Cracks In The Masonry Work Of A Chimney & Getting Repairs

The chimney is the most important part of a fireplace because it is how smoke escapes a home. Due to the importance of the chimney, it is important for a homeowner to make sure their chimney is in good condition at all times. All it takes is for the chimney to have minor damage to put everyone in a household at risk of getting injured by fire or smoke. If you have noticed that the masonry work of your chimney has cracks, a repair should be made before lighting logs in your fireplace. The extent of chimney damage might be more severe than you think, so hire a professional to make the repairs to make sure the job is done right.

Why Masonry Cracks Are a Hazard to a Fireplace 

A cracked chimney is a hazard because it could lead to smoke not being properly routed out of your home. For example, rather than smoke going out of the chimney and up into the air, the smoke might seep through the cracks. You do not want the smoke to seep through cracks because it is toxic and might end up circulating back into your home. Heat and moisture can also seep into the cracks and cause the chimney to deteriorate, which can compromise the safety of your household. Even a small crack can cause the chimney to deteriorate, so make sure a professional is hired to inspect the chimney for all cracks that need repairs.

How Professionals Make Repairs to a Cracked Chimney

The types of repairs that your chimney needs will depend on the severity of the damage. If the masonry work is in satisfactory condition, a contractor might only need to fill the cracks in with fresh mortar. However, if the masonry is severely damaged, filling the cracks in might not be sufficient. You might need to get the damaged bricks removed and new bricks installed. The chimney will have to be reconstructed altogether in the worst-case scenario.

How Untimely Chimney Repairs Can Be Prevented

After your chimney has been repaired, there are steps that you can take to prevent untimely repairs in the future. The main thing that should be done is to keep the chimney clean, which should be done by a professional. Get the chimney inspected for cracks every now and then as well so they can be repaired before getting worse. Contact chimney masonry repair services to learn more.

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