When Should You Call A Minneapolis Chimney Repair Contractor?

By Earlene McGee


It may not be easy to tell if a chimney is safe, stable, and sound just by the look but there are signs that may help determine when you need to contact a repairer to restore the structure. Chimneys are structures that are exposed to destructive elements including the creosote, heat, moisture, and movement of soils. Creosote is a substance that can accelerate the rate at which chimneys wear out. A Minneapolis chimney repair contractor can be called in whenever defects are noticed in chimneys.

Moisture causes problems when it enters chimneys. It affects the flues, mortar joints, and the bricks. When moisture penetrates and enters chimneys, it corrodes flue liners causing them to develop holes, which allow heat to enter other parts of a home. The spreading heat could easily trigger house fires that cause extensive damages.

Often, fires will occur inside chimneys causing thermal shock on liners. This may cause the flue liners to deteriorate fast and expose the masonry work. It may not be easy to know if chimneys need repairs just by looking at the appearance of the structures, however, there are signs that you can see and which tell you it is time for a contractor to do repairs.

It may be easy to notice shaling tiles but on the other hand, identifying cracking of liners may not be easy. It will require an experienced technician to use specialized tools such as cameras to inspect the interior of such chimneys in order to spot the cracks on liners. The cameras are introduced inside and they will capture images showing the state of your flues.

If these problems are not resolved, they put the family, the house, and the chimneys at stake. A number of signs can help know when it is time for repairs. If you are seeing white staining or efflorescence within such structures, it indicates some problems. The white discoloration forming on chimneys is what is known as efflorescence.

Signs of moisture infiltration within the chimneys or fireplace are real red flag, which shows that the system is not working properly. Rust occurs when there is too much dampness or moisture. If you are noticing corrosion or rust forming on the dampers and fireboxes, it is an issue that should be checked immediately.

You can know of such problems if the damper does not operate or seal properly. The rust may affect the moving parts of dampers making it difficult to seal. Moisture infiltrating chimneys can create other problems such as causing the flue tiles to start cracking. Cracks within flue liners can be dangerous since they allow heat to reach other parts of a home.

You may need to look at the wallpaper near the chimneys. If the wallpaper is wearing out, it may indicate that there is too much moisture within your flues. The moisture problems may be caused by open capping, cracks on masonry, or accumulation of ice within the crown area. It is always smart to make sure you alert a contractor to check the structure. Call a contractor when you notice these and other problems in chimneys so that repairs can be done in time before the structure disintegrates further.




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