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Chimney Contractor: Chimney Mistakes That Can Get You Burned

If you have a chimney you use it to warm your house, but did you know that there are a number of mistakes that you can do and get burned? To shed some light here are the mistakes that you should avoid making:

Hiring any chimney contractor

For your chimney to be safe and function efficiently you have to clean it regularly. You also need to undertake regular chimney inspection. While you can do the work by yourself if you have the skills, it’s always recommended that you hire a chimney contractor to do it. In addition to the professional offering quality services, he/she will also identify problems and fix them before they get worse.

Most homeowners don’t take their chimneys seriously; therefore, they hire any contractor that comes their way. While some of the contractors offer ideal services, most don’t. For you to hire the right contractor you need to take your time and do your research. When hiring, take a look at the portfolio of the contractor. He/she should be experienced. He/she should also be certified by the necessary regulatory bodies.

Allowing birds and animals to live in your chimney

While birds might look beautiful when they are flying out of your chimney, they pose a great danger to your chimney and you property at large. The safety and warmth provided by the chimney attracts birds and animals that build nests up there. These nests tend to prevent smoke from escaping from the house. There are also some birds and animals that die in the chimney causing further chimney blockage.

When your chimney is blocked, it means that plenty of creosote is deposited on the chimney walls. This puts your chimney at the risk of catching fire. Also due to blockage, carbon monoxide isn’t properly expelled from the house. As you know, high levels of the gas are poisonous thus you risk dying in your sleep when you allow birds and animals in your chimney.

To avoid this you should contact the animal control department and ask them to remove the birds and animals from your chimney.

Cleaning the chimney by yourself

You need to undertake chimney cleaning to maintain your chimney in good working condition and keep it safe. In the bid of saving money, some homeowners opt to clean the fireplaces by themselves. While you can clean the fireplace by yourself, you won’t give the best results as you won’t have the necessary cleaning tools. To be on the safe side hire a chimney sweeping professional to help you out.

The post Blog first appeared on First Class Chimney Services.

This post first appeared on https://www.firstclasschimneyservices.com

Introducing Drone Inspections! What Drone Inspections Tell Us

drone inspections for chimney inspectionsDrone Inspections Tell Us

Your chimney is put through its paces, and the top is exposed to all the elements all the time; think about the extreme sun, heat, and rain we have been experiencing. The chimney peak is one of the most ignored areas of the home, because it’s usually out of sight, out of mind, and normally not addressed until there’s something visibly wrong – which typically translates to more serious issues. But what do you do when access is not easily achievable? A drone inspection may be your answer.

These days we run into a variety of obstacles that affect our ability to safely gain access to the chimney stack; these include slate or Spanish tile roofs, solar panels, pitch and height hurdles, metal roofing materials (gaining popularity in this area), and weather elements all are considerations when planning roof access.

Manual inspection of residential structures, commercial buildings, and other property can be costly and high risk. Inspections can be especially risky when roofs are wet or when the weather is extremely cold or windy. The safety and agility of drones for inspection work increases both safety and efficiency and reduces cost.

Drone inspections can be quicker and less expensive than manual roof or building inspection and can often eliminate the need for a manual inspection altogether. Drone roof inspections offer accuracy, safety, and speed.

Regular exterior inspections of commercial buildings are recommended to discover hazards, determine any type of damages, and mitigate risk.

Placing and climbing a ladder on the exterior of any building over three stories can be difficult and is dangerous. Drone inspection is a good candidate in these situations. Rather than relying on binoculars and ladders, often, we can use a drone to check roofs and hard-to-reach exteriors for signs of damage or deterioration. Often, we are able to inspect areas of a building that would previously be very expensive to reach.

By using a drone, we can also provide photographs of building sections that are not easily accessible. A drone’s ability to provide images and video that would otherwise be difficult to capture is a great reason to employ a drone property inspection.

