Our Company Blog

We Carry the Saffire Kamado Grills

Have you been grilling this year? Many people grow tired of barbecuing because the hassle of grilling less than perfect meats and making a mess during it. However, you don’t have to worry about this when you have the right grill. Choose a Saffire Kamado grill this spring and enjoy being the grill master all summer.

What is a Kamado?

The kamado-style grill has been used for over 3,000 years in Asia. The earliest ones were made of clay vessels. They work like a stove, and that’s how they’re still being used today. The kamado-style grill can be used as a grill, oven, range, smoker, and more. The modern designs are made of ceramic. They also retain heat for long periods of time while also is very durable. Many companies have been adopting the design of these ancient vessels, but none of them are better than the Saffire Kamado Grills that we carry.

Unparallelled Advantages

When you choose a Saffire Kamado grill, you benefit from less flare-ups, ash, and charcoal waste. In addition, Saffire Kamado grills are easy to light and maintain, make better-tasting food, help your food better retain moisture, volume, and nutrients, use less charcoal, can cook or smoke for up to 18 hours with a single load of charcoal, and can cook at a wide range of temperature. You won’t even have to worry about burning your fingers on your grill anymore because the Saffire Kamado grill has a safe external temperature.

Our favorite perks of a Saffire Kamado grill are the following:

• It has the Smokin’ Chip Feeder, which means no more opening the grill and letting heat out to reload wood chips.
• Heavy-duty hardware means less wear-and-tear, less repairs, and longer lasting.
• Enlarged ash capacity, which means less cleaning and a more stable base.
• 304 stainless steel cart, which features a heavy gauge tubular design that is sturdy but can handle with ease.
• It’s also equipped with stainless steel hooks and a towel bar.

Choosing Your Kamado Grill

The basic setups for a kamado grill can include a steel cart, a wood cart, or built right in to your outdoor kitchen. You can choose from three sizes including a 15 inch, 19 inch, and 23 inch grill, for your family’s needs. You can also choose from multiple cooking surfaces with the optional cooking grids and pizza stone.

If you’re still not convinced that you need a Saffire Kamado grill, then stop by our House of Fire showroom to see for yourself. You can bake your favorite homemade pizza, smoke a fish, barbecue for your family, and do it all without dirtying your kitchen or stinking of smoke all day.  Call White Glove at 530-221-3331 or stop by our showroom today.

We Use HeatShield® to Reline Your Chimney

When your chimney liner is damaged or inappropriate for your choice of fuel, there may be an easy fix. Broken and deteriorating liners can be fixed and relined with HeatShield®–and we can help.

What is HeatShield®

HeatShield® is a trusted name among chimney professionals, and for good reason. Developed over 20 years ago, HeatShield® Cerfractory® technology combines the strength of high-fired ceramic with the heat resistance of refractory cement. It meets performance testing, safety compliance, and can be used in a variety of ways. This specially-formulated sealant also comes in powder form, so the product is not wasted, and you don’t pay for product that isn’t used. Another benefit of HeatShield® is that it is appropriate and safe for all fuel types. Where clay tile liners are ideal for wood fires, but not gas, and aluminum liners are safe for gas liners only, HeatShield® works with all fuel types, and is cheaper than stainless steel.

Types of HeatShield® Repairs

Your liner may not be completely deteriorated, but any amount of damage will compromise the integrity of the system and the safety of your home. Using HeatShield® Cerfractory® sealant, we can restore your chimney liner, no matter how extensive the damage, or how minor.

Joint Repair – Most often, the first thing to go is the mortar joints, creating gaps that can allow carbon monoxide and heat to escape the flue making it unsafe. When White Glove completes a HeatShield® joint repair, we’ll first create a custom foam applicator and fit it below the joint that needs the repair. We’ll mix and fill the applicator with HeatShield® product before pulling it up. As the applicator moves upward, the gap is filled with the product.

Resurfacing – When the liner is missing mortar between flue tiles, has spalling and cracked flue tiles, and other damages, the entire thing can be resurfaced using HeatShield® Cerfractory® sealant. In the same manner as the joint repair, a custom foam applicator is made, and then placed at the bottom of the flue and attached to a wench at the top. First a “tie coat” is applied as the applicator is pulled upward. When that dries, the process is repeated with HeatShield® Cerfractory® sealant. The work is then verified via video scan.

