The Dangers of Ignoring the Need for Chimney Repair

Nov 16
08:40

2011

Bob B. Hamilton

Bob B. Hamilton

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Homeowners who operate their fireplace during the colder months should have their chimney cleaned and inspected once or twice each year. You will want to catch any problems as soon as possible. It is important that you do not ignore any problems which will require repairs to be made.

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Homeowners who operate their fireplace during the colder months should have their chimney cleaned and inspected once or twice each year.  You will want to catch any problems as soon as possible.  It is important that you do not ignore any problems which will require repairs to be made.

Over time your chimney's flue may become blocked with dirt or other debris.  You do not want this to happen because it will cause smoke and harmful gases to come back into your home.  Gases such as carbon monoxide cannot be detected using any of your senses so you will never know it is there until it is too late.

Creosote commonly builds up inside your chimney too.  This is particularly a problem if you burn your fires very slowly since it allows more solids to combine with the smoke going up your chimney.  This creosote is very flammable and can easily lead to a chimney fire which can spread throughout the house.

Certain parts of your chimney may also be damaged.  For example,The Dangers of Ignoring the Need for Chimney Repair Articles the liner may develop a crack or there may be missing pieces of mortar inside the chimney.  These two issues should never be ignored because they can lead to serious problems.

Heat can escape through these damaged areas and ignite flammable objects situated around the chimney.  If a chimney fire occurs the flames can also escape out of these areas and cause the fire to spread to other places.

Chimney flashing is installed in order to keep the area where your chimney meets your roof watertight.  If the metal is bent out of shape or rusted it will allow water to seep through.  You should not let this go without being repaired.  Moisture causes all sorts of problems if it enters your home on a regular basis.

Your chimney cap should also be installed correctly.  It helps keep animals from setting up a home inside your chimney.  However, it also keeps burning embers and sparks inside the chimney and away from your roofing materials.  Needless to say if something happens to your chimney cap it dramatically increases the chances of you experiencing a fire on your roof.

It is best for you to have your chimney inspected regularly and have any repairs made as soon as you can if there is a problem detected.  Do not try to fix the problem yourself if you do not know what you are doing.  Call a licensed, bonded, and insured professional in to do the job properly.