4 Reasons You Should Schedule a Chimney Inspection

An annual chimney inspection, is recommended the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) and fire-safety and hearth organizations in the U.S. It’s a critical part of keeping your chimney and home safe. Ye Olde Brit Chimney Sweep of San Bernardino, CA, would like to share four important reasons to schedule a yearly chimney inspection.

1. Prevent chimney and house fires

A chimney inspection performed by a trained chimney specialist can detect issues inside the chimney flue that may lead to a chimney fire or house fire. Damaged chimney liners are often the beginning of trouble when intense heat and flames get through breaks in the liner and contact parts of the home.

Excess creosote buildup inside the chimney flue is the most common cause of chimney fires. Your inspector will alert you if there is excess creosote in your chimney that should be professionally removed.

2. Prevent leakage of combustion gases

Another problem with damaged chimney liners – whether they’re made of stainless steel, clay tiles or a poured-in-place compound – is that they can allow carbon monoxide and other gases to spill into your home. Chimney liners are designed to contain these gases and send them up and out of the chimney.

A damaged liner provides a gap for toxic gases (and smoke) to escape and move into your home’s air. Carbon monoxide is invisible and odorless, but it can be potentially fatal to humans and animals when inhaled. A proper chimney inspection followed by necessary repairs is the best way to prevent this catastrophe.

3. Solve issues with poor drafting and a smelly chimney

Chimneys that are full of outside debris and creosote won’t draft as well as chimneys with clear flues. If you’re dealing with drafting issues, your chimney inspector can determine if the flue is obstructed or if another situation, such as a damaged fireplace damper, is causing the problem. Smelly chimneys are usually the result of excess creosote and soot or a chimney leak. Whenever water gets into the interior chimney system, there are going to be problems. A chimney inspection can detect the earliest signs of leaking and point to the right repair work to stop it.

4. Learn about early signs of damage and malfunction

Professional chimney inspections cover the entire visible and accessible areas of your chimney structure. This includes the chimney cap, chimney crown, bricks and mortar, chimney flashing and other components. More involved inspections can see even deeper into the system. Undiscovered damage to the masonry or any component often leads to dangerous operating conditions down the line. Catching chimney damage early will save you money on costly repair work and help to keep your home and family safe.

In addition to bringing you the benefits outlined above, your chimney inspector can be a wealth of useful and accurate information on operating and caring for your chimney and fireplace.

Schedule your next chimney inspection

If it’s time for a proper chimney inspection in your Southern California Inland Empire Communities home, the experts at Ye Olde Brit are standing by to help. Give us a call at (909) 880-2120 or reach out with our handy contact form.