Always Budget for a Chimney Inspection

With rising inflation, gas prices, and grocery costs; things like vacations and eating out are being eliminated from everyone’s budget. Making choices about what to spend money on and what not to has become more complex, but there is one thing that you should save for, an annual chimney inspection. Not sure? Here are some reasons you should always budget for a chimney inspection.

Your Family’s Safety

It’s crucial to your family and your home’s wellbeing that an annual inspection is performed on your chimney. Why? Because certified chimney sweeps can detect dangers present in your chimney that you can’t. Specialized video equipment is used to detect any potential problems. Here are the two biggest threats to your safety if your chimney is left uninspected.

Fire- Every time you burn logs in your fireplace, combustion releases a substance known as creosote. Creosote has two distinct properties; it is very sticky and highly flammable. If there is a buildup of creosote in your chimney, it can lead to a chimney fire which can quickly spread to your roof and the rest of your home. An inspection will show that your chimney needs a heavy cleaning if creosote is caked on its interior. According to the NFPA, three out of ten house fires were started by chimney fires between 2014 and 2018. So, you can see how potentially dangerous leaving your chimney uninspected can be.

Toxic Fumes- Another thing chimney sweeps look for when inspecting your chimney is a blockage. Blockages could be caused by nests built by wildlife, debris such as tree branches, leaves, and pine needles, or broken chimney components such as broken pipe or rusted heat exchangers. What Happens when you start a fire with a blockage in your chimney? With nowhere to go, carbon monoxide will float back into your house. Unless you have a carbon monoxide detector, you won’t know it’s there; carbon monoxide is both odorless and tasteless, and by the time you start to feel its effects, it may be too late. A chimney inspection will show any blockages and protect your home from carbon monoxide.

You Chimney’s Life

Water Damage- Nothing is more detrimental to the longevity of your chimney than water finding its way into your chimney. Loose, cracked, or missing bricks make an excellent entry point for water to get inside your chimney. A cracked chimney crown lets water run down into a chimney’s bricks and mortar joints. When winter comes and the freeze-thaw cycle begins, water in your chimney’s bricks will lead them to crack and crumble from the constant expansion and contraction. An inspection of your chimney will find the potential entry points for water and eliminate them through repairs.

FlameMaster can Inspect Your Chimney and Keep Your House Safe

Our chimney inspectors are Chimney Sweep Institute of America (CSIA) certified. We can inspect your chimney for any potential safety hazards or damage to your chimney. Call us now at (719) 661-3277 or fill out our online contact form. One of our friendly and experienced staff will be happy to discuss setting an appointment to have your chimney inspected.