If you decide to buy an older home, you most likely know you will have more maintenance responsibilities to be sure all of the systems in your home are up to modern building safety codes and regulations. Standards can change over the years, and you need to ensure the...
The harsh freezing temperatures of winter can bring lots of damage to masonry chimneys, and The Mad Hatter wants to help you be prepared this winter. Why does so much damage occur to chimneys in the winter? According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA),...
Known as “the silent killer,” carbon monoxide is an odorless and tasteless toxic gas that is given off by any burning fuel, which means that your fireplace or stove produces it. Responsible for killing hundreds of Americans each year, carbon monoxide also causes...
When you have pets that live indoors, you must think about keeping them safe around the fireplace when you have a fire burning. Dogs and cats can be curious about fire, and if you are not careful, your pets could get hurt. Not only do you have to consider keeping your...
With so many options available, choosing firewood is not as easy as it may seem. Knowing which types are the best to burn can help you tremendously when you are shopping for your wood fuel supply. At The Mad Hatter, our customers regularly ask our staff for...
While a wood-burning flame during the fall and winter can be very enjoyable, it also holds a lot of responsibilities. Not knowing and understanding the best practices for burning wood can lead to hazardous situations, including a devastating house fire. As fireplace...
While living in an older house certainly has its charm, there is quite a bit of maintenance involved. Your electrical and plumbing systems may need to be replaced at some point, and your fireplace and chimney should also be updated to meet modern building codes. If...
If you are in the market to buy a home, you want to be sure the house you invest in is in good condition with no potentially expensive problems. When the home includes a fireplace and chimney, you should make sure that a chimney inspection is performed by a chimney...
One of the most important components of your chimney and venting system is the damper, as stated by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA). Whenever you burn a fire in your fireplace, you should have the damper open so that the byproducts of combustion like...
To protect your chimney from the damage and deterioration that occurs from water penetration, you should have a quality chimney cap installed on the top of the chimney. The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) claims that a chimney cap is the least expensive...
