fireplace inspection
Your Fireplace? Avert Problems With Regular Fireplace Inspections!
Many homeowners adore their fireplaces … yet are ignorant of their hazards
if not properly maintained. 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 buildup (from burning wood) or flue blockages. Nearly all could be avoided by a fireplace inspection and cleaning – an investment whose payback can’t be measured in just dollars and cents.
A fireplace and chimney inspection typically takes two hours, tops. It’s a thorough process of several steps. Hiring an experienced company such as Butler Chimneys, a veteran fireplace and chimney cleaner in CITY, STATE, makes certain the job is done right.
The process starts with a visual examination of the fireplace, flue and chimney, to determine 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 reveal 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 places where smoke and dangerous creosote can escape 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, working properly. In the attic, an inspector will look for structural voids that can allow 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. 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. Flaws 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 enough water to topple the top 15 layers of brick on a chimney.
Regular fireplace and chimney inspections are about more than preventing fires. They also spot deterioration in the fireplace system and connecting structure. Early diagnosis 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, looks at the flue system to ensure tiles are correctly aligned, with no voids or imperfections. Creosote often waits in the chamber beyond, making it imperative 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 escape 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), especially for homes with wood-burning appliances. Late spring is ideal. If needed repairs are discovered, 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 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 book 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.