fireplace inspection
Your Fireplace? Prevent Problems With Regular Fireplace Inspections!
Many homeowners love their fireplaces … yet are unaware of their hazards
if not properly maintained. More than 25,000 house fires in chimneys and fireplaces happen every year in the U.S.
Most of these blazes are (caused by|linked to} creosote accumulation (from burning wood) or flue obstructions. Nearly all could be prevented by a fireplace inspection and cleaning – an investment whose payback can’t be figured in just dollars and cents.
A fireplace and chimney inspection usually takes two hours, at most. It’s a thorough process of several steps. Hiring an experienced company such as Butler Chimneys, a practiced fireplace and chimney cleaner in CITY, STATE, makes certain 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 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 caused by a multitude of factors – the worst being a hostile chimney fire. These voids, or patches of missing mortar, are spots where smoke and hazardous creosote can leak from the flue system – an unwanted situation in any home.
Are other appliances venting into the chimney? A chimney inspection determines if they are and, if so, working 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 ends 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. 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.
Planned fireplace and chimney inspections are about more than averting fires. They also detect deterioration in the fireplace system and connecting structure. Early diagnosis helps avoid costlier repairs in the future.
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 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 layer 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 endorsed by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), particularly 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 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). 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 fear risks or dangers.