Studies by chimney repair professionals show that most homeowners don’t give their chimneys the attention that they deserve. According to the studies, most of the homeowners ignore their chimneys as they don’t deem them important. Since the chimneys serve the role of escorting smoke and soot out of the house, most homeowners don’t find this role as important enough. Since the chimneys are made from bricks and stones, many homeowners think that they are tough thus don’t need any care.

Chimney contractor tips

While you might think that the chimney is tough and doesn’t require any attention, this isn’t the case. There are many things that can go wrong with your chimney when you don’t give it attention. The most common problem is blockage of the chimney. The blockage can be from dead animals or bird nests. When there is a blockage, the smoke can’t leave your house thus making your house uncomfortable to live in.

Another problem is the accumulation of creosote. Creosote is the byproduct of combustion and it accumulates inside your chimney, in the smoke chamber, on the damper, and even in the firebox. Excessive amounts of creosote are dangerous as they put your unit at the risk of fire. The final problem that your chimney can develop is collapsing. This is common when your unit is old. Whether your unit is made from stones or bricks, it will collapse when you don’t take good care of it.

What you should do to your chimney

To keep your chimney in top shape you should regularly inspect it. You can do it by yourself if you have the skills, but it’s always recommended that you hire a chimney professional to do it for you. During the inspection, the professional should take a look at all the areas and fix any flaws that might be there.

In addition to regular chimney inspection, you should also undertake regular chimney cleaning. This is to prevent creosote from building up in your unit and also get rid of animals that might have died up there. Just like in inspection, you should hire a professional cleaner to do the work. If your chimney is old, it’s common for the contractor to pick some problems during the inspection. You should repair the problems as soon as you notice them in order to prevent them from getting worse thus putting your house at the risk of collapsing. For peace of mind, ensure that the repair work is done by a certified chimney company.