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Help! I Have Mold in My Chimney

The fireplace is a haven for many dangers around the house. From deadly carbon monoxide leaks to the possibility of catastrophic fire in the home, your chimney and fireplace need a lot of extra special care to ensure their safe operation.

Another hard-to-detect safety hazard is the growth and presence of mold. As is well known, mold is dangerous to the human respiratory system and needs three important environmental factors for growth — moisture, poor ventilation and a lack of sunlight. Now, sunlight pouring through your chimney isn’t very likely if you’ve got it properly capped; however, moisture in your chimney is a very real and common occurrence.

As we’ve discussed in previous blog posts, there are four main reasons for moisture in your chimney: missing or damaged chimney covers, insufficient or failing chimney flashing, leaking bricks along the chimney and a cracked chimney crown. Mold is most often found in chimneys and fireplaces not used regularly. Mold can easily grow on bricks and can quickly spread to other areas of the home, leading to dangerous environmental concerns for you and your family.

As Chicago’s top-rated chimney sweep for four decades, Valley Chimney Sweep & Restoration has encountered a lot of mold, and our certified chimney sweeps can begin a plan to not only eradicate the problem, but also prevent it from returning.

How does mold form in a chimney or fireplace?

Like any other surface, mold will grow in your fireplace or chimney with the presence of the three factors mentioned previously. If your fireplace opening has an odor or appears damp when you shine a light up there, it’s likely you have mold growing. We recommend  scheduling an immediate inspection, cleaning and waterproofing plan.

Removing chimney or fireplace mold

Removing mold from the inside of your chimney requires the help of a  certified chimney sweep with specialized tools and cleaning agents. Do not attempt this process yourself. However, if mold has spread to the outside of the fireplace it may be removed with an anti-fungal cleaner and sturdy wire brush. Make sure to take precautions with DIY mold removal, though, including eye protection, gloves and a breathing mask. Doing the job improperly or haphazardly can lead to even more problems and serious health complications.

Preventing chimney or fireplace mold

Perhaps the No. 1 factor in the growth of mold is moisture. If you have dampness in your fireplace or chimney, that’s a problem that requires quick action. To prevent moisture from seeping in, it is important to properly seal the chimney’s exterior. Chimneys are hit year round by the harshest weather conditions and it’s important they can withstand water penetration.

However, before water sealant can be applied, any necessary damaged bricks must be first be repaired. Simply sealing damaged bricks and mortar joints will not prevent water penetration.

Another source of dampness can be faulty or leaking chimney cap, covers or flashing. A thorough inspection of each of these systems will determine if water is leaking there. If so, those items will either need to be repaired, if possible, or completely replaced.

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

About Valley Chimney Sweep & Restoration

Valley Chimney is a local family-owned chimney sweep and restoration company with nearly 40 years of experience. The bulk of our clients are located in Chicago’s western suburbs.

Our certified chimney sweeps offer a wide range of professional chimney services.  With constantly updated skills, techniques and the latest equipment, our goal is to reduce chimney hazards, including mold growth, and be your Chimney Sweep for Life.

 

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