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i live in essex county and i need a chimney sweeping service. i've never dealt with this before, so not sure what i need done and how much it should cost.
i'd appreciate any advice or recommendations.
also, looking to buy firewood and wondering what good local places are there around here to buy firewood from.
We burn 4-5 cords in our wood stove every year, and here's who we use:
Certified Chimney Service in Denville -- 973-361-1783
Firewood -- Bob Carpenter, 201-400-4799. He's in Morris Plains, but might deliver to Essex. Not sure. Tell him Tom sent ya.
We burn 4-5 cords in our wood stove every year, and here's who we use:
Certified Chimney Service in Denville -- 973-361-1783
Firewood -- Bob Carpenter, 201-400-4799. He's in Morris Plains, but might deliver to Essex. Not sure. Tell him Tom sent ya.
I just use firewood for the fire pit in the backyard so i only go through about a cord a year. I keep an eye on craigslist 1-2 times a week for discounted split or un-split wood. No more than $150/cord if i have to pick it up myself or $200/cord delivered. I only pickup un-split if its free. Then I don't mind splitting it myself (sledge/wedge/axe). Good exercise!!
We burn 4-5 cords in our wood stove every year, and here's who we use:
Certified Chimney Service in Denville -- 973-361-1783
Firewood -- Bob Carpenter, 201-400-4799. He's in Morris Plains, but might deliver to Essex. Not sure. Tell him Tom sent ya.
his answering machine isn't working right. i'll call again monday.
ok i got quoted $165 for chimney cleaning/inspection. does that sound right? i get flyers in those mass mailings that have "specials" of chimney cleaning for $40...so what's the scam?
ok i got quoted $165 for chimney cleaning/inspection. does that sound right? i get flyers in those mass mailings that have "specials" of chimney cleaning for $40...so what's the scam?
The scam is that if you can't (or won't) do something yourself, people will charge whatever they want for it. You can buy a decent chimney brush and about 30' of rod at one of the big box stores for about $40. Google "hearth" and you'll find a forum much like this one devoted exclusively to heating with wood. There are plenty of folks there who can walk you through a chimney cleaning. When you see how easy it is you'll realize that even $40 is robbery. As far as buying firewood goes, a few tips:
First of all with very few exceptions, firewood you buy now is NOT seasoned. My neighbor fell for this last year. $165 a cord delivered-all seasoned hardwood You could see how wet the stuff was as it was being dumped in the driveway. He gave up trying to burn it about two weeks into the season and I spotted him some wood-now I'll be burning what he bought last year now that it's had time to sit in the woodshed. Unless you're buying from an established firewood dealer who sells year round, you're probably just getting a landscaper who slapped an ad up at the grocery store or on Craigslist selling wood that was cut over the summer.
Next, if you're going to get it delivered don't trust anybody delivering in a pickup. A full size with an eight foot bed can only carry a full cord if sideboards are installed because a full stacked cord will come up at least 2' over the rails of a pickup bed. Even then, a cord of seasoned ash (a relatively lightweight wood) weighs in at around 3000-3500 lbs depending on actual moisture content-which makes a firewood dealer hauling in anything less than a 1 ton suspect.
the guy referenced in this thread told me the same things you did. he said it comes stacked and measured, and it's not a standard size truck. he warned me about standard trucks and it not being stacked properly so it looks like more than it is, so i feel comfortable with him.
as for the chimney sweep, i was wondering why one would charge $165 and another would charge $40. i'll do $40 this time since i have no idea when the previous owners did it, and then I'll buy the brush and do it myself in the future and use the forum you recommended. thanks!
as for the chimney sweep, i was wondering why one would charge $165 and another would charge $40. i'll do $40 this time since i have no idea when the previous owners did it, and then I'll buy the brush and do it myself in the future and use the forum you recommended. thanks!
Because you're not going to end up with a bill for just $40.
Call Abbey Chimney in Essex County
Because you're not going to end up with a bill for just $40.
Call Abbey Chimney in Essex County
see, that's what i was wondering! what kind of scam do they run? hahaha. i figured they'd hit you up for 3-4 other things while there. so i wanted to go in eyes wide open. i'll try them thanks!
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You could see how wet the stuff was as it was being dumped in the driveway. He gave up trying to burn it about two weeks into the season and I spotted him some wood-now I'll be burning what he bought last year now that it's had time to sit in the woodshed. Unless you're buying from an established firewood dealer who sells year round, you're probably just getting a landscaper who slapped an ad up at the grocery store or on Craigslist selling wood that was cut over the summer. 
