Many homeowners have the impression that the fireplace is exceptionally durable and doesn’t require repair, but this isn’t the case. Fortunately, according to chimney repair professionals, the chimney gives clear signs that it needs repair. These signs are:
Damaged motor joints
While you have to get to the rooftop to spot the damaged joints, when you notice them, you should fix them immediately. This is because failing joints accelerate the rate at which the chimney gets damage.
The cracks allow a lot of moisture to get into the chimney. When water gets into the small cracks in the masonry, it can enlarge the cracks due to freezing and thawing.
If you don’t fix it soon enough, it’s only a matter of time before the entire chimney comes crumbling down.
Spalling bricks
Bricks are porous. Over time, it’s common for moisture to penetrate the brick masonry and begin to break it apart. Just like when the chimney mortar has joint damage, the condition gets worse in cold weather when the moisture freezes in the bricks.
Spalling (breaking apart of the brick masonry) is brought about by several factors such as:
- Using a high-powered pressure washer when cleaning your chimney
- Aging brick in old homes
- Extreme weather conditions
- Low-quality components such as those used in pre-fabricated homes.
- Age
Just like when having damaged motor joints, you should fix the spalling problem as soon as you notice it. You don’t want your chimney falling on you, do you?
White staining
White stains are a telltale sign of moisture damage on your chimney. As you can tell, cleaning the significant white stains isn’t enough. You need to prevent the moisture from getting into the stones.
If you have the skills, you can do it by yourself, but if you have never done it before, ask a chimney technician to clean the chimney surface, then coat it with a water-resistant sealant.
The sealant will waterproof your chimney keeping off the moisture and staining problems.
Rusted damper
A rusted damper means you are having a lot of moisture in your chimney. In addition to it giving your fireplace an ugly look, a rusted damper also becomes difficult to operate. It also doesn’t seal properly.
The moisture also creates a wide range of problems, including cracking of the flue tiles, cracked or deteriorated flue lining, and many others.
Shaling
Inside the chimney is a flue liner that protects the brick and your home from heat. It also directs airflow up and out of the house. If you start noticing thin slices of chimney tile in your fireplace, you have a damaged flue.
A damaged flue is no joke. This is because when it gets damaged, it dramatically compromises fireplace safety, which puts you and your family at great danger of chimney fire.
It’s hard to detect the problem early enough; therefore, by the time you are noticing it, the chimney has already had substantial damage. To protect yourself, contact a CSIA-certified chimney sweep to inspect your chimney immediately and fix the flue.
Visible cracks
While they might seem as unmistakable signs of chimney problems, you will be shocked by the number of people that ignore them. Don’t be one of them.
Cracks are a big deal, and you have a reason to be worried when you see them. The cracks let in moisture, which puts your chimney at the risk of having a leakage and freezing problem.
You don’t want the chimney falling on your family, do you? When you notice the cracks, contact experienced chimney contractors Bowie to check out the cracks.
