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.

How to Know if You Have a Leaky Chimney

Spring rains, along with melting snow and ice, can lead to problems with your chimney — namely, chimney leaks. After a winter’s worth of freezing temperatures, high moisture, and high winds, your chimney can become weakened in a variety of ways that allow water to leak into your home through your chimney. If chimney leaks aren’t addressed quickly, they can lead to serious and expensive problems with your fireplace, your chimney, or even your home structure. To head off chimney leaks before they cause major problems, you should be looking out for the signs of a chimney leak this spring.

Water or rust in your firebox

After a major snow melt or heavy rain, you should take the time to inspect your firebox. Look for signs of moisture or puddles in the bottom of the firebox to be sure that water isn’t coming down the chimney flue. Also, keep your eye out for rust. Even if you don’t see water coming in through the chimney, check all of the metal chimney components, such as the fire grate, fireplace doors, and damper, for rust or warping that could indicate that water is seeping in through the chimney. Chunks of chimney tile at the bottom of the firebox also can indicate that a leak is damaging the interior of your chimney.

Water damage to interior walls or ceilings

When your walls and ceiling start to warp or stain, it’s obvious that water is getting into your home, but it can be difficult to pinpoint the damage. Many people fail to check the chimney for leaks, but the chimney is often to blame. Dark stains, peeling wallpaper, and wavy wallboard on the walls and ceilings near your chimney can indicate that water is leaking in and around the base of your chimney, or even through the chimney walls.

Discoloration on the exterior of the chimney

Staining on the outside of the chimney also can be a sign that your chimney is taking on water. If your chimney masonry shows black, white, or green staining, it’s an indication that the chimney masonry is absorbing and holding water. Rust stains down the side of a masonry or manufactured chimney can indicate that the chimney’s metal cap or chase cover is rusting away, which could allow water into your chimney.

Deterioration of the chimney masonry

After a winter of freezing and thawing temperatures, chimney masonry can begin to break down and let water into the chimney structure and your home. To keep your chimney and your home safe from water damage due to a leaking chimney, the exterior chimney structure should be examined each spring for crumbling mortar and cracked or deteriorating bricks or stone. Any signs of weakness should be inspected by a professional to ensure that water isn’t making its way into the chimney through cracks or holes in the chimney walls.

A leaky chimney is a serious issue that needs to be addressed before it jeopardizes the structure of your chimney or the structure of your home. Take the time this spring to look for the signs of a leaking chimney. If you notice signs that your chimney is leaking, be sure to call the Chimney Care Co. to have your chimney inspected by a professional before the problem gets worse.

Masonry Repair To Your Chimney

Summer will soon be drawing to a close. Soon, homeowners will begin to prepare their fireplaces and chimneys for the fall. Have you noticed damage to your chimney? If your chimney sweep notices damage during your annual cleaning and inspection, you could be in store for some masonry chimney repair. Know that masonry does break down over time, even with the best care. Additionally, there are some common masonry repairs that are performed time and time again.

Tuckpointing

Tuckpointing, or repointing, is perhaps one of the most common masonry chimney repairs. The good news is that it’s an incredibly gratifying repair to have performed on your chimney. Not only does it restore the structural integrity of your chimney, but it also restores the overall appearance of your chimney. Tuckpointing involves removing damaged, crumbling mortar from in between the masonry joints of your chimney and repairing it with fresh mortar to strengthen the chimney structure.

Chimney Crown Repair

A chimney crown, the masonry top to your chimney, takes a lot of abuse. As the chimney crown protects the rest of the chimney from water, the crown itself comes into contact with precipitation. This can damage the crown’s masonry! On top of that, many chimney crowns were not properly constructed to start, allowing chimney leaks. They can also cause the chimney crown to break down prematurely. If your chimney crown is cracked, crumbly, or improperly constructed, you will be in need of a chimney crown repair.

Relining

Inside your chimney, the masonry flue tiles can crack or crumble. This can be caused from the extreme heat of your fireplace or from contact with moisture. Eventually, your chimney will need to be relined, either with a stainless steel chimney liner or with a specialized poured cement.

Firebox Reconstruction

Just like the tiles in your chimney liner, the bricks that line your firebox can crack or crumble from exposure to heat and moisture. If the cracks in your firebricks grow too wide, your firebox will need to be reconstructed so that it continues to protect your home from the fires built within.

Chimney Rebuild

Has your chimney has been neglected too long? If crumbling mortar and bricks weren’t replaced or cracks were left unattended, your chimney structure can begin to fail! A failing chimney structure can damage your overall home structure or leave your home open to the risk of a chimney fire. If your chimney structure has failed, you might require a complete or partial chimney rebuild.

If your chimney requires any of these repairs, or if your chimney is due for its annual sweeping and inspection, call the Chimney Care Co. to schedule your chimney today! We can spot and perform any needed masonry chimney repairs and have your chimney ready to operate safely this fall.

Does your chimney need masonry repairs? We can help!

Spring is the time of year when we begin to notice and address home repairs. Especially after the harsh conditions of winter, weaknesses in our home’s structures can become evident.

