Home Fire Safety: The Importance of Fireplace and Chimney Inspection

Fireplaces and chimneys are designed for safety, but that doesn't change the fact that you're inviting a destructive fire into your home. If you fail to protect yourself, you could join the thousands of U.S. homes that deal with heating-related fires each year, with heating equipment like wood stoves listed as the second leading cause.

That's where your annual fireplace and chimney inspection comes in. These services help keep your heating equipment clean, functional, and safe for regular use. Scheduling yours is crucial if you want to protect your property, your family, your health, and your bottom line!

Let's take a look at why regular inspections are so important.

Assessing Hidden Damage

Without climbing on your roof or using specialized tools, certain parts of your fireplace and chimney won't be easy to see. An experienced specialist can access and check these hard-to-reach areas for you. With a trained eye, they may also spot subtle or hidden damage in areas you can access.

One of these critical areas is the crown, or the top part of the chimney that keeps rainfall, leaf matter, and other obstructions away. A damaged crown can cause water damage and deterioration, so it's important to make sure this piece of equipment is intact.

The flue liner is another crucial element. This flexible tube keeps unwanted vapors like carbon monoxide from fire and smoke from entering your home. It runs down the length of your chimney and can be hard to check on your own, so a specialist will have to look for cracks or gaps on your behalf.

Your chimney's brick or stone masonry needs regular check-ups as well.

If your home shifts or settles over time, your masonry can crack. This can impact the structure and safety of your fireplace and chimney. During your inspection, a specialist can look for signs of leaning, fractures, spalling bricks, and other irregularities on the inside and outside of your fireplace and chimney.

Last, a chimney inspector can look for hidden fireplace obstructions like excessive soot, nesting animals, plant matter, or collapsed masonry before you start lighting fires for the season. This can help you deal with any dangerous blockages you haven't spotted on your own.

Avoiding Accidental Fires

Dirty chimneys aren't just a minor issue. When your chimney gets dirty, it puts your home at a greater risk for accidental fires.

As you burn fuel in your fireplace, byproducts of that fuel can build up along the walls of your chimney. This happens as smoke, vapor, and fuel particles launch up from the fire and into the chimney, which often has a cooler temperature. As they do so, they condense into a coating called creosote.

Creosote is dark in color, and as more of it accumulates, it becomes more and more flammable. Thick layers of creosote can cause fires that can damage your chimney or even the rest of your home.

Not all creosote needs immediate removal. During your annual service, your chimney inspector will help you understand your fire risk and make recommendations about fireplace cleaning.

Preventing Hazardous Vapors

Better fire safety is a critical benefit of an inspection, but it's not the only benefit that affects your health.

Certain obstructions can cause hazardous vapors to back up in your chimney once you start a fire. Instead of escaping through the flue, these vapors may instead enter your home. This sometimes happens when you don't have a chimney cap.

One of the worst vapors to deal with is carbon monoxide. This hazardous gas is invisible, odorless, and lethal in large enough doses. Even minor bursts of it can cause health problems.

If you ever notice sudden headaches, dizziness, nausea, confusion, or other side effects after starting a fire, put the fire out and leave your home until the gas dissipates. Call for an expert chimney inspection before using your fireplace again.

If you have a gas fireplace, leaks from a faulty gas valve can be dangerous as well. During an inspection, a technician can check for damage or signs of a potential leak.

Maintaining Homeowners Policies

Whether or not you're sold on the advantages of regular inspections, they might still be good for your bottom line.

Most homeowners insurance providers will cover "unexpected" damage to a chimney. This includes things like lightning strikes, storm damage, and accidental fires. 

However, when they provide coverage, these providers also require you to get regular chimney inspections. If you fail to do so, your provider may claim that you've been negligent and refuse to pay for any accidental damage to your fireplace or chimney.

In other words, skipping inspections now may leave you with a hefty out-of-pocket repair bill if your chimney gets damaged later! Read your policy to understand how often you're required to schedule an inspection.

In addition, don't forget about your homeowner's association if you belong to one. Read the fine print in the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs) to see if the group requires regular inspections.

Checking for Moisture Intrusion

If moisture is getting into your chimney, often through a damaged crown, the damage can be worse than you'd expect.

Constant moisture isn't great for your masonry. As your bricks and mortar absorb this moisture, especially as temperatures fluctuate, it can cause microscopic damage. This decay can create gaps in the mortar joints, weakening the structure.

Worse, if moisture sneaks into your chimney, it may eventually reach other areas of your home as well. Moisture that gets through your flashing, into your attic, or into your fireplace can wreak havoc on your property. Unless you want to deal with water damage or mold remediation, schedule your next inspection!

Avoiding Repairs and Replacements

Like any other parts of your home, your chimney and fireplace need regular inspections to help you avoid major issues. Left unchecked, these issues can result in fireplace repair bills or even a full replacement.

Damaged masonry, flue obstructions, wood rot, a warped damper, damaged chimney caps, and other issues are easy to catch and prevent. The cost of an inspection now could save you hundreds on an expensive chimney repair down the line. Worse still is a chimney replacement, which can cost several thousand dollars!

Enjoying Efficient Heating

You might be surprised to know that a clean and safe chimney is often better for your comfort. This is true for several reasons.

First, chimney obstructions that don't cause backups of carbon monoxide can still be frustrating. You may catch a strange scent or notice that smoke is entering the room. Sometimes, a burning scent may even linger when there's no fire present.

Fires that you light in a dirty or malfunctioning fireplace may be harder to start and keep burning. You may find yourself tossing more logs into a wood-burning fireplace or using your fuel much faster than usual. The fire may be weak and ineffective at heating your home.

These issues can make it harder to enjoy your fireplace and keep warm, and you may even resort to cranking up your thermostat instead, costing you even more money.

During an inspection, an expert can diagnose any issues that are messing with your fireplace's performance. Whether the issues need professional repair or you can fix them on your own, addressing them can lead to more efficient heating in your home.

Types of Inspections

Keep in mind that if you are getting an inspection, there are several types to choose from.

Level 1 inspections will check the basic structure and integrity of your chimney. If you're planning to use your fireplace about as much as you have in the past and you haven't noticed signs of damage or inefficiency, this option may be right for you. Your inspector will check the flue, damper, firebox, and connections.

Level 2 inspections are ideal if there have been any changes to your chimney in the past year, including damage or the introduction of a new fuel type. This option includes a video scan of the inside of your chimney. You'll also need a Level 2 inspection if you're selling or buying a property.

Level 3 inspections happen after your chimney has taken serious damage. During this inspection, a technician will tear down part of your chimney to check the damage and look for safety hazards. In addition, they'll also perform all of the tasks included in a Level 1 and Level 2 inspection.

If you aren't sure what you'll need, contact a local inspection company for help.

Get Your Fireplace and Chimney Inspection

No matter the make, model, or fuel source, getting a fireplace and chimney inspection is crucial. From protecting your health to keeping you in good standing with your insurance provider, it's hard to pass up the benefits!

If you're ready to schedule your annual inspection, The Grate Haus is here to help. Our inspection, cleaning, and repair services ensure that your fireplace and chimney are safe and fully functional when you need it most. To schedule service, fill out our online form now