Extend the life of your chimney just by simply taking good care of it to prevent damages – this includes chimney sweeping, inspection, repairs, and overall maintenance.
The chimney is one of those long-term appliances or features in your home. It should last you for years and years. But this doesn’t come without a price. A long-lasting chimney requires regular cleaning, inspection, and overall maintenance. And that’s what Coopertown is all about! We are here to make sure that your chimney lives up to its full potential.
What homeowners should know
In the inside of your chimney, you will find the flue and the flue liner. These are two parts that help in bringing air and smoke that come from what’s burning in the fireplace up and out to the outside world. Now, these are very vital to your chimney; once there are cracks or there is a problem with the flue or the flue liner, everything else gets affected. The usual problems that arise are:
- Chimney fires
- The production of carbon monoxide
- Negative air pressure and backflow of smoke
If only the flue liner is damaged then we must do chimney relining immediately. This is done so that any cracks are fixed and the flue and liner itself is restored. This can really extend the life of your chimney. However, if the flue itself is in a bad condition we will assess further and see if it needs to be replaced.
Keep water out
Installing a chimney cap is another tip in extending the life of the chimney. Chimney caps are installed right above the chimney opening. They are placed there as a barrier for things that could obstruct the airflow or damage the chimney, like debris, animals and the most famous of them all, water. You may not know this, but water could reduce the years of your chimney. It will destroy the parts that are inside and outside, especially the mortar brick walls. For the outside parts, it’s best to apply waterproofing sealant to the brick walls.
So to ensure chimney longevity, keep the flue in excellent condition and don’t let water anywhere near the interior. Applying all these could cost you quite a bit, but in the long run, you’ll be surprised at how much savings you get by avoiding major damage. Give us a call and our CSIA-certified chimney sweeps will tell you more about adding more years to your chimney.