During a property sale, drone inspections are often very cost-effective for both property buyers and property sellers to mitigate risk and avoid delaying a transaction.

When safely gaining access to the roof poses an issue, we would typically rent an aerial lift. Still, these can be intrusive to landscape and very expensive – especially when it’s just for inspectional purposes. Drone inspections offer us a cost-effective, safe alternative to allow us to gain “access” to an area that is usually off-limits.

Call Boston’s Best Chimney for a Drone Inspection

It is best to have your chimney inspected annually and swept annually or as needed. If we find that your chimney has a masonry issue, we can then help to see whether you need your chimney rebuilt or repointed. If you would like to schedule a chimney inspection, click here or call (781) 893-6611 to contact us.

The post Introducing Drone Inspections! What Drone Inspections Tell Us appeared first on Boston's Best Chimney.

Plenty of Rain, High Humidity, and You’re Wondering Why the Fireplace Smells

Plenty of Rain, High Humidity, and You’re Wondering Why the Fireplace Smells by Superior Chimney

Some homeowners might shrug-off the fireplace smell as most households have air conditioning. If you have the air conditioning on, then the fireplace won’t smell…right?

Not so fast.

First, glass doors are frequently found in front of the fireplace. How does the fresh air get in there? It doesn’t. Also, let’s say you have a screen in front of the fireplace, the cool air might linger in the fireplace itself, but it doesn’t go up the chimney. That’s where the smells build and linger.

5 Causes of Moisture Build-Up Inside of the Chimney

  1. Poor Ventilation: Air flow in the chimney is important to keep the moisture level down. When moisture builds, the musty smell occurs. But remember, the musty smell can be the start of something more like mold and mildew.
  2. Humidity: Chicago certainly has plenty of humid days. As the cool air stays in the fireplace, you can be sure the warm moist air is slowly moving through your chimney, sometimes just sitting there for longer periods of time.
  3. Chimney Cap: An old, broken or non-existent chimney cap causes the rain and snow to make its way inside of the chimney. With the rain coming at us horizontally lately, there’s certainly cause for concern with the rain making its way down the chimney.
  4. Rain and Snow: Speaking of weather elements, we want to try to keep rain and snow down to minimum in the chimney as it’s quite easy for the moisture to accumulate.
  5. Cracks in the Chimney: As we all know, as soon as there is a crack in the bricks and/or mortar, moisture just found a new entry point. Over time, it will continue to deteriorate and more moisture will build up and continue to open it up more.

The Smell of Moisture

So now that we know how moisture builds up and gets into our home, let’s talk about the musty smell.

  1. Creosote: If you have a wood burning fireplace, use it or not, there may be creosote deposits on the side of the walls or chimney liner of the chimney. Add moisture to the creosote and you get a musty, smoky smell that is quite unpleasant if left untreated.
  2. Mold & Mildew: Mold and mildew does have a musty like smell. This gets formed from a buildup of moisture that gets trapped.
  3. BBQ or Smoky Smell: This is not a fresh smell of a steak cooking on the BBQ, it’s more of the unpleasant stale burnt smell. This is often caused by soot or creosote sitting in the chimney. Mix it with moisture and it develops this not-so friendly smell.

So now that you know this is a bigger problem than you thought and the lovely smell won’t go away by itself, let’s discuss what a Superior Chimney inspection can offer to get rid of the musty, smoky, BBQ smell.

