fireplace inspection
Your Fireplace? Avert Problems With Routine Fireplace Inspections!
Many homeowners value their fireplaces … yet are unaware of their risks if not properly maintained. More than 25,000 house fires in chimneys and fireplaces happen every year in the U.S.
Most of these fires are (caused by|linked to} creosote buildup (from burning wood) or flue obstructions. Nearly all could be prevented by a fireplace inspection and cleaning – an investment whose payback can’t be assessed in just dollars and cents.
A fireplace and chimney inspection generally lasts two hours, tops. It’s a detailed process of several steps. Hiring an experienced company such as Butler Chimneys, a knowledgeable fireplace and chimney cleaner in CITY, STATE, ensures the job is done right.
The process starts with a visual examination of the fireplace, flue and chimney, to decide if cleaning is required. 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 sections 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 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 finishes 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. Deficiencies such as a crack in the crown can permit water seepage. If interior-exterior joints aren’t sealed, water can collect and freeze, or soak into drywall. Ten years of hairline cracks can allow in sufficient water to topple the top 15 courses of brick on a chimney.
Routine fireplace and chimney inspections are about more than avoiding fires. They also catch deterioration in the fireplace system and connecting structure. Early diagnosis helps avoid costlier repairs later on.
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 correctly aligned, with no voids or imperfections. Creosote often lurks 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 voids 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 recommended by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), especially for homes with wood-burning appliances. Late spring is ideal. If necessary repairs are identified, 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 professionals are certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA). Regular training prepares them for any challenge.
Ready to take a major 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.