Spring Chimney Maintenance

It was a very cold winter, then we got a taste of spring weather, and then there was snow on the ground again. Mother Nature seems to do this to us every spring. The drastic change in weather is not only annoying as we try to dress our children in weather-appropriate clothing, but also damaging to our chimneys and masonry work.

As the chimney starts to expand and shrink with the spikes in temperature, we notice spring problems with our chimneys. The heavy coat of frozen water all winter keeps things moist for a long time period of time and can deteriorate masonry and woodwork. If the gutters or downspouts are directing near the chimney, they might cause additional water buildup.

If you are experiencing problems, it’s time to do some investigation into what kind of spring work your chimney needs.

Signs you might have some spring chimney work to do:

• Stinky chimney smell
• Leaking Chimney
• Deteriorated metal or masonry firebox
• Rusted damper or fireplace accessories
• Water in the fireplace
• Water pooling on the chimney cap
• Water stains on the ceiling near chimney
• Cracked masonry, interior, and exterior
• Rotting wood
• Tilted chimney

This is a great time of year to have Valley Chimney Sweep take a look at your chimney and inspect it for safety issues. If you want to do some of your own inspecting, we encourage you to know your home. However, remember that there is a safety element to anything surrounding the fire you put in your fireplace and chimney and a DIY project done poorly can be a huge safety issue. If it seems to much for you to do, consider calling in a Certified Chimney Sweep®, like us, for your annual inspection and cleaning and walk away with peace of mind.

Here are some inspection points for your spring chimney inspection:

Masonry Fireplace

There should not be moisture or signs of water in your masonry firebox. When you open your fireplace doors and smell damp musty odors or if you see water streaks, moisture on the glass doors or loose bricks, surface rust on any fireplace elements, then there might be some water entering the fireplace. Although your fireplace might not be in need of replacing, inspecting it is a great place to identify that a problem exists elsewhere.

Chimney Flashing

Chimney flashing is the sheet metal that keeps the intersection between the roof and chimney watertight. Glue or tar is not the primary means to attach chimney flashing, so if you see gooey tarry junk at the base of your chimney, that could be a source of the problem.

Chimney Cricket

If your chimney is wider than 30”, it should have a chimney cricket. The cricket will keep water from pooling at the rear of the chimney (especially when snow is melting) and direct water off the chimney.

Chimney Spalling

Chimney spalling is when the masonry bricks absorb moisture, thaw, freeze, thaw, and eventually break or pop-off. Spalling is a direct result of our notorious freeze and thaw spring weather. Depending on the level of damage, there are options to repair and stop water penetration.

Furnace Flue

When a furnace or boiler burns natural gas, it vents warm moist flue gases into the chimney. Every 100,000 BTUs produced to the home sends 1 gallon of water vapor into the flue. As the gases cool, condensation forms inside the chimney. Unlined or poorly lined chimneys leak this moisture to the surroundings. If the chimney leaks but it’s not raining, the usual culprit is the exhaust from the heater. We install chimney liners to correct this all the time.

When a homeowner replaces a heating appliance with the newer, more efficient model that doesn’t vent into the chimney, they sometimes forget about the other appliance (like a water heater) that might be using that flue and they leave it orphaned. Orphaned water heaters can be dangerous because they are not allowing the exhaust gas to get up the flue and out of the house because of the poor draft. Sometimes the furnace or boiler flue will leak and cause water problems or moisture stains in the home. Either way, call us to evaluate the situation.

Chimney Crown

Your home’s chimney crown is one of the most exposed elements of your home and experiences a lot of weather. That being said, chimney crowns do deteriorate. Depending on the level of deterioration, your chimney sweep might recommend applying a chimney crown sealant to protect it from moisture penetration. The inspection might identify more than wear and tear and you might be recommended to repair the crown with flexible mastic. And the worst-case scenario, the crown is no longer solid or was not built correctly and was never solid and will need to be replaced.

Chimney Cap

A chimney cap protects the opening of your chimney flue from rain, animals, debris, and leaves. Because it is made of metal, it can rust and deteriorate with the weather. If yours is rusted or causing leaking problems, it can be replaced with a single flue model or a custom made stainless steel cap that won’t rust and completely covers the chimney top.

Chase Cover

A chase cover is the top piece of a prefabricated chimney just as a chimney crown is to a masonry chimney. Many of the stock covers are ill-fitting from the start and perform poorly, not to mention adding weather deterioration. Our Certified Chimney Sweep® can custom fabricate a chase cover to help prevent future water leakage, water pooling, and rust.

We encourage all homeowners to inspect their home this spring, but if you find something that you can’t explain or need some help with determining the next steps in maintaining or repairing your chimney problems, give a call to our Certified Chimney Sweep®. Valley Chimney Sweep has been the go-to chimney sweep and chimney repair provider to homeowners in the Western Chicago suburbs for over three decades. A 2nd generation family-owned and operated Certified Chimney Sweep®, we can help you too!