Stuff is Getting Into Your Flue
What Is It That You Suggest? Rain, snow, or even animals should not be allowed to enter the chimney for the simple reason that you do not want anything to get inside. A cap is anything that hangs over an aperture and protects it from the elements. Most caps also include a screen to prevent insects and other small animals from entering.
How Should I Proceed? There are a few distinct techniques of mounting, and they are all rather simple to understand. Some mount to the flue itself, while others mount over the crown — the cement-sealed top of the chimney — and are fixed by an adhesive. Some glide into the flue and are held in place by friction, while others mount to the flue itself and mount over the crown.
What Is the Worst That Could Possibly Happen? According to Sarras, you must take the necessary precautions to ensure that the chimney cover you purchase is of an adequate size for your chimney. In instance, a chimney cap that is installed at the incorrect height can disrupt the flow of gases via the chimney, and it even has the potential to cause a backdraft, which causes smoke to enter your home. When installing a cap that mounts to the flue, another thing to watch out for is to make sure that the hardware and drill bits that you choose are appropriate for brickwork. If you fracture the flue, the crown, or the brick, you are going to create more issues than you are going to solve. Last but not least, check to see whether there are any young raccoons living in the chimney. They like to make their home on the shelf that is situated just over the damper and directly above the fireplace. Sarras once placed a cap, only to have a raccoon mother gnaw through the screen to get to her young, whom Sarras had mistakenly imprisoned within the cap. Sarras had installed the cap improperly.
YOUR CROWN HAS MANY CRACKS IN IT.
What Is It That You Suggest? At the topmost pinnacle of the chimney, where the bricks form a horizontal surface, there is a potential pooling area for water and snow. If water is allowed to penetrate the brickwork, it can deteriorate over time, perhaps to the point where a complete chimney replacement is necessary. A layer of specialized mortar known as a crown is placed on top of the chimney to act as a weather seal. This is done to avoid this from happening. If there are any cracks, they need to be fixed.
How Should I Proceed? First, the current crown should be cleaned, and any cracks should be patched. After that, apply another layer of mortar so that you end up with a brand new, unbroken seal.
What Is the Worst That Could Possibly Happen? This is not too difficult to understand. Make sure you obtain the proper kind of mortar—it needs to be flexible so that it can accommodate the natural expansion and contraction that is caused by changes in temperature. In addition, when you shape the new crown, you should ensure that it has a gentle slope that slopes away from the borders of the chimney. This will assist the chimney in evacuating water.
YOUR BRICKS SUCK
What Is It That You Suggest? Even though the crown covers the bricks on the top of the chimney, the bricks on the sides of the chimney are still susceptible to damage from water seepage.
How Should I Proceed? This one shouldn’t be too difficult: First, give the chimney a good pressure washing, and then apply a sealant to the bricks. (There are sealants on the market that are designed specifically for chimneys.)
What Is the Worst That Could Possibly Happen? You run the risk of falling over the roof. So, better to be safe than sorry. Let the experts handle your chimney troubles like Chimney Cleaning Crockettand repairing. Call Local Chimney Sweep Cleaning today.