Whether you have a fossil fuel burning furnace or a wood or coal burning furnace, getting your chimney ready for the fall season should be a top priority. All chimney systems, whether they be made of masonry, metal or concrete, degrade over time. Annual inspections can prevent chimney fires and dangerous combustion gases from leaking back into your home. The Chimney Safety Institute of America indicates there was an average of 22,700 chimney related fires for the years 2010-2012.

Hidden Chimney Fires

Many homeowners think that chimney fires are raging infernos with flames shooting out the top of the chimney. Some internal chimney fires do not get enough oxygen to burst into open flame, but they burn deposits on the internal chimney walls to extremely high temperatures over longer periods of time. This can silently weaken the materials and structure of chimneys. Only a visual inspection completed by a certified chimney sweep can fully determine if there is evidence of a chimney fire.

Chimney Problem Prevention

Annual inspections and cleaning provided by technicians at Advanced Chimney Sweeps can prevent chimney fires and identify structural issues with chimneys that could lead to fires or carbon monoxide getting into homes. Weakened or missing mortar at joints on brick or block chimneys can let exhaust gases back into the home. Dangerous levels of carbon monoxide can build up quickly, leading to lethal exposure to occupants within minutes of starting a fire or turning on the furnace. Concrete chimneys can become porous over time. Metal flues and chimneys of wood burners and other stoves can rust. Even stainless steel flues and chimneys eventually corrode.

Chimney Water Damage

Very few homeowners would consider water damage even being possible with a chimney, but it is. Rain infiltration can quickly weaken mortar joints, corrode metal flues and chimneys, and weaken concrete. Since most masonry chimneys have more than one layer of brick or blocks, internal damage may not be revealed on the outer course of masonry. Visual inspections must include the inside of chimneys too.

Advanced Chimney Sweeps can remove deadly creosote, reseal degraded mortar joints, apply appropriate water sealer, and replace or repair flashing where chimneys emerge from roofs. Fall is when the temperatures begin to drop. Do not risk a chimney fire or carbon monoxide infiltration when turning up the thermostat or starting that first heating fire of the season. Get the chimney inspected, cleaned and repaired today.