Why You Should Hire A Chimney Sweep Now

It’s possible you need to hire a chimney sweep now, though you may wonder ‘what’s the rush?’ Life doesn’t come with ominous music that warns us of lurking danger, like in the movie Jaws, but there are signs you can look for to detect chimney damage and serious hazards. You may be able to avert a potential home fire, for example, or avoid repair costs that get higher as time passes. The following are sample scenarios indicating that chimney sweep services are needed now.

No Chimney Inspections Lately

If you have not been scheduling annual chimney inspections and cleaning, there is a risk that the chimney liner may be damaged. When a chimney flue is not completely intact, two potential hazards create the risk of danger. Those potential hazards resulting from a damaged flue are a house fire and exposure to deadly carbon monoxide. Other damage may exist that is becoming more expensive to repair by the day. Schedule a chimney inspection right away.

An Unpleasant Smell

If there is a sour odor coming from your flue, damp creosote is likely the cause. The odor is worse in warm weather, high humidity, and on rainy days. Creosote is always in the chimney unless there have been no wood-fueled fires since a chimney sweep last cleaned the flue. The smell of creosote is not as strong in winter because the draft usually withdraws the odors from the chimney. A reversal of airflow in the flue occurs in summer when there are downdrafts, and the bursts of air can sweep the odor into the home. Unpleasant odors can be illuminated by scheduling chimney cleaning services.

No Chimney Cap

If you look at the top of your chimney flue and do not see a chimney cap of any kind or if the chimney cap is damaged, it is important to contact a chimney sweep as soon as possible. Moisture intrusion causes the most problems in chimney systems, and chimney caps serve as a sort of first line of defense. These essential accessories prevent rain, sleet, hail, snow, debris, and critters from going directly into the chimney flue.

There are different options in chimney caps, such as the type of material they are made with. You can even choose to have an outside-mount chimney cap, which will help protect the chimney crown from harsh elements. Chimney crowns are prone to crack and deteriorate, which allows moisture to seep into the chimney system.

Deteriorating Mortar

Mortar is another line of defense against moisture in the masonry. If you notice that it is flaking or crumbling, contact a chimney sweep at your earliest opportunity. Once the mortar is gone, moisture can enter the masonry much more easily. The primary problem with moisture is that freezing and thawing cycles cause the water inside the bricks to expand and contract. The movement begins the destruction of the bricks, which is an irreversible process.

It’s Spring or Summer

It is always smart to schedule chimney services during springtime or summer. The reason for this is that qualified chimney sweeps become busier and busier as full winter approaches. Get the preferred time for your convenience and potentially greater savings by scheduling chimney services during warm months.

Contact Dubuque Fireplace & Patio Today

The chimney sweeps at Dubuque Fireplace & Patio are NFI-certified and dedicated to the safety of your home and family. Avoid a range of potential problems by scheduling chimney sweep services now. In Dubuque and the surrounding area, contact Dubuque Fireplace & Patio at (563) 582-5156. If you live closer to our sister store in Highland WI, call Chimney Specialists Inc. today at
(608) 929-4887.