How to fix fireplaces?

Many elements of your chimney/fireplace can suffer damage or begin to malfunction.

Even if it sounds like a lot of trouble, checking your chimney to spot problems early will save you lots of money.

It is also a great way to keep your home safe.

Crack over time

• High heat and age can cause the materials of your chimney to erode and crack over time.
• Water can get into the structure through the small cracks on the outside of the chimney causing significant damage.
• Excess heat released through the cracks of deteriorated chimney materials in contact with the structure of your house can cause a fire.
• This findings should get repaired quickly by a profesional chimney expert.

Drafting Properly

If your fireplace is not drafting properly it will soon begin to turn dangerous.

Smoke is certainly hazardous. Carbón Monoxide present in smoke, which is invisible, is deadly.

You should be alerted if the bricks around your fireplace are stained with smoke, or if you see smoke moving into the room. These are signs of drafting issues caused probably by obstructions in the chimney from, small animal nests, le aves or twigs.

For every drafting problem you should consider hiring a professional to perform a thorough inspection and cleaning.

Cresote

Creosote is a sticky substance formed from burning wood that clings to the walls of your chimney liner. This substance is the cause of most chimney fires due to its high flammability.

To remove creosote it is an excellent idea to have your chimney inspected and cleaned every year.

A certified chimney technician has the right tools and knowledge to remove creosote from your chimney thoroghly.

During the inspection, the certified technician closely examines the chimney and fireplace to detect any damage that needs to be addressed.

Damage to the components could mean dangerous problems, there is even a greater risk if the damage allows water into the system. You should cobstantly check the fireplace damper, the chimney cap, the chimney crown and flashing.

There are several signs of chimney/fireplace issues to be aware of:

Pieces of brick and mortar in the firebox are a clear sign of chimney materias deterioration.

Efflorescence, which is the white staining you may find on the chimney, on bricks around the fireplace or within the fireplace. Its presence means that excess moisture is building up. It may not be an immediate danger, but it could cause danger in the near future.

Water in the firebox is a classic sign of a chimney leak. Whenever water is present it means that there is a significant leak that calles for a profesional repair service.

Rumbling and ticking sounds coming from the fireplace are a very bad sign because that’s the sound of fire in the chimney. If you hear those noises, extinguish the fire in the firebox immediately and call your local emergency services.

In any of the aforementioned circumstances be prompt to hire an inspection and repair service.