If you want to make sure your practical fireplace addition doesn’t cause a fire or another potentially dangerous issue, you’ll need to inspect your chimney every year before the cold sets in.
To make sure you know what to look out for, here are a few key points of interest for every chimney-owning homeowner.
Obstructions
All sorts of refuse or debris can end up blocking up your chimney, including dust, dirt, and even branches and leaves from outside. Even animals such as raccoons and squirrels can find their way into a chimney, building nests and causing issues.
In addition, if your structure isn’t tall enough, a natural updraft can stop the smoke from passing out of the chimney naturally. Having negative air pressure in your home can pull smoke back towards its source, instead of outside in the opposite direction.
The accumulation of these kinds of fumes can be harmful to your and your loved one’s health, so be sure to ensure that your chimney is both tall enough and clean enough to properly function.
Creosote
Wood is commonly burned in chimneys. When the smoke from this wood begins to travel up the chimney, a substance called creosote, a mix of soot and tar, settles into the flue lining. This mixture is flammable and can cause a fire if buildup is allowed to accumulate over time.
Since creosote is a natural byproduct of burning wood, this substance is something every chimney owner must watch out for. Creosote can manifest in many different ways, but keep an eye out for blockages in your chimney that can be sticky, hard, crusty, or flaky.
When in doubt, call an expert.
Problems With the Brickwork
Even if nothing else is wrong with your chimney, neglecting it can lead to it collapsing on itself. This happens in part due to the structure being penetrated by water, thus ruining mortar and the brickwork.
One of the basic tenets of chimney repair is that it’s a good idea to replace any damaged, worn out bricks, or mortar you find. If you don’t have the tools or know-how to do this yourself, you can call a chimney repair service to take care of it for you.
Your Chimney’s Cap and Crown
Your chimney’s top is called its crown. While not required, you can choose to have a cap installed over it; this is usually a good idea because your crown can start to crack, paving the way for water to leak into the inner composition of your chimney.
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This water can damage the rest of your home as well, so it’s important to monitor your chimney’s crown periodically. Check for cracks, weather damage, and general wear and tear. Replacement caps can be found at home and hardware stores.
Having a chimney can be a helpful way to save on energy bills, as well as a charming addition to a home. But if you let your chimney get to the point that it needs to be thoroughly repaired or even replaced, you could be looking at thousands of dollars in bills.
It is much more cost-effective to keep an eye on your chimney, especially during the times of the year when you use it the most.
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