Repairing and Cleaning Your Chimney

Creosote is a dark colored, combustion residue that can collect on the inside of a chimney. Creosote is that it is very flammable and, because creosote is so flammable, it can cause cracks in the brick, which means that heat can reach other parts of your house. A flammable chimney is one of the leading causes of fires in homes.

            Let’s explore chimney repairs and cleaning in greater detail. 

·         Chimney Cleaning

-          Having your chimney fully cleaned out will cost over one hundred dollars, but a clean sweep won’t just clean out your chimney, it will clean out the fireplace as well.  Your goal with the chimney cleaning will be to have the firebox checked for any damaged bricks and/or mortar, to have the damper checked for cracks and rusting (any that are should immediately be replaced by a professional), and to ensure that the damper fits tightly and moves freely when it is opened. 

-          In addition, if there is any airflow being restricted by debris, it should be removed as soon as possible.  Examples of debris may include broken bricks and flue liners. If there are any vertical cracks inside of the chimney, this means that a flue fire has taken place here before, and it should be handled immediately by a professional.  

-          If there are any signs of creosote concentrations inside of the chimney, they should be removed as well. Chimney cleaning is an essential part to keeping your home well maintained.  However, chimney cleaning is different than chimney repair. If you ever have a professional clean your chimney, they may tell you that your chimney is in need of some repair measures.

·         Chimney Repair

-          Chimney repairs can include installation of a chimney cap, replacing the liner, or even replacing the mortar. Chimney repair is a far more serious matter than chimney cleaning.

-          If your chimney cleaning professional ever tells you that your chimney will be in imminent need of total replacement or some major repairs, you should contact your building official immediately. This is because chimney repair or replacement may require a building permit. The only person who is qualified to repair a chimney is a home improvement contractor.

-          To find out if the contractor is a viable candidate to repair or replace your chimney, they must have a home improvement registration certificate with them and display this to you. You can always contact the Department of Consumer Protection and they will check up on any home improvement contractor. 

-          You will be given a certain amount of time, usually three days, to cancel the job.  This is under home improvement law that requires all home improvement contractors to put a cancellation notice in the contract, giving you time to think about the job before it actually begins.  

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