Relining – When your chimney needs a complete relining, we can install a CeCure® Sleeve Relining System that will be as durable as stainless steel, and as long-lasting. First we apply a coat of the sealant, using a custom foam applicator, then a custom-fitted CeCure® Sleeve is lowered into the chimney. As the applicator moves downward again, it presses the sleeve firmly against the sealant. The job is finished with another coat of sealant, and then verified with a video scan.

HeatShield® is a sure thing. If you’re not convinced, let the HeatShield® limited lifetime warranty do the explaining. At White Glove we only offer the best and safest services and products to our neighbors and customers. That’s why we trust HeatShield®. Make an appointment today to find out what HeatShield® can do for you.

Make Your Cooler Work Better

Did you know evaporative coolers (swamp coolers) work well even in low humidity climates? My evaporative cooler kept my 1973 home at 77 degrees even when it was 114 outside. However, there are some things you can do to get more cooling power out of your cooler.

Ways to Get more Cooling Power

1. If you have a “Grandma” cooler, i.e. one with straw media pads. You need to trade it in for for a cooler using engineered cellulose paper pads. These pads give 10 to 15 degrees more cooling power, it last longer, resist mold, and limit pump clogging particulates. These might be single inlet coolers or four sided.
2. Install ceiling vents. The cooler blows air into the house. That air also needs to leave the house or the cooler will not work. Typically this is accomplished by opening windows in the areas desired to be cooled. But there are also security risks when windows are left open, even with window locks installed. The solution is to duct the air through the attic with Up-Dux. These are a box with a grill and a flexible plastic damper that is inserted into a hole cut into the ceiling. They cost around $50 each and you need one for each room and sometimes two for large rooms. They are usually installed toward the exterior walls of the home. When the cooler comes on the plastic damper blows open as the house is pressurized, then the air, which you’ve paid to cool, blows out through the attic. This cools the attic and also cools the house and make your roof last longer. You may need to add attic ventilation. A ridge vent is an idea.
3. Pay attention to humidity. Humidity refers to the amount of water vapor the air holds. The higher the percentage the less room there is for more water to be added to the air. Evaporation is the process of liquid water changing to water vapor – referred to as a change of state. It is this process that allows a cooler to work. Sometimes people put in a larger pump to wet the pads more. This adds non evaporated water, which not only does not cool properly but also adds humidity to the home. Adding ice to the water doesn’t help either. Water has to evaporate for the heat to be pulled out of the air. Ice will cool the air by convection, but it limits the ability of the water to reach the temperature it needs to evaporate. Coolers see a steep drop in cooling power when the humidity gets over 30%. If your cooler doesn’t seem to be working properly and the air in your home feels thick – check the humidity. Unfortunately, the hotter it gets outside along with the lakes, people, and every living thing that sweats –raise the humidity level.

Solutions for Effective Coolers

Having a modern cooler, good air flow through the attic, and understanding how your cooler works will give excellent, economical cooling through the hot, dry months for your home. Let our professionals help you pick out a cooler for your home. Call 530-221-3331 right now to prepare for the hot summer ahead.

Give Swamp Coolers a Try This Summer

You may be spending your days this spring with windows open as air feels fresh and warm, but soon you’ll be thinking of cranking on the air conditioner. Many homeowners put off turning on central air until it’s completely unbearable not too. The reason–it’s expensive. Collectively, Americans spend more than $22 million on air conditioning every year. This is a huge drain on the family’s wallet as well as the planet, and there’s a better way.

Introducing the Evaporative Cooling System

It all started before electricity was a thing, and before air conditioners were in even the most sophisticated buildings. Before there was a system for cooling air with electricity, country folk found a way to stay cool. Many found that by dampening a sheet or other thin material and hanging it over windows or doors, the breeze would blow through it, resulting in cooler air. This does work, and there’s a science behind it that has resulted in units similar to air conditioning units, but that use less energy and do the same job! There’s only a few differences.

