fireplace inspection
Your Fireplace? Avert Problems With Routine Fireplace Inspections!
Many homeowners love their fireplaces … yet are ignorant of their dangers if not properly kept up. 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 accumulation (from burning wood) or flue blockages. Nearly all could be prevented by a fireplace inspection and cleaning – an investment whose ROI can’t be figured in just dollars and cents.
A fireplace and chimney inspection generally takes 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 begins with a visual analysis of the fireplace, flue and chimney, to decide if cleaning is necessary. 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 discover 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 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 finds if they are and, if so, functioning correctly. In the attic, an inspector will seek out 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. 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. Flaws such as a crack in the crown can permit 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 courses of brick on a chimney.
Regular fireplace and chimney inspections are about more than avoiding 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, looks at the flue system to ensure tiles are correctly aligned, with no voids or imperfections. Creosote often lurks in the chamber beyond, making it vital that heat be channeled properly.
Similarly, the brick structure of the smoke chamber should have a refractory coating to keep smoke moving along and out. Masonry gaps 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 endorsed by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), especially for homes with wood-burning appliances. Late spring is ideal. If necessary repairs are spotted, 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 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 worry about risks or dangers.