The Connections Bernards Ridge Edition April 2020

Home is a place where we build our lives, raise our children and collect our treasures... a place of comfort and rejuvenation. 22 OLCOTT SQ. BERNARDSVILLE, NJ 07924 come visit our showroom + studio DAVIDHINSONDESIGN .com 973.543.6639 DAVID @ DHD22 .com EVERLAST FLOORS Carpet, Flooring & Design Center COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL CARPETS • FLOORS • WINDOW TREATMENTS Quality rooms begin here. 600 Route 10 West, Whippany, NJ • 973-503-1350 www.everlastfloorsinc.com 908-751-0854 • midtownsweeps.com By: Kurt Matthews, CCP, CCR, NFI The role of the chimney is a unique one, and often misunder- stood. I hear a lot of comments, like, “chimney sweeps still exist?” Yes, we do, and we still sweep chimneys. We also inspect and repair them. Let me address some of the more common questions I hear. Why Should I Have My Chimney Swept? Wood burning fireplaces create soot and creosote (byproducts of burning solid fuels like wood) that builds up inside the fireplace and chimney. This is actually a fire hazard, as these materials are flammable. Chimney fires are actually the cre- osote that has developed inside the chimney, (known as the flue), and has caught on fire. To prevent this from happening, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) says a fireplace and chimney should be swept and inspected annually. But I Have a Gas Fireplace Yes, it’s true that burning natural gas is clean, and some gas fireplaces don’t have a chimney or flue. But did you know that the owner’s manual for almost all gas fireplaces tells you to have the fireplace cleaned and inspected annually? That’s right, the fireplace appliance itself should be serviced by a certified technician. They will clean the logs of dust, and even soot in some cases, clean the control compartment, inspect the burner, pilot light, and adjust as needed. This will keep your gas fire- place running in tip-top shape. Do I Need to Have My Fireplace Inspected if I am Selling My Home? There are two answers to this question. First, there are some municipalities in NJ that do require a fireplace and chimney inspection when a home is sold, and it is the responsibility of the seller. It is nor- mally part of a Certificate of Occu- pancy requirement which has other conditions that need to be satisfied. Check with your town hall before you list your home. The second answer involves the NFPA, who I mentioned earlier. They state that a Level 2 inspection should be con- ducted when there is a sale or trans- fer of property. If there is not a municipal requirement, an inspection still should be done as stated by the NFPA. Since many fireplaces are never inspected, it is a great idea to do this if you are buying a house. But I Don’t Have a Fireplace I hear this all the time, and I reply, “Do you have a furnace or boiler?” Many homes here in central NJ do have a chimney even if there is no fireplace. This chimney is venting the boiler or furnace, and the hot water heater. This chimney is largely forgot- ten and, in some cases, can be severely deteriorated. This is a haz- ardous condition and can lead to car- bon monoxide poisoning. These chimneys should be inspected and repaired to prevent such an incident. Keep your family and home safe and call your local, certified chimney sweep every year. You’ll have peace of mind knowing everything has been cleaned, inspected and if need- ed, restored to satisfactory condition. What Does the Modern Chimney Sweep Do? home & design PAGE 66 theconnectionsnj.com