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Many people are surprised when they move into an old house, at the amount of attention that they have to pay to their chimney and to chimney repair in particular. However, if you think about it, a chimney that is in use will have to be in a good state of repair for a number of safety reasons, and you will also have to keep it clean in order to avoid the risk of chimney fires.
The two biggest enemies of your chimney are the opposite forces of fire and water. Fire is something that you would expect a chimney to be used to but chimney fires are a periodic occurrence that can have lasting consequences. It is vital that you undertake proper chimney repairs after a chimney fire and do not use the chimney again until the chimney repairs have been carried out and completed. Chimney fires are usually caused by a build up of creosote in your chimney. This creosote is flammable and can catch fire when heated to very high temperatures. To reduce creosote in your flume you should try to use dry and seasoned wood, make sure your fire is well oxygenated, that the chimney damper is completely open, and that you clean your chimney regularly. If your chimney does catch fire, there is a potential for structural damage to occur to the chimney flume and to the house as a whole so just make sure that you conduct proper chimney repairs before attempting to use your chimney again. The other enemy of your chimney is water, or more particularly rain water. The chimney is the most exposed part of the home, and the four walls of your chimney are exposed, day in and day out, to the full force of the elements on all sides. This means that if your chimney starts to fall victim to this constant battering from the elements, then you will have to conduct chimney repairs to make sure firstly that your chimney is sound, but secondly, so that water does not enter into your roof and cause ceiling damage. While it may seem like a lot of hassle for very little return to conduct proper and routine chimney repairs, taking care of your chimney does pay off. By keeping up maintenance, water proofing the chimney every couple of years, and keeping your chimney clean, you should be able to avoid extensive chimney repairs and enjoy a trouble free chimney for years to come. Many chimney repair jobs can be attempted yourself, as a DIY project, but just remember that while perfectly possible, some chimney repair jobs can be difficult, and working on the roof always requires safety precautions. |
