If you have a fireplace in your house, keeping your chimney in perfect running condition is necessary. It is the only way through which toxic gasses produced as a byproduct of the wood-burning process exit. With time, you need to perform chimney inspection and maintenance to ensure it does not have any leaks or damage. But a common problem amongst chimneys is moisture, which can significantly reduce their lifespan. Let’s know how you can keep moisture in your chimney so that you do not have to face complications in the future.

Make Sure The Chimney Crown Isn’t Damaged

The chimney crown is a slab of concrete that rests at the top of a brick chimney stack. The entire purpose of the chimney crown is to keep the moisture and water out. Technically, it defends the chimney against extreme weather conditions and factors that may otherwise enter the house.

Plus, the chimney crown is also the masonry’s first line of defense as it comes in contact with moisture. That said if the chimney crown happens to be cracked or damaged, moisture, rain, and snow easily enter the chimney. The problem here is that you won’t know about it unless you observe chimney leakage signs.

If you observe water coming down from your chimney and into the fireplace, it most likely means the chimney crown or any other part of the chimney is damaged. Because the majority of homeowners do not pay attention to the condition of the chimney let alone the chimney crown, it might be that you need to rebuild the chimney crown once it has been damaged. However, you should first inspect the chimney to ensure that the damaged part is the chimney crown.

Furthermore, chimney crowns are a durable part of the chimney. If built the right way, they will be able to withstand extreme weather conditions for years. But, if the chimney happens to be old, the chimney crown likely becomes damaged as it loses its strength over time as well.

If there are small cracks or leakage, you might be able to repair the chimney crown using mortar or a sealant but if the cracks continue to spread, it means the structure is compromised and you will need to replace the chimney crown. It’s better to hire an expert for this task, otherwise, a single flaw can render the repair or the replacement useless.

Chimney Caps

One of the most common issues with chimneys is that they do not have a chimney cap. On the other hand, the homeowners aren’t educated enough about their importance. The chimney cap is also known as the rain cover and is designed to protect the flue from collecting rainwater.

It mimics an umbrella as it is placed above the chimney crown. The chimney cap keeps water from leaking into the chimney. This also ensure that moisture doesn’t buildup inside the chimney which can lead to mold and other issues. Plus, the cap also prevents animals from taking accommodation inside the chimney.

Birds and other animals tend to take up space during extreme weather conditions especially when it’s snowing or raining outside. As the temperatures dive, these animals begin searching for warm places. If they manage to end up inside your chimney, it could block the chimney and cause a fire.

Repair Deteriorating Mortar And Brick

When it comes to chimneys and problems like moisture entering the chimney, you need to keep the basics in mind. For instance, your chimney is built using mortar and brick. Although, the mortar keeps the bricks in place, but it comes with a lifespan attached to it as well.

It will take years for good quality mortar to weaken but sometimes external factors and weather conditions can also reduce its lifespan. Unfortunately, you cannot prevent such factors from affecting the mortar and brick. The problem with mortar and brick is that if they happen to be damaged, you will not be able to hold it even by using a sealant.

In this case, you will need to hire an expert who will perform chimney repair Columbia MD. If the damage is extensive, the contractor will tear down the existing structure and use new mortar and bricks to build a new structure. This will cost you money but the rebuilt chimney will last longer without requiring many repairs.

The best way to ensure your mortar and bricks remain in perfect condition is by performing regular inspections. If possible, you should climb up the roof and look for any unusual signs & symptoms. Otherwise, you should hire an expert and have them do it for you especially if you rely on the fireplace for the entire winter season.

Make Sure The Chimney Is Sealed

This is yet again one of those things homeowners are not aware of. Waterproofing your chimney prevent extensive water damage as it doesn’t allow water to seep into the bricks or mortar.

Back in the day, chimneys were built simply using mortar and bricks. This means there was hardly any protection added to the chimneys. Today, modern techniques, equipment, chemicals, sealants, and many other factors allow experts to build high-quality, moisture and weather-resistant chimneys.

You have to keep in mind that chimneys can be expensive if you are paying for high-quality materials. But, in return, you receive years of protection from cracks, damages, and other complications. That said, you should always opt for experts who know their way around chimneys.

Schedule Annual Chimney Maintenance

This is the most important factor that not only helps keep the moisture but also the chimney in perfect condition for decades. Although it is a fact that chimneys require professional care and maintenance, some people still look the other way assuming it’s just a way of ripping them off and they can keep a check on their own.

What these people do not realize is the fact that there is a lot more that goes into maintaining a chimney than just keeping the moisture out. The wood-burning process creates soot and creosote. As the toxic gasses leave through the chimney, soot, and creosote buildup, which eventually form into hard layers.

In the initial stages, you will be easily able to remove the accumulations by cleaning your chimney. But if you ignore them, you will require an expert’s help to use special tools and chemicals to remove them. Additionally, the experts perform a thorough inspection of the chimney and look for signs & symptoms that can be troublesome in the future.

This is a type of investment that allows the experts to fix the issues before they create problems for the entire house. The last thing you would want is the gasses backing up inside the house just when the temperatures are below freezing. In worst-case scenarios, the soot and creosote accumulations can also cause fires. So, you need to schedule expert maintenance if you haven’t already.

Conclusion

Keeping moisture out of your chimney is fairly easy. For the most part, all you need to make sure is that there are no cracks or damage and that the chimney along with its components such as the cap and crown are in perfect condition. Also, hire chimney contractors Upper Marlboro for maintenance so that you do not have to pay for expensive repairs and replacements down the road.