Swamp Coolers V. Air Conditioners

These units are appropriate for homes and businesses–even warehouses! They use less electricity, keeping the interior temperature at a comfortable level using 80 to 90 percent less power than an air conditioning unit! Swamp coolers work by using filter pads the same way generations before used sheets. First, the air is drawn into the unit through dampened filter pads, then pushed into the house. The filter pads are made wet by a reservoir inside the unit, and the only electricity used is that used to push the air through the unit. The process of cooling the air is a naturally-occurring process that only requires that the water is cooler than the air.

Air conditioners use a refrigerant to cool the air, and reuse the air over and over. This can cause the air inside the home to sometimes feel stagnant, and the process requires more energy, costing you more money. Swamp coolers constantly draw warm, dry air in from outdoors, circulating fresh air throughout the house. They don’t just use the warm, dry air–they require it. If the air is too moist when it’s taken into the unit, the process does not work and may even cause moisture damage to the home, so in humid climates, an air conditioner is still your best option.

Is a Swamp Cooler Right For You?

If you’re tired of paying an arm and a leg for your air conditioning every summer and live in our service area, a swamp cooler is right for you. This system of evaporative cooling requires a climate of less than 30% humidity, and here in Northern California, the climate is perfect.

Call White Glove and talk with a professional about your switch to a swamp cooler now.

We Clean Air Vents

Now that it’s finally spring, you may be creating extensive lists of Spring To-Dos. While you’re doing your spring cleaning around your house, don’t forget about your dryer vents. In fact, you may want to schedule a dryer vent cleaning before turning on your air conditioner for the season. There may be debris, animal droppings, bacteria, and moisture in the ducts that you can’t see. You should get your air vents cleaned annually, this will help keeping your family stay safe while keeping your vents work correctly.

Maintaining Your Air Duct System

There are a few things you can do to help keep your air vents working properly.

• Change the air filter monthly can help your vents stay clean of microscopic debris and germs.
• Keep air vents clear from clothes and trash to ensure no blockage of the airflow or fall into the vent.
• Prevent rodent infestations by using store-bought products or professional services.
• Schedule an air duct inspection after a major leak, flood, or natural disaster.

Why It’s Important

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air is polluted much faster than outdoor air. In America, we spend about 90 percent of our time indoors. If your air vents are dirty filled with moisture or bacteria, your air conditioning or heating system will push the air into your home many times per day. Dirty air vents can cause allergies to worsen, which can affect those with chronic respiratory illnesses, create smelly odors through your home, and contribute to “dust bunnies” in your house.

Schedule Your Air Vent Cleaning

White Glove Chimney and Air Duct can clean your air duct using one of two methods. Once our experienced technicians have seen your duct system, they will select the method best for your system.

1. Contact cleaning uses rotary spinning brushes connected to high-power vacuums that also keep dust, dust-mites, and microscopic debris from re-entering the air.
2. Negative air cleaning uses spinning air whips or brushes to work the dust and debris loose. Once freed, the dust and debris is removed with a powerful vacuum system.

Not only will your air ventilation system be cleaned thoroughly, but your service appointment will also include an AC coil and heat exchange cleaning, which will help to improve the efficiency and life of your AC and furnace. It also includes a filter change with a top-notch electrostatic air filter that comes with a forever warranty. This filter doesn’t have to be replaced; it will only need to be cleaned monthly.

When you schedule an air vent cleaning with us, you can rest assured that we will do a wonderful job. We will not offer a quote before we’ve seen your system, and we won’t complete or start a service without your consent. Call us today, and we can get started on your spring cleaning right now. Call 530-221-3331 or request an appointment online.

Check Out Our Kamp-Rite Camping Furniture for Spring

At White Glove Chimney and Air Duct, we have everything you need to get ready for the upcoming summer season. For any of your outdoor space, we have you covered with our Kamp-Rite camping furniture –  check it out online or in store during business hours.

Make it a Kamp-Rite Season

The designers at Kamp-Rite might as well be professional outdoors people because we are proud of the products. At White Glove, we carry our favorite Kamp-Rite products because they improve the outdoor experience. Whether you’re going to the lake for the day, a picnic in the park, camping for the weekend, or staying home for a barbecue on the patio, Kamp-Rite products are easy to store, carry, and use.

