fireplace inspection
Your Fireplace? Prevent Problems With Regular Fireplace Inspections!
Many homeowners relish their fireplaces … yet are ignorant of their risks if not properly kept up. More than 25,000 house fires in chimneys and fireplaces occur every year in the U.S.
Most of these fires are (caused by|linked to} creosote accumulation (from burning wood) or flue blockages. Nearly all could be avoided by a fireplace inspection and cleaning – an investment whose return can’t be determined in just dollars and cents.
A fireplace and chimney inspection usually takes two hours, at most. It’s a detailed process of several steps. Hiring an experienced company such as Butler Chimneys, a practiced fireplace and chimney cleaner in CITY, STATE, makes certain the job is done right.
The process opens with a visual inspection of the fireplace, flue and chimney, to determine if cleaning is needed. If so, a specialized cleaning technique using flexible rods, a drill and whip head is used to aggressively remove creosote deposits from the surface of the flue system.
A video scan of the fireplace, and into the flue, can reveal structural cracks and gaps connected with a multitude of factors – the worst being a hostile chimney fire. These voids, or sections of missing mortar, are spots where smoke and dangerous creosote can escape the flue system – an unwanted situation in any home.
Are other appliances venting into the chimney? A chimney inspection determines if they are and, if so, functioning properly. In the attic, an inspector will look for structural gaps that can allow deadly carbon monoxide into a home. They will also check for proper clearance from combustible materials such as wood joists or faced insulation.
A fireplace and chimney inspection finishes on the roof. Parts of the rooftop chimney structure – caps, rain guards, flashing, tiles or bricks – are checked for structural integrity, and potential for water penetration into a home.
All are barriers against the outdoor elements. Shortcomings such as a crack in the crown can allow water seepage. If interior-exterior joints aren’t sealed, water can gather and freeze, or soak into drywall. Ten years of hairline cracks can allow in sufficient water to topple the top 15 layers of brick on a chimney.
Planned fireplace and chimney inspections are about more than avoiding fires. They also spot deterioration in the fireplace system and connecting structure. Early detection helps avoid costlier repairs in the future.
Wisconsin’s weather doesn’t help. In winter, cold flue tiles are continually assaulted by heat from fires, leading to the flue system to ensure tiles are correctly aligned, with no voids or imperfections. Creosote often waits in the chamber beyond, making it critical that heat be channeled properly.
Likewise, the brick structure of the smoke chamber should have a refractory covering to keep smoke moving along and out. Masonry gaps here can allow smoke and embers to escape into places they’re not welcome, leading to a high risk of structure fires.
Annual fireplace inspection and cleaning is advised by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), especially for homes with wood-burning appliances. Late spring is ideal. If needed repairs are discovered, the weather is usually cooperative to get them done … and to beat the fall rush.
Be sure to have your fireplace and chimney inspected (and maintained) by a qualified fireplace cleaning and inspection company such as Butler Chimneys. All its staff are certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA). Ongoing training prepares them for any challenge.
Ready to take a huge step for safety and fireplace performance? Contact Butler Chimneys to plan a chimney and fireplace inspection and cleaning. A fireplace is easy to love – and even more so when one doesn’t have to fear risks or dangers.