fireplace inspection
Your Fireplace? Avoid Problems With Routine Fireplace Inspections!
Many homeowners value 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 blazes are (caused by|linked to} creosote accumulation (from burning wood) or flue obstructions. Nearly all could be avoided by a fireplace inspection and cleaning – an investment whose ROI can’t be measured in just dollars and cents.
A fireplace and chimney inspection usually uses 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 starts with a visual inspection of the fireplace, flue and chimney, to decide if cleaning is needed. 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 divulge structural cracks and gaps caused by a multitude of factors – the worst being a hostile chimney fire. These voids, or sections of missing mortar, are places 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 finds if they are and, if so, working correctly. In the attic, an inspector will look for structural gaps that can leak 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 concludes 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. Flaws 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 sufficient water to topple the top 15 layers of brick on a chimney.
Routine fireplace and chimney inspections are about more than avoiding fires. They also spot deterioration in the fireplace system and connecting structure. Early detection helps avert costlier repairs later on.
Wisconsin’s weather doesn’t help. In winter, cold flue tiles are continually assaulted by 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 coating to keep smoke moving along and out. Masonry gaps here can permit 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 found, 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). Regular 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 fear risks or dangers.