Chimney Care Company's Blog

We Offer Many Chimney Repair Services

Although a chimney probably seems like the strongest structure in your home, it can still be affected by the natural effects of weathering. Wind, hot sun, and precipitation can wreak havoc on this

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sturdy structure, and other things can as well. Other types of natural disasters can occur. At times, hurricane winds and precipitation from the east coast can reach as far as Ohio, and this can alter normal weather patterns. Tornadoes aren’t as likely, but can still occur. Flooding and forest fires don’t normally take place in Ohio, either, but they do sometimes happen. Most likely, though, is the possibility of severe ice and snow storms. When these things happen, your chimney can undergo major damage.

Interior Damage

When you hire Chimney Care Co., one thing we’ll check out is the interior of your chimney. We’ll be looking for creosote build-up and damage from an undetected chimney fire. Creosote is the natural by-product of smoke as it flows up the cool interior of your chimney. It is highly flammable and can easily catch a spark from your fire and cause a chimney fire. Although it may seem that you’d know if there was a chimney fire, most often they go undetected because there’s not enough oxygen in the chimney to make the fire get too big. If this is the case, your chimney or the chimney liner may have sustained some damage that needs to be repaired, and we are experts at fixing this type of damage.

We’ll also check for any interior damage to your fireplace or hearth. We’ll check the dampers and the firebox, and also the condition of any brickwork in the hearth. We’ll make sure that the smoke shelf is in good condition and that the ash pit is clear and not rusted.

Exterior Damage

We’ll also look at the exterior of your chimney to make sure that the structure is intact. We’ll check the condition of the brick and mortar, and the condition of the chimney crown and cap. The chimney crown should be crack and chip-free and the chimney cap should be rust-free and not dented or twisted so that your chimney and home stay leak-free. Another thing that keeps precipitation out of your home is the flashing. The flashing is the metal strips that are layered at the place where the chimney and the roof meet. This is a spot that is especially susceptible to leaks, and the layering of these strips direct precipitation away from it. The flashing can easily rust, become loose, or tear-away in the wind, and we’ll make sure it is in good condition and firmly attached.

Call Chimney Care Co. 

At Chimney Care Co., we specialize in all things chimney. We can make all the above-mentioned repairs, and can also take care of other things as well. We might suggest such repair work as tuckpointing or chimney sealing. No matter what the repair job, you can rest assured that we offer the top service in the area. If you’re looking for great chimney service, give us a call today.

What is Spalling?

There are so many unusual terms associated with chimney care and chimney repair and if you’re not in the business, it can be really confusing. What’s the difference between a chimney crown and a chimney cap? What is flashing and why is it so important? Why does your chimney need to be lined? What is efflorescence? Have you ever heard the term spalling? Well, it is important to know what is going on with your chimney and fireplace system, but when it comes right down to it, you can hire an actual chimney company to come in and take care of all these things for you. In fact, the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) recommends that you have an inspection and sweeping on an annual basis. If you live in or around Cincinnati and you’re looking for a company that is best equipped to take care of all your chimney needs, give Chimney Care Co. a call today.

Spalling

If you take a look at your chimney and notice that there’s a lot of little white specks laying around on the ground, you probably have a condition called spalling. This means that there is a problem with your bricks. Bricks are porous, and if water gets under the surface, it can cause the surface to pop, flake, or peel off. This causes a weakening of the brick, and can cause an overall instability in the structure of the chimney. Obviously, this is a condition that you want to avoid. It can also cause bricks to crack and chip. Because the chimney’s job is to keep dangerous chemicals in smoke out of the house, these cracks and chips can cause major damage or even health issues for your family members and pets.

What To Do

If we discover spalling when we come in for your inspection, we’ll probably recommend that we do some brick replacement. This involves removing the damaged bricks, clearing out the opening to get out the dirt and dust, and then reapplying new, fresh mortar to the new brick and replacing it in the opening. Although this process seems uncomplicated, it is actually best left to the qualified professionals at Chimney Care Co. We have the experience and the expertise to do the job right, and we can make sure that the new mortar matches the existing mortar and that your chimney looks as good as new. Your chimney will be strong and secure and able to perform its function in no time.

Hire CSIA Certified Pros

It’s important to know that the professionals that you are hiring are properly certified and trained. The top certification in the industry is from the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), and this is one of the certifications we have. We are also members of the National Chimney Sweep Guild, National Fire Protection Association, and the Hearth, Patio & Barbeque Association. All of these associations offer top-notch education and training opportunities, so you know we can do any repair your chimney needs. Give us a call soon and we’ll have your chimney in great working order before autumn hits!