Chimney Sweeping Vacuum

The maintenance and cleaning of the house is one of the most important tasks to do if you want to stay healthy and fit throughout your life. A clean house will keep you safe from the various diseases and infections in your house to spend some beautiful moments with your loved ones. When we talk about the cleanliness of the house, the toughest place to clean is chimney. It is considered to be a tough place because of its location, design and also the area of its flue which is not easily accessible. The fireplace area and the chimney flue is not so handy which can be cleaned easily therefore it is always advised by the experts to hire a professional for this purpose.

The professional will surely understand the design of your chimney and will use the appropriate tools and gadgets for the cleaning purpose. The experts recommend that all the fireplaces should be cleaned regularly for safety of the occupants of the house.

The by-product of incomplete combustion of any fossil fuel is creosote. When this builds up in the chimney flue, it becomes an ignitable product and thus can fire. If it catches fire, it will bring lots of damage to your property and even lives of your dear ones. When this happens it can cause severe damage to the chimney and the surrounding structure. The main purpose of the chimney is to exhaust all the smoke and by-products of combustion out of the house as well as provide a draft for the fireplace or appliance, not to contain chimney fires and their extreme temperatures.

The latest gadgets are quite helpful in doing this task easily and with less time consumption. The chimney sweeping vacuum is one such device which is used by the professionals for sweeping off the cap, flue, smoke chamber, smoke shelf, damper, and firebox area. Before sweeping, the chimney is cleaned thoroughly with the help of the different chimney brushes and rods which are readily available in the market.

These brushes and rods can be selected according to the shape, size and design of the chimney. After that, the whole soot and creosote is vacuumed out of the walls of the fireplace with the help of the sweeping vacuum. The heart of the sweeping system is a Soot Sweeper chimney vacuum running during the sweeping for proper dust control. While the professionals are sweeping your chimney, they will also inspect any cracks or defects if there is any in your chimney walls and flue.

It is, therefore, very important to hire a perfect Chicago chimney cleaning service for your house as his experience may lead him to foresee any sort of future damage that may occur. They will not only clean the chimney is a perfect way but will also provide the services of inspecting it on a regular basis for any potential cracks or creosote collection if any. But if you get to know about any of such issues, be cautious about it and contact the professional chimney sweeper as soon as possible so that the issue could be fixed well in time before it can lead to any damage of property or lives of your loved people.

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Design Your Ideal Outdoor Kitchen

With summer here, you probably can’t wait to get outside and enjoy the nice weather. There are several ways to do this, of course, but none compare to an outdoor kitchen. It makes your home ideal for neighborhood parties, having family over, or just enjoying a nice meal with your loved ones. Plus, if you ever sell, nothing is going to wow a buyer like showing them your outdoor kitchen. As your starting fresh with its design, you have plenty of options to consider. Here are some important tips to keep in mind.

Include Everything You Need

Many people with outdoor kitchens also use their indoor version to prepare meals. This makes plenty of sense, but you should ensure that your outdoor space also includes enough that you don’t need to run back and forth constantly. A lot of homeowners install a refrigerator in their outdoor kitchen. That might be too much for the budget right now. But you should still include surfaces for preparing food. A sink is also a good idea, otherwise you’ll be without a water supply and even an outdoor kitchen needs one of those. Depending on the types of meals you usually prepare, having appliances or at least outlets for them is generally a good idea too.

Don’t Forget the Light

If you have patio lights that will hit your patio kitchen, that may be enough. But take time to consider where your new kitchen is going to go and whether more light is needed. You don’t want to be preparing cutlets by flashlight, after all.

Add a Roof

Just because you’re outdoors doesn’t mean your new kitchen doesn’t need some kind of roof or canopy. This way, if it rains, the party doesn’t have to be over. Enjoy the cool weather from the comfort of your patio kitchen and keep on cooking. A roof also makes it easier to:
•    Add lights
•    Hang a chandelier
•    Install speakers

Go Beyond an Oven

With an outdoor kitchen, you have way more options for cooking than you do indoors. Adding an oven makes plenty of sense; if nothing else, it works for food preparation. However, there’s no reason to stop there. A grill is the obvious choice and definitely has its place. But why not add a smoker to go along with it? One especially fun option is a wood burning pizza oven. These days, you don’t even need the wood. Go with propane and you can still make delicious pizzas from the comfort of your own backyard. Choose stone for the exterior and no one will know your classic pizza oven is running on a modern design.

Keep Cooking Social

Most backyards include a grill and one of its many benefits is that the cook still has a clear view of everyone and is able to interact and partake in the party. When you design a kitchen outside, however, it’s easy to put the cooking space somewhere off in the corner. That’s hardly any way to thank the chef for all their hard work. Instead, make sure they are able to maintain contact with where the rest of the people in your backyard.

Consider Your Architectural Options

Conventional wisdom is that your outdoor patio kitchens should blend in with the rest of the home. If you have a house with a brick exterior, your patio kitchen may look a bit odd if it has a Mediterranean feel to it.

