Six Ways to Care for Your Chimney
Chimneys are one of those parts of a home that are so ubiquitous that they are invisible—you see them all the time and probably rarely think about them. Even if you have a fireplace in your home, but you don’t have a fireplace , you might think that your chimney is a useless artifact sticking out of your home, but that old chimney can still serve some purpose. Even without a fireplace, your chimney likely serves as a vent for the home, allowing dangerous gases from your furnace, water heater, or other infrastructure to escape the home rather than kill you .
Whether the old chimney is still in use on your roof or not, ignoring it is a huge mistake. Like everything else in your home, your chimney requires proper maintenance, even if it is no longer in use. There is one obvious reason: the cost of removing or replacing a chimney is high : averaging about $4,100 , and sometimes over $6,000. Restoring instead of removing will still cost you between $1,000 and $10,000 depending on its size and condition. Neglecting your chimney is an easy way to damage your roof and other parts of your home , sometimes catastrophically .
Examine it
Unless you are a chimney expert yourself, you should have your chimney inspected regularly—annually if you can. You should hire someone certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) to check the structural integrity of your chimney, whether it is clogged with debris or flammable residues such as creosote , and make sure it still works. it functions properly.
Sweep it up
If the words “chimney sweep” conjure up images of Dick Van Dyke from Mary Poppins , you might be surprised to learn that the profession is still thriving . “Cleaning” a chimney is essentially cleaning it : over time, every chimney becomes clogged with ash, debris and other substances. Even if you don’t have a fireplace, your chimney can become clogged over time and will likely need to be thoroughly cleaned.
If you schedule an annual chimney inspection, the company will likely include a cleaning service or offer it for a small additional fee.
Finish it
Whether your chimney is constantly in use or you were recently surprised to discover you have one, it should be covered. A chimney cap is a cap that attaches to the top of the chimney to prevent rain and snow from entering and damaging the interior of the chimney. Some also have mesh screens built into them to prevent animals and birds from building nests there or migrating into your walls. They’re not particularly expensive —this one from Master Flow is under $60—but they can save you a ton of money and stress in the long run. If you’re skilled enough and follow proper safety precautions when working on a roof, installing a chimney cap is a fairly easy DIY job .
Seal it
Your chimney is exposed to the elements and rain. Over time, water penetrating brick and mortar can cause serious damage, so it is recommended to seal it from water penetration using a penetrating water repellent . It’s a simple, cheap job that will help keep your chimney structure from collapsing and magically becoming an expensive repair.
Line it up
A liner made of metal, clay or concrete mixture is installed inside the chimney , which is poured into the chimney to be installed in place. It can serve two vital purposes: to protect the inside of the chimney from corrosion and damage and to make it more efficient. If your chimney is too large (for example, older chimneys designed for old-school stoves or fireplaces may be too large for a modern, more efficient stove), the gas escaping can cause condensation and moisture inside the chimney, which can damage the masonry. and other materials. Lining can “resize” the chimney to prevent this from happening and also protect these materials.
Shut it down
If you’re absolutely sure you’re not using that chimney for anything – venting the furnace, venting, etc. – but you don’t want to take on the hassle and expense of removing it, you might want to consider sealing it completely . This involves sealing the top and bottom to prevent water ingress or other problems. Keep in mind that you will still have to maintain the chimney structure through inspections, capping and waterproofing if you choose to do so.