Sweep into Winter with a Clean Chimney

by Thomas Kraeutler

Your mind may still be in summertime mode, but it's time to think about getting your house ready for winter. A good place to start is the chimney. Often neglected, chimneys are a vital part of a home's structure and mechanical functioning. Chimney defects can result in fires, collapses and even carbon monoxide poisoning. So, before lighting your furnace or setting your first fireplace blaze, take the time to inspect your chimney for signs of common problems.

Safe Structure

First, inspect your chimney from the outside of the home to see if it leans or appears to be separating from the building. Older chimneys will sometimes lean toward the south or west because the mortar dries out more on that side. Chimneys that are separating from the house can be especially dangerous. Sometimes, the steel plates that are used to hold the chimney to the house will rust away and leave the chimney vulnerable to a collapse. If your chimney leans, it should be checked by a professional.

Use binoculars to look for loose bricks or cracks, especially near the top. Freezing weather can cause bricks to "spall" or loosen up. Any deteriorated sections should be replaced. Check that the metal flashing between the roof and chimney is tight. Loose flashing can cause leaks that will show up inside the house.

Clean Flues

The "flue" or clay liner around which most chimneys are built must be clean. The surest way to check this is from the top of the chimney. That job, however, is best left to a professional. Homeowners can check for clean fireplace flues by opening the clean-out door at the base of the chimney and by inspecting the flue from the damper just above the firebox. For chimneys that serve the home's heating system, inspection can be done by temporarily removing the metal vent pipe which feeds into the chimney from the furnace and then checking inside for obstructions. Also, look for vegetation at the top of the chimney. Ivy, for example, can grow across the top of the chimney and obstruct the flow of exhaust gases out the chimney. Look for soot stains at the front of a fireplace or discolored metal at the front of the furnace. This may mean the chimney is blocked, resulting in a very dangerous condition that can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. If you see such stains, have the chimney cleaned immediately.

In general, all chimneys should be professionally cleaned and inspected at least once a year. When hiring a chimney sweep however, be cautious if the contractor recommends an expensive repair. Recently, I heard of several homeowners who were advised to make costly repairs to perfectly good chimneys by contractors who were simply looking for work. As with any home repair or maintenance contractor, homeowners are wise to get a second opinion from an unbiased expert, like a professional home inspector, before any repairs have been started.

Tom Kraeutler is a hands-on home improvement broadcast journalist and the kind of guy homeowners want to call at midnight when their basement floods. He earned his home improvement stripes as a professional home inspector, amassing over 20 years experience learning how houses are put together, and how they fall apart! Tom appears regularly on CNN, MSNBC, The History Channel, HGTV and the DIY Network. He's a columnist for House Beautiful and do! Magazine and his work has been featured in Smart Money, Reader's Digest and in hundreds of daily newspapers across the nation.