One crucial part of your home is your chimney. Unfortunately, they are also one of the most ignored parts of the house. Professionals recommend that you hire a technician to check your chimney every year before you start using it again during the winter season.
It might appear easy to go years without maintaining your chimney. Unfortunately, doing so will only increase your risks for house fires.
If you want to maintain your chimney, there are a couple of dos and don’ts that you should keep in mind. If you want to make your life easier, you can always rely on a masonry Tyler TX contractor for help.
Do Clean the Ashes
Another important step in preventing house fires is to always wipe out the ashes from your chimney before lighting another fire. After they’ve cooled, simply brushing or sweeping them up should be enough. Always keep in mind that hot coals can last up to 3 days.
Do Maintain Your Chimney Liner
The inside of your chimney is bordered by the flue or chimney liner, which runs the length of it. The stove pipe is connected to it. Its goal is to transport the smoke up the chimney rather than discharging it all at once.
If you start a fire when the chimney liner is obstructed, you risk a house fire or carbon monoxide poisoning. Creosote can clog the liner, which you can’t see if you look at the fireplace from the outside.
This is why it’s crucial to keep your chimney in good working order. Your chimney technician will use a special brush called a polypropylene bristle brush to sweep the liner clean of creosote, soot, and other debris.
Don’t Uncap Your Chimney
Whenever there aren’t any bricks or fire block to keep the hot air from the chimney from entering the fireplace, it is referred to as an uncapped chimney. Fire blocks are required because they aid in the reduction of heat loss. If you take them out, your chimney may fill with chilly air during the colder months.
Use a wire-mesh cap to cover the top of your chimney. Animals, insects, water, and other debris will not be able to enter your home. The damper is additionally protected from water penetration and corrosion within the chimney by the cap.
Remember to check the cap on a regular basis. When your cap rusts or splits due to bad weather or creosote buildup, it’s time to replace it.
Don’t Ignore Cracks
Smoke is vented away from your property using chimneys. If the foundation has cracks, smoke and combustion products may not be able to vent and may pile up in the fissures, posing a fire hazard.
Keep an eye out for cracks in your chimney whenever and whenever they appear. They are the most typical cause of problems with masonry chimneys. They’re most commonly seen in the crown, although they can also be found in the brick, fireplace, or mortar.
If you don’t address them now, you can end up needing to replace your whole chimney later.
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