How Dangerous Is a Cracked Chimney Flue?

Chimney flues, which are chimney liners in most homes, serve a critical purpose: they channel smoke and toxins out of the fireplace and guard the interior chimney masonry and adjacent parts of the home from heat and fire. A cracked chimney flue is something you don’t want to ignore. The problem is, how can homeowners know if this damage exists?

Certain signs will show up when a flue liner is severely cracked or damaged. This is not the best time to find out about the problem. The best time is during an annual chimney inspection, which will uncover trouble in its early stages and direct you toward the appropriate repair work.

Chimney liners

Since around the 1950s, chimneys in American homes have been required to include a proper lining system. Chimney liners can be made from clay tile, stainless steel, or a poured-in-place compound. All three materials do a good job of drafting smoke and protecting the chimney and adjacent materials of the house. If you weren’t the owner when your home was built, it’s a good idea to schedule a chimney inspection to find out what kind of liner you have and what kind of shape it’s in. Most builders prefer to use clay tiles for liners, although stainless steel and aluminum liners continue to grow in popularity because of their long life and relative ease of installation. When any type of chimney liner begins to crack or break open, the home and all the people living in it are at risk. The primary concern is a chimney fire.

What you need to know about chimney fires

Not all chimney fires are full-blown events that require five fire engines and EMS on the scene. Many of these fires are short and small, with the homeowner not even knowing they’re happening.

Fires within the flue are most often caused by excess creosote, which builds up every time wood is burned. Creosote is highly flammable and should be professionally removed once a year by a licensed and experienced chimney sweep.

Even the shortest chimney fire can do damage. It can lead to a cracked flue and start a cycle of destruction to the chimney’s bricks. When bricks are compromised, your chimney can begin leaking, which brings on more damage. Every chimney fire in a cracked flue brings you that much closer to a truly devastating house fire.

Signs of a chimney fire

Because fires in the flue are so dangerous, it’s important to be able to spot them. Signs include:

• A rumbling sound like from a distant train
• Odd clicking or tapping noises
• Excess dense smoke coming from the fireplace or the top of the chimney

If you experience these signs, call 911 immediately and then douse the fire in the fireplace, if safe to do so. While what we’ve written here sounds alarming, it’s important to know that these worst-case scenarios can be prevented with proper chimney maintenance and care.

This means annual chimney inspections and professional chimney cleaning and keeping an eye peeled for any unusual signs and signals from your chimney.

Dubuque Fireplace & Patio of Dubuque, Iowa, provides expert chimney inspections, chimney sweeping, cracked flue repair, chimney liner installations, and all other chimney services to keep your chimney safe and efficient. Speak with an expert today at (563) 582-5156.

In the Highland, WI, area, contact Chimney Specialists at (608) 929-4887.