fireplace inspection
Your Fireplace? Avoid Problems With Routine Fireplace Inspections!
Many homeowners relish their fireplaces … yet are ignorant 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 accrual (from burning wood) or flue blockages. Nearly all could be prevented by a fireplace inspection and cleaning – an investment whose payback can’t be figured 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 longtime fireplace and chimney cleaner in CITY, STATE, ensures the job is done correctly.
The process begins with a visual analysis of the fireplace, flue and chimney, to determine if cleaning is required. If so, a specialized cleaning technique 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 show structural cracks and gaps caused by a variety of factors – the worst being a hostile chimney fire. These voids, or patches of missing mortar, are areas where smoke and hazardous creosote can leak from the flue system – an uninvited situation in any home.
Are other appliances venting into the chimney? A chimney inspection confirms if they are and, if so, operating properly. In the attic, an inspector will seek out structural gaps that can leak 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. Elements 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 pool and freeze, or soak into drywall. Ten years of hairline cracks can leak sufficient water to topple the top 15 layers of brick on a chimney.
Planned fireplace and chimney inspections are about more than preventing fires. They also catch deterioration in the fireplace system and connecting structure. Early detection helps prevent costlier repairs down the road.
Wisconsin’s weather doesn’t help. In winter, cold flue tiles are continually exposed to heat from fires, potentially causing) stress cracks. A fireplace inspection closely {examines the flue system to ensure tiles are properly aligned, with no voids or imperfections. Creosote often waits in the chamber beyond, making it imperative 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 recommended by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), particularly for homes with wood-burning appliances. Late spring is ideal. If needed 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). Regular training prepares them for any challenge.
Ready to take a huge 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 fear risks or dangers.