Clues Your Chimney May Need Repairs

What do they say? “Out of sight, out of mind.” We assume that if we can build a fire in our fireplace, the chimney must be fine. But it’s the little imperfections that may cause you trouble in the future. Calling upon a professional chimney company on an annual basis will protect you from damages that can grow and become quite costly if unattended to. We bring generations of expertise to every chimney repair in the Buffalo and Rochester area.

Clues that Indicate Your Chimney May Need Repairs.

• Damage to walls within the home: If you notice staining on the walls or wallpaper around the chimney, there is a good chance that water is seeping in. If this is seen, moisture is getting in. Repairs to the flue and/or chimney are needed before you continue to use the fireplace.
• Spalling: When bricks become weak and deteriorate, this is called spalling. You may also see peeling, flaking, cracking, or crumbling of the bricks. This may be due to moisture getting into the bricks, causing this deterioration.
• Rusty Components: Another moisture issue is a rusty damper or firebox. If you are finding that the damper isn’t sealing well, this may be an effect to rust on these parts.
• Damaged Mortar: If mortar is damaged, this can lead to significant issues such as leaks, water damage, and eventually structural instability. When water gets into cracked mortar, then it freezes and thaws, the cracks will get larger, allowing more water to get in.
• Chimney Crown Damage: During the winter, if there are cracks in your chimney crown, water will get in. This freeze/thaw process that takes place will expose larger cracks. This damage can lead to additional issues such as rust in the firebox, water leaks, as well as structural damage.
• Shaling Flue Tiles: If you have issues with your flue, you will start to see thin slices of flue tile coming off due to damage to the liner. This is a major issue and may cause chimney fires.

Chimney Repairs are Essential to the Safety and Efficiency of your Fireplace and Chimney

Regularly scheduled maintenance is also essential to the longevity of your chimney. Once an issue is identified, it is important to contact a professional chimney company such as Felgemacher Masonry and Chimney. Timing is important when there are concerns identified. Your repair can be a small dollar amount or it can be a big expense. Once identified, our team of professionally trained technicians will work to repair your chimney, whatever the problem may be. We have available appointments that will work with your schedule. Feel free to call or fill out our online contact form to schedule your inspection today.

Certified Chimney Cleaning for Safety You Can Trust

A clean chimney is a safe chimney, and we’ll keep yours as safe and efficient as it can be. Our owners are certified through the Chimney Safety Institute of America – a stringent industry certification held by only the best sweeps in the U.S. We remove flammable creosote from chimney flues, reducing the chance of a chimney fire. We also remove debris and obstructions that could hamper the drafting of smoke and carbon monoxide.