Fireplaces: 

Even though fireplaces in this area are not typically used for heating the home, it is still important that they are constructed and maintained properly. Uncorrected problems with fireplaces can have disastrous consequences. This discussion of common fireplace problems will start at the top of the fireplace chimney and work down. Your fireplace does not have to have a rain cap and screen, but it is recommended to help keep rainwater and pests out of the chimney. Sometimes birds or squirrels find a fireplace chimney a perfect place for their home, and once they pick yours they can be tough to get rid of. Prevention with a chimney cap is a whole lot cheaper, and you get the benefit of keeping rain out of the chimney. You won’t usually see rainwater in the fireplace of an open chimney, because there is a shelf in the chimney that catches the water. But water obviously does go down the chimney, and it doesn’t do any good down there. Your fireplace and chimney will last longer if it has a chimney cap. At the top of a masonry fireplace chimney is the chimney crown. This is a layer of mortar on top of the chimney that slopes from the edge up to the flue. The crown serves two purposes, it keeps water out of the chimney enclosure and it helps with drafting of the fireplace. The chimney crown will develop cracks as it ages. It is important that the cracks be sealed to prevent water penetration. The crown will need to be replaced before any of the pieces of mortar become loose. If the crown is not properly maintained, the damage will quickly progress to the chimney brickwork and soon require extensive repairs. If your chimney goes through the attic, there is one common issue to be aware of. There must be a firestop around the chimney at the ceiling of the living area. Sometimes there is an opening between the chimney and the ceiling of the room. If you can see down to the fireplace from the attic, there is no firestop. This is most common with metal fireplace flues that do not have a chimney enclosure. If there is a fire in the home, it can quickly spread into the attic through this opening. This is why the opening must be covered to provide a firestop between the living area and the attic. Creosote can build up in a fireplace chimney and in the throat of the fireplace, and can become a hazard. Accumulated creosote will burn, starting a chimney fire. Chimney fires can be intense, and much hotter than the chimney was designed to withstand. Creosote looks like a rough deposit on the insides of the chimney, similar to black carpet. Judging when a chimney needs to be cleaned takes some experience, so the best advice is to have it checked by a professional every couple years or so.  Inside the firebox of a masonry fireplace, you may see some small cracks in the bricks or mortar. These cracks need to be kept sealed, because if a spark or ember goes through the crack it can get to the wood framing behind the fireplace or in the attic and start a fire. The cracks can be sealed with fireproof caulk. Failure to repair small cracks can result in progressive damage. If any mortar or bricks become loose, a fireplace specialist or brick mason needs to be consulted. [ Back to General Home Information ] Schedule Your Inspection Today