Chimney Maintenance – Family Roofing

CALL OR EMAIL US TODAY FOR YOUR FREE ESTIMATE – 202-276-5004  FAMILY.ROOFING@YAHOO.COM

 

A TRUSTED NAME IN WASHINGTON, DC FOR THREE GENERATIONS! EXPERTS IN SLATE * METAL * RUBBER * SHINGLE * GUTTER & DOWNSPOUTS

 

Chimney maintenance is a job for professionals, but there are a few things you can check for yourself.

Start at the chimney crown.  Scoop up a handful of the sealer and wipe it onto the crown. Force the sealant into the cracks and into the crown-to-brick seam.  Seal the chimney bricks. Start at the bottom of the chimney and spray the brick until the excess repellent runs down about 8 in. below the spray line.  Call a Pro if you are uncomfortable with ladders!

Finish it off with a chimney cap.  If you don’t have a chimney cap on your chimney, you should seriously consider having one installed.  Chimney caps are essentially barriers that can protect your chimney from a number of factors, including:

Weather (rain, snow, ice)
Animals (birds, racoons, mice, rats)
Debris (leaves, sticks)

If your chimney doesn’t have a chimney cap, you’ll likely see more rapid deterioration of your flue and of the chimney itself.  Without the protection of the cap, you could have a build up of debris, which can lead to fire hazard and health risks thanks to carbon monoxide that gets trapped in the home.

If your chimney already has a chimney cap, you’re not off the hook with maintenance!  You need to regularly inspect your chimney cap to check for signs of damage or deterioration. Caps are also prone to buildups of debris, dirt, and dust that can decrease its effectiveness at protection — and proper exhaust.  Cleaning and maintaining this part of the chimney is crucial for the overall maintenance of the chimney.

When it comes to keeping your chimney in top-notch shape, one of the key chimney maintenance tips is to keep a safe perimeter.  Believe it or not, some of the most common fireplace problems homeowners have are bothersome branches hanging over their chimneys.

After all, limbs over your fireplace bring all sorts of problems that can harm your home and your loved ones!  Branches over chimneys mean a fireplace full of twigs and leaves, especially on rainy days.  Twigs and leaves that can ultimately lead up to chimney blockages.

Every homeowner knows the harms of fireplace clogs.  From health to fire hazards, it’s always best to stay on the safe side and prevent any type of blockage that may bring danger to your place.

Tree branches can bring to your home all sorts of pests and animals, especially if you don’t count with a chimney cap.  Just imagine finding out that a raccoon got to your roof and used your chimney to have her baby raccoons.  As you can see, there are all sorts of problems that you can save yourself by simply trimming your tree’s branches every once in a while!  You should always keep your tree branches ten feet away and two feet lower from the top of the chimney.

Waterproofing Your Chimney Does Wonders!

Part of our chimney maintenance tips list, we’ve got waterproofing.  Chimneys, just like our roofs, are an element that goes through a lot!  They have to endure hot and cold climates, strong winds, rain, and much more.  That is why if you’re looking to make your chimney last longer, then you’ll need a protective coat that’ll protect it from moisture and mold!