Did you know that every year in the U.S. there are over 25,000 chimney fires that add up to over $125 million in property damage and cause death and injury to many people? To prevent this issue from happening to you, proper maintenance is crucial. The problem is, most homeowners do not have the time or the knowledge to properly maintain their chimneys – but that’s okay because that’s why we’re here!
As a homeowner, you know how crucial it is to call in the right professional for the right job. Just as you would call a plumber or electrician to take care of your household needs, you need to have a skilled professional take care of your chimney’s maintenance needs.
Chimney Inspection
We can help by performing your annual chimney inspection. Inspections are an important part of your household’s overall safety. Because malfunctioning chimneys can lead to house fires or other concerns, getting them inspected once a year is vital for your health, as well as your peace of mind.
Most chimney inspections involve a visual check of the entire system, including the fireplace, damper and flue. The inspector looks for visual problems like cracks from a settling house, a buildup of soot or creosote from normal fireplace usage or obstructions such as bird nests or outside debris.
Regardless of the findings, the inspector makes a note of whatever he or she finds, and lets you know what repairs are necessary, if any.
Chimney Maintenance
In addition to annual inspections, we can help with routine maintenance to help your chimney work properly and safely. The most common chimney maintenance routine is the chimney sweep. Built-up soot and creosote on the interior of the flue can become a major fire hazard. The frequency with which you use your chimney will determine how often it needs to be swept. Typically, it should happen about every 50 fires or so.
Chimney Repair
While basic maintenance can be done fairly quickly, an inspection that reveals bigger problems will need real repair work done, and we can help.
If the chimney inspection shows crumbling mortar or loose bricks, for example, it might be time for masonry repair, which can involve anything from putting down new mortar and replacing a few bricks to tearing down a whole section of the chimney and rebuilding. It all depends on the extent of the damage.
Chimney liners are another important feature that sometimes need to be replaced. Older, often-used liners eventually wear down to the point where small holes and tears can appear. These minor openings can lead to major problems, such as moisture leaking into the masonry or an increased chance of fires. Replacing your old liner with a newer one is a crucial step for keeping your chimneys safe.
In addition to that, other parts of the system can fail, including the damper and the chimney cap. An inspection can reveal these problems so we can replace the necessary pieces to ensure your chimney is in proper functioning order.
In extreme cases, a chimney might need to be completely removed or rebuilt. These extreme cases can occur after house fires or natural disasters leave the original structure damaged to the point where it cannot be repaired by simpler means. We can help with that, too.
Contact Us Today
If you want to make sure your chimney is safe for you and your family, the first step is an inspection. Call us at Ray Arnold Masonry & General Contracting at 440-834-8252 or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment. Our expert staff can give you a proper assessment of the state of your chimney and what you need to do moving forward to stay safe. Contact us today!