Common Chimney Problems to Brace in the Holidays
The holidays are peeping their way once again at this time of the year! And there is going to be lots of cold air outside that will make you cuddle and snuggle to get warmth.
What has this got to do with chimneys? Is a chimney the same as the fireplace?
If you have a fireplace at home, as most homes do, it is different from a chimney. The chimney is a masonry structure built upright to vent hot and toxic gases, smoke, fumes coming from our boilers, stoves, or fireplace.
Your chimney is a vital component in your home as it functions and is connected to your cooking equipment, fireplace, and boiler vents. While you spend a warm moment near your fireplace, the gas emitted from the wood burning and the heat that combines with it become harmful gases that travel upward and on to exit the chimney on the roof.
The exterior of the chimney is made of bricks or stones, and at most they complement the roof. Roofers use durable materials that are resistant to corrosion and combustion. Having said that, preventive care and maintenance is essential to the life of your chimney and your family members as well.
Understanding how chimneys work and build is important to address common problems and address these problems when they come up.
The basic structure of the chimney includes the flue and the pipe that leads all the way up to the roof. But there’s more. Let us check the common issues and what we can do about them.
Chimney Common Issues
Creosote
Creosote is the accumulated tar and soot that when left along the flue lining is a fire hazard. Remember that the flue is a passageway of smoke from burning wood. The consistent buildup of creosote serves as a blockage for healthy air due to the carbon monoxide emission, which could travel around the home.
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, tasteless but a flammable gas that can kill.
What can you do?
Creosote is a health hazard element, that’s why you need an experienced roofer to clean it.
Our team in Birmingham Roofers have the necessary equipment to do this tough job. It takes the skill of someone to clean the vent and check the overall health of the flue lining.
Flue damage
If there is creosote buildup, flue is in danger.
The flue is a special lining of the chimney and should be resistant to heat and stress. The flue absorbs the creosote and waste fumes that the chimney releases.
Heavy smoke and thick creosote will affect the flue’s material. If the flue is seldom checked or not at all, it will get damaged in time.
Chimneys with damaged flue are not to be used. Have it checked with your roofing contractor for repair or replacement before more damage at home is done.
Clogged Flue
The purpose of the chimney is to release smoke into the air. There shouldn’t be any blockage along the flue.
Birds, dried leaves, and poops may clog the top of the chimney. Though the duct is covered with a small roof, the opening is vulnerable to debris.
And if the creosote buildup is too thick, it will constrict the passage of gaseous waste.
Problems on the brickworks or masonry are also imminent, even if the mortar can last for many years. Mortar is used as a binder in building blocks, such as bricks and other masonry products. If the filling cracks or the masonry fails, that’s where you are going to have another problem.
Don’t wait for things to get worse in your chimney. Don’t wait until it’s Christmas!
Birmingham roofers are here to help. We have handled a wide variety of roofing projects, and chimney repair is one of them
Give us a call or visit our website and fill in the contact form so we can determine what kind of problem we need to fix.
