Chimney notes
Plain-English chimney guides
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Ember SafetySpark Arrestors and Ember Season in Southern California
What a chimney spark arrestor does on Santa Ana wind days, the screen size California code calls for, and what a tech looks at on the cap.
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Earthquake PrepYour Brick Chimney After an Earthquake: What to Check
Why heavy masonry chimneys crack in Southern California quakes, where the damage hides, and what to look at before you light the next fire.
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Sweep ScheduleA Few Fires a Year: How Often to Sweep and Inspect
Light use changes how often a flue needs sweeping, but not how often it should be looked at. Here is how the annual inspection and sweeping fit together.
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Gas FireplacesGas Logs and Inserts: Venting, CO and What Gets Checked
Gas fireplaces skip the soot but not the venting. How gas logs and inserts exhaust, where carbon monoxide risk comes from, and what a tech tests.
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Smoke in the room or a crack after a quake?
Stop using the fireplace and call. A tech can tell you what's safe until someone takes a look.