fireplace inspection
Your Fireplace? Prevent Problems With Routine Fireplace Inspections!
Many homeowners relish their fireplaces … yet are oblivious of their hazards
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 blazes 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 generally lasts two hours, at most. It’s a detailed process of several steps. Hiring an experienced company such as Butler Chimneys, a longtime fireplace and chimney cleaner in CITY, STATE, makes certain the job is done right.
The process opens with a visual examination of the fireplace, flue and chimney, to determine if cleaning is required. If so, a specialized cleaning procedure 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 discover structural cracks and gaps connected with a variety of factors – the worst being a hostile chimney fire. These voids, or sections of missing mortar, are areas where smoke and hazardous creosote can escape the flue system – an uninvited situation in any home.
Are other appliances venting into the chimney? A chimney inspection determines if they are and, if so, functioning correctly. In the attic, an inspector will look for structural gaps that can permit deadly carbon monoxide into a home. They will also check for proper clearance from flammable 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. Deficiencies such as a crack in the crown can permit water seepage. If interior-exterior joints aren’t sealed, water can pool and freeze, or soak into drywall. Ten years of hairline cracks can allow in sufficient water to topple the top 15 courses of brick on a chimney.
Planned fireplace and chimney inspections are about more than preventing fires. They also detect deterioration in the fireplace system and connecting structure. Early detection helps avoid costlier repairs later on.
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 properly 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 allow smoke and embers to leak 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 spotted, the weather is usually manageable 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 be concerned about risks or dangers.