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At Family Roofing, we take great pride in our experience, expertise, quality and customer service. It is our mission to provide excellent workmanship and complete customer satisfaction from start to completion of a project. Our reputation is based on service, safety and quality, regardless of how large or small the job.

 

CHIMNEY MAINTENANCE TIPS

 

If you have a chimney and a fireplace in your home, then you know the true joy of starting up a fire and curling up with a cup of hot chocolate and a great book on a cold winter or spring night.  But if you want to keep having those amazing nights, then you’re going to need to pay attention to chimney maintenance.  Without the right chimney maintenance and cleaning, you could be looking at a non-function chimney or, worse yet, a dangerous hazard to your home, roof, and surroundings.

Inspect the chimney’s components

Damaged components can allow water to get into the chimney system.  You should periodically check:

Chimney cap – make sure the mesh isn’t torn and the cap is sealed tightly to the top of your chimney.

Chimney crown – look for cracks or decay in the cement.

Flashing – if the flashing that seals the gap between your roof and chimney is warped or rusted out, water can flow down into the house.

Fireplace damper – it should work without a lot of squeaks and should open completely and close fully.

People use their fireplaces all the time but often don’t really look at them.  Start your firebox inspection by removing all the ashes and soot.  Check for bricks that are loose or cracked. Feel for dampness on the surfaces.  You can use this time to clean smoke and soot stains from the perimeter of the firebox opening.

Watch for chimney leaks

A variety of events can cause a chimney to leak.  You can’t always prevent things like lightning strikes, pounding hail, and earthquakes, but you can stay on top of leaks and get them fixed quickly.

The most common leaky chimney signs for the average homeowner to watch for include:

Water in the firebox

White stains on the exterior masonry (as noted above)

Strong, musty odors coming from the fireplace

Damp sections of the walls or ceiling adjacent to the chimney and fireplace

Make sure smoke detectors and CO monitors are working

Smoke detectors alert you to smoke. Carbon monoxide monitors alert you to the presence of this deadly gas within the smoke. Replace batteries in these devices once a year and test them several times a year.

Burn the Right Wood

Wood burning fireplaces are perhaps the most common in traditional homes, but they are still popular.  Especially with an insert, they can bring such warmth and comfort to a home that they’re sure to remain a staple even with the emergence of gas burning and electric fireplaces.  One of the key ways to keep your chimney functioning properly for many years with a wood burning stove in your fireplace is to burn the right wood.  You might be thinking, “isn’t all wood good wood to burn?”

Sure, lots of wood can and will burn when set on fire.  You will want to make sure your wood is properly aged (at least six months since it’s been split, ideally closer to a year).  However, that doesn’t mean all wood is created equal when it comes to fireplaces and chimneys.  Hardwood is going to be your best option for burning.  Hardwood logs including ash, oak, birch, etc, burn hotter and for longer, which means you’re getting more bang for your buck compared to cheaper softwood options like cedar, pine, spruce, and others.  Hardwood also has less sap & resin, which means that burning that in your fireplace is less likely to lead to a large build-up of creosote.  Cresote is a buildup of ash and other particles that can result in dangerous fire hazards.  It can also make the chimney harder to clean and maintain over time.

Make Sure Your Mortar Joints and Bricks Aren’t Crumbling

The bricks and mortar joints of your chimney play a crucial role in avoiding water damage inside of your home.  However, they begin to crack and crumble over time and give moisture an entrance into your home.  Chimney tuckpointing is the act of repairing mortar.  If you notice that your mortar is crumbling and the bricks are starting to become loose, then you’re in need of chimney tuckpointing.

Waterproofing

The exterior component of your chimney is exposed to all of the outdoor elements, just like your roof.  Make sure you get a waterproofing sealant for your chimney stack.  This will help keep the mortar and bricks protected from moisture.  Without proper waterproofing, water and wind from the outside world can create cracks in your chimney, which can lead to roof leaks, unwanted moisture inside the chimney, damage to the chimney/walls, and mold growth.  Protect your chimney with waterproofing methods like sealants, chimney covers, crowns, and other waterproofing options.

Chimney Caps

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, etc)

• Animals (birds, racoons, mice, rats, etc)

• Debris (leaves, sticks, etc)

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 buildup 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! Y ou 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.

Get a Chimney Inspection

Along with an annual cleaning, we highly recommend getting a chimney inspection at least once per year as well. There are various levels of chimney inspection that you can get depending on your situation.  Most people only need a level 1 or a level 2 chimney inspection.  Inspections are crucial if you suspect any serious damage to the chimney or if you’ve had any storms, damages, or other issues in the home.  Professionals who perform these inspections can then guide you with specific maintenance tips that you should follow for your home & chimney’s particular issues.