Your family-owned chimney company in Otter Lake

Otter Lake is an area near Tangerine that Orange County designates a Rural Settlement in its land use plan, and for homes there with a wood-burning fireplace, a few everyday habits keep the fireplace safe between professional visits. None of them takes long, and together they head off trouble before it starts. Start before the fire.

Open the damper and make sure it stays open. Use a sturdy screen or glass doors to keep sparks in the firebox, and keep rugs, furniture, decorations and firewood well back from the hearth. Burn dry, seasoned wood, never trash, cardboard boxes, treated or painted wood, which can burn too hot or leave harmful deposits.

Build smaller fires that burn well rather than large, smoldering ones. After the fire, ashes need care. They can hold heat for a surprisingly long time. The NFPA's heating safety tips advise putting cooled ashes in a metal container with a lid and keeping that container outside, away from the house. Never vacuum ashes with a household vacuum.

Keep smoke alarms tested and working. The NFPA recommends testing them regularly, and a fireplace is one more reason to make that a habit. Between visits, pay attention to the chimney's signals. A strong smell, smoke entering the room, debris in the firebox, dark stains at the top of the chimney or a fire that is harder to start than usual are all worth a call.

NFPA 211 recommends a yearly inspection, with cleaning when needed, and for a fireplace used through the cool season, that visit is the time to check the cap, liner and firebox. We are a local, family-owned company. Our Otter Lake inspection is free, sweeps and repairs are priced upfront with nothing hidden, and booking within 72 hours after it gets you 10% off. Our 100% satisfaction guarantee covers every visit.