fireplace inspection
Your Fireplace? Avert Problems With Regular Fireplace Inspections!
Many homeowners value their fireplaces … yet are oblivious of their hazards
if not properly maintained. More than 25,000 house fires in chimneys and fireplaces occur every year in the U.S.
Most of these blazes 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 return can’t be assessed in just dollars and cents.
A fireplace and chimney inspection usually lasts two hours, at most. 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 correctly.
The process opens with a visual analysis of the fireplace, flue and chimney, to determine if cleaning is needed. If so, a specialized cleaning technique 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 show structural cracks and gaps connected with a range 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 identifies if they are and, if so, functioning correctly. 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 combustible materials such as wood joists or faced insulation.
A fireplace and chimney inspection ends 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. Shortcomings 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 enough 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 spot deterioration in the fireplace system and connecting structure. Early diagnosis helps prevent costlier repairs later on.
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 properly aligned, with no voids or imperfections. Creosote often lurks in the chamber beyond, making it critical that heat be channeled properly.
Likewise, the brick structure of the smoke chamber should have a refractory covering to keep smoke moving along and out. Masonry gaps here can permit 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 spotted, the weather is usually cooperative to get them done … and to beat the fall rush.
Be sure 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). Consistent training prepares them for any challenge.
Ready to take a big step for safety and fireplace performance? Contact Butler Chimneys to schedule 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.