  • Inspect the Chimney Flue: The chimney flue is the vent for the flow of air & exhaust from your firebox to the chimney top. If there is an obstruction, the certified technician will find and clear the path. At the same time, they’ll inspect the chimney flue to ensure it is in good working order.
  • Chimney Sweep: With regular sweeping of the chimney and fireplace, the musty order may be controlled. This may also prevent any mold or mildew build up, along with creosote or debris that easily form over time. Remember, the smell can come from wood burning and gas fireplaces. It’s just not one or the other, it is both.
  • Chimney cap: The chimney cap plays a vital role in the health of your chimney – Every chimney needs a chimney cap for the same reasons every home needs a roof!  It works to keep the weather elements out of your home along with your neighborhood squirrels, raccoons, birds, bats and much, much more. If the chimney cap is missing, rusted, or broken it can play a part of developing the musty smell. The chimney inspection will uncover if there is a problem with the chimney cap and if one needs to be added or replaced.
  • Waterproof the Chimney: We recently posted an article on Chimney Saver. If you want to keep moisture out of the porous bricks and mortar, then waterproofing the chimney will certainly do the trick. It isn’t a solution you do every year; Chimney Saver usually lasts about 10 years. Ask your certified chimney technicians if its right for you.

Last Words…

Yes, it is a challenge living in Chicago where we have extreme temperatures, high and low humidity, each and every year. Can you imagine what your poor chimney goes through every day? It’s the highest point of the home and it takes a beating. So be nice to your chimney and, in return, it won’t stink. Schedule an inspection today. Call us at 877-CHIM-FIX  (877-244-6349)


This post first appeared on https://www.superiorchimney.net

Chimney Repair: 5 Reasons Why You Should Have A Wood Stove In Your Home

Wood stoves have been around for a long time. While their designs have changed over the years, their working principle still remains the same. The units come with many benefits that include:

Wood stoves save you money

Compared to gas and electricity, wood stove heating is cheap as wood is affordable in almost all parts of the world. If you have trees in your home, you get to get the wood for free. Most of the modern wood stoves are highly efficient as they come with a wood stove insert. Due to the insert they require just a few pieces of wood to give you the heat that you need.

Wood stoves are easy to maintain

Since they are small in size you are able to easily take care of them. One of the things that you have to do is clean them in order to get rid of the ash. It’s recommended that you remove the ash before you start fire. In addition to regular cleaning it’s also wise that you hire a professional to inspect the wood stove and fix any problems that it might be having.

The fireplace is environmentally friendly

While it gives off smoke, it is environmentally friendly. Wood is a renewable resource and you can easily obtain it. It’s also “carbon-neutral” since when it burns it doesn’t add additional carbon dioxide to the environment.

You can place the wood stove in any place of the house

Wood stoves are easy to carry around; therefore, you can place them in any part of the house. This is not only convenient as you can move with your heat source to any part of the house, it is also energy saving as you only heat the part of the house that you want to warm.

When placing the wood stove be keen and only place it on a solid, flat surface. This is to prevent it from tipping over.

The wood stove improves your home decor

Wood stoves come in different sizes and designs thus you have many options to choose from. When making the purchase, you shouldn’t simply go for a unit that heats your house. Consider going for a unit that also improves your home decor.

Conclusion

These are a few benefits of having a wood burning stove. Just like with other wood burning fireplaces, always burn seasoned wood. Also ensure that you hire a chimney company to inspect the unit at least once a year.

The post Blog first appeared on First Class Chimney Services.

This post first appeared on https://www.firstclasschimneyservices.com

3 Reasons Why You Should Install A Wood Stove Insert In Your Fireplace

A wood stove insert is a unit that you place inside your old wood burning fireplace. If you are yet to install it in your fireplace you are doing yourself a disservice as there are many benefits that come with it. Here are a few of the top reasons why you should install it your fireplace:

Increase the efficiency of your fireplace

Chimney professionals estimate that the average efficiency of most wood burning fireplaces is 5-10%. This is because plenty of the heat is lost up the chimney. Open hearth chimneys have a large firebox that allows plenty of oxygen to interact with the wood. This results to the wood burning fast thus not reaching high temperatures to heat the house adequately. Wood also burns fast than it should.

A fireplace insert reduces the size of the firebox thus slowing down the rate at which the firewood burns. This results to the wood burning at high temperatures thus heating your house adequately. The insert also prevents heat loss by insulating the fireplace. This increases the efficiency of your fireplace.

