fireplace inspection
Your Fireplace? Prevent Problems With Regular Fireplace Inspections!
Many homeowners love their fireplaces … yet are unaware of their hazards
if not properly maintained. More than 25,000 house fires in chimneys and fireplaces happen annually in the U.S.
Most of these fires are (caused by|linked to} creosote accrual (from burning wood) or flue obstructions. Nearly all could be avoided by a fireplace inspection and cleaning – an investment whose payback can’t be determined in just dollars and cents.
A fireplace and chimney inspection generally lasts two hours, at most. It’s a thorough process of several steps. Hiring an experienced company such as Butler Chimneys, a longtime fireplace and chimney cleaner in CITY, STATE, ensures the job is done correctly.
The process starts with a visual inspection of the fireplace, flue and chimney, to decide if cleaning is needed. If so, a specialized cleaning procedure employing 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 expose structural cracks and gaps caused by a multitude of factors – the worst being a hostile chimney fire. These voids, or patches of missing mortar, are places where smoke and hazardous creosote can escape the flue system – an unwanted situation in any home.
Are other appliances venting into the chimney? A chimney inspection finds if they are and, if so, functioning 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 winds up 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. Deficiencies such as a crack in the crown can allow 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 sufficient water to topple the top 15 courses of brick on a chimney.
Planned fireplace and chimney inspections are about more than avoiding fires. They also detect deterioration in the fireplace system and connecting structure. Early diagnosis helps prevent costlier repairs in the future.
Wisconsin’s climate doesn’t help. In winter, cold flue tiles are continually exposed to 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.
Likewise, the brick structure of the smoke chamber should have a refractory covering to keep smoke moving along and out. Masonry voids 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), especially for homes with wood-burning appliances. Late spring is ideal. If necessary 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 personnel are certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA). Regular training prepares them for any challenge.
Ready to take a huge step for safety and fireplace performance? Contact Butler Chimneys to book 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.