There is a seasonal aspect to chimney repairs. In the late summer, depending on the weather, people call our office to set up a yearly chimney check. Although the heater chimney works all year long in many homes if the hot water heater vents into the chimney, many are not aware of that fact. Some homeowners put off installing a chimney liner until the colder weather comes, even if it has been diagnosed as dangerous.
Now is an ideal time to get the chimney repairs done, the chimney liner installed and the fireplace cleaned and capped. During the late spring and summer, before an emergency situation arises in colder weather requiring extra expense and inconvenience, a homeowner can be smart. This is the time of year that chimney professionals are able to offer fair prices before the busy season and increasing vendor costs.
Just a tip for the seasonal chimney liner shopper…
The Chimney Guy
Watching birds that look like cigars with wings today, the chimney swifts! About 6 of them flying through our neighborhood capturing insects as they flew high and low. Yesterday, while walking the dog, I saw possibly the same group of chimney swifts going in circles around the large heater chimney stacks of our local Roman Catholic Church and Our Lady of Peace school.
theChimneyGuy
The chimney swift by Audubon
Their chirping calls seemed to be the training instructions for the young ones, letting them know the ropes by modeling and chirping encouragement. I found myself looking up a lot more that day and since then, trying to capture a picture with my cell phone, but to no avail. They fly so far and so fast. It’s worthwhile just to pay attention as they move, not missing anything…
Wondering now about their welfare, I realize that the chimneys where they are nesting are not capped and probably won’t be. It reminds me though, of the customers who have had these visitors, and I’ve capped their chimneys once the nest was empty and the chimney swift family had migrated. Where did they nest this year?
Well, it’s often said that “the birds of the air are taken care of” so I will draw on the faith that I have that these little creatures will have the nesting places and all that they need to thrive this year. And, the caps that I install will hopefully be to protect the inhabitants of the home and not harm the inhabitants of the air.
