Contractor Tips Blog
When Was the Last Time Your Chimney was Inspected?
Chimneys play an important role in the safety of your home. Whether you use your fireplace as your main source of heat or only as a cozy option on a cold night, the chimney needs to be maintained. This includes periodic inspections to check the structure for damage or leaks that could be a safety hazard. If it has been many years or you don’t know when your chimney was last inspected, it is time to schedule a chimney professional to perform a complete inspection.
Dangers of Old Chimneys
Chimneys can last for many decades but they do need cleaning and repair. Cleaning can remove the creosote, the resin that can start chimney fires, but it doesn’t repair chimney damage. If there are leaks inside the chimney, chimney fires can occur, even if they have been cleaned.
Another danger of old chimneys is structural damage. Settling and corrosion can impact the stability of a chimney. There are usually signs of deterioration, like leaning, cracks or crumbling bricks, but not always. An unstable chimney could come crashing down, endangering anyone below when it falls.
Professional Chimney Inspections
Every few years it is a good idea to schedule a chimney inspection, especially for chimneys that are decades old. A professional chimney inspector can check the inside and outside of the chimney to ensure it is still safe and structurally sound. If there are repairs that are needed, these can be performed proactively, reducing the risk of fires or collapse.
Home maintenance is almost always less expensive than repairs or replacement, including chimney maintenance. Make sure to schedule routine chimney cleanings and inspections to avoid the risks of chimney fires and deterioration.
Posted on behalf of:
Anglin’s Foundation & Masonry Repairs
1027 Oregon Trail
Marietta, GA 30008
(770) 422-2924
Spring or Summer Maintenance for Your Chimney
When the warm spring weather arrives, you may be more than happy to stop stoking the fire and open your windows. While the heating season may be over, it is time to do any needed maintenance to your system. If you have a fireplace with a chimney, performing chimney maintenance needs to be done to protect your home and family. Here are some of chimney maintenance tasks you should add to your to-do list this spring or summer.
Chimney Cleaning
Creosote is a natural-occurring by-product of burning wood. This build-up in your chimney can cause blockages and chimney fires. If you use your woodstove or fireplaces as a main source of heat, you may need to have your chimney swept or cleaned every year. If a build-up of 1/8” of soot or any glaze is indication that your chimney needs cleaning.
Inspection
It is important to have your chimney fully inspected each year. You can do a visual inspection of the exterior to look for settling or cracks in your chimney. Any masonry issues should be repaired immediately. However, it is important to have a professional inspection to check the interior of the chimney, the damper and other elements.
One of the reasons not to wait to complete chimney maintenance until fall is if there are repairs needed. If the chimney structure needs repairs it can take time. Chimney professionals are busy in the fall and you may run into issues getting your chimney repaired in time for winter.
As soon as you are ready to shutdown your fireplace for the season, schedule your inspection with a local chimney specialist. They can let you know if you need a cleaning or repairs to give you plenty of time to perform the maintenance needed before it is time to start a fire again.
Posted on behalf of:
Anglin’s Foundation & Masonry Repairs
1027 Oregon Trail
Marietta, GA 30008
(770) 422-2924
How Often Do You Need Your Chimney Inspected?
When was the last time your chimney was inspected? Maybe it was when you bought the home, a few years ago or possibly you have never had it properly inspected. Considering the importance of a chimney in heating your home and the consequences of a damaged chimney, it should be a higher priority than it tends to be for many homeowners. Here are some basics on why and how often you should have your chimney inspected.
Your chimney is exposed to the elements, both from the fires you burn and the outside weather. The interior can be damaged through the acidic material that is deposited through the combustion process, breaking down the chimney material. Plus, the inside and outside can be affected from storms, wind and other weather. Even the ground beneath your home can affect your chimneys structure, causing shifting and settling from erosion and other influences.
Other reasons to have your chimney inspected include blockages and buildup inside the chimney. Creosote can accumulate inside the chimney, putting you at risk for a chimney or house fire. Wildlife and debris can enter the chimney, causing blockages that can be dangerous when you start using your fireplace again.
Inspections of your chimney should be done annually for preventive measures. A professional chimney service can check the interior for blockages, buildup and damage that cannot be seen from a visual outside inspection. They can also look for any signs of structure issues or settling that may need to be repaired. The best time to schedule your inspection is in the late summer, early fall, before you will need to use your fireplace again. This allows time to have your chimney cleaned or repaired before the colder weather begins to occur.
Posted on behalf of:
Anglin’s Foundation & Masonry Repairs
1027 Oregon Trail
Marietta, GA 30008
(770) 422-2924
Masonry Concerns When Buying a New Home
You find the perfect home for your family and you want to secure the deal with a down payment. Before you write that check, you need to make sure that you are buying a home that is structurally sound. While it is common to have a general home inspection, these basic inspections do not always catch hidden issues that could cost you thousands of dollars down the road. Masonry and foundation problems can often be difficult to catch by a general contractor; it may be worth getting a masonry expert to complete an inspection before you buy.
