Like any other appliance or piece of equipment, chimneys need periodic attention to keep them running at their best. Chimney repairs, chimney sweep services and chimney inspections are all part of a regular routine of service that saves you money and safeguards your family and your Overland Park home.
Fluesbrothers Chimney & Fireplace works regularly in the Overland Park, KS, area, and we’ve seen just about every type of chimney issue you can think of. Among them, here are the five that turn up often.
Masonry Damage
The bricks and mortar that make up the chimney structure can suffer damage for a variety of reasons including old age, intensely hot and cold outside temperatures, lightning strikes, earthquakes, house-settling and water leaks.
Signs of masonry damage or leaks that require chimney repair work include:
Water in the firebox
Loose bricks
Crumbling at the base of the external chimney
Damp sections of interior walls and the ceiling
Strong odors coming from the fireplace
A chimney that leans to one side
If you notice any of these signs at your Overland Park home, it’s time to schedule a chimney inspection and get the necessary repairs completed.
Creosote Buildup
Homeowners who use wood-burning fireplaces have to contend with creosote buildups. Formed when a wood fire burns, creosote clings to the inner walls of the chimney liner. Over time, the amount of creosote in a flue can ignite and cause a catastrophic chimney or house fire.
Fluesbrothers’ CSIA-certified chimney sweeps provide complete chimney cleaning throughout the Overland Park area. We remove not only creosote but also drafting obstructions such as tree debris and animal nests, all of which can hinder the drafting of smoke and cause carbon monoxide to enter your home.
Missing Chimney Cap
The chimney cap is a critical component that’s designed to protect the flue and the bricks from water and damage. A full-width outside-mount chimney cap covers the flue opening(s) as well as the entire top of the chimney including the crown. Chimney caps are excellent at keeping obstructions out of your flue to ensure proper drafting. When a chimney inspection turns up a missing cap, we strongly recommend having one installed.
Compromised Chimney Liner
When a clay, steel or other style of chimney liner is damaged, it leaves the interior chimney masonry and nearby materials of the home at risk of fire or structural damage. Liners rarely last as long as the bricks and mortar of a chimney, so liner repair or replacement is usually required at one point.
Cracked Chimney Crown
The cement chimney crown at the top of your chimney is there to protect the flue as well as the brickwork beneath the crown. Chimney repairs are necessary if your crown is cracked or deteriorated, because this allows damaging water a clear path into the system.
Schedule a Chimney Inspection
When there are problems with your chimney or its components, the first step before starting any chimney repair work is to schedule a chimney inspection from a CSIA-certified Fluesbrothers technician. Only then can you know exactly what’s happening with your system and the best way to address the trouble.
Let us solve your chimney issues for you. We serve Overland Park customers with the very best in all levels of chimney repair, chimney inspection and chimney sweep services. We also perform expert fireplace installations and heating stove installations, with the guarantee that the job will be done safely and correctly the first time. Call Fluesbrothers Chimney & Fireplace today at (913) 236-7141.