Changes To Your Chimney That Require A Chimney Sweep

Your home's chimney plays two important roles. First off, the chimney works to redirect smoke and other by-products that come from burning fuel, whether wood, oil, or gas, out of your home, and this maintains the air quality of your home. Secondly, the chimney also works to draw in air to ensure that the fuel you are utilizing will burn clean. With those crucial tasks in mind, the condition of your chimney has a direct effect on your household.

Yet, over time, exposure to the changing weather patterns coupled with the arduous roles that the chimney plays will contribute to gradual disrepair. To avoid any calamitous repercussions, you must hire a chimney sweep to investigate the degree of damage and fix this structure before it is too late. The following are a few changes to your chimney indicating the need to hire a chimney sweep for immediate repairs.

The mortar is deteriorating

The mortar in your chimney, in essence, is the glue that keeps this structure together. However, in addition to securing the stonework in place, the mortar also works to prevent water ingress into the chimney. Therefore, this material needs to be in good condition to prevent water damage. Nonetheless, inadequate upkeep coupled with exposure to ultraviolet rays, rain, and even snow will steadily cause the mortar to degrade.

As a result, suspicious cracks may form in between the stonework. You may also find that the mortar is crumbling. Before this deterioration puts the chimney at the risk of falling apart, you must hire the services of a chimney sweep. This professional will come to assess the extent of the damage so that they can determine if repairs will suffice or if you would need to have the chimney replaced.

The internal parts are corroded

Identifying rust on your chimney's components may sound like a Herculean task, as some homeowners automatically assume that they need to investigate the inside of their chimney. But this is not the case. Rather, you simply need to inspect the exterior of the chimney for signs of discoloration. Reddish-brown streaks most commonly are indicative of corroded internal components since the rust will seep through the stonework.

When the chimney cap starts to corrode, it loses its ability to keep moisture at bay, so there is a high likelihood of water filtering into the chimney. The second component that can succumb to corrosion is the damper. This will increase the threat of water damage to the firebox. The moment you see strange discoloration at the exterior of your chimney, hire a chimney sweep to establish the source of the water ingress and replace the affected components immediately. To learn more, contact a chimney sweep service. 


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