Chimney Inspections
One area that can get overlooked is the chimney. While a quick external inspection of the chimney will be done, this can easily miss hidden problems. You will want a closer look at the chimney, especially if it is an older home. A masonry expert can perform a more detailed chimney inspection to ensure there isn’t structural damage inside the chimney that could lead to fires and other expensive issues down the road.
Foundation Problems
Foundation issues come in many forms and may not be immediately noticeable during a basic inspection. If there is even a slight sinking or unstable component in the foundation, it can put the entire home at risk. A foundation or masonry expert can take a closer look at footings and other elements to ensure the home and other structures like decks have a solid, safe foundation underneath.
It is worth the extra investment for a masonry inspection to be performed on a home you plan to buy. If there are issues, you can negotiate to have them fixed before the sale or have the cost of repairs taken off the sale price.
Posted on behalf of:
Anglin’s Foundation & Masonry Repairs
1027 Oregon Trail
Marietta, GA 30008
(770) 422-2924
Why Damaged Chimneys are Dangerous
Your chimney is essential to allowing you to have a fireplace inside your home and still have breathable air. It allows smoke to escape and air to feed the fire in small doses. However, if you have a masonry chimney that has begun to lean or shows signs of damage, it may be putting your home and family in danger. Chimney repairs are not something you should procrastinate about fixing as they can potential be harmful, even when you are not using your fireplace.
Masonry chimneys can last for many decades when maintained. Occasional cleanings and small repairs to bricks is often all that is needed to keep them safe and intact. However, they do depend on a solid foundation to stay stable; sinking foundations can cause a leaning chimney that can come crashing down at any time. In addition, you can have a small chimney fire without knowing it that can damage the masonry from the inside out.
Once the integrity of the chimney is compromised, it becomes a dangerous element in your home. Single bricks can topple, endangering those below, or the entire chimney could fall, putting your family and home at risk. If the interior has been damaged, there is a higher chance that a small chimney fire can spread to the rest of your home instead of being contained inside the flue walls.
Considering the dangers, it is never a good idea to put off a chimney repair. If you notice your chimney is leaning or has cracks, call a masonry expert for an inspection. It is not worth the risk to your home and family – get your chimney repaired as quickly as possible.
Posted on behalf of:
Anglin’s Foundation & Masonry Repairs
1027 Oregon Trail
Marietta, GA 30008
(770) 422-2924
Buying a New Home? Don’t Forget the Chimney Inspection
When you are searching for a new home, you want to ensure that this giant purchase is protected. It is standard to have a home inspection performed to understand any possible problems with the house. While this can cover many aspects from the foundation to the structural integrity, it does not cover everything. If your potential home has a fireplace and masonry chimney, add a high level chimney inspection to your list of ‘do’s” before you buy.During a standard home inspection, they will generally include an inspection the chimney for damage. However, this is a very basic look for any obvious problems. If the chimney is leaning or has visual damage to the structure, it will most likely be caught. However, big problems could be lurking under the surface of a chimney that looks structurally sound.
There are many different components in a chimney and factors that can affect the structure and safety. There are also different levels of chimney inspections that look at these components. Chimney inspections come in three levels, with number three being the most comprehensive. The levels include:
- Level 1. A basic inspection of the accessible areas of the chimney for any problems, including the interior, exterior and connections.
- Level 2. The next level goes above and beyond level 1 by also inspecting deeper into the chimney with a camera, plus other areas like the basement or attic. In many cases a level 2 is required for selling a home – check with your realtor.
- Level 3. Level 3 is the most comprehensive inspection available, uncovering any structural issues that may be hiding inside the chimney.
Don’t risk an expensive chimney problem down the road. Insist on a level 3 chimney inspection by an experienced masonry company, especially on older homes with fireplaces, before you buy.
Posted on behalf of:
Anglin’s Foundation & Masonry Repairs
1027 Oregon Trail
Marietta, GA 30008
(770) 422-2924
Dangers of Chimney Damage
Your chimney is a crucial part of your heating system, doing much more than just keeping smoke out of your home. It dispels dangerous gases that can be deadly to your family, while helping keep the right air flow needed to maintain your fire. Maintaining your chimney should be a top priority; this includes regular cleanings and repairs. Most homeowners that use wood heat understand the dangers of a dirty chimney, but chimney damage can be just as dangerous.
A loose brick or hole in your chimney can put your home and family at risk. Once the chimney structure is compromised, there are many possible hazards you can face. Here are a few of the dangers of allowing your chimney to function when it needs a repair:
- Gas exposure. Any blockage or leak in the chimney structure can allow hazardous gases to escape into your home. Many of these gases are poisonous and can even cause death.
