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Making your chimney safe, helps keep you safe

By Billie Owens

A lot of homes in Genesee County are really old, and so are their chimneys. But yesteryear's chimneys weren't designed for venting the energy-efficient appliances of today, nor are they safe and working properly just because they may look OK.

If you could see inside your chimney, you might find a lot to be concerned about.

A flue that services a fireplace or woodstove might have: cracks and/or missing pieces of a clay liner; mortar and bricks that are eroded or loose; and creosote buildup. These conditions could be the result of flue fires, improperly ventilated appliances, a misused woodstove, bad construction or excessive moisture.

A flue servicing the furnace side of a chimney, might show cracked or missing tiles, a missing or corroded liner, excessive soot or, in oil flues, moisture. These problems can cause wallpaper to peel and plaster to crack, allowing carbon monoxide to seep into the home.

Chimney defects can result in injury and death. It doesn't take much to start a house fire -- one spark or ember can cause catastropic damage. Deterioration can allow deadly fumes to fill the house.

WNY Fireplace Outlet, located on W. Main. St. Road in Batavia, offers a solution that includes a lifetime warranty (transferable to subsequent owners) and does not require rebuilding the chimney. It's called the HomeSaver Pro Strength Chimney Relining System and is considered the strongest on the market, hands down.

This smart and effective way to remedy chimney problems -- or guard against them -- is tested and listed by Underwriters Laboratories as meeting its highest safety standards.

It features a specially formulated stainless steel -- to handle gas, oil, wood or coal flues -- and a patented, gas-tight interlock system that is incredibly strong and unsurpassed in its ability to handle the harsh and corrosive environment inside chimneys. It can even contain violent chimney fires.

It fits every chimney configuration. It's flexible enough to bend and it can be shaped to fit through tight damper spaces, like those for fireplace inserts. It is ideal for venting furnaces, boilers, water heaters, woodstoves and pellet stoves.

The staff at WNY Fireplace Outlet can answer any questions you may have about this product and provide you with cost estimates. They can help you gain the peace of mind that comes from knowing your home is safer. Call them at 343-1924 or 343-9259.

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