Over our years of working on chimneys in the Shenandoah Valley, Blue Ridge Chimney Services have seen a lot of chimney damage that could have been prevented if the chimney had been capped. Without a chimney cap on top, the chimney is vulnerable to several things that...
Elizabeth Guy
Why Vines Can Be Harmful to Masonry Chimneys
Many people love the look of vines growing against a masonry chimney, but ivy and other attaching vines can cause extensive damage to the structure of a chimney, especially if the chimney was built before 1930. If you are looking to buy a historical home, you should...
Spring Is the Perfect Time for Exterior Chimney Repairs
Have you started your spring cleaning this year? For many of us, spring is the time to refresh and renew, which means taking care of cleaning and maintaining our homes. Winter weather can be tough on the exterior of your home, especially your chimney. You may even...
Don’t Wait Until the Fall: Take Care of Your Annual Chimney Sweeping Now
As a homeowner, you are responsible for maintaining the different systems of your home to keep everything working properly. One of these systems is your chimney and fireplace system, and national fire safety organizations like the Chimney Safety Institute of America...
Why a Chimney Leak Needs Immediate Attention
You might have seen us quote the claim of the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) that water is the biggest enemy of masonry chimneys. As all of our sweeps have been certified by the CSIA, Blue Ridge Chimney Services has a great deal of respect for that...
When Do I Need to Have My Chimney Relined?
Your chimney system is made up of several important components, including the liner. In order for your chimney to work efficiently and safely, all of these components need to be in good condition. Your chimney liner is so essential to the safe functioning of your...
Carbon Monoxide: A Real and Serious Threat to Your Health
You may know that it is recommended by fire safety organizations to have your chimney inspected every year, and one of the main reasons for this recommendation is to ensure you are not in danger of carbon monoxide poisoning. Our experienced chimney sweeps at Blue...
Heavy Snow Can Lead to Chimney Problems
Recently, we saw quite a bit of snow here in the Shenandoah Valley area, with an average snowfall amount of about 18 inches. When that much snow accumulates on your roof and your chimney, you could end up with water leak problems. Since the snow has melted, Blue Ridge...
Think Ahead and Schedule a Post-Winter Chimney Inspection
An annual professional chimney inspection is recommended by many national fire safety groups, and scheduling this important chimney maintenance task after winter will determine if your chimney suffered any winter weather damage. Cold temperatures can be very harsh to...
Start Your New Year with a Clean Chimney
Many of us like to start off the new year with resolutions to improve our lives, and a common resolution is to take better care of our homes. Owning a home requires a few routine maintenance tasks, and when you live in a house with a fireplace, one of these tasks...