You save money that you would have spent on fireplace remodeling

Fireplace remodeling requires plenty of work and money. If you are looking to improve the look of your fireplace you don’t have to go through the trouble of hiring an expensive chimney masonry repair professional. The easiest way of going about it is installing a fireplace insert. Fireplace inserts come in different sizes and designs. There are those that  flush with the face of the fireplace, others that fit totally inside the current firebox and others that project out of the firebox.  All you need to do is find the one that looks good on your fireplace.

You reduce wood-burning emissions

If you have a wood burning fireplace you know that there are plenty of emissions that come with it. According to fireplace insert manufacturers, when you install the insert you have zero wood-burning emissions. This helps you conserve the environment.

Conclusion

These are a few of the top reasons why you should install a fireplace insert in your home. When making the purchase, ensure that the insert is EPA certified. This calls for you to buy from a reputable store. To reap the full benefits of the inserts, ensure that they are installed by an experienced chimney company.  After installation, regularly inspect them to ensure that they are in perfect working condition.

The post Blog first appeared on First Class Chimney Services.

This post first appeared on https://www.firstclasschimneyservices.com

How to Baby Proof a Fireplace

fireplace safety, farmington ctWhen a new baby arrives, things start to change.  New parents begin to experience no sleep, poopy diapers, bottles, formula, along with a new sense of safety concerns. Safety issues come from every corner of the house.  Electrical outlets need to be covered, cabinets safety proofed, and sharp objects need to be out of reach. Does anyone think about the fireplace?  That thought ordinarily doesn’t come until after the baby becomes mobile.  It is possible to have a fireplace, stove, or fireplace insert with children, it is best, however, to make adjustments before your youngster crawls.

The Fireplace Hearth & Surrounding Area

The best place to start baby-proofing your fireplace is the outside.  If the fireplace has a hearth, chances are, it is made of concrete, stone, or marble and has sharp edges.  That alone sounds like a trip to the emergency room.

If there is a handy person in your family, talk to them about what you need.  Blocks of foam rubber can be fashioned into a fireplace guard.  If that is not an option, go to your local fireplace dealer and chat with them.  They may have what you are looking for or know of someone who does.

Putting up a fence or gate is also an option to protect little ones. It is crucial to secure any barrier, so little hands and feet don’t push them over, causing an accident

Does the fireplace have glass doors?  Would those glass doors break if the baby pushes or hits the doors?  If you can get a substantial guard around the hearth, you can also keep your youngster away from the glass.

Fireplace Accessories

Fireplace tools are just as dangerous as a flame.  Unfortunately, these instruments are either swinging from hooks or are leaning against each other.  As you can imagine, swinging or leaning sharp metal or iron tools can fall on little ones.  Keep them out of harm’s way.

Invest In a Carbon Monoxide Detector

Installing a carbon monoxide detector is as important as a smoke detector.  Carbon monoxide is a tasteless, odorless, invisible gas that can kill.  The American Medical Association estimates 50,000 people spend some time in the emergency room due to CO poisoning.  Unfortunately, nearly five hundred of them die yearly.

Installing both a smoke detector and CO detector may seem excessive, but these two little tools save lives.

chimney inspection in bristol ctFireplace Inspection & Cleaning

Having mentioned the outside of the fireplace, let’s talk about the inside.  Have your fireplace and chimney inspected by a certified chimney sweep.  Regardless of who the homeowner hires, it is best if they are certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America.  They only certify the best.  When interviewing them, ask them directly about certification.

When they arrive, let them know your concerns about the chimney and your children.  The chimney sweep will clean and inspect all aspects of your chimney inside and out.  Cleaning can prevent fires, smoke damage, and carbon monoxide poisoning.

Be Prepared, Be Proactive

Making the above changes is proactive; however, being there and being aware is the best preventive measure.  Any parent knows if a child has free reign of a house, they will take advantage of it.  Keep an eye on little ones.