Kamp-Rite, The Business

It started in 1999, when Kamp-Rite set out to create unique and innovative solutions to camping problems – It launched the Original Tent Cot. Now, the streamlining and development of this specific product has brought about other products, of comparable quality, durability, and ease. Kamp-Rite wants to encourage forays into the outdoors, whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned outdoor enthusiast, by producing quality products that combine both comfort and convenience.

Kamp-Rite, The Products

The Kamp-Rite line may have begun with one product—the Original Tent Cot—but now it includes the whole camping experience. The product line includes tents, camping furniture, camping kitchens, sleep essentials, disaster relief products, and camping accessories. At White Glove, we offer a variety of Kamp-Rite products, and you can even tested them all out at our store, House of Fire!

• Kamp-Rite Kwik Set Hammock – You won’t need a tree for this hammock. It is not only easy to carry and set up, but you can also  use it on rocky terrain, sand, or your patio. Take a load off, because you can lounge for hours with comfort and support.
• Kamp-Rite Cook Table with Insulated Bag – Don’t add stress to your day by cluttering your car or your space with coolers and cookware. This cook table includes an insulated bag to store your food. Pop open your cook table, and your food will be waiting to be cooked or eaten right there in the insulated storage bag.
• Kamp-Rite Kwik Pantry with Cook Table – This product is great for a camping weekend or a large cook-out. It holds everything you need! It has a table top for food prep or cooking and ample storage beneath in the insulated pantry cabinet. This unit sets up in  seconds, but it is invaluable for the whole camping experience.
• Kamp-Rite Director’s Chair with Side Table – It is wonderful for boating, camping, tailgating, and more. This chair offers comfort and convenience. It is also well made with strong and lightweight materials, which will make you want to sit in this chair all day long.
• Kamp-Rite Chair with Detachable Footrest – This chair is lightweight, durable, and comfortable. It is also versatile. The footrest is completely detachable, which mean that we can use it as a standard camp chair as well.
• Kamp-Rite Tent Cots – This product is fully self-contained and off-ground; it can hold one or two occupants. These tent cots are versatile; it can be also be converted into lounge chairs. These zippered tent cots only take minutes to setup, and they come with a rain fly and a convenient carrying bag.

Are you ready for camping or barbecue season? Browse our products today and find out what you’re missing!

Get Your Dryer Vent Cleaned For Spring

No matter how long your spring to-do list has become, do not forget the maintenance that will keep your family and home safe. As often as you complete automobile maintenance, you should assess other things around the home that keep you safe–including your smoke detectors, cars, heat system, and clothes dryer vents.

The Danger of Dirty Vents

The United States Fire Administration reports there are 2900 dryer vent fires per year, and that they are not a small thing. These fires are to blame for approximately 5 deaths, 100 injuries, and around $35 million in property loss. The leading cause of dryer vent fires is the failure to clean them. If a dryer vent isn’t cleaned regularly, it becomes clogged with flammable materials (lint) and then slows the vented air which is heated. The result is a fire that threatens your property, safety, and your life.

Dirty Dryer Vent Symptoms

1. Your dryer takes more than one cycle to completely dry the clothes.

The dryer is designed to dry a moderately-sized load in one cycle. If it takes more than one, and the dryer is less than three years old, there is a dryer vent problem. Running the dryer 2-3 times for one load of clothes uses 2-3 times more electricity, and shortens the life of your dryer by 2-3 times. Your clothes dryer that should last 10 years will end up needing replacing in 3-5 years.

2. Your dryer is hot to the touch and heats the laundry room while running.

The excess water vapor, lint, and heat should be vented through the dryer vent hose. If the dryer is getting too hot or if the clothes are excessively hot when they finish drying, the vent isn’t working properly. Not only are you in danger of a dryer vent fire, but you will be spending more money to cool your house through the summer if your dryer is heating it as quickly as you cool it.

3. Condensation and microscopic lint pieces cover the walls and surfaces of your laundry room or home.

Like heat, the lint and condensation should vent out the dryer vent hose. If it ends up in your living space, it means there is a clog causing it to back up, a tear or hole in the ventilation hosing, or a disconnection that needs to be corrected. If you have a gas dryer, and you notice lint and condensation in the living area, you may be in danger of carbon monoxide poisoning! Call a professional right away to make sure your family is safe inside the home.

