What to Know About Chimney Repairs and Maintenance
It’s easy to forget about your fireplace chimney if you only use it a few times per year. However, like every other part of your home, you need to keep a close eye on your chimney and may need to bring in professionals to repair and maintain it. Let’s go over some key considerations.
The Stakes Are High
The most important thing to remember with chimney fireplaces is that a malfunctioning or improperly maintained chimney can be dangerous. If your chimney is not in good repair, the risks of a fire starting or carbon monoxide poisoning occurring are much higher. Keep in mind, that fires produce carbon monoxide, and in some cases, the gases could flow into your home. It’s wise to set up carbon monoxide detectors.
Each year, roughly 80,000 fires are linked in some way to chimneys according to the National Chimney Safety Institute. That said, don’t let these warnings scare you. If you have your fireplace and chimney regularly cleaned and inspected, the risks are low. If a problem does emerge, the right repairs can restore safety.
Prevention is the Best Route
In medicine, they say that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. That can certainly prove true with maintenance around the home. Regularly cleaning your fireplace chimney and using it correctly can reduce the risk of serious problems. Angi’s List also notes preventive cleaning can help delay chimney repair and keep your chimney in good condition. In the long run, this can help you keep costs low.
Repair Can Be a Necessity
First, if you don’t clean your chimney, creosote can build up inside it. This material is a dark tar and is highly flammable. It can start fires. Soot build-ups can also cause problems and material build-ups can increase the risks of exposure to toxic fumes. Another problem is water. Often, the stones and mortar used to create a chimney can act like a sponge, soaking up water. This can encourage the formation of cracks that can expand with time. This could result in your chimney no longer functioning correctly.
Many other factors could come into play if you have a fireplace chimney. Fortunately, by working with professional chimney sweeps and repair providers, you can greatly reduce the risks. If you need assistance with your fireplace, contact WNC Chimney Solutions.
