fireplace inspection
Your Fireplace? Prevent Problems With Routine Fireplace Inspections!
Many homeowners value their fireplaces … yet are ignorant of their hazards
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 avoided by a fireplace inspection and cleaning – an investment whose payback can’t be figured in just dollars and cents.
A fireplace and chimney inspection typically takes two hours, tops. 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 right.
The process opens with a visual inspection of the fireplace, flue and chimney, to determine if cleaning is necessary. If so, a specialized cleaning method 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 divulge structural cracks and gaps caused by a range of factors – the worst being a hostile chimney fire. These voids, or patches of missing mortar, are areas where smoke and dangerous creosote can escape the flue system – an unwelcome situation in any home.
Are other appliances venting into the chimney? A chimney inspection finds if they are and, if so, operating properly. 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. 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. Deficiencies 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 averting fires. They also detect deterioration in the fireplace system and connecting structure. Early detection helps avoid 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 lurks in the chamber beyond, making it critical that heat be channeled properly.
Similarly, the brick structure of the smoke chamber should have a refractory covering to keep smoke moving along and out. Masonry gaps here can allow 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 endorsed by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), especially for homes with wood-burning appliances. Late spring is ideal. If needed repairs are discovered, 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 staff are certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA). Consistent training prepares them for any challenge.
Ready to take a major 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.