Prevent Dryer Vent Fires With Routine Maintenance

You can save your dryer, save money, and save your property and life by scheduling routine maintenance. The clothes dryer is a great investment for your home, but needs to be properly maintained regularly. If your dryer vent wasn’t professionally installed, hasn’t been cleaned in the last 12 months, or has any of the symptoms listed above, it’s time to call White Glove for a dryer vent cleaning. We offer dryer vent cleaning using industrial tools that get the job done quickly without making a mess, and we check the vent itself for leaks as well.

Call White Glove Chimney and Air Duct today at 530-221-3331.

Check Out Our Grills for the Upcoming BBQ Season

Spring has officially arrived, and much of the country is still experiencing some winter weather. Despite cooler temperatures presently, you can still enjoy a great new barbecue grill this summer and have it just in time for barbecue season.

The Best Grills on the Market

At White Glove Chimney and Air Duct we don’t just sell and install chimney products and offer chimney and venting services. We also sell the best barbecue grill products on the market. The ceramic grills, smokers, and traditional grills that we stock, sell, install, and service are the best, and we’re proud of not only the products but the meals that our customers are able to produce with them.

We sell Saffire Grills. This ceramic grill is no ordinary grill. When you choose and use the Saffire Kamado, you benefit from an ancient style of cooking brought right to your door or patio. The Saffire Kamado holds more food, is great for beginners, and is versatile. Chefs young and old and of varying skill levels are able to cook many different kinds of food and in different ways. This grill is great for searing meats, slow smoking, and even baking. Cook meat one day and bake sourdough bread the next. The grill is easy to clean, and the grime that you get from a traditional grill will not hamper the taste of your other foods.

Better Efficiency with Saffire Grills

The grills we sell at our White Glove House of Fire are of the highest efficiency, easier to start and offer better control. They offer better precision, easier cooking, and allow you to use less charcoal-saving you money on wasted food, charcoal, and gas.

Benefits and Features of Saffire Grills

When you buy a Saffire Grill, you don’t just get the benefit of using an exceptional grill product.
Your new grill also includes:

• Limited Lifetime Warranty
• High-Quality Commercial Grade Stainless Steel Hardware
• Industry’s Only Solid Cast Stainless Steel Control Top
• Firebox Access Door
• Ember Guard
• Efficiency Plate to Reduce Heat Loss
• Cast Iron Grate to Prevent Charcoal Fall-Through
• Secondary Cooking Grid
• Optional Cooking Grid Elevator
• Smokin’ Chip Feeder
• Ceramic Heat Deflector

Your new grill will not be an eyesore either. The craftsmanship of Saffire means a variety of beautiful and sleek styles. Choose from Onyx Black, Jasper Red, or Sapphire Blue. You can pair it with a wood table with a wood top, a wood table with granite top, steel cart with bamboo top, or just choose to use it solo. The three sizes allow customers to choose the best grill for their needs. If you only cook for your family, the small will work for you. If you frequently invite a large group to your get-togethers, an XL will be more than enough.

Still not sure what will work best for you? Talk with the professionals by visiting us at the House of Fire or call us at 530-221-3331.

Why Every Chimney Needs a Liner

There are many parts that make up a working chimney. If these parts are missing or damaged…your chimney may not be working properly. Many homeowners won’t even know the chimney has a problem because much of the system is hidden from the untrained eye. In fact, the largest part of the system–and one of the most important–is hidden completely from view. That is the liner.

The Liner’s Job

The chimney liner is a lot like the skin of a human. It provides a protective layer between the heat/fire and the masonry. It also helps with optimum airflow by providing a smooth surface for the flue interior. The large and heat-resistant flue liner has many jobs. The variety of materials it is made up of helps it to do its job.

• The liner protects the masonry from the fire.

The chemical byproducts produced by the fire are harmful to masonry. In fact, if soot and creosote is allowed to sit on the masonry, it will corrode the mortar, especially during humid weather.

• The liner keeps toxic gases in their place.

When fuel is burned, carbon monoxide and other hazardous vapors are produced and vented by the chimney system. Because of the porous nature of the masonry, these gases would be able to move through the masonry and into the home without a liner. The liner keeps the gases from getting into the house, preventing smoke inhalation, carbon monoxide poisoning, and other respiratory issues.

