What Homeowners Get Wrong About Chimneys
As chimney sweeps, we’ve seen how homeowners struggle to understand that, unlike refrigerators, for example, chimneys need ongoing maintenance. Here at Chimney Saver Solutions, we can’t help sharing what homeowners get wrong about chimneys. We believe the effort is worth it! The safety of your home and family may be in the balance. The following are some of the top things that take many of our customers completely off guard, and they involve safety and the high cost of repairs. Another area has to do with reduced efficiency of their heating appliance.
DIY Chimney Cleaning
It is not unusual for homeowners in the Richmond, VA area to attempt do-it-yourself chimney cleaning. Online gurus often give misleading advice, something many have learned in the hardest way imaginable. For example, homeowners will read about a log they can burn that will supposedly clean their chimney for them. These are sometimes the ones whose homes end up being badly damaged by a chimney fire or have even worse outcomes.
Creosote is usually the reason a chimney needs cleaning. A byproduct of wood combustion, creosote is toxic and highly flammable. Every wood fire leaves behind creosote deposits in the flue liner. But what many homeowners get wrong is thinking creosote can always be removed with a chimney brush. Actually, there are three types of creosote deposits, and special heavy-duty industry equipment is required to remove two of them. A professional chimney brush can effectively remove the other type of creosote, but that requires working on the roof with a hazardous material.
Climbing onto the roof to work is truly risky. Statistics show that “falls from roofs” is the workplace accident category with the most deaths virtually every year. Our chimney sweeps have the training and equipment to protect themselves from falls. We urge homeowners to leave chimney cleaning to CSIA-certified chimney sweeps.
We also take steps to protect ourselves from creosote. Two primary toxic components in creosote can cause harm. Phenols are compounds that can irritate the skin and cause respiratory issues. The other components are PAHs, which have long been recognized for their carcinogenic properties. Prolonged exposure to the PAHs in creosote can result in long-term health effects, including cancer.
Deteriorating Chimney Masonry
For a well-maintained chimney, there is a fierce, ongoing battle to keep moisture out. When water gets into brick masonry, it is on track to eventually go flat. The freezing and thawing cycles of winter cause the moisture inside the bricks to expand and contract, and that movement becomes any brick’s demise.
Homeowners who take no action when they see cracks in the chimney masonry, white staining on the chimney, bits of crumbled masonry on the roof, or flaking, crumbling mortar may not realize the mistake they are making. Those conditions are just a few of the signs of moisture intrusion. A professional chimney sweep should be called without delay! The longer moisture problems are left unresolved, the more expensive the cost when repairs are finally made.
Damaged Chimney Liner
Finally, when everything else on a chimney may look perfect, there could still be an unseen, catastrophic danger. You can’t see the chimney liner, but it is the most important component that is protecting your home and family. If there is even a tiny crack in the flue liner, one of the resulting threats is a sudden house fire that quickly spreads. Another is exposure to potentially deadly carbon monoxide. Of the toxic gases produced by fires, carbon monoxide is the most dangerous. It is called The Silent Killer because it is odorless, tasteless, invisible, and symptomless.
Annual chimney inspections for every chimney, even if not used, are urged by fire safety experts. The most valuable thing about a Level 2 chimney inspection is that a video camera is used to take a look at the entire chimney liner. If there is damage, you should schedule a chimney liner replacement before using your fireplace or heating stove again.
Our Chimney Experts Can Help When Chimneys Go Wrong
At Chimney Saver Solutions, our technicians get all the training and experience necessary to provide reliable chimney services. The more we learn on the job, the more concerned we get about what homeowners get wrong about chimneys. Reach out to us if you have any questions. If your chimney hasn’t been inspected in over a year, give us a call. We can provide an inspection any time of year, but summer and spring are the best seasons to get your chimney checked out. If masonry repairs are needed, they are far less expensive in the summer than in winter—having to do with how masonry components “set.”
We provide comprehensive services. So, call Chimney Saver for fireplace installation, masonry repair, chimney cap replacement, tuckpointing, and many more services. You can also fill out our online form today, and we will be sure to get back to you as soon as possible.
