fireplace inspection
Your Fireplace? Avert Problems With Routine Fireplace Inspections!
Many homeowners adore their fireplaces … yet are ignorant of their hazards
if not properly kept up. 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 accrual (from burning wood) or flue blockages. Nearly all could be avoided by a fireplace inspection and cleaning – an investment whose ROI can’t be figured in just dollars and cents.
A fireplace and chimney inspection typically uses two hours, tops. It’s a thorough process of several steps. Hiring an experienced company such as Butler Chimneys, a longtime fireplace and chimney cleaner in CITY, STATE, makes certain the job is done correctly.
The process starts with a visual inspection of the fireplace, flue and chimney, to determine if cleaning is advisable. If so, a specialized cleaning method 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 connected with a range of factors – the worst being a hostile chimney fire. These voids, or sections 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 identifies if they are and, if so, functioning properly. 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 winds up 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 gather and freeze, or soak into drywall. Ten years of hairline cracks can leak enough water to topple the top 15 courses of brick on a chimney.
Planned fireplace and chimney inspections are about more than averting fires. They also catch deterioration in the fireplace system and connecting structure. Early diagnosis helps avert costlier repairs in the future.
Wisconsin’s weather doesn’t help. In winter, cold flue tiles are continually assaulted by heat from fires, leading to the flue system to ensure tiles are properly aligned, with no voids or imperfections. Creosote often waits in the chamber beyond, making it critical that heat be channeled properly.
Similarly, the brick structure of the smoke chamber should have a refractory layer 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 advised by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), especially for homes with wood-burning appliances. Late spring is ideal. If needed repairs are identified, 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). 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.