Signs to Look for in a Damaged Chimney

A fireplace is a great way to make a home look more interesting. Many people’s dream is to spend cold winter nights under a blanket and listen to the crackle of a fire. But keeping a fireplace and chimney in good shape can be difficult, and it’s important to keep an eye on things. As with most home systems, it is better to catch problems early than to let them get out of hand. A broken chimney is a major fire risk. It is very important to hire a professional to clean your chimney and to check it once a year. During a chimney inspection, it is also a good idea to look at the chimney yourself and ask questions. Here are five signs that your chimney is broken. If you see any of these, you should call a repair person right away.

1. When inspecting a chimney, keep an eye out for too much moisture.
In a broken chimney, this extra water can show up in different ways. Look for your chimney to get a white color. This is called efflorescence, and it means that there is moisture in the masonry. It’s easy to clean up, but it’s a sign of a bigger issue. Rust is another sign that there is a problem with water. If there is rust on the firebox or damper, that means there is too much water in your chimney. Cracked flue tiles are another sign of this problem, and a chimney sweep with a camera can find them.

2. Climb up on your roof and check the chimney crown for damage.
If you have to go up on your roof to clean out the gutters or do something else, do a chimney inspection while you’re there. Look at the top of the chimney. If this building is broken or has cracks, water will get into the chimney. Call someone right away to come look at the chimney and fix the problem.

3. Check the mortar joints while you’re on the roof.
Since you will already be on the roof, you might as well check the mortar joints in the chimney while you are there. Water can get into these cracks and freeze, causing damage to the chimney. This can cause the bricks to crack, which puts the whole chimney at risk of falling down.

4. Keep an eye out for cracks on the ground or roof outside your chimney.
If you see small pieces of masonry on the ground or on your roof near the bottom of your chimney, this could also mean that the masonry and chimney are damaged. The mortar, bricks, or stones could be cracking and falling off because of the moisture.

5. Watch for branches to fall into your fireplace
The flue lining and chimney tiles are very important for keeping fires from starting. If these tiles are broken and falling apart, the fireplace is not safe to use. Call someone to have a professional clean and inspect the chimney to figure out what’s wrong. With their special tools, these experts can see what’s going on inside the chimney walls.

Remember that at least once a year you schedule fpor Chimney Cleaning Paradise and repairing. This is your best line of defense. Immediately call Local Chimney Sweep Cleaning.

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