A chimney should be inspected periodically to look for any signs that it is falling into disrepair. While there are many areas of a chimney that can only be inspected by someone professional, other more visible areas can be given a check over by the homeowner. This is possible even if you know very little about construction. Here are a few simple ways to tell if the chimney needs maintenance.
Think about the reasons a chimney could become damaged. Have any large objects fallen on the roof such as trees, branches or even scaffolding, etc.? Objects like this can cause major damage to a chimney. Weather extremes are another reason, over time bad weather conditions can cause deterioration. Other elements such as earthquakes and tornado's can also significantly damage a chimney. Whatever the reason may be, a damaged chimney is a problem and may even result in its collapsing. This will not only be a danger to anyone outside, but chimneys also fall in on themselves meaning anyone inside will be at risk of injury as well.
Stand back from the home and have a good look at the entire chimney, does it appear to be leaning or listing at all? Are there any indications that it is starting to separate away from the rest of the house? Now look at the chimney’s footings, what do they look like? Are they showing signs of deterioration? Another check you can do is to take a screwdriver and scrape some of the chimney’s mortar. If it crumbles easily then repair work is needed.
So, thinking about ways the chimney may have been damaged in some way and performing these simple checks will help you to tell if it requires maintenance. Taking care of any issues when you find them could help to save you a lot of money in the long run.
Think about the reasons a chimney could become damaged. Have any large objects fallen on the roof such as trees, branches or even scaffolding, etc.? Objects like this can cause major damage to a chimney. Weather extremes are another reason, over time bad weather conditions can cause deterioration. Other elements such as earthquakes and tornado's can also significantly damage a chimney. Whatever the reason may be, a damaged chimney is a problem and may even result in its collapsing. This will not only be a danger to anyone outside, but chimneys also fall in on themselves meaning anyone inside will be at risk of injury as well.
Stand back from the home and have a good look at the entire chimney, does it appear to be leaning or listing at all? Are there any indications that it is starting to separate away from the rest of the house? Now look at the chimney’s footings, what do they look like? Are they showing signs of deterioration? Another check you can do is to take a screwdriver and scrape some of the chimney’s mortar. If it crumbles easily then repair work is needed.
So, thinking about ways the chimney may have been damaged in some way and performing these simple checks will help you to tell if it requires maintenance. Taking care of any issues when you find them could help to save you a lot of money in the long run.
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