As summer starts to come to an end, it’s important to begin preparations for the colder weather. With autumn getting closer, now is the best time for you to get a professional home inspection on your brick work and chimney. This is especially important if you plan to use your chimney once cold weather sets in. If you don’t get a professional inspection, you can put your family at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning, smoke inhalation, or house fires. To make sure you’re prepared, take the following steps to get your chimney ready for autumn.
The first thing that you should do to get your chimney ready for autumn is get a professional chimney inspection. Professionals have the tools and experience you want and need when protecting your family. Chimneys can easily accumulate large amounts of creosote, a highly combustible material that occurs from the chemical reaction of a fire. When this happens, you’ll be more at risk for a house fire. House fires that occur from creosote buildup can burn for extended periods of time and reach extremely high temperatures. Since chimney fires are some of the most undetectable fires, they can cause serious damages before they’re even noticed. When left undetected for long enough time, this fire can spread and affect other areas of your home quickly. With a professional inspection from Chicago Tuckpointing Inc., you’ll get the peace of mind you want and need when using your fireplace and chimney in the colder months. We recommend getting a professional chimney inspection twice a year—once in the spring and once in the fall.
If your professional masonry company notices any creosote buildup, it’s important to get it removed and clean your chimney before you use it. As we mentioned, creosote buildup is extremely dangerous and can put your family in serious risk. For the best results, we recommend getting a professional chimney cleaning at least once a year, twice if you use your chimney frequently.
Your chimney inspection will reveal any damages or structural problems. If there are any serious problems, it’s important to fix them before using your chimney. Damages and structural problems are exasperated when left unrepaired and exposed to high temperatures. When you use your chimney with damages or structural repairs, these problems will get worse and lead to faster deterioration. When the problems get more severe, they also get more expensive, so it’s important to get them fixed beforehand.
When there are obstructions or pests inside of your chimney, it creates a blockage. If your chimney is blocked, smoke and carbon monoxide won’t be able to leave through the opening. Instead, both will billow into your home and can cause serious health risks to you and your family. If your chimney isn’t working properly and carbon monoxide enters your home, it can cause carbon monoxide poisoning, which can be fatal. During the chimney inspection, talk to your professional to ensure that any obstructions and pests are removed. To make sure that you and your family are safe, install carbon monoxide detectors in your home and test them frequently during the colder months.
Finally, make sure that you cap your chimney before the cold weather gets here. Chimney caps can help prevent water from entering your chimney and running down the flue. This is important to ensure that your chimney stays in working order and damages to the tuckpointing don’t occur. We also recommend covering the cap with a wire cage or netting to help eliminate the risk of debris or animals creating nests. When you have obstructions or pests, it can be dangerous to your family’s safety.
If you need a professional chimney inspection or repairs, make sure you find a professional you can trust. Chicago Tuckpointing Inc. is here to help you with all of chimney needs from inspections to repairs and everything in between. All of our professionals have over 20 years of experience and work with transparency and integrity on every job. To make sure your chimney is ready for autumn and winter, call us today at Chicago Tuckpointing Inc. to receive a full inspection and quote for any damages. You can reach us by phone at (708) 942-1951 or by filling out a contact form on our website at http://chicagotuckpointinginc.com.