However, if you separate your kitchen far enough from the rest of the home, giving it a different aesthetic may increase the appeal. Going from your traditional house to a tiki bar-themed kitchen, for example, is a fun idea if you can pull it off. At the end of the day, it’s your kitchen; allow it to reflect your style.
Include a Dining Space

This may seem like odd advice, but don’t forget that your kitchen should include a dining space and preferably one that’s nearby. Spend an equal amount of time designing it as well. No matter how great your kitchen looks, if people don’t like the dining room, your investment is going to suffer.
Nothing is better in the summer months than having an outdoor kitchen at your disposal. It makes everything from simple dinners to block parties that much more fun. Just remember to keep the above in mind so your design is everything you imagined. 

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Frequently Asked Questions About Gas Fireplace Conversions

If you are the average Northbrook homeowner undertaking a gas fireplace conversion can be a daunting and confusing task.  What is all involved in the process?  How long does the project take?  What is the cost involved?  Where do I begin?  These are all questions you make be asking yourself as you decide whether updating your wood stove to gas is the right move for you.  When I started my Northbrook gas fireplace conversion, I had all these same questions too.  Let me shed some light on common mysteries in the gas converting world.

What is all involved in the process?


The answer to this question depends on what type of conversion you want to complete.  There are a few options to consider when converting: gas logs, a ventless gas fireplace, and a gas fireplace insert.  Which option is best for you will depend on your budget, your existing home structure, the timeframe in which to complete the conversion, and, of course, your personal preference.

•    If you are the average Northbrook homeowner undertaking a gas fireplace conversion can be a daunting and confusing task.  What is all involved in the process?  How long does the project take?  What is the cost involved?  Where do I begin?  These are all questions you make be asking yourself as you decide whether updating your wood stove to gas is the right move for you.  When I started my Northbrook gas fireplace conversion, I had all these same questions too.  Let me shed some light on common mysteries in the gas converting world.

What is all involved in the process?


The answer to this question depends on what type of conversion you want to complete.  There are a few options to consider when converting: gas logs, a ventless gas fireplace, and a gas fireplace insert.  Which option is best for you will depend on your budget, your existing home structure, the timeframe in which to complete the conversion, and, of course, your personal preference.

•    Gas Logs – a quick and easy way to get the job done; allows the homeowner to have an open fire, less finished look

•    Ventless Gas Fireplace – a cost-effective solution  but this option creates moisture in the home and may bother those with allergies or other respiratory issues

•    Gas Fireplace Inserts – highly efficient and beautiful, inserts can completely change the look and feel of the room with the many decorative finishes they come in, more expensive than other options


How long does a gas fireplace conversion take?

Gas fireplace conversions are completed quicker than you think.  From start to finish, the typical project when completed by an experienced professional can take less than a day if installing gas logs into an existing fireplace. 


How much does the typical Northbrook gas fireplace conversion cost?
Let’s assume that you decide to go with the gas fireplace insert – the most popular choice among homeowners for creating a seamless finish on your remodel.  We will also assume you hire a professional chimney sweep to complete the work.  If you include labor and materials, a typical Northbrook gas fireplace conversion will cost around $3000 and up.  This isn’t too harsh considering that you are changing the complete function and feel of your living space.


Where do I begin?

The best way to start your project is to contact a reputable local chimney contractor (or a couple) to request a quote on the work.  Ask them any questions you may have and inquire with them on any suggestions they may add. When signing any contracts make sure you read all the fine print carefully and have a clear understanding of what work they will complete and for what cost.  Also confirm that the contractor you hire is fully licensed and insured.


Now that you have the answers to some of the more puzzling questions surrounding gas fireplace conversion, I hope you feel empowered to get your renovation underway.  With some careful planning, an experienced professional as a partner, and a clear understanding of the process, your Northbrook gas fireplace conversion is sure to be a success.  Before you know it, you will be enjoying a warm, roaring fire you can turn on and off with a flip of a switch!
 – a quick and easy way to get the job done; allows the homeowner to have an open fire, less finished look

•    Ventless Gas Fireplace – a cost-effective solution  but this option creates moisture in the home and may bother those with allergies or other respiratory issues

•    Gas Fireplace Inserts – highly efficient and beautiful, inserts can completely change the look and feel of the room with the many decorative finishes they come in, more expensive than other options


How long does a gas fireplace conversion take?

Gas fireplace conversions are completed quicker than you think.  From start to finish, the typical project when completed by an experienced professional can take less than a day if installing gas logs into an existing fireplace. 


How much does the typical Northbrook gas fireplace conversion cost?

Let’s assume that you decide to go with the gas fireplace insert – the most popular choice among homeowners for creating a seamless finish on your remodel.  We will also assume you hire a professional chimney sweep to complete the work.  If you include labor and materials, a typical Northbrook gas fireplace conversion will cost around $3000 and up.  This isn’t too harsh considering that you are changing the complete function and feel of your living space.


Where do I begin?

The best way to start your project is to contact a reputable local chimney contractor (or a couple) to request a quote on the work.  Ask them any questions you may have and inquire with them on any suggestions they may add. When signing any contracts make sure you read all the fine print carefully and have a clear understanding of what work they will complete and for what cost.  Also confirm that the contractor you hire is fully licensed and insured.


Now that you have the answers to some of the more puzzling questions surrounding gas fireplace conversion, I hope you feel empowered to get your renovation underway.  With some careful planning, an experienced professional as a partner, and a clear understanding of the process, your Northbrook gas fireplace conversion is sure to be a success.  Before you know it, you will be enjoying a warm, roaring fire you can turn on and off with a flip of a switch!