Temperature Changes and Your Chimney

Freeze and Thaw Affects Your Chimney

Let’s face it. We live in a very cold part of America. The Chicago suburbs in Illinois are cold. Ok, it could be colder, we could be in Canada or Alaska, but still it is cold here in the winter. Before and after it gets bitter cold, Illinois experiences a number of days where it gets warm and then cold, and then warm and then cold over and over again. Sometimes, we get a peak of 70s on a mid October day and then watch the thermometer drop almost 40 degrees by the late evening. That is what our chimneys dislike most.

The dramatic changes in weather can cause weakness to your chimney, even worse if there is melting snow or wetness during that drastic temperature changes. The freeze and thaw cycle of our Midwestern winters can cause damage to your chimney, especially with the wear and tear year over year.

Some problems that we have associated with the Illinois freeze and thaw springs include:

Cracks in chimney mortar
Loose or missing bricks and stones
Tilted or listing chimney

Good news is that there are solutions.

Annual Chimney Inspection:

An annual chimney inspection and routine cleaning by a Certified Chimney Sweep® will identify problems earlier than later. Consider it a preventive check up for your chimney.

Water Repellent:

If your Chimney Sweep identifies weaknesses in your chimney, s/he might recommend applying a water repellent to the chimney. This is different from a sealant because it allows water vapor out, while preventing additional water from getting in. The sealant prevents that flow and could cause more water damage by sealing the moisture in.

Chimney Cap Installation:

Another recommendation that your chimney sweep might recommend is a chimney cap. A chimney cap is a stainless or copper piece that fits on top of your chimney and may be able to prevent additional water damage to the inside your masonry chimney, the flue, damper, and even the fireplace.

Before you decide that these are perfect fall DIY projects, consider asking a professional to give you an estimate. Your local big box hardware store probably carries chimney caps, but probably not of the best quality. Same goes for the water repellent and you must consider your own safety. Being on top of your home’s roof is not a safe place for the amateur do-it-yourselfer. When you call in a Certified Chimney Sweep® to make these assess and make these repairs, they will use materials they know and methods they have had training to do and help you endure the harsh Illinois winter.

If you would like Valley Chimney Sweep & Restoration of Yorkville, IL to come out and provide you an estimate on your chimney needs, we would be happy to provide you our professional consultation. We cover the far western Chicago suburbs from St. Charles, IL to Morris, IL and every where in between. If we do not cover your area, chances are we can refer someone who can.