Chimney & Fireplace Inspection

A chimney inspection is a service performed to look for buildups and blockages, followed by sweeping to remove problems inhibiting performance. In this article, we will outline what is involved in a good chimney sweep.

A good chimney company certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America, will include these elements (and more!) within their chimney inspection:

• Rain Caps: highly recommended to prevent moisture from snow and rain to get down into your chimney, as well as birds and other critters.
• Brick and Mortar: important elements to take a close look at in every inspection to evaluate if any bricks exposed to weather need to be re-set, or if the mortar needs repointing.
• Flue Liner: cracked flue tiles and excessive creosote buildup would need attention, and if the chimney hasn’t been swept recently, they will recommend that it be cleaned before your first fire of the season in order to prevent unsafe consequences to wood-burning fireplaces, such as chimney fires.
• Fireplace Blower: these parts unfortunately do not have a filtering system to prevent buildup of dust and hair on the blower. Excessive buildup will shorten the life of this part and can even be a fire hazard.

“I’M SURE WE’RE FINE FOR ANOTHER YEAR…”

If you choose to skip a chimney inspection or simply forget, you face the risk of running into all sorts of problems. These problems have the ability to cost you thousands of dollars in damages, or could result in injury or death to those inside the home as well as neighbors. Residential fires are not something to be taken lightly, and the lack of regular chimney inspections is a very common cause of house-fires.

Prevent problems with an annual chimney inspection.

Thank you Chimney and Masonry Outfitters for the information.