Having a fireplace in your home is almost a birthright. After all, the saying is “hearth and home,” not, “(anything else) and home”. The hearth is where the fireplace is located. However, with that fireplace and the warm fires that are built in it comes great responsibility. If you haven’t had your chimney inspected or cleaned recently, you should think about doing so. There are definitive signs that you should call in a professional to inspect your chimney.
Smoke in the Home
If smoke is backing up and building up in your home, and the flue dampener is open, you could have something blocking your flue. This will lead to soot on your home furnishings and is a sign that you need to have an inspection to clear up the problem.
Twigs in the Fireplace
Animal or bird sounds coming from your chimney are a bad sign, and they will probably be accompanied by nesting materials like twigs. If these end up in your fireplace, don’t try to smoke the animal out. If you do, the animal may end up dead and then you’ll have a bad smell to deal with. Instead, call in someone to get rid of the animal carefully and properly.
Fire in the Chimney
Fires are meant to be in the fireplace. If you’ve had a fire in the chimney or flue, you may have damaged bricks, cracked mortar, and/or warped metal flues. Tiles may have also been split. These are all things that need to be taken care of before your next fire.
Black Smoke in the Air
Black smoke is never a good sign, especially if it’s coming from your chimney. Normally, fires create white smoke, which shows that you’re burning proper fuel. Black smoke may indicate a creosote buildup. Left in the fireplace, the creosote could catch fire, and you could be looking at a much bigger problem.
Chimney in a Windstorm
With the weather getting wilder every passing year, a windstorm is no laughing matter. Depending on the age and condition of your chimney before the windstorm, you could be facing damage to the chimney. If it’s leaning one way or another or it has become detached from the house, call a professional. Other damage to get looked at includes missing bricks, cracks, and damaged chimney caps. Windstorms aren’t the only type of weather that can have a negative impact on your chimney.
Chimney in a New Home
If you’ve just moved into a new home and the previous owner did not provide you with information on the chimney, it’s a good idea to get it inspected. Without knowing when the last inspection was, you have no way of knowing how well the chimney has been taken care of or what condition it’s in. The worst way to find out is by lighting a fire in it. If you’re in need of chimney repair in Acworth, call in a professional chimney sweep company and make sure your new home doesn’t experience a flue fire or worst. Any qualified business can help you enjoy your chimney for years to come. If you need an Acworth chimney repair or inspection, contact the Atlanta Chimney Doctor and schedule an appointment today.