken for a sudden onset of flu.

Let’s review what causes CO emissions so you know how to spot potential risks and prevent them from becoming a danger to you or your loved ones.

What Produces Carbon Monoxide?

CO occurs whenever a fuel source is burned, such as wood, oil, charcoal, or gas. Several things can produce carbon monoxide. For example, turning on a gas oven for warmth when the power goes out, using a charcoal barbecue grill inside your home, or not having your wood burning chimney cleaned on a regular basis. In fact, CO can even pose a risk on larger boats that have generators.

Wood Burning Chimney

An obstruction in your wood burning chimney can lead to a buildup of CO, as well as a broken connector pipe, backdrafting in the chimney, or a rusted heat exchanger. Scheduling regular maintenance with a professional chimney sweep helps to prevent dangerous situations like these. An experienced specialist will be able to point out any area of concern with your wood burning chimney and advise you on the best solution. This is another reason why DIY chimney cleaning can be so dangerous to attempt. It’s just not worth the risk.

Gas Fireplace

If you have a gas fireplace instead of a wood burning chimney, note that it can also be a hazard without proper chimney maintenance. A poorly maintained or ventilated gas fireplace can result in a dangerous buildup of toxic gas.

Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Even with precautions in place, it’s useful to know the main symptoms that someone has been exposed to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. Knowledge is power, as they say. The most common signs of CO poisoning include:

Headache
Fatigue
Nausea
Dizziness
Shortness of breath
Disorientation
Vomiting
Loss of consciousness
Chest pain
Clumsiness
Weakness

Again, many of these symptoms can, at first, be mistaken for flu. Fresh air and immediate medical attention are vital to anyone suffering from CO exposure.

Safety Precautions

Preventative measures help to protect your household from CO buildup. Here are some basic precautions you can take in order to ensure that your home is safeguarded from this silent killer.

Be sure to fully open the dampers before using your wood burning chimney. This will allow the smoke to escape.
Schedule maintenance with a professional chimney sweep at least a minimum of once a year. It’s important to also have a specialist look over your wood burning chimney to make sure everything is in order and functioning properly. It’s better to discover the need for chimney repair sooner rather than later. Although, depending on how often you use your fireplace, you may need more than one chimney cleaning a year if you love to cozy up by the fire.
Install carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home, as well as smoke alarms. They are designed to emit a loud, high-pitched sound if they sense levels of CO in your home. There are different brands on the market, but they’re all affordably priced. Remember, it’s important to have a battery-operated backup, just in case the power ever goes out. Be sure to place them in bedrooms because you’re more vulnerable while you’re asleep.
Additionally, verify that the models you select comply with the latest safety standards.
Only use fuel-burning appliances outside or in fully ventilated areas.
Never leave a vehicle, lawnmower, or generator, etc. running in a closed garage. Carbon monoxide can enter your home, not to mention it creates a dangerous environment in your garage.
Paint remover contains methylene chloride and shouldn’t be used in the presence of children or in spaces that lack proper ventilation. It’s best to use paint remover outside because methylene chloride is actually converted to carbon monoxide within our bodies.

Schedule a Professional Chimney Inspection

A chimney professional can check to make sure that your fireplace is properly vented. If it’s been a while since your last chimney inspection, give us a call at The Irish Sweep. Your well-being is our number one priority. We’re committed to educating our communities on fireplace safety, so if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out. We’re happy to help in any way that we can. If you’re in the Alameda area, contact our team of experts by phoning (510) 521-4088. You can also email us your questions by clicking here.

10 Dangerous Signs Your Dryer Vent Is Clogged

Under normal conditions, a dryer vent is supposed to direct the heat away from your dryer, but sometimes dryers stop functioning properly. This is when they can break down, or even become a fire hazard. Keep in mind that regular dryer vent cleaning helps to prevent these issues. With that said, here are 10 Dryer Vent Warning Signs that you may have on your hands.

1) Longer Drying Times

If you’ve noticed that drying times are becoming increasingly longer than usual, this is a sure sign that your vents are getting clogged. What happens is that lint fiber gradually collects in these vents and slowly builds up over time. When the air is restricted by this buildup of debris, it will cause your machine to trap more moisture on the inside. These vents will need a professional cleaning in order for the drying time to return to normal. Without proper maintenance, this can lead to the need for an expensive replacement.