- If one brick is loose, others may be as well. If these bricks come loose at the wrong time, they can cause serious injury to anyone who happens to under them when they fall.
- Damage to your chimney can create a fire hazard. A chimney repair is much less expensive than needing to replace your home and furnishings, not to mention the danger it poses to your family.
If you notice any loose bricks or that your chimney is leaning, call your local masonry repair company right away for an inspection and repair. Chimney repairs can protect your home and family from extensive harm and are worth the investment.
Posted on behalf of:
Anglin’s Foundation & Masonry Repairs
Marietta, GA
(770) 422-2924
Buying a New Home? Don’t Skip the Chimney Inspection
Shopping for a new home can be daunting. There are so many factors to consider: size, location, amenities, price and so much more. You have a grocery list of items you want in a home, including structural integrity. No one wants to buy a home and then find out six months down the road it needs a major repair. Although all homes receive an inspection before sale, a general inspection may not reveal hidden issues. If the home you want to buy has a chimney, don’t skip a specific chimney inspection before signing on the dotted line.
Hidden Chimney Problems
A general home inspection will detect a leaning chimney or one that has noticeable damage to the masonry. However, unless the issue is visible from the outside, many chimney problems will get missed. Level I or II inspections rarely catch chimney issues that are not visible. There are structural issues within the chimney that can lead to major chimney repairs and even full chimney replacement. A chimney that is unstable can become a hazard to your home as well as your family; a falling chimney can cause serious, even fatal, injuries.
If you are considering buying a home with a chimney, take the extra step of getting a qualified chimney inspection. These inspections can uncover any hidden problems within the structure, giving you the option of asking for these issues to be fixed before you buy. If the chimney passes inspection, you have the peace of mind that you won’t need a major chimney repair in the near future.
When scheduling your chimney inspection, make sure to use an honest, reputable masonry company with many years of experience in chimney repairs and replacements.
Posted on behalf of:
Anglin’s Foundation & Masonry Repairs
Marietta, GA
(770) 422-2924
Signs Your Masonry Chimney Needs Repair
If you have a brick or masonry chimney that is decades old, it is important to know the signs of disrepair. A damaged chimney can be very dangerous; it can put your home at risk of a chimney fire or the chimney could fall, causing injury or property damage. Here are a few signs that it may be time to schedule a chimney inspection:
- White substance. The white substance that accumulates on chimneys is called effloresence and is caused by excess moisture. While this white staining is not harmful, it is a sign of too much moisture that can damage your masonry.
- Leaning chimney. Masonry chimneys depend on a solid, even foundation. If a chimney is leaning, the foundation most likely has settled. It is only a matter of time before gravity wins the war and the structure begins to fall.
- Cracks and spalling. When the masonry begins to show signs of erosion, you need chimney repair. Cracks between the bricks and spalling, which is when pieces of masonry begin chipping off the outside of the chimney, are signs of damage from erosion or moisture.
- Shaling. Sometimes the problem is inside the chimney. Shaling is when small shingles begin to fall off inside the flue, accumulating in the fireplace. If the flue lining is damaged it can put your home at risk for a fire, so don’t wait to schedule an inspection.
Considering the important role your chimney places in your heating system, it is vital to keep it in good repair. If your chimney has any of these signs, schedule a chimney inspection with your local chimney service contractor that handles masonry and foundation repairs.
Posted on behalf of:
Anglin’s Foundation & Masonry Repairs
Marietta, GA
(770) 422-2924
Will Your Chimney Last the Winter?
With the colder weather and holiday months upon us, it’s time to enjoy the heat that can only come from a roaring fire. However, to safely enjoy your fireplace, you must have a chimney which is properly functioning and in good repair. Over time, brick or stone chimneys can begin to lean, causing them to become an eyesore or worse, a hazard. If you have a chimney with structural problems, you need to have it repaired before it causes further damage to your home and ruins the upcoming holiday season.
Causes of Leaning Chimneys
Brick or masonry chimneys that are leaning are a definite hazard, and need to be repaired. The heavy weight of these structures can cause them to become unstable, crumbling or toppling down with the pull of gravity or during a storm. This can cause damage to your home, property, and even injure a family member or pet.
Most leaning chimneys are caused by a foundation problem. The footing the chimney rests upon may be sinking or cracking, making the chimney lean. An experienced foundation or chimney repair company can inspect your leaning chimney, and offer repair solutions before it causes more expensive damage to your home or family. It may need the footing repaired, as well as masonry repairs to the chimney, or even a full chimney replacement.
Don’t let a leaning chimney ruin your holiday season. Have your leaning chimney repaired now to prevent any avoidable accidents. Enjoy the winter months with a comforting fire, knowing your chimney is steady and stable, doing its job while you relax by the fireplace with your family.
Posted on behalf of:
Anglin’s Foundation & Masonry Repairs
Marietta, GA
(770) 422-2924
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