Chimneys must be one of the least well understood components of a home. Many homebuyers don’t know why they even need a chimney if they don’t have a fireplace. Chimneys draw the dangerous products of combustion (created by the heating system, water heater, fireplace, wood stove, older gas stoves, coal stove, and other appliances) out of the house and vent them safely into the atmosphere. Something as important as that warrants a little attention. Here are some commonly misunderstood definitions:
A flue is a vertical passageway within a chimney and a chimney may have more than one of them. Most flues constructed since the 1930’s or so are lined with terra cotta or a similar material. You can find out if your flue is lined by looking down from the top (if you can get to the top safely) or by sticking a mirror and a flashlight in the cleanout door at the base of the chimney. If the flue isn’t lined, or if the liner is damaged, it probably isn’t safe and should be relined. This must be done by a certified chimney sweep, who can explain the different options for lining the flue. If your chimney doesn’t have a cleanout door, have the sweep install one of those as well.
A rain cap is generally made of stainless steel and keeps the elements and small animals out of your chimney. They also act as a spark arrestor for your fireplace. Every flue should be covered with a rain cap, period.
A damper is the small door or plate in the top of the fireplace which must be opened before starting a fire.
Maintenance
If you use the fireplace or wood stove regularly, that flue must be cleaned every year. Failure to do this can result in a buildup of uncombusted carbon or creosote in the flue which can lead to a chimney fire. Chimney fires can burn at temperatures exceeding 2000° Fahrenheit and shoot 20 foot flames out of the top of your chimney. They often sound like a freight train running through the house and can burn the house down. What’s worse is: occasionally they don’t make a sound.
If your chimney vents only the combustion products from a gas or oil fired heating system, its still a good idea to have the chimney inspected and cleaned every few years. Its relatively inexpensive and might identify small problems, before they get dangerous and expensive to repair.
You can inspect portions of the chimney without specialized tools or experience.
If the chimney is on an exterior wall, look at the joint between the chimney and the house. Is it tight or is it wider at the top than the bottom. If there is any gap at all between the house and the chimney, it could mean some serious movement and should be evaluated by a mason or a chimney sweep.
Look at the chimney from the outside, the attic, the basement, and anywhere else it may be exposed. Are there missing bricks? Is the mortar in good condition or is it sugary or missing? If it is deteriorating, it should be repaired right away. Deteriorating mortar can leave holes in the chimney where hazardous combustion products can enter the house.
If you have a fireplace, open the damper and look up to make sure your flue is clear before using it for the first time each year. Also, go into the basement and stand directly beneath the hearth extension (the tiled or brick area in front of the fireplace. If you can see the wood used to form the hearth extension while the concrete was wet, that’s a fire hazard and you should call a chimney sweep to remove them right away. Often the forms are still beneath the interior hearth too, where you can’t see them and where they are even more dangerous. If its been a while since a professional has inspected your chimney, hire a certified chimney sweep to clean and inspect the interior of your chimney. Its inexpensive, and it might save your life.
Jim Morrison
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