Chimney and Fireplace Maintenance
Many homeowners in the New England area are fortunate to have fireplaces. A fireplace can be an attractive part of your living area, providing light, heat and wonderful holiday ambiance. However, you must be sure to maintain your chimney and fireplace for years of enjoyment.
If you plan to actually light a fire in your fireplace, be sure to have your chimney and flue cleaned on a regular basis by a professional chimney sweep. Having this service performed will help you to avoid unwanted fires in your chimney, and will help keep the air that your family is breathing clean and healthy.
You may want to have a chimney cap installed. A chimney cap is a metal structure that is installed in the top of your chimney. The cap is not very noticeable, and allows smoke to exit the top of the chimney in a normal fashion. The benefit to having a cap is that it prevents small animals, birds, and rodents from entering your home, or building nests in your chimney. In our area, bats, birds, and squirrels have been known to enter homes through uncapped chimneys.
Finally, if you notice any corrosion on the outside of your chimney, have it inspected by a masonry contractor. Your chimney may need to be repointed. If the inside of the chimney is cracked, you may need to have the chimney at least partially rebuilt. Ask your contractor about a sealing process, which may help avoid future problems, but sealing out unwanted moisture.