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What to Know About Chimney Repair

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Being a homeowner can be challenging at times. There's a lot you need to know and do to keep all the different aspects of your home running efficiently. For starters, a working fireplace is a cozy and wonderful luxury to have, especially during the winter. Seeing that the smoke released from a fireplace contains harmful gases like carbon monoxide that can cause illness or even death, you also need a functioning chimney to draw the smoke and gases out of the property. This makes the chimney an important part of the home, both for convenience and safety purposes.

The Importance of Chimney Repair

The chimney has several potential issues that need to be addressed from time to time. As mentioned before, a chimney is meant to allow the fumes, smoke and undetectable dangers to safely exit the home. Any interruptions can quickly turn to life-threatening situations. For instance, some kind of damage or physical blockage within the chimney can lead to poor ventilation. Also, cracks in the chimney can leak heat to the surrounding walls, causing structural damage or even house fires. From silent poisoning to fires, damaged chimneys can easily cause major disasters if left unattended. In addition, if these problems are not detected and repaired on time, they can quickly escalate to more costly and extensive repairs in the future.

Common Repair Issues

Some of the most common chimney issues to look out for include:

Creosote buildup: After continued use, the chimney will have soot buildup known as creosote. This substance is highly flammable and can ignite and cause dangerous chimney fires. It's a good idea to contact a professional to eliminate this dangerous material and don't forget to clean the chimney at least once a year. Burning hardwood can also help keep the chimney clean.

Blockage: There are several forms of blockage, including debris, leaves and animal nests. Blockage of the chimney flue can prevent dangerous gases from leaving the house, thereby causing poor ventilation. Invest in a chimney cap to prevent outside blockage.

Brickwork problems: You're likely to see cracked or missing bricks in your chimney, especially in older homes. If left unattended, this can lead to larger cracks that can permanently damage the chimney and leave it unusable.

Damage to chimney flashing: A dry and water-free chimney is essential to a working fireplace; therefore, if you notice any signs of leakage, contact a roofing professional to inspect your flashing.

Cracks in the flue and the chimney itself: Cracks can allow leakage of smoke and heat into the surrounding walls and the home at large, which may lead to house fires or the danger of smoke inhalation.

Prevention and Maintenance

To ensure your chimney stays in good condition, first look out for any cracks or gaps from the outside on a regular basis. These places are often stained by smoke, making them easy to spot. When using the fireplace, keep the flames burning nice and hot to help minimize creosote buildup. Install working carbon monoxide detectors in your property, especially in sleeping areas, to help indicate a ventilation problem.

Most importantly, schedule cleaning and examination of the chimney once a year, or more if you use the fireplace regularly, with a chimney repair professional. The checkups are best done in the spring and summer to give time to make the needed repairs before the fall and winter seasons. With regular inspections, proper maintenance, and taking preventive measures, you can avoid costly repairs and ensure the chimney gives you years of safe and worry-free service.

Signs You Need Chimney Repair

Since the chimney is invisible, most people make the mistake of taking it for granted. Just like any other part of the house, problems do arise. Unfortunately, most homeowners tend to discover chimney problems upon use. These are some of the obvious signs that your chimney may be damaged: efflorescence or white staining on the chimney, rust, deteriorating mortar joints, shaling (thin slices of chimney tile collecting in the fireplace), spalling, damaged wallpaper, and chimney crown damage. Contact a professional if you notice any of these signs.

Hiring a Chimney Sweep

There are minor repairs you can do yourself. However, considering the seriousness of what could happen in the chimney, hiring the right chimney sweep is a safety issue. For that reason, it's always best to contact an experienced, licensed, and insured professional to do chimney repairs. Nowadays, there are several chimney repair frauds. Therefore, be careful when hiring. Never hire someone who shows up to your door uninvited and beware of telemarketing offers with very low prices. To find the right chimney sweep, use referrals from friends and family or check out a company's customer reviews before settling on them.