Chimney fires can cause thousands of dollars of damages in your home and are caused by the flames migrating upward, melting, warping, or negatively affecting the masonry or chimney walls. This sudden combustion, in the majority of cases, can ruin houses and risk lives. These tragedies are normally preventable because you can have your chimney inspected, repaired, or cleaned. This way, the chimney will not be prone to malfunction or collect build-ups that can damage your roof and burn down your home.

A chimney inspection service from Best Cincinnati Chimney can prevent any of this from happening, and can keep you from losing person or property.

What is it?

Combustibles that you burn in the chimney only burn partially. It is hard to avoid incomplete combustion, but you can minimize the impact by properly burning seasoned wood if you have a clean chimney. The residue that comes from incomplete combustion builds up over time that lines the flue with creosote.

Creosote is combustible if it is at the right temperature. When the airflow is blocked or there is a damaged flue, it leads to poor airflow. If there is poor heat flow in your flue, it can cause  trapped heat, the chimney heats up more than intended, and this ignites creosote. It burns up that fuel and seeks for more and that fuel may be your home. This chimney fire can be extremely dangerous.

Debris Causes Chimney Fires

Dust build up in your chimney can also cause fires. Leaves, animal carcasses, and other debris can cause flue fires as well. If you have not used your fireplace for a while, you should have it cleaned first.

Chimney fires create a popping noise and loud cracking, with a lot of dense smoke, and an intense and hot smell. Chimney fires burn explosively that are noisy and dramatic enough that can be detected by people or neighbors around you. Dense smoke or flames shoot from the chimney. Homeowners get startled by rumbling sounds that remind them of a low-flying airplane or freight train.

Flue Tiles Get Damaged

A lot of homes use clay flue tiles to line their chimney. This is rated to be able to withstand high temperatures. However, there are chimney fires that burn over 2,000 degrees that can be too hot for tiles causes damages such as cracking. A vertical crack is a true sign of a previous flue fire.

A crack in your flue liner is a big concern. It increases the possibility for combustibles nearby in the construction in your home. The cracked tiles allow a new pathway for the fire to get out of the flue, which potentially causes a house fire.

Exterior Masonry Cracks

Similar to flue tiles, the brick masonry of the chimney can be damaged by heat. If there is a chimney fire, the brick or mortar joints can open and crack new pathways for fire or heat. These types of cracks are repaired by filling in or “tuck pointing” the crack with new mortar. This is a reason why yearly chimney inspections become critical. These cracks are hard to notice and can cause disaster if it is not repaired before another chimney fire happens.

Most of them are Undetected

Slow-burning chimney fires do not have enough air or have fuel that becomes dramatic or visible and they normally go undetected until there is a chimney inspection. However, the temperatures they reach are high and cause a lot of damage to the chimney’s structure. In addition, the nearby combustible house parts are connected to this.

Scorched Areas

The chimney fire because of high heat can also scorch away the deposits in certain parts of the chimney. This is called glazing and leaves behind areas that only look clean, but are surrounded by combustible deposits.

You can go to bestcincinnatihomeservices.com to set an appointment for a chimney inspection.

April showers bring leaks in your chimneys. Isn’t that how it goes?

Spring time often reveals the leaks that have been caused by the freeze cycle of the previous years. The reason your Chimney is leaking may be a mystery, but what can also be unclear is exactly which direction you should turn for help. Should you call a roofer, a chimney company, or a brick mason? Well, that depends on what type of chimney repair you need. Each of these trades repairs specific pieces of the Chimney structure, and while there is some overlap in the work, all three trades are useful and needed somewhere within the chimney repair lineup.

When we experience leaks, we usually call the roofing company. However, there are many reasons we encourage you to start by calling your chimney company first:

Should you call a roofer?

It’s raining outside, and you happen to notice water dripping down the side of your fireplace. Upon closer look, it appears to be coming from the ceiling. Since it seems to be a roofing problem, you may be inclined to call a roofer. But when you are experiencing chimney problems like a water leak, you really need to call a qualified chimney contractor first, not a roofer.

While roofers do a great job repairing and replacing roofs, they don’t always have the extensive knowledge or experience required for chimney inspections and repairs. A reputable roofer often advises the homeowner to contact a chimney specialist to repair leaks.

Why is My Chimney Leaking?

There are several reasons why your Chimney may be leaking:

Damaged or Missing Chimney Cap

The chimney cap is affixed above the crown at the very top of the Chimney. Its purpose is to keep small animals, debris, and water out of the flu. Water can leak inside the exposed Chimney if the cap is missing or damaged.

Cracked Crown

The crown is a cement structure at the top of the Chimney (just below the chimney cap). Its purpose is to seal the edges and direct water away from the flue liner to prevent water leaks. The chimney crown deteriorates with age, and cracks allow water to penetrate the Chimney.

Spalling or Missing Bricks

The brickwork at the top of the Chimney, especially where it meets the roof line, can become damaged after years of exposure to rain, sleet, snow, wind, and even debris. The hard outer shell becomes porous, absorbing moisture and causing bricks to decay. This can result in cracked and missing bricks that allow moisture to penetrate through the ceiling above the fireplace.

Damaged Flashing

The chimney flashing is a thin strip that transitions the Chimney to the roof with a metal seal. When the flashing is damaged or bent, you lose the seal, and water can leak through any exposed air pockets. We can treat this problem with a product called flash seal that is a Elastomeric sealant and will create a barrier around your flashing.

Repairing Chimney Leaks

Best Cincinnati Chimney’s team are certified specialists with extensive training and knowledge of the entire chimney system. They also have the tools and equipment to conduct a thorough inspection of the Chimney to identify the source(s) of chimney leaks and make any necessary repairs. We are experts in all chimney repairs, including sealing, repairing chimney caps and crowns, replacing missing bricks, and rebuilding chimneys.

Many types of chimney leaks can be avoided with an annual chimney inspection. During an annual inspection, our certified specialists visually inspect the entire chimney structure from top to bottom, inside and out. Our specialists often spot potential problems before they develop into more expensive repairs.

Thinking of getting a new roof?

• It is very important to schedule your chimney inspection before you do a roofing job.
• A chimney inspection before a new roof is essential to ensure the structure is in good condition.
• By inspecting first, potential issues that may require repairs before installing a new roof can be identified.
• Inspecting the Chimney ensures that things like flashing, and the brickwork are sound so that the proper shingles can be securely installed.
• Inspecting a chimney before getting a new roof reduces the risk of leaking or other damage resulting from an improperly installed surface.
• Furthermore, often roofing companies do not want anyone walking on the roof after a new installation.

Contacting us first for chimney leaks can save you a lot of time and money too!

Call us today at 513-474-1158

Having a brick home or chimney that is made with masonry is something that a lot of people find visually attractive. Bricks can be a very sturdy building material with a look that always looks beautiful in its own way. Even chimneys that are on the older side can still be pleasing to the eye. But a “vintage” look can sometimes actually be a sign of a problem.

If you have a chimney with bricks that are in bad shape, it may mean that you need to schedule a visit with Best Cincinnati Chimney. This is especially important if you notice spalling bricks on your chimney.

Here is what you need to know about getting repairs for problematic masonry.

What Are Spalling Bricks?

After years of handling freezing temperatures and then springtime thawing, your bricks will start to form micro cracks in the masonry. When water gets inside the cracks and freezes it expands the crack and allows more water in the next season. After a few years this water can work itself into the brick itself and when it expands with freezing, it will pop the facing off of the brick. This is known as spalling. This allows moisture to get into the brick even more and even into your house. This can cause much damage. This will cause other bricks to crumble, flake, peel, or even fall out of the exterior of your chimney completely.

Sometimes bricks split from top to bottom and cause the same problems.

Why It’s a Problem

As you can imagine, the loss of bricks around your chimney flue or house isn’t a good thing.

First, the worse some of the bricks get, the more they will impact the other bricks around them. Secondly, the risk of bricks coming out of your chimney is a safety hazard for anyone walking around outside the house. This can also cause damage to your shingles or flashing. This can cause water damage into the walls and ceilings of your home. On your walls, spalling brick will cause other bricks to spall and will deteriorate your walls. Thirdly, when your chimney develops spalling brickwork it can compromise the integrity of the flue itself, creating airflow problems and even creating spots for leaks.

Spalling Brick Repairs Are a Must

If you notice that the masonry that makes up your chimney and brick walls are in poor shape, it is best to reach out for repairs promptly. The state of your chimney and walls will only worsen and become a bigger threat to your safety and the wellbeing of your home.

Brick repairs may sound like a big time investment but when the repairs are performed by a professional it will be a worthwhile investment. A professional technician can assess the issue and provide comprehensive and effective solutions. For example, if the issue that caused the spalling bricks originated from bad mortar, they can replace that mortar and fix the bricks to get your chimney back into shape.

Additional brick repairs that we can make include:

• Fixing chimney crowns to create a drip edge
• Chimney and wall tuck pointing
• Replacement of spalling brick
• Repairs to Lintels around windows and garage doors
• Chimney and brick wall water repellent sealing

With Best Cincinnati Chimney, you are guaranteed to get the repairs you need done right the first time around. This means better performance from your fireplace and chimney this winter and less stress all around on your brick home, along with improved safety and comfort.

The technicians on our team are all Certified Chimney Professionals and Certified Chimney Reliners. We specialize in light masonry such as brick repair, spalling and tuck pointing. Call today!