This a tougher question than it sounds. The simple answer is: The National Fire Protection Association Standard 211 says, “Chimneys, fireplaces, and vents shall be inspected at least once a year for soundness, freedom from deposits, and correct clearances. Cleaning, maintenance, and repairs shall be done if necessary.” This is the national safety standard and is the correct way to approach the problem. It takes into account the fact that even if you don’t use your Chimney Flue Cleaning much, animals may build nests in the flue or there may be other types of deterioration that could make the chimney unsafe to use.
The Chimney Safety Institute of America recommends that open masonry fireplaces should be swept at 1/8″ of sooty buildup, and sooner if there is any glaze present in the system. This is considered to be enough fuel buildup to cause a chimney fire capable of damaging the chimney or spreading to the home. Factory-built fireplaces should be swept when any appreciable buildup occurs. The logic is that the deposit is quite acidic and can shorten the life of the fireplace. Chimney Flue Cleaning St. Michael MN
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Chimney Caps - The Pros And Cons
The chimney is an important part of your home structure that keeps your home warm in extreme cold weather. In most cases wood and gas build fire in chimney. Proper cleaning is essential for smooth working. Yearly inspection helps to achieve this aim. Mason and fireplace professionals carryout some common chimney repairs occasionally that conserve its functionality and enable it to perform major functions like: • Removal of harmful byproducts produced during burning of fuel • Removal of excessive heat from combustible items near fire What are Common Chimney Repairs? It is difficult to find out any kind of problems or damages associated with chimneys. That's why people always prefer to take help from professional handyman to detect problems and proper chimney repair. Following are some of the important components of chimney that can be repaired any time to restore its function. • Chimney Caps • Mortar Crown Repair • Firebox re pointing and rebuilding • Damper repair • Flue repair • Storm Collar • Liner Gap Repair • Chimney Relining Chimney Caps Chimney must have suitable cap, installing wrong cap over chimney can cause disastrous fire. Cap is mounted to restrict water, animals and debris to get enter in chimney that finally leads to blockage of unit and create extremely hazardous condition. Water can destroy liner and mortar joints between liner sections. Spark arrestors are also fixed on cap to prevent falling of dangerous sparks on your roof and prevent fire. Mortar Crown Repair It is the top part made up of concrete that don't let water to enter in flue. If you found cracks immediately get them repair because water can enter via cracks that also destroys other parts like ceilings, walls and attics along with chimney. Firebox Re pointing and Re building This is made up of bricks use to build fire. Loose bricks are necessary to repair to avoid accidents. Damper repair Damper keeps the flue close when fireplace is not in use. It stops heat flow out from chimney. It should also repair in case of any defect. Flue repair It is an internal part that works like a canal to blowout smoke and other toxic gases produced in fireplace. It may get cracked and blocked with debris and creosote (oil released upon burning of wood). It must be removed regularly to avoid dangerous fire accidents. Moreover, cracks should be sealed immediately for safety purpose. Storm Collar It is the small piece of metal that protect chase cover. Improper installation let water to enter in chase that travels down along the length of unit. Water destroys the whole unit but this can be easily avoided by proper maintenance. Liner Gap Repair Improper construction, earth quake and normal wear and tear can cause gaps between flue tiles. Chimneys without caps always face this problem. These gaps leads improper functioning of chimney and results in accumulation of combustion product. Initially liner gaps can only repair by relining and rebuilding of the whole unit. But now days it can efficiently resolved with fire guard. Chimney Relining Chimney is made up of concrete or terra cotta. Cracks are the major problem for chimneys and they must be repaired before using fireplace. You can use various options to tackle with the problem. It mainly depends on the condition of unit. Insulating whole unit with stainless steel provide effective solution to this problem. Further, you can also install larger steel liner that keep fireplace open. Technically it is difficult to install such big liner.
Chimney Repair - The 5 Most Common Chimney Issues and How to Fix Them
There is nothing quite as comforting as a roaring fire on a cold winter day to warm your heart and your home. A fireplace is something your entire family can enjoy. But you need to make sure chimney repair and maintenance is done correctly in order to ensure your families safety. The Importance of Chimney Repair A chimney is designed to draw the smoke and gases produced by a fire up and safely out of your home. This is extremely important since some of these gases are dangerous. One of the most dangerous is carbon monoxide which in large enough doses can kill. A second important function of the chimney is to contain the excess heat from a fire until it can be vented to the outside air. Most of your home is combustible. If the chimney does not get this extremely hot air outside without leaks it can easily cause a fire in your home. This is why it is so important for you to make sure that any needed chimney repair is done correctly in order to keep you, your family and your home safe. Here are some important tips to ensure that your fireplace is working correctly and avoid some common chimney repair issues. Creosote Buildup Creosote is an oil that is produced when wood or other solids are set on fire. Over time the creosote can build up on the inside of your chimney. If there is too much buildup it can ignite and cause a fire in your chimney. Blockage Another common chimney repair issue is having a blockage in the flue of your chimney. This can be caused by debris from material dislodging in your chimney or even by animal nests. Blockages, even small ones affect the efficiency of your chimney in getting smoke, gases and heat out of your home. Cracks Or Holes In The Flue Some of the gases from a fire are quite corrosive and over time can damage your chimney flue and create the potential for blockages or even allow dangerous gases to seep into your home. Make sure that your flue gets an annual inspection to ensure that it is working correctly. Brickwork Problems Another problem is caused if the flue starts to leak and erode the masonry and brickwork around the exterior and require extensive chimney repair work. Too much of this can cause major structural damage which will make your chimney repair much more expensive. Chimney Cap and Chimney Crown The chimney cap and crown basically make up the roof of the chimney that surrounds the flue and keeps water and debris from getting into the chimney. If this is cracked or missing pieces it can allow water damage to the inside of the chimney and even damage the ability of the flue to channel gases and heat out of the home. This area also keeps animals, debris and weather out of your flue. Conclusion If you see any of these problems when you inspect your chimney, you need to see that any needed repair is made before the fireplace is used. While you may be able to fill small cracks, you should consult a professional for any larger issue. It is always recommended that you have your chimney cleaned, inspected and any needed chimney repair work done at least once a year to ensure its safe operation. To ensure the safety of your family make sure that you have carbon monoxide detectors in your home. These should be placed on each floor or at a minimum on the floor where your family sleeps. Check them regularly to make sure they are working properly to protect your family from even low levels of carbon monoxide. By taking care of any needed chimney repair as soon as you see it the costs for the repairs will be much less than if you let the problem get larger. Make sure that your chimney is inspected regularly and it will give you years of safe use.Chimney Flue Cleaning Locally serviced and operated in St. Michael MN