That includes chimneys. While masonry fireplaces and chimneys are incredibly durable, they also put up with a lot of abuse during winter months. Internally, they must cope with the extreme heat of your winter fires. Externally, they have to endure rain, ice, snow, sleet and freezing temperatures. If you start to notice damage to your chimney’s masonry this spring, The Chimney Care Co. can help repair your chimney in time for next season’s fires.

Common masonry repairs

The need for most chimney masonry repairs is obvious. There are telltale signs of damage, so you’ll know when your masonry fireplace or chimney is in need of professional attention. Some of the most common masonry repairs include:

•  Crumbling mortar. Over time, your chimney’s mortar absorbs moisture, which can lead it to degrade and crumble away, leaving cracks in your chimney’s structure that can expose it to moisture damage and weaken the structure. Crumbling mortar can be easily fixed with tuckpointing, which involves removing the damaged mortar and replacing it with new mortar.
•  Spalling bricks. Another common chimney problem caused by moisture is spalling, or crumbling bricks. These bricks can be replaced to prevent your chimney from losing its structural integrity.
• Cracked or crumbling chimney crown. Many chimney crowns, the masonry structure that surrounds the top of chimney, were improperly constructed from the wrong materials, causing them to crack and crumble quickly. Even well-built chimney crowns can fail over time and require repair or rebuilding.
• Cracked masonry. Masonry can crack for a variety of reasons. Flue tiles and firebox masonry can crack if they are “shocked” by the extreme heat of your fire or a chimney fire. We can repair cracked tiles or bricks, or rebuild entire fireboxes, if needed.
•  Structural weaknesses. Water damage, settling foundations and seismic events can cause chimney structures to become weak. Those weaknesses can be revealed in a leaning chimney or in large chimney cracks. If your chimney structure is failing, The Chimney Care Co. can rebuild it quickly and effectively.

Protecting your chimney

By and large, the majority of chimney masonry damage is caused by water. Masonry materials are porous and can draw water in over time. When temperatures drop, water inside the masonry freezes and expands, causing some of the cracking, crumbling and structural weaknesses we’ve described. As such, it’s important to take measures to ensure your chimney is as protected as possible from water. That means making sure you have a secure chimney cap and a chimney crown that is in good repair. We can apply ChimneySaver’s waterproofing product to your chimney, which keeps moisture out while still allowing your chimney’s masonry to breathe as it needs to.

Most importantly, if you’ve noticed any of the common masonry problems we’ve described above, or if you have concerns about your chimney’s masonry, call The Chimney Care Co. today. We can provide you with a host of masonry repairs to keep your chimney safe, structurally sound and looking good.

The Importance of the Chimney Chase Cover

Chase covers fit over the top, outer opening of your chimney. These covers are designed to keep precipitation, debris and animals out of your chimney and are custom made to fit your specific application; it’s similar to the lid on a shoebox. Buying a chase cover is extremely important and absolutely necessary to the life and maintenance of your chimney and your home. Because of its job function, a chase cover is more than an option; it’s a necessity!

Material Options for Every Budget… 

Everyone loves knowing that they have options. For those of you in the market for a new chase cover, you’ve got options, too. Chase cover materials run the gamut and can accommodate all budgets: galvanized steel, aluminum, copper and stainless steel. Galvanized steel covers are the least expensive; unfortunately, they rust quickly and need to be replaced within a few years. Aluminum covers don’t have the same rusting issues as their galvanized counterparts, however they’re not typically used for this function simply because the metal is too soft.

Copper is, by far, the highest quality choice and is accompanied by the largest price tag as well; if you’re in the market for that type of look (and can afford the additional cost associated with it), you can’t go wrong with copper. Stainless steel is the strongest of the four materials. It costs a bit more up front than galvanized steel, however, the mere fact that it won’t rust and should never need to be replaced again more than makes up for the increased initial investment.

Never Trust the Rust…

Many homeowners do not notice that their chase cover has begun to rust. This is because it’s all the way up on top of the chimney, which isn’t exactly the easiest place to see. Sometimes it’s easier to spot a rusted chase cover after it has rained. This is due to the fact that when the water runs off of the chimney cap and down the sides of your chimney, it carries the rust down the sides with it, leaving stains and discoloration.

It is your responsibility as a homeowner to have this problem repaired as quickly as possible to prevent more significant damage from occurring to the chimney system. If rust damage isn’t repaired, the middle of the cover may begin to sink in, which will lead to an accumulation of water, leaves, and other debris. This buildup puts more stress on your already damaged cover and could cause it to cave in completely, thereby exposing the inner workings of your chimney system to the elements.

If you’re in the market for a chase cover for your chimney — either as a replacement for a damaged cover or as an enhancement for your chimney — contact the professionals at Chimney Care Company. Our professional technicians will inspect your entire chimney system and, if necessary, will properly fit a chase cover to your chimney’s exact dimensions to ensure that it is properly sealed from the elements. Your home is an investment, and we want to help you protect it. No matter what your chimney or vent needs, contact us today. We look forward to serving you!