Winter 2015 was crazy with long cold days and ice filled nights. Now that spring is here it is time to have your chimney inspected to be sure there is no damage to the bricks and masonry. Did you know that your chimney can suffer from the freeze and thaw effects of winter just like your sidewalks and patios? It’s doubtful that many homeowners regularly think of that.

The chimney is not typically a part of the house that comes to mind when most homeowners think of upkeep, inspections, and repair. Chimney maintenance is actually very important, and anyone with a chimney should have it inspected after winter because even an unused chimney takes freeze-thaw damage. A chimney in need of repair can pose very big problems if you let it go too long.

Anyone with a truck, ladder, and chimney cleaning equipment can call themselves a chimney sweep. It is important however, to have a Chimney Safety Institute of America Certified (CSIA) chimney inspector take a thorough look at your chimney to be sure there is no weather related damage. There are many issues associated with a water damaged chimney that could be very costly and dangerous.

If your chimney does have water damage to it this can lead to damaged appliances such as furnaces, fireplaces, or wood burning stoves which can be quite costly to replace depending on the model you have. A damaged chimney can also cause issues with your roof and compromise the structural integrity of your home. If you have cracks in the bricks near your flashing there is a high potential of rain water leaking into your home.

We deal with post-winter chimney problems every year. That’s why we’ve started recommending waterproofing your chimney. We use ChimneySaver sealants very often to help homeowners protect their chimney and home from water damage. These products are safe, easy to use, pre-mixed, environmentally friendly, and offer a 7-15 year warranty.

Call to schedule an inspection today to keep your family safe and your chimney in perfect working order. We often recommend that homeowners schedule their yearly chimney inspection on a day that they will remember. April Fool’s day for example. Everyone remembers April 1st and generally associates it with practical jokes. It’s generally a good time to schedule something that you need to remember, like changing the batteries in the smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector.

Whatever date you choose, make sure to mark it on the calendar so we can discuss chimney safety and cleaning procedures if needed. Call us any time to schedule an appointment and we’ll get you on the books.