Call Northeastern Chimney, LLC

Northeastern Chimney, LLC has been taking care of central Connecticut resident’s chimneys for nearly 40 years. The employees are continually trained in new technics and new tools in the cleaning and servicing of chimneys. Call Northeastern Chimney, LLC for all of your fireplace and chimney needs.

Northeastern Chimney, LLC
37 Cody Street, West Hartford, Connecticut 06110
Phone: 860-233-5770

This post first appeared on https://www.mychimney.com

What to Do about Mold in Your Chimney

Under the right conditions, chimney flues can be ideal places to harbor mold growth. Mold thrives in dark, poorly vented and damp areas. Your chimney is already dark and poorly vented (compared with an open room in your home, for example). Add moisture from a leak somewhere in the chimney system, and the stage is set for mold growth, requiring a professional chimney sweep.

Over the last several decades, a lot of information has been released outlining the harmful effects that certain types of mold can have on people. Symptoms observed after mold inhalation have included sore throat, allergic reactions, and persistent cough and lung infections. In some cases, mold has been a contributing factor in deaths.

Preventing mold growth in your chimney

chimney crown repair, leawood ksWhile no action you can take will guarantee there will never be any mold in your chimney, there are several things you can do to reduce the chances of a serious outbreak. The key to mold prevention is keeping water and moisture out of your flue.

Water can get into chimney structures in these four primary ways:

  1. Through the top of the flue openings if there’s no chimney cap: Rain and snow have an open path into the flue when a chimney cap isn’t there to serve as a block. If your chimney has no cap or the one you have is damaged, address this issue immediately.
  2. Through cracks in the chimney crown: Concrete chimney crowns can crack over the years, eventually allowing in enough water to create an ongoing cycle of water intrusion. Any area below the crown, which covers the top of your chimney minus the flue pipe, is susceptible to mold growth when moisture is present.
  3. Through warped or missing chimney flashing: Flashing seals off the gap between the roof and the exterior chimney. When flashing is damaged (or missing), water can run down into the home, affecting the masonry below the roof and building materials of the home. These areas can harbor large outbreaks of mold.
  4. Through cracks in the bricks and mortar: Chimney masonry can be cracked and otherwise damaged by weather events, earthquakes, house-settling and old age. Inferior bricks and mortar used to build the chimney will crack and decay sooner than expected. Water coming through these openings can easily contribute to the growth of mold.

chimney inspection, prairie village ksInspecting a chimney for mold

Chimney repair companies and most chimney sweeps offer licensed chimney inspections that will detect the presence of mold. This is the only way you can know for sure if there’s mold in your chimney flue and how much is present.

Along with mold detection, a proper chimney inspection will determine the source of any chimney leaks and recommend the correct way to resolve these problems.

Professional chimney sweeps have the tools and training to safely remove mold from your chimney. They’ll also remove flammable creosote (which could lead to a chimney fire) and any outside debris that may have entered the flue and could cause drafting problems.

If it’s been more than a year since your last chimney inspection and cleaning, now is a good time to schedule this service. Annual inspections and chimney sweeping are two excellent ways to keep your chimney free of excess mold spores and to ensure that it operates safely and efficiently all winter long.

Fluesbrothers Chimney & Fireplace of Kansas City, KS, provides full-service chimney mold inspections, CSIA-certified chimney cleaning and all repair work throughout your chimney/fireplace system. Speak with an expert today at (913) 236-7141.

 

The post What to Do about Mold in Your Chimney appeared first on Fluesbrothers Chimney Service.

