Your chimney is a great addition to your home. It allows you to have indoor fires in a safe and responsible manner, while still enjoying the ambiance of a natural fire. During the colder months, chimneys get used a lot, which is why summer is the perfect time to get your chimney professionally inspected. A professional chimney inspection is critical in solving major problems and reducing you and your family’s risk of serious health problems or even death. The following top three problems can be avoided with a simple yearly chimney inspection.
Over time, your chimney builds up with creosote as a waste product from burning wood. Creosote itself isn’t exactly dangerous, but it’s extremely flammable. As the creosote builds up on the chimney walls, you become more and more at risk for chimney fires. Chimney fires caused by creosote buildup are not minor fires that will go out on their own. They’re dangerous and have the possibility of completely burning down your home. Fires inside of chimneys quickly reach high temperatures and can spread easily, especially if your chimney hasn’t been properly cared for over the years. By getting a professional chimney inspection, you’ll be able to see if your creosote buildup is dangerous and get it cleaned accordingly.
Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas that’s released due to the chemical reaction of a fire. It’s colorless, tasteless, and is often unrecognizable until it’s too late. By the time you realize that you or a member of a family is being affected by carbon monoxide gas, it will likely be when you start to lose consciousness. If you or your family stays inside while carbon monoxide is being released, it can be fatal. The good news is that carbon monoxide poisoning is completely preventable with the proper chimney care. By getting regular inspections, you’ll make sure that any chimney problems that could lead to carbon monoxide leaks are fixed before it’s too late. In conjunction, make sure that you have a working carbon monoxide detector and always ensure that the batteries are up to date. We recommend changing the batteries at least a few times a year or using a monitor that will alert you when the batteries are dead.
Finally, regular chimney inspections will make sure that you avoid pre-mature or unnecessary chimney deterioration. Over time, your chimney starts to break down and deteriorate. This is normal but can be avoided by getting regular inspections and tuckpointing to address minor issues before they get out of hand. When left untreated, deterioration can be one of the major contributing factors to both chimney fires and carbon monoxide poisoning. Additionally, chimney deterioration and structural problems can be dangerous and lead to chimney collapse. If you let it go for too long, it’s not only dangerous, but the repairs will end up costing much more. To avoid any health risks and keep costs as low as possible, make sure you get regular chimney inspections.
Chimney inspections do more than solve the above major problems; they keep you and your family safe and save you money over time. Even though you might think your chimney looks fine from an at-home inspection, there are a lot of hidden parts to a chimney that need to be looked at by a professional eye. To help keep everything in working order and avoid any major problems, it’s important to get your chimney inspected at least once a year to look for any signs of damage. If damage is found during this time, work with your professional tuckpointing company to schedule a time for repairs to be made. In the meantime, avoid using your fireplace and chimney to make sure that you don’t risk chimney fires, carbon monoxide poisoning, further deterioration, or more. Similarly, make sure that you get your chimney professionally cleaned at least once a year—twice if you use your fireplace frequently. When it comes to your chimney, it’s always better to be proactive.
By taking a proactive approach to chimney care with regular inspections, you’ll save money on costly repairs or damages. Since many things can go wrong when you light a fire indoors, proactive chimney care will help make sure you and your family stay safe. If you notice any signs that you need a chimney rebuild, or want to schedule an inspection, give us a call at Chicago Tuckpointing Inc. We have highly trained professionals ready to help you with everything you need. Call today at (708) 942-1951.