How To Maintain Your Chimney The Easy Way

Roofer in St Johns WoodHow to Maintain your Chimneys

It’s difficult to protect your chimneys, as they’re often the highest point of your property, making them vulnerable to strong winds and stormy weather conditions.

However, a little TLC to your chimneys can extend their life and keep your chimneys in good working order. To keep your chimneys in good repair, keep a watchful eye out for any signs of damage so that you can fix the problem quickly.

Check your roof to ensure that there’s no damaged brickwork around your chimney. You should be able to do this safely from the ground using a pair of binoculars. You should look for signs of damage such as missing bricks, loose mortar, missing screws, cracks and other signs of damage. You need to act quickly if you suspect that animals have become lodged in your chimney, or if you think they are using your chimney to nest.  To prevent this problem, you should have your chimney fitted with a mesh chimney to protect it from hibernating animals.

If you need to get a closer look at your rooftop, always use an extension ladder so that you don’t have to stretch because this could cause you to lose your balance. Never work on the rooftop when it’s raining or if your roof is still wet as you could risk falling. It’s often best to call in the professionals – contact a chimney specialist or trained roofer to carry out repairs to your chimney safely.

Also check inside your home as there could be telling signs of damage like stains around the chimney, which could be a sign of leakage where the roof and chimney meet.

Regular chimney cleaning is a must, particularly if you use a wood fire a lot in the winter. Get a professional chimney cleaner to clean out your chimney at least once a year – twice if you burn a lot of wood. Burning wood in the fireplace can create a product called creosote, which accumulates inside your chimney. This build-up is highly flammable, so you need to keep creosote levels to a minimum to prevent a fire starting in your chimney – which could prove fatal. Creosote is produced in high levels if you’re burning wood at the wrong temperature. 

Chimney maintenance is a priority for your property, as harmful gases can build up inside the flue. Lethal carbon monoxide also build up inside the flue, and if there’s damage to the inside of your chimney, this can seep in to your home. Have you chimney checked by a qualified tradesman regularly to ensure your safety.

Maintaining your chimney is essential – your chimneys are usually the highest point of your property, making them vulnerable to the elements. Strong winds and stormy weather can damage brickwork and cause wear and tear to chimney flashings. Freezing wintry weather followed by a thaw can take its toll on your chimneys, causing damage to the brickwork. If you spot areas of flashings that are unsealed, you need to get the problem fixed quickly before the damage affects the structural damage of your roof.

If you think that your chimney has suffered damage, contact a professional roofer or chimney specialist who will be able to undertake chimney reparation work safely.

For expert care for your chimney, contact G&A Roofing and Building for chimney brickwork re-pointing, repairs for lead flashings, chimney pot refitting, chimney rebuilding and chimney removal. Call G&A Roofing and Building today on 0800 626430.

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