Common Chimney Problems You Should Know

Several issues are common with chimneys. Let us explore a few of them as under:

Excessive creosote

Not only is excessive creosote the most common chimney issue, but it’s also one of the most hazardous. Additionally, it is the main reason why residential structure fires happen. One of the organic byproducts of combustion is creosote. Both gas and wood-burning heating appliances generate it. Some of the thick, sticky material known as creosote sticks to the walls inside the chimney, whereas the majority of it escapes through the flue. A new coating of creosote forms with each lighting of the fire. While large quantities of creosote are highly combustible, smaller quantities are not hazardous. A chimney fire can be ignited by a high temperature or by a spark from a hot ember, and it can quickly spread through an entire house. Greater than 1/8″ of creosote is regarded as dangerous.

Stains on Chimney

Efflorescence, or white stains on your chimney, is an indication of moisture, another common fireplace issue. These stains form when soluble solutions suffuse bricks and other kinds of masonry and evaporate on the chimney exterior, leaving a layer of salt residue. These granular stains tend to harden and become blurry with time. Additionally, are they unappealing but these stains signal that moisture is damaging the masonry work in the chimneys? Check that your chimney is waterproof as well as your flue liner is in place to avoid the destruction that this moisture causes.

Blockages

Debris from years of inactivity may have collected in a poorly maintained chimney, which may be blocking the flue. Squirrels, raccoons, and birds all like enjoying the winter months up chimneys, where they keep their nesting materials. Bricks that have fallen inside the chimney and created an obstruction could be responsible for not having it. Of course, the flue may also be blocked by dirt, tree branches, and leaves. When Chimney Sweeps inspects chimneys, we carefully check for flue blockages. If there is any, we can clear out all the debris and return the chimney to a safe condition.

Creosote

A highly explosive residue known as creosote forms when fossil fuels like coal, wood, or turf are burned. It collects inside flues. When creosote develops inside a chimney, there are frequently three steps or phases involved:

First-degree creosote

This has a lot of soot in it, but a chimney brush will make it easy to clean. This happens when the fuel burns clean and at a high temperature. The substance being burned is dry and will burn cleanly when there is plenty of air present.

Second-degree creosote

Second-degree creosote looks like thicker, shiny black tar layers than the first stage. If the deposit is identified early on and comes from restricted airflow to the combustion area, brushing can help remove it. The best way to describe the second stage is as the first-to-third-degree transition period.

Third-degree creosote

A thick layer of black tar on the inside of the flue is the mark of third-degree creosote. The buildup of creosote has reached a critical stage and is very combustible. It happens when there is inadequate combustion and low flue temperatures. This residue will keep thickening frequently, reaching a thickness of 25 mm, and brushing won’t get rid of it. This is discovered when any one of these is present

• The stove’s air control is turned down, and the fuel gradually smoulders.
• An open chimney on an exterior wall or one that is not insulated.
• Burning of unseasoned wood.
• An appliance’s huge flue.
• When the appliance cannot manage to suck in enough air for proper combustion and the house is airtight.

Structural problems

Lastly, structural problems like a leaning chimney or falling apart bricks can pose a safety risk in addition to being unattractive. Neglect, extreme weather conditions such as strong winds or lightning strikes, water damage, or shoddy construction are the main causes of these severe structural problems. To avoid it from falling and injuring your roof, you need to fix your chimney as soon as you see indications of leaning or breaking down mortar joints. Although there isn’t much you can do to safeguard your chimney from the elements or ensure it was built properly, you can stop decay by having a qualified professional inspect and maintain your chimney once a year. Inspections once a year help you find small problems and fix them before they get worse and cause serious harm.

Animal Issues

Although it’s common to see local animals like squirrels, mockingbirds, owls, and others hopping around the outside of homes, getting into chimneys lacking caps or with gaps in the masonry can be troublesome. They typically build nests that, despite blocking the venting of smoke and fumes, increase the risk of a chimney fire. A bird’s nest in the chimney could catch fire due to the heat inside the flue, rapidly covering the roof, attic, and other surrounding combustible items. Additionally, the existence of animal sounds in the chimney, such as chirping, scratching, or gnawing, especially at night, suggests that there might be living creatures inside.