When was the last time you had your chimney inspected inside and outside? Cleaning the burning area of a fireplace and viewing the condition of the area is not a complete inspection. The crown of a chimney should be regularly inspected for signs or wear and repaired if any cracking or other damage is evident. A chimney that doesn’t have a cemented crown can cause rain to hit the top of the bricks and soak into the chimney. The wet walls cause expansion and contraction which can lead to freezing of the mortar. This mortar can become loose and fall out from between the bricks.
Chimney Crown Installation in Annapolis MD should be performed immediately. Tuck-pointing can sometimes repair this problem, but it doesn’t always fix all of them. Without a crown on a chimney, rainwater or melting snow can enter small cracks in the flue tiles and bricks, and travel inside the chimney to ruin the damper, ceilings, firebricks and other components. A mortar wash can keep rain from affecting the bricks for a while, but eventually, the water will make them wet and cause the mortar to become damaged. An expansion joint should be installed around the tile to eliminate thermal shock that can crack the mortar wash. An expansion joint eliminates the stress during freezing and thawing periods. The joint is angled down and overhangs the brick so the water runs down to the roof.
A chimney on a home can be for a fireplace, furnace, or other types of heating sources. Even if it’s not for an actual fireplace, it still requires proper chimney crown installation in Annapolis MD. A chimney that is not properly designed can result in rainwater getting to the furnace causing rust on exhaust pipes and a hazardous condition for the homeowner. With winter right around the corner, now is a great time to have a chimney inspected for signs of wear. There’s still time to have it repaired before use. Visit website name to find out more about crown installation, chimney cleaning, service, and repair so you can enjoy your fireplace all winter.