Post by : Admin
28-Apr-2021
Old houses can be quite lovely. Their aesthetics and designs are often ones that aren’t being recreated anymore or would be too expensive to get made now. However, they do come with their own set of problems, especially if they have a chimney.
Today, we’ll discuss some problems with older chimneys and why you should call a chimney service provider for an old house.
One of the most common problems you will run into with an older chimney is the sheer number of obstructions it can have inside of it. The more common expectation is that pests, birds, and outside objects may be inside the chimney and prevent airflow.
However, other problems like old construction materials becoming undone and blocking the path. In either case, you will need to get the older chimney cleaned out and maybe have pest control go through it once before you use it. Otherwise, there is a good chance smoke or carbon monoxide blows back into the house when the chimney is in use.
Vintage chimneys will often have a crown made out of cement. While the aim for both of these things is to keep water out of the chimney and prevent water damage, they may have accumulated damage over the years.
Cement also doesn’t hold up quite well with repeated water damage, which an older chimney crown would have after years of withstanding the rain. While caps are a more modern option, they too require upkeep and replacements. Getting either a new cap or a new crown will help keep the air flowing without letting the water in.
An actual fire hazard that exists with older chimneys is the years of build-up of soot and creosote. These are by-products of burning wood you can often find in the fireplace. The problem with these is that once they travel up the chimney, they often settle on the walls to create a flammable glaze. With older chimneys, there’s likely a lot more of this settled on the chimney walls, and lighting a fire underneath may cause these sediments to burn up and damage the chimney and potentially burn the rest of the house.
If you have acquired a house with a vintage chimney or just seem really old, the first thing you should do is get a chimney inspection done. Our team of chimney sweeps and repairmen at Creative Masonry and Chimney will be able to help you. Call us today for our chimney repair services in CT and a free quote.
