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Why Are Chimney Inspections Important?

Fireplaces and heating stoves provide warmth and pleasure in winter, but they also present risks that cannot be fully eliminated. If you’ve been wondering “why are chimney inspections important,” the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) and other
sources have concise answers. Annual chimney inspections are critical because chimney experts check your heating system for potentially costly problems and evidence of danger. Guardian Chimney Sweep is the chimney sweep company trusted by homeowners throughout the Houston TX and Conroe areas. More details follow in which the chief of numerous reasons for yearly chimney inspections is spotlighted.

Chimney Inspection, Conroe TXThe Necessity of Chimney Inspections

In considering why are chimney inspections important, many issues could be brought to light. None, however, are significant as the potential issues with the chimney flue liner. A special camera is used during Level 2 chimney inspections, and a video is created to provide a view of the chimney liner in its entirety. It is often during a chimney inspection that flue liner damage is identified.

Problems with the Chimney Flue

Chimney flue liners are vital components of the chimney system because of the protections they provide. The flue is a liner inside the chimney, and combustion fumes travel up through the flue to exit the home. U.S. safety inspectors determined back in the 1940s that using a fireplace without a chimney liner is dangerous to the extent of practically being a criminal act.

The Danger of Deadly Carbon Monoxide Exposure

Not only does the lack of a chimney flue expose home and family to immediate life- threatening dangers, but even a small crack in an existing flue creates the same risks. Without an intact chimney flue, toxic and potentially deadly combustion fumes can leak into the living areas of the home. Carbon monoxide is among those fumes, and it is known as the “Silent Killer.” Carbon monoxide exposure is particularly lethal because the fumes are odorless, invisible, tasteless, and produce no symptoms until a person is already in grave danger and is sometimes unable to make a safe escape.

The Threat of Pyrolysis

When a flue liner has deteriorated or developed a crack, combustible materials in the home become exposed to intense heat. A process called “pyrolysis” gradually changes the structure of those vulnerable materials so that the temperature at which they will suddenly combust is lowered. In other words, combustible parts of the home could suddenly ignite, creating a quick-spreading fire that poses an intense threat to any occupants as well as the entire structure.

Chimney Fire, Houston TXAnnual Fires Caused by Flue Blockage

Flue blockage is also a known threat and a good answer to why are chimney inspections important. Each year, in thousands of homes, the first fire of the season is lit in a fireplace or stove when there is an unknown blockage in the chimney. The result is often a raging chimney fire that spreads into the home and causes extensive damage as well as injury and sometimes even death.
Flue blockage may be caused by creosote buildup or debris inside the liner. The latter is caused by the lack of a chimney cap. The debris may be twigs and leaves that have fallen into the chimney liner. A flue liner could also be obstructed by an invasion of creatures, such as raccoons, snakes, birds, or bats.

Contact Guardian for an Annual Chimney Inspection

The chimney sweep professionals at Guardian Chimney Sweep are experienced and qualified to perform annual chimney inspections and repairs, if issues are found. They have first-hand insights for answering, why are chimney inspections important? Contact Guardian for chimney
inspections, masonry repair, chimney cap installation, heating stove and fireplace installation, chimney cleaning, chimney leak repair, and more. Schedule your chimney inspection before the first cold snap, which may be right around the corner. Contact us
by filling out our contact form or by calling any of the following numbers today:
Toll-free: (888) 306-6069
Conroe: (936) 271-9781
Houston: (713) 401-2011