• The liner protects the house from heat exposure.

Masonry is a conductor of heat. If not for the liner, the heat from the chimney would transfer to building materials in the house, slowly drying beams and boards, making them brittle and weak, and even causing flammable materials to ignite. The liner’s refractory qualities keep heat from escaping the chimney’s masonry.

• The liner provides for smooth airflow.

No matter what type of liner you have, it should be smooth, and sized appropriately for best airflow. If the chimney is too large for the capacity of the fire, air can stall and cause draft issues. A liner can resize the flue for best ventilation. An old clay tile liner with gaps and buildup can obstruct airflow. Relining systems like Heatshield can restore a damaged liner to the smooth and durable surface needed for a safe chimney.

Types of Liners

Depending on the age of your home, and the fuel type, there are a few different types of liners that may be in your chimney. Older masonry chimneys have clay tile liners, a cheap option that doesn’t last long. These liners are either repaired with Heatshield refractory sealant or replaced with a stainless steel liner. Clay tile liners are not safe for use with gas fires, so if you’re thinking of converting, you will need to talk to a professional about relining.

White Glove Chimney & Air Duct relines chimneys. We assess chimney liners through a level 1, 2, or 3 inspections, and we prolong the life of your liner and chimney by performing routine sweeps.

Worried about your liner? Contact White Glove today. Call us today or request an appointment online.

Start Thinking Chimney Repairs Soon

Do you have a chimney that hasn’t been seen by a professional in the last 12 months? Have you been burning a fire in a fireplace that is visibly damaged, leaking, stained, or missing a cap or other component? Have you purchased a new home that has a fireplace, and you’re not sure if it was properly inspected by a CSIA certified chimney sweep? It’s not too late. Even if you are using your fireplace daily, it isn’t too late to call a professional and have it inspected and fixed before winter is over. Having your chimney repaired can raise the chimney’s efficiency and make it safer. When your chimney is safe and efficient it will save you money in the long-run.  Start Thinking Chimney Repairs Soon – Chico CA – White Glove

Avoid Winter Damage

If you schedule chimney repairs soon, you can avoid some serious winter damage. Ordinary wear and tear on masonry can become serious damage during winter due to the freeze/thaw cycle. This is what happens when water settles into cracks and voids in the masonry. As temperatures drop, the water freezes, expanding and busting apart the masonry. When temperatures rise, the water melts, moving further into the damaged masonry, and repeating the process. As the freeze/thaw cycle repeats throughout winter, it can cause dangerous and costly damage over time. If you have visible damage or haven’t had the chimney serviced in the last 12 months, you may already have winter damage. Have it checked out now, and rest assured you’ll be ready for the rest of winter.

Maximize Fuel and Heat

If your chimney is damaged and remains unrepaired, it will continue to work less efficiently, even dangerously, for the rest of the winter. A damaged chimney will not work correctly. The air will not flow out the flue properly, causing more deposits of soot and creosote on the flue walls. It raises the fire risk, makes it more difficult to light and keep a fire burning at a decent temperature, you’ll even burn more wood to reach the desired temperature. Don’t waste your firewood, your time, or risk your home, your money, or your life. Schedule chimney repairs now, and get the most out of your fireplace.

Avoid Water Leaks

Damage that goes unrepaired now will lead to leaks in the spring. Spring showers will have access to your chimney, and water wreaks havoc on masonry. It not only damages parts of your chimney system but can also damage other parts of your home. Water will get into your home by way of the chimney and then flow through ceilings, walls, and floors until it forms a leak. Your ceiling may leak several feet away from the chimney, but it will still be caused by the chimney leak that could have been prevented. Water damage is 100 percent preventable, and homeowners rarely see it before it causes damage, so it’s best to prevent it.

When you begin thinking about tax season, spring cleaning, and warm weather, don’t forget your chimney system. It’s a great time to schedule necessary services, including an annual inspection, and a professional chimney sweep.

Call White Glove Chimney and Air Duct for your chimney repairs. We care about your home and family and want to help you get the most out of your chimney system this winter. Winter isn’t over yet, and there is plenty of time to have your chimney repaired, and still enjoy a warm fireplace these remaining weeks of winter.

Call us today and start your appointment.