Your Spring Chimney Checklist
After the brutal Ohio winter, most chimneys need a little TLC and possibly some maintenance work. The Chimney Guys of Pataskala, OH, would like to present a basic spring chimney checklist you can follow to fix any problems the recent winter season has caused and ensure your chimney and fireplace are ready to roll the next time around.
Start with a visual chimney inspection
In the depths of winter, most people aren’t crazy about the idea of running around outside and looking at their chimneys. But when the weather begins to settle, you should get out there and take a good look.
Things you’ll want to check include:
Chimney cap: Is it connected securely? Is its mesh free of draft-blocking debris?
Chimney crown: Are there cracks and crumbling in the concrete slab that covers the top part of your chimney around the flue opening?
Masonry: What’s the condition of the bricks and mortar? Are there cracks and signs of decay?
Chimney flashing: Is the flashing that seals the gap between the chimney and roof warped, rusted, unseated, or missing?
Stains: Are there white stains on the masonry that indicate water intrusion? How about major smoke stains or green stains from algae growth?
Chimney leaks: Does your attic smell musty? Do you see water stains on the walls and ceiling near the fireplace? Are strong odors coming from your chimney? These are all signs that could point to a leaky chimney.
Check your fireplace
Do you notice cracks or splits on any part of the firebox’s surfaces? Has creosote and soot built up to huge levels?
During the last period of heavy fireplace use, were you experiencing sluggish draft, hard-to-start, hard-to-keep-burning fires, or smoke backing up into the room?
Professional chimney and fireplace inspections
While you can do the above spring inspection tasks yourself, a more complete inspection can only be performed by a licensed chimney company.
Licensed inspectors have the experience and equipment to assess the condition of your chimney and fireplace thoroughly. They can spot subtle signs of damage and malfunction that you might have missed during your visual inspection.
A basic springtime safety inspection will cover all readily accessible areas of your chimney and fireplace system. More advanced inspections use video imaging, which is a great way to assess the condition of your chimney flue and its liner.
Chimney sweeping
If you have a wood fireplace, you should schedule chimney sweeping once a year, and spring is usually a good time to do it (see below). Chimney sweeping removes flammable creosote that can easily start a chimney fire. It also removes debris that has gotten into your flue over the winter.
3 reasons to do your chimney work in the spring
- The nicer weather makes inspection, maintenance, and repair work easier for you and your chimney technician.
- Chimney company schedules are more open in the spring than in the weeks leading up to winter.
- Spring chimney maintenance lets you complete needed repair work before the busy summer.
We’re here to help keep your chimney running right
The Chimney Guys helps our customers keep their chimneys and fireplaces running efficiently and safely. If it’s time to have your system checked after a typically brutal Ohio winter, give us a call or use our contact form.
