fireplace inspection
Your Fireplace? Avert Problems With Regular Fireplace Inspections!
Many homeowners adore their fireplaces … yet are ignorant of their risks if not properly maintained. More than 25,000 house fires in chimneys and fireplaces occur 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 return 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 knowledgeable fireplace and chimney cleaner in CITY, STATE, ensures the job is done right.
The process opens with a visual analysis of the fireplace, flue and chimney, to decide if cleaning is necessary. If so, a specialized cleaning procedure 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 expose structural cracks and gaps caused by a variety 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 finds if they are and, if so, functioning 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. Deficiencies 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 allow in sufficient 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 avoid costlier repairs down the road.
Wisconsin’s climate 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 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 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 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 personnel 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 plan a chimney and fireplace inspection and cleaning. A fireplace is easy to love – and even more so when one doesn’t have to worry about risks or dangers.