A chimney may seem like a low maintenance feature of the house, but in real chimney repair is really necessary as neglecting the chimney may lead to hazardous consequences.
Chimney Problems
A chimney adds value and warmth to your house, with a small cozy fireplace and red earthen bricks with a light fire burning and producing a wisp of smoke from the chimney vent. It makes your house warm or cold winter nights and also adds an elegant touch to your house, but it comes will a whole set of responsibilities and maintenance. Listed below are the most common chimney problems.
- Chimney Crowns and Caps
The tops of your chimney are made into a chimney crown and sometimes a chimney cap also added. These chimney crowns protect the chimney against water and moisture. But over time the crown can become damaged. Chipped and cracked and the water from the rains and melting snow may slide down into the chimney causing a build-up of moisture which can further damage the bricks and the mortar. This could damage the whole chimney and also the walls of your house. You will need to call your chimney contractor if you notice damage in your chimney crowns so that he could seal the chimney. For chimney repair in some cases, the contractor will need to replace the chimney crown.
- Brickwork Issues
The bricks that make up your chimney are joint with mortar. The bricks are very long-lasting but over time if you neglect your chimney then the mortar may become loose and your chimney is exposed to moisture and all sorts of debris. In some cases, the chimney may even collapse and cause further destruction. To avoid this, call your chimney contractor regularly for inspection and maintenance of your chimney. He may remove the mortar and join it with a fresh one for the stronghold of the chimney bricks.
- The Buildup of Creosote
when wood is burnt in your fireplace, the smoke goes up leaving behind a layer of creosote in your flue lining. The creosote is a mixture of brown and black tar and soot and is a carbon powder, which can be flammable, overtime the deposited creosote increases. This creosote is responsible for many house fires. The maintenance and cleaning of your chimney are necessary every 6 months to avoid dangerous fires.
- Flue Cracks
Before making the fireplace, a flue lining is also added which protects the chimney from dangerous fires. Mostly the flue lining is made up of clay which is quite economical. A steel flue lining is very expensive and never needs to be replaced. However, the clay lining may get cracks and chips and get damaged with time due to a lot of heat and smoke. These cracks are very dangerous as it can leak dangerous gases into the house and may also start a house fire. If you notice any cracks, then contact your chimney contractor marlboro md instantly as a cracked chimney should never be used.
- Blocked Chimney
There can be many other blockages in your chimney apart from creosote, such as dirt and debris and also the nests of different birds. Mostly this happens if your chimney has not been used for a very long time. Chimney repair is recommended by the experts to remove any blockages and to avoid fires and further destruction.