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If you have an open fireplace, then you will probably already be aware that chimney flue maintenance and repair can be one of the most difficult jobs in your home. The bad news is that repairs to a chimney flue are also among the most expensive repair jobs that you may have to undertake when something goes wrong.
There is even a practice among housing inspectors in many areas that the first thing they do when they are inspecting a house is look up. If the masonry work looks like it is coming apart, or if it looks like the chimney flue is losing its liners, or if they see any corroded metal vents, then they will immediately know that there is something wrong with the chimney or flue.
In the past, chimneys and flues lasted a very long. In those days, houses used clay flues and they were well maintained. People in the past were well aware of the importance of their fire and of a well functioning chimney flue and kept them moisture and air proof at all times. Nowadays, people are far less concerned about the state and safety of their flue and pay little attention to it. In many building inspections no checks are made at all.
Changes in the way fires are used and in the temperature changes that are experienced in flues has also contributed to the growth in deterioration. There was a time when flues were in a constant and steady use. The stove or open fire was the only available means of heating the home and people kept a steady fire burning throughout the heating season with few breaks. These days, flues must withstand constant changes in temperature as people often have other means of heating their home. What this means is that they only use their fireplace or stove, and thus their chimney flue occasionally. This can lead to a constant freezing and thawing action on the flue which causes deterioration.
There are a number of reasons to be concerned about the state of your chimney flue. For one thing, if your flue does require repairs this can be a very expensive operation. Contractors estimate that flue repairs are now the third most expensive common maintenance and repair job that they are being required to perform for their customers. However, a more serious issue is that a flue that is in bad shape can be very dangerous to your home and family.
Fires in the chimney flue are not uncommon and many people take them lightly, but they always carry the risk of spreading to the rest of the house. By keeping your flue clean and free of creosote you can reduce the risk of this. You should also maintain your flue so that leakage does not cause smoke and other combustion products to flow back into the home, which can kill. Take care of your chimney flue and it will take care of you.
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