Every year, thousands of homes go up in flames because of a chimney fire, causing millions in damage and ruining livelihoods. Chimney fires occur when a flue has accumulated an excessive amount of creosote, often due to lack of regular maintenance or the use of unseasoned (wet) firewood. A severe creosote build-up will appear as a dark, tar-like substance coating the inside of a flue, which combusts at high temperatures and can overheat your stove, flue, and chimney. Continue reading

If you use wood heat, you’ve probably heard that creosote is bad. But what exactly is creosote, and what else should you know about it? At Obadiah’s, we believe all home owners with a chimney should be educated about the potential risks of wood heating and how to prevent problems before they occur. If you rely on a woodstove or other wood burning appliance all winter, here are ten things you should know about creosote. Continue reading

Should you have an interior or exterior chimney? How does this affect the chimney performance?
Continue reading

There are several Class A chimney designs. First, there’s “air cooled” chimney, which can be double or triple walled. Then there is “insulated” chimney, which was developed for colder climates as it drafts better. It is not recommended that air cooled chimney be used in an exterior installation in northern climates.
Continue reading

Did you know that wind affects your chimney? Trees, hills, mountains, tall buildings, thermals, and roof designs all impact the flow of air in various ways. These impacts are called “topographical effects,” and they matter when it comes to your chimney. Continue reading

Let’s begin with the concept of a chimney, what it is, what it does and how it works.

Although not all of the information is available about who invented the chimney, one can use their imagination on what might have happened to lead to the creation of a smoke evacuation system, because that is what a chimney really is.

It all began with the ability to harness, transport, and eventually, create fire. When you think about it, life must have been very cold for those living in northern climates before the evolution of fire. Continue reading

What is solid fuel chimney pipe? Solid fuel chimney applies to wood, coal, and oil burning appliances. Please note, pellet and gas burning appliances require different types of chimney. There are various different types of solid fuel chimney pipe. There is single wall or double wall black chimney, which is used on the interior of the home, before penetrating and ceiling or call. There is Class A Insulated Chimney, which is used after you penetrate the ceiling or wall. Continue reading

I always like to discuss chimney with my customers up front, as all solid fuel appliances require a chimney system, which comes at an additional cost. Many people are uneducated when it comes to the cost of a chimney system. Chimney systems start at approx. $900 – $2,400 for a complete chimney system, depending on the type of chimney you choose, and how many feet are required. Continue reading