What to Do If You Suspect Mold in Your Chimney or Fireplace

One of the most harmful and difficult issues to detect in any home is the presence and growth of mold. Most of us are aware of the typical areas around the home where mold can take hold, spread and lead to adverse health effects for you and your family.

But did you know that your home is also at risk for fireplace and chimney mold? Most often seen in chimneys and fireplaces that are not used regularly, mold can grow on bricks and quickly spread to other parts of your home. As Chicago’s top-rated chimney sweep for nearly 40 years, Valley Chimney Sweep & Restoration has seen our fair share of chimney and fireplace mold, and our Chimney Safety Institute of America certified chimney sweeps can set a plan of action to not only get rid of your mold problem, but also help prevent it from returning.

What causes mold in a chimney or fireplace?

Like any other surface in your home, mold will grow in your fireplace or chimney when there is dampness, poor ventilation and darkness. Does that sound like the environment in and around your chimney? If the answer is yes, an inspection, cleaning and waterproofing from a certified chimney sweep should be scheduled immediately to check for mold growth. One simple test you can conduct yourself to determine the possibility of mold is to take a strong whiff up your fireplace. If you detect a musty odor in the area, you could have mold.

How to remove chimney or fireplace mold

To remove mold from the inside of your chimney, you’ll need to call in a certified chimney sweep. However, if you see mold on the outside of your fireplace, it can generally be removed with a special anti-fungal cleaner and wire brush. Make sure to take precautions with DIY mold removal, though. Doing the job improperly can lead to even more problems and serious health complications.

How to prevent chimney or fireplace mold

One of the biggest factors in mold growth is dampness. If you have dampness in your fireplace or chimney, that’s a problem that requires immediate attention. To prevent dampness, it is essential to seal the bricks on the chimney’s exterior. Chimneys take the brunt of severe weather, and they must be sealed to prevent water penetration. However, before water sealant is applied, it’s important to make any necessary chimney repairs before sealing. Sealing damaged bricks and mortar joints will not prevent water penetration.

Another source of water in your chimney is a faulty or leaking chimney cap. Valley Chimney Sweep & Restoration recommends the installation of cement chimney crowns/caps with expansion joints. Expansion joints prevent damage caused by constant freezing and thawing. A cement crown is angled slightly down, overhanging the bricks by 2 inches. With the overhang, water runs off the crown down to the roof, never touching the sides of the bricks.

Finally, we also suggest homeowners install 100 percent stainless steel rain covers with screening that not only prevent rain from entering your fireplace and chimney, but also keeps out critters.

Do you suspect you may have mold in your chimney or fireplace? Contact our certified professionals at Valley Chimney Sweep & Restoration today to schedule an inspection.