fireplace inspection
Your Fireplace? Avoid Problems With Regular Fireplace Inspections!
Many homeowners relish their fireplaces … yet are oblivious of their dangers if not properly kept up. More than 25,000 house fires in chimneys and fireplaces occur annually 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 prevented 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 lasts two hours, tops. 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, ensures the job is done correctly.
The process starts with a visual analysis of the fireplace, flue and chimney, to decide if cleaning is required. 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 patches of missing mortar, are areas where smoke and dangerous creosote can leak from 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 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 flammable materials such as wood joists or faced insulation.
A fireplace and chimney inspection ends on the roof. Elements 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. Shortcomings such as a crack in the crown can permit water seepage. If interior-exterior joints aren’t sealed, water can gather and freeze, or soak into drywall. Ten years of hairline cracks can leak 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 detect deterioration in the fireplace system and connecting structure. Early detection 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 correctly aligned, with no voids or imperfections. Creosote often lurks 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 voids 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 recommended by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), especially for homes with wood-burning appliances. Late spring is ideal. If needed repairs are identified, the weather is usually manageable 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 major step for safety and fireplace performance? Contact Butler Chimneys to schedule a chimney and fireplace inspection and cleaning. A fireplace is easy to love – and even more so when one doesn’t have to worry about risks or dangers.