March is here and with it comes the official beginning of spring. Spring brings with it a renewal of life and, for many homeowners, a renewal of energy in the home. This means that many homeowners will begin spring
cleaning their homes in the next few months. However, one component of the home that is often overlooked during spring cleaning is the chimney. Just as the inside of your home needs cleaning and minor repairs, your fireplace and chimney also should be thoroughly cleaned and inspected for needed repairs at least once a year. Although you can schedule an inspection any time of year, there are a number of reasons why now is a wonderful time to schedule chimney and fireplace repairs. At TN Fireplace and Chimney, we want to make sure that your fireplace is shut down for warmer weather with no issues and ready to go again when fall comes around. Let us tell you why you should give us a call today for an inspection, cleaning, or maintenance work.
Inspections are important
Yearly inspections are critical to the safe and efficient operation of your fireplace and chimney. Although your fireplace may have been perfectly the last time you used it this winter, there is a chance that some small issues may have arisen that you are unaware of. Small issues may not seem like an issue now, but they tend to snowball into bigger issues that can end up costing you a lot more money and time in the long run. Small issues can also be a safety hazard as well. If the engineering put in place to protect you and your home from the heat, smoke, and gases coming from your fireplace is compromised, it could be putting your household in danger.
Deal with issues in the spring
Oftentimes, clients will ask whether they should get their chimney swept and inspected in the spring or fall. Honestly, you can get your chimney inspected whenever you want, as long as you are doing it at least annually. However, there are some reasons why spring is a great time for an inspection. First, a lot of people wait to get their chimney inspected in the fall. This means that our schedule fills up very quickly during that time of the year, meaning that you might not get the time-slot that you want for an appointment. If you schedule your inspection for spring, it gives us plenty of time to schedule an appointment time that works well for you and it also gives us plenty of time to fix any issues that might have occurred in your chimney system over the winter. Being proactive will almost assure that your chimney will be ready to operate in the fall when it gets cold again.
Another reason to inspect your chimney now is to make sure that it is protected from moisture. Small cracks in your masonry can cause big issues down the road. This is especially true if spring and summer rain gets into those cracks and pools inside your brickwork, slowly eroding it from the inside out. This issue is magnified in the winter when this water freezes and expands, causing your masonry to crack, chip, or crumble. Other problems caused by moisture include masonry damage, chimney stains, bad smells, and rusty damper assemblies. If we can catch this issue before your chimney is exposed to rain, it can save a lot of time and money. At TN Fireplace and Chimney, our masonry experts can fix any masonry issues that may have occurred during the winter and repair them before they become a big issue.
Another potential issue that is important to remedy in the spring is repairs to other components of your chimney system. These components include your chimney crown, your chimney cap, flashing, and your dampers. One of these devices, your chimney cap, is considered the first line of defense against moisture entering your chimney system. However, your chimney cap serves another important service in the spring and summer. It protects your home from animals from entering and nesting in your chimney. It also protects debris and leaves from entering your chimney. If there is an issue with your chimney cap you’ll want to make sure that it is taken care of in the spring to protect from these types of issues throughout the warmer months.
The same holds true for your flashing. Your flashing acts as a bridge over the gap between your roof and your chimney. If your flashing isn’t working properly, or is missing, it can cause water to fall into this gap and into your home. This can cause all sorts of issues with mold, rotting wood, stains, and unpleasant odors. Getting your flashing inspected by TN fireplace and Chimney in spring can make sure your home is protected from moisture damage during rain events.
If you haven’t had your chimney inspected for repairs lately, March is a great time to do it! If you live in Knoxville or the surrounding areas, please contact TN Fireplace and Chimney at (865) 922-2262, or use our online scheduling tool to schedule an inspection today! Additionally, we have a new virtual assessment form so we can assess your chimney system completely online. We look forward to serving you this spring!