Chimney Contractor: Guide On How To Take Care Of Your Outdoor Fireplace

An outdoor fireplace serves a great place to relax with friends and family. You can also use it to cook foods that you wouldn’t cook inside the house. For the fireplace to continue working efficiently and safely you need to take good care of it. To help you out here are tips on how to take care of yours:

Regularly clean the fireplace

Whether you have a wood, gas, or any other type of outdoor fireplace you have to hire a chimney contractor to clean it. Clean the fireplace after putting out the fire. In addition to the regular cleaning you should also hire a chimney professional to undertake thorough cleaning of the fireplace once a year.

During regular cleaning be cautious that you don’t damage the fireplace. You should be more cautious if your fireplace is portable and made of clay.

Schedule annual fireplace inspection

Even if you will be using the fireplace outdoors it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t inspect it. For peace of mind hire a contractor to inspect the fireplace at least once a year. The professional should inspect all areas including the sensitive burners. He/she should also get rid of dirt, insect nests and any buildup that might be blocking efficient air flow in the fireplace. When hiring the professional be cautious of the one that you hire. As rule of thumb ensure that the contractor is experienced and a specialist. If you have a gas fireplace, hire a professional that specializes in gas fireplace inspection.

Make use of protective coatings and materials

There are many materials that you can use to protect your fireplaces from damage. Heat resistant paints are one of the items that you can use. You should paint iron and cast iron surfaces. You should also consider sealing the fireplace using sealants. For ideal results seal the fireplace annually or when need arises. If using a portable fireplace, protect it from topping over by installing it on a flat, stable surface.

Store the fireplace not in use

Studies show that most homeowners use their outdoor fireplaces during the cold months of the year. To protect the fireplace from damage, store it in a safe place when you aren’t using it. If you have a metal fireplace, apply some oil on it to protect it from rust.

Conclusion

These are tips on how to maintain your outdoor fireplace. Whether you are interested in chimney inspection or repair, ensure that the technician you hire is certified to do the job.

The post Blog first appeared on First Class Chimney Services.

This post first appeared on https://www.firstclasschimneyservices.com

How to Keep Animals Out of Your Chimney this Summer

The arrival of spring brings a renewal of nature.  Flowers bloom, days start to get warmer, and best of all, babies of every species are born.  These babies are adorable and endearing, that is until you find a nest of them in your chimney.  That’s when, without a chimney inspection and cleaning, the trouble starts.

Depending on the area of the country you live in, your chimney could be home to a multitude of wildlife.  Squirrels, raccoons, and birds are the most prevalent.  Some other areas are prone to bats, mice, and rats.

It would be wise to remember the animals in your chimney may be bringing parasites with them.   Those parasites can be anything from tics and gnats to fleas and mites.  When the animals leave, the parasites don’t always go with them.  Those same parasites will start looking for another source of food, you and your family.

What happens if an animal dies in your chimney?  You not only have a decaying dead animal in your chimney, but it will also be attracting flies.  Those flies will find a way into your home, carrying disease with them.

The key to keeping animals out of your chimney is proactive rather than reactive.  There are several steps a homeowner can take to avoid visitors in any part of a chimney.

chimney inspection, rocky hill ct

Annual inspection

A chimney inspection will provide knowledge of the condition of your chimney—the best time of year for a chimney inspection in the spring.  After using your fireplace all winter, it’s essential to check the creosote buildup and the inner workings of the chimney.  The chimney sweep can check to see any wildlife setting up housekeeping anywhere in or on the chimney.

Cut Back All Avenues To The Chimney

Cutting back all branches, vines, and other accesses into your chimney is the best deterrent for wildlife.  Animals, like many things in nature, take the path of least resistance.  If it is too much work, they will find another place to nest.

Chimney Caps

One of the best ways to stop wildlife from entering is to place a chimney cap and sturdy screen on the outside opening to the chimney.  These two create the best defense against all animals, twigs, branches, and dried leaves.  A homeowner can install a chimney cap, but it is highly recommended to hire a chimney repair expert to install and guarantee their work.

keep animals out of chimneys, farmington ctPlace a Decoy on or Near the Chimney

Placing a ‘scarecrow’ decoy animal in the vicinity of the chimney, more than just birds will be frightened away.  An owl, hawk, or eagle decoy should frighten away most smaller animals.

