Aurora's Tuckpointing and Masonry Specialists

Creosote buildup - creosote is the general terms used for the entire mix of tar, soot, and creosote and is produced as a “left over” during the burning of wood.  As you burn more wood in the fireplace the soot collects and sticks to the inside walls of the chimney leaving behind a flammable fuel. This builds up in stages (1st degree, 2nd degree, and 3rd degree) with each stage having collected more creosote than the previous one.  Eventually the buildup can get to very dangerous levels where it can cause a sudden fire in the home. Getting your chimney inspected for creosote buildup is an essential component of home maintenance.

Cracked chimney crowns - the chimney crown serves as an umbrella for your chimney and keeps water from entering, but to do its job effectively it must be fully in tact.  Deterioration of the crown in any way, such as cracks, eroding of mortar, and loose bricks, can all cause water to enter and will eventually eat away at the chimney.  During cold winter months the water that is sitting within the cracks will expand creating even more splitting and allowing even more water to enter. The way to determine cracked crowns is through proper maintenance and inspections.

Spalling brickwork - when moisture enters a brick it can be extremely dangerous, as the temperatures drop the moisture freezes and begins to expand within the brick itself and every time the brick gets stretched out it becomes more fragile.  As the years pass, the constant freezing and thawing make the brick so brittle that the brick disintegrates, it eventually flakes and parts of the brick break off. External bricks are usually more dense and less moisture absorbent than internal bricks are, but exposure to the elements can definitely cause internal disintegration of the brick.

Unwanted Animal Infestation - the truth of the matter is that animals need shelter from the elements as well and they’ll make homes in the most unexpected of places.  You’ll find remnants of rodent’s homes, birds nests, raccoons, owls and other animals that can be extremely dangerous when a fire is lit. If the nests are big enough, they’ll also have an impact on how well (or poorly) the fire burns.  The lack of oxygen will mean that the heat is short-lived and not as strong. If you notice a much weaker fire combustion than in previous years then there is a strong possibility that something like an animal infestation in your fireplace is occurring.

Chimney (flue) linings fracture - flue linings are defined as “a clay, metal, or ceramic conduit installed inside of a chimney, intended to contain the combustion products, direct them to the outside atmosphere, and protect the chimney walls from heat and corrosion.”  The lack of a flue lining in your chimney is so dangerous that its been described as almost criminal. Ensuring that there are no cracks in your liner will create optimum conditions for airflow to circulate properly and will prevent the burning of the mortar between bricks.