Working With Hartford County Chimney Inspections Professionals For Safety And Comfort

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By Scott Parker


There are several different construction types of chimney, flue and stove units found throughout the country. While cleaning most chimneys utilizes similar methods, funnel sweeping is not the only aspect of fireplace maintenance required for a safe home. Traditional brick home construction did not always include a vent liner years ago. Over time many building codes have been amended to improve construction methods and safety. That is why you should have the Hartford County Chimney Inspections professionals work on your fireplace.

Even if your fireplace passes a visual inspection, it's what you can't see just by looking that could really get you into trouble. Inside of every funnel should be a vent liner. Some older houses do have flue liners but they may the wrong size or fitted incorrectly. Years ago, having a liner was not a safety code requirement so many homes were built without one.

Owning a fireplace has become usual to most houses, nowadays. People use these, especially during the winter season. Now, if you have a fireplace, it is also your obligation to keep it clean all the time, especially the vent flue where all the processes take place. Maintaining a sanitary vent flue does not only make your house a clean place to live in. It also makes it a safe place for your family.

Another major concern is moderate to the heavy buildup of creosote which is an immediate red flag indicating that the flue has not been maintained properly. Creosote is commonly referred to as soot but also appears in other forms within a chimney flue where it is not readily visible.

In older homes, fireplaces and wood stoves were common and almost a necessity. Today many contractors and home builders are doing away with fireplaces altogether. Those homes that have fireplaces need to be properly maintained. Unlike vehicles, fireplace maintenance is relatively inexpensive.

The heat that escapes by way of damaged mortar and cracks in your flue are the number one cause of fireplace-related fires. Such cracks in the mortar joints, as well as other structural defects, may be caused by damage from rain water, earthquakes, and other natural disasters, and damage which may be attributable to corrosive emissions from the fire you light up in your fireplace. In order to find such structural faults, you must undertake seasonal funnel cleaning and inspections.

One of the hazardous substances is carbon monoxide, which can cause several respiratory problems. To be protected against such noxious substances, regular inspections and proper maintenance must be performed on any ventilation system to ensure its integrity and functionality.

If the resulting scratch in the creosote is 1/8" deep the chimney needs to be cleaned. Do not use the funnel if the scratch is 1/4" deep or greater. This level of creosote possesses a serious fire hazard.

Again, a chimney and fireplace inspection should be performed regularly by a professional Harford CT service company from Hartford County CT. Many times these companies will offer a complete package, which may include an automatic cleaning, but may not be necessary. It is always best to err on the side of safety. Fortunately, the expense of proper maintenance, in this case, is affordable.




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