Putting these suggestions into play will go a long way in preventing and keeping animals out of your chimney and out of your home.

Northeastern Chimney, LLC has been in the business of helping homeowners for nearly 40 years.  Each year they clean and service hundreds of chimneys in the area.

Techs will be on time for each service call, with clean uniforms and badges for identification. Their technicians are trained continually on the newest equipment and techniques for cleaning and repairing chimneys. Each technician will clean and inspect the chimney and will leave the premises as they found it.  Clean.

Anything chimney needs Northeastern Chimney, LLC.

Northeastern Chimney, LLC.

37 Cody Street

West Hartford, Connecticut 06110

Phone: 860-233-5770

 

This post first appeared on https://www.mychimney.com

How Summer Storms can Damage Your Chimney

Summer storms that dump huge amounts of rain in short periods of time can be problematic for a home causing damage to your chimney system. In fact, if the system isn’t properly maintained, any rain any time can lead to serious issues.

Here are some things you need to know about chimneys and rain.

chimney leak, independence moWater + chimneys = bad recipe

As long as the bricks and mortar and certain components that make up your chimney system are in excellent shape, rain from summer storms shouldn’t be anything to worry about. Unfortunately, most chimneys and their components are not in perfect shape.

Water that infiltrates a chimney system will cause deterioration, leading to potentially expensive repairs to both the chimney and adjacent areas within the home.

Rain can get into chimney systems in several ways. Here are some of the most common.

Cracks in the chimney crown: The concrete chimney crown at the top of the chimney can become cracked and allow water to seep through it and affect the bricks below.

A missing or damaged chimney cap: Chimney caps seal off the flue opening. With a damaged cap or no cap at all, water has a free ride into the chimney system.

Cracked or loose bricks: Water can get into these cracks and then freeze, which expands it and causes further damage. Eventually, the masonry can be compromised to the point the chimney leans or falls apart.

Decayed mortar joints: Water also can move into minor cracks in your chimney’s mortar and begin a cycle of decay and destruction, making your chimney weak, vulnerable and dangerous.

Warped, rusted or missing chimney flashing: The flashing that seals the gap between the roof and the exterior chimney must be solid, flat and secure. Water that gets past the flashing can damage interior chimney masonry and building materials of the home.

Signs of chimney water damage

Watch for these signs of water damage in your chimney:

  • Discolored or damp patches on walls and the ceiling near the chimney/fireplace
  • Water in the firebox
  • Strong musty odors coming from the fireplace, attic or crawl spaces
  • White staining on exterior chimney masonry
  • Crumbling masonry on the roof near the chimney
  • Leaning chimney

If the area where you live is prone to lightning during summer storms, visually inspect your chimney when the weather clears up to look for signs of lightning damage to the masonry and all exposed chimney components.

If you find damage or suspect that damage may exist, contact a local chimney repair company and have the situation resolved. Getting chimneys into tip top shape always starts with a proper chimney inspection.

chimney inspection, olathe ksAnnual chimney inspections

It’s advisable to schedule annual chimney inspections – even if you live in a relatively dry region. Only through a proper inspection can you know the exact condition of your chimney and its components and get on top of any repair work that’s needed.

Licensed chimney inspectors have the training and equipment to thoroughly inspect your chimney’s masonry, flue liner, venting capacity, crown, cap, flashing and more. Regular inspections can save you a lot of money and keep your chimney safe and efficient all year long.

Fluesbrothers Chimney & Fireplace of Kansas City, KS, will help you prevent damage to your chimney caused by sudden summer storms. If damage already exists, we’ll fix it. Speak with a chimney expert today at (913) 236-7141.

The post How Summer Storms can Damage Your Chimney appeared first on Fluesbrothers Chimney Service.

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