2) Heating Issues

Heating issues can also be a problem if you don’t schedule regular dryer vent cleaning. This can cause your machine to become so hot while it’s in use that it can damage your clothes. As a result, synthetic fabrics, like nylon, acrylic, and polyester, can even start to melt. But the biggest danger comes from a dryer that overheats so much that it causes a fire. Issues with the heating element can also result in the eventual failure of your machine.

Of course, another concern is pulling clothes out of a dryer that are still hot to the touch. Often they can feel slightly damp and can cause steam burns if they’re too hot to handle. This is a serious sign that tells you it’s time to book a professional dryer vent cleaning.

3) Overheating Shutdown Problems

Clothing dryers are designed to have a built-in switch that is triggered if the motor senses it’s becoming overheated. A blocked dryer vent limits the airflow to the point that it will start tripping the machine, making it stop so it has enough time to cool down. If you don’t know this, there can be a bigger issue when you simply restart the appliance before it’s cool enough to safely operate. If the dryer continues to overheat, there’s a risk for an electrical fire, caused by the motor becoming too hot. As you can imagine, this is a dangerous situation.

4) Mold or Mildew Smells

Since lint is mostly cotton fiber, it will act as a sponge for moisture. The levels can become higher as hot, moist air tries to push through a blockage. This moisture isn’t able to effectively dry out and can become a hidden, moldy mess. The smell of mold and mildew can spread inside your venting tube and cause odors that get into the clothes you place in the dryer. Laundry should smell clean and fresh, so this moldy odor can be confusing.

5) A Burnt Smell

If you notice a burnt smell from your dryer, this is a dryer vent warning signs your dryer vent is clogged. When too much lint builds up inside the dryer, it will give off a weird burnt smell. Of course, it can also be a sign of a failing motor or belt. Be sure to remove your laundry from the machine and call a professional who can troubleshoot the source of the problem.

6) Crushed Dryer Hose

If you haven’t checked behind your dryer in a while—or ever, take a peek and make sure that the hoses between the wall and the dryer aren’t being pinched. This is an issue because the restricted airflow is a hazard. The company that handles your dryer vent cleaning can help resolve this situation.

7) Can Dryer Sheets Cause a Fire?

There have been some claims that fabric softener sheets can cause the heating element to fail in your dryer, increasing the threat of a fire. But is this really true? While there isn’t any evidence to back up this claim, liquid fabric softener can add to the flammability of certain fabrics.

8) Bird Nests

While it may not happen very often, birds sometimes are able to build a nest in termination hoods that are left uncovered. This is a problem that needs a quick fix. A professional can inspect your dryer as well as its setup to make sure everything is secure from wildlife using it as a nesting site.

9) Lack of Lint in the Trap

Dryers have a special trap that’s designed to collect the lint on your laundry. We all know that it needs to be cleaned out after each cycle, but what if there’s never any lint in the trap anymore? In this case, an obstruction is probably causing lint to become trapped in your machine. This can cause a fire, so be sure to call a specialist for a dryer vent cleaning as soon as possible.

10) Higher Electricity Bills

A rising utility bill is an unpleasant surprise. If you notice that your electricity costs are going up, your dryer may be to blame for the hike. When this appliance isn’t functioning properly, it has to work harder and use more wattage to dry your laundry. If there are blocks, the motor needs to try harder to make up for those air blockages. You’ll likely need to put your laundry through more than once to get it truly dry. The result is an unexpected increase in your monthly electric bill. Dryer maintenance will actually save you money in the long run.

Schedule a Dryer Vent Cleaning

If you notice any of these Dryer Vent Warning Signs, your safest option is always to call a professional who can make sure your dryer isn’t a fire hazard. Carbon monoxide poisoning is also a risk if a dryer isn’t installed correctly, or maintained over the years. At The Irish Sweep, we have the experience you need for such an important job. If you’re in the Alameda area, give us a call at (510) 521-4088. We’re available to answer any questions you have about dryer or fireplace safety in your home. You can also view our customer testimonials by clicking this link.