The chimney is one of those unassuming, but extremely important parts of the house. Nobody notices the chimney except in two circumstances: during the holiday season when kids are expecting Santa to come through the chimney and when the chimney doesn’t work properly. Chimney flue repair and inspection are a must, because your family’s safety is at stake. Annual inspections are recommended, and if you notice any signs that tell you something is wrong, such as the possible smell of toxic gases, act immediately.
There are two ways to approach your chimney flue repair: You can do it yourself if you are familiar with such tasks, or ask for qualified help. If you decide to do it yourself, it is important to be very confident about the task, as fixing the chimney flue is essential. Your health and safety depend on it.
What Problems Can a Broken Chimney Flue Cause?
Besides safety and health concerns, a damaged chimney flue prevents your heating system from functioning properly and can lead to energy loss. By postponing a chimney flue repair job, you not only put yourself in danger, but also lose money.
What Does a Chimney Flue Repair Involve?
First of all, you need to clean the chimney flue to see exactly what is wrong. During this process, you will have to remove soot and debris and see whether there is a blockage or the bricks have been displaced. If the chimney flue is seriously damaged and you need to rebuild it completely, you might think twice before doing it by yourself.
After cleaning the chimney flue, remove the exterior bricks if they are loose or broken. Work carefully while on the roof. When you’re done, it’s time to replace old bricks with new ones. Try to find similar bricks to match the rest of the chimney. Use mortar to fix the bricks tightly and when the brickwork is ready, waterproof the chimney with caulking. This will prevent water from penetrating it and gas from finding a way out through cracks. The last stage of your chimney flue repair is finishing. Check for mortar chips and apply some more caulk to reinforce it.
Additional Help
Chimney repair is a serious job, and if you’re not experienced in home improvement projects of this kind, you might want to find a qualified professional to do it for you. TalkLocal can connect you with contractors and handymen specializing in chimney repairs in minutes.
