Many homeowners take extra care of their fireplaces before fall kicks in. Considering that it gets fairly chilly, it’s important to ensure that your fireplace is in good shape. Here’s what you should do:

Inspect the Chimney’s Exterior

The first thing you should do is go outside and take a look at the chimney. Look for any signs of leaning. Some tell-tale signs of damage include masonry joints or bricks that look chipped. If you’re aware that the chimney is factory-built metal, you’d want to spot stains and corrosion. If the chimney is exposed to the attic, you’d want to thoroughly sweep the connected sections to see if any repairs are needed.

Installing a Chimney Cap

A chimney cap adds a protective barrier to your fireplace. Chimneys suffer from a lot of damage due to water and various animals making their way inside. Rain and snow can easily enter a chimney through the top. Apart from directly damaging the masonry, they also cause expansion and contraction between bricks, severely damaging the chimney’s structure.

Animals can make nests in chimneys, causing fleas, worms, and other pests to trickle inside your home. A chimney cap can stop both animals and water from coming inside the chimney.

Inspect the Roof Around the Chimney

From the interior, observe the roof near the chimney. Due to faulty flashing around the chimney at the roof-line or damaged flue liner, water could be accumulating near these spots. In such a case, don’t wait up and dial a chimney professional to come to fix the matter for you.

Look for Flue Damage

Opening the clean-out door from the flue’s base, which might be outside the property or in the basement, set up some lights and mirrors to inspect the flue. Soot can build up, along with various separations, due to cracks and holes. This can be fairly inconvenient, so call in a professional.

Before fall is in full swing, ensure you’ve had a detailed fireplace maintenance session to ensure you’re prepared for the season. Set up a chimney inspection in Gainesville to have your chimney looked at. The professionals at Chimney and Dryer Vent Services LLC make the process more convenient for you.

Reach out to us for fireplace repairs and gas logs service in Gainesville.