How to Know When to Call a Chimney Sweep

Properly maintaining your chimney is the best way to keep it safe and efficient year after year. When things go wrong within your chimney system, you might be able to handle minor repairs or adjustments yourself. In certain cases, however, chimney issues need to be addressed

Trouble with a leaky chimney

It’s not uncommon for chimneys to leak after years of service. The challenge is determining exactly what’s causing the leak, where it’s located and the most economical way to fix it. A professional chimney sweep can help you meet this challenge.

Why is your chimney leaking? The cause could be:

• Missing or damaged chimney cap
• Cracked/deteriorated chimney crown
• Compromised masonry that is cracking and