fireplace inspection
Your Fireplace? Prevent Problems With Routine Fireplace Inspections!
Many homeowners relish their fireplaces … yet are unaware of their dangers 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 buildup (from burning wood) or flue obstructions. Nearly all could be prevented by a fireplace inspection and cleaning – an investment whose ROI can’t be calculated in just dollars and cents.
A fireplace and chimney inspection usually lasts two hours, at most. It’s a detailed process of several steps. Hiring an experienced company such as Butler Chimneys, a veteran fireplace and chimney cleaner in CITY, STATE, makes certain the job is done correctly.
The process starts with a visual inspection of the fireplace, flue and chimney, to determine if cleaning is necessary. If so, a specialized cleaning method 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 divulge structural cracks and gaps connected with a multitude of factors – the worst being a hostile chimney fire. These voids, or patches of missing mortar, are places where smoke and dangerous creosote can leak from the flue system – an unwanted situation in any home.
Are other appliances venting into the chimney? A chimney inspection identifies if they are and, if so, operating correctly. In the attic, an inspector will look for structural voids that can permit 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 ends on the roof. Parts of the rooftop chimney structure – caps, rain guards, flashing, tiles or bricks – are analyzed for structural integrity, and potential for water penetration into a home.
All are barriers against the outdoor elements. Flaws such as a crack in the crown can permit water seepage. If interior-exterior joints aren’t sealed, water can collect and freeze, or soak into drywall. Ten years of hairline cracks can allow in enough water to topple the top 15 courses of brick on a chimney.
Routine fireplace and chimney inspections are about more than preventing fires. They also spot deterioration in the fireplace system and connecting structure. Early detection helps avoid costlier repairs in the future.
Wisconsin’s climate 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 vital that heat be channeled properly.
Similarly, the brick structure of the smoke chamber should have a refractory coating to keep smoke moving along and out. Masonry gaps here can permit 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), particularly for homes with wood-burning appliances. Late spring is ideal. If necessary repairs are found, the weather is usually cooperative to get them done … and to beat the fall rush.
Be certain to have your fireplace and chimney inspected (and maintained) by a qualified fireplace cleaning and inspection company such as Butler Chimneys. All its personnel are certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA). Ongoing training prepares them for any challenge.
Ready to take a big 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 be concerned about risks or dangers.