Make a New Year’s Resolution for a Mystery-Solving Chimney Inspection
You aren’t alone if you have long-held questions about your chimney and fireplace. At Chimney Sweeps Inc., we recommend making a New Year’s resolution to schedule a mystery-solving chimney inspection. Our chimney technicians are NFI-certified for a reason! All kinds of things can go wrong with a chimney, but, understandably, many homeowners aren’t aware of them. Any of the following could be happening at your home, to name just a few of the reasons annual chimney inspections are crucial for solving mysteries and a lot more.
White Staining on Your Chimney
Your chimney may have staining that has had you scratching your head. Unfortunately, regardless of the staining color, its presence indicates that a chimney inspection is needed. For instance, white stains indicate that water has infiltrated the brick masonry. The staining is called “efflorescence,” which suggests the presence of water-soluble salts in the bricks. Any brick containing moisture must be replaced due to winter freeze-thaw cycles. The water inside the bricks expands and contracts when the outside temperature drops, destroying their structure.
A Dripping Sound is Strangely Coming from Your Fireplace
The sound of water dripping may not be an emergency with plumbing, but it’s a different story if the sound comes from your fireplace. A leaky chimney is typically evidence of significant moisture intrusion into the chimney masonry. As with mysterious brick chimney staining, masonry repair is needed and will only worsen until the underlying issue is resolved. The worst-case scenario is that the chimney leans and finally collapses.
The Fireplace has Gotten Terribly Smoky
There are numerous potential causes of a smoky fireplace. It’s essential to contact chimney sweeps who qualify as chimney detectives. Sweeps who perform chimney inspections have that distinction. Our chimney technicians at Chimney Sweeps Inc. can, more quickly than others, determine which of the following is causing your fireplace to smoke. However, other potential issues may be the possible culprits:
- A draft problem,
- Negative air pressure,
- A blocked flue, or
- Improper chimney design.
Loud Chirping is Heard from the Fireplace
Through the centuries, creatures have proven that they are drawn to chimneys. That is one reason it is crucial to install a chimney cap with mesh at the top of the chimney flue.
If federally protected birds called chimney swifts are migrating through your area, they will happily build nests in your chimney, if possible. It will be your legal responsibility to put up with them, their mess, and their noise pollution until baby birds hatch, grow strong, and can fly. Other animals known to enter chimneys include snakes, squirrels, raccoons, and bats. FYI, Chimney Sweeps Inc. installs chimney caps with mesh as one of our comprehensive services.
Schedule a Chimney Inspection with Chimney Sweeps Inc. in the New Year
Making a New Year’s resolution for a mystery-solving chimney inspection is recommended by fire safety experts, though perhaps not in those exact words. At Chimney Sweeps Inc., we may be in an unregulated industry, but we take the safety of your home as seriously as if it were our own. That’s why our technicians are certified and experienced in all aspects of chimney repair, maintenance, masonry repair, fireplace installation, cleaning, inspections, and more.
Contact us anytime to ensure the safety of your fireplace and chimney system. All of us at Chimney Sweeps Inc. wish you and yours a safe and Happy New Year.
