Maintenance Suggestions for the Chimney
On a chilly winter night, there is nothing better than sitting by your fireplace and enjoying its warmth. It is wonderfully gorgeous and will keep you warm at the same time. However, if you do not adhere to a few chimney care suggestions, it is possible that using your fireplace might be hazardous to your health. It is essential to do routine maintenance on both your fireplace and chimney in order to keep your house secure while you use your fireplace. If you don’t pay attention to detail and keep things clean, you leave yourself open to the risk of fires and water damage. Additionally, you will see a reduction in the cost of your monthly energy bills.
Keep the Fireplace Damper in Good Working Order
Your home’s overall energy efficiency may be significantly improved just by adjusting the damper on your fireplace. It is important to remember to shut the dampers on your fireplace whenever it is not in use. This will prevent drafts from the outside from entering your home through the chimney. Your monthly energy costs are going to reflect the fact that your damper isn’t shutting properly. Because they will continuously be forced to compete with the drafts, your heating and cooling systems will have a considerably more difficult time achieving the temperature you have set on your thermostat. They will ultimately end up consuming more electricity to heat or cool your house, which will result in a significant increase in the cost of your electric and heating bills.
When you want to use the fireplace, you have to make sure the dampers are open. You are unable to use your fireplace if the dampers are damaged in any way and cannot be opened. Because the damper will prevent smoke from escaping from your home, you and the people living there will be exposed to carbon monoxide, which is extremely hazardous to their health. When your dampers are not functioning as they should, it is essential to get them repaired or replaced. Make sure the new fireplace damper you choose has the right fit; it should be snug and there should be no gaps between it and the fireplace.
Make certain that your chimney has a watertight seal.
Your chimney may have significant issues as a result of exposure to moisture and the environment. They can compromise the structural soundness of your chimney, lead to the growth of mold, and even cause damage to the walls and floor in the area surrounding your fireplace. It is imperative that you check the waterproofing, chase cover, crown, and flashing of your chimney to ensure that they are all in good working order. First, you’ll need to waterproof your chimney. By applying a water sealant to the exterior of your chimney, you may prevent moisture from deteriorating the bricks and mortar and entering your home through the chimney.
Smoke is able to exit your home via what seems to be a sizable opening at the very top of your chimney. You don’t want to plug up that hole, but at the same time, you don’t want precipitation like rain or snow to come inside your house. What can you do? The inclusion of chase coverings is a wonderful feature for prefabricated chimneys. It protects the top while at the same time permitting smoke to escape down a narrow pipe. The majority of prefabricated chimneys are equipped with galvanized steel chase coverings, which are prone to rusting. If you want to avoid having to worry about rust ever again, you should replace it with a chase cover made of copper, aluminum, or stainless steel.
Keep in mind these tips. You can also share them so more homes can get their deserved fireplace and chimney. For help you can call Local Chimney Sweep Cleaning today for expert Chimney Cleaning Caruthers and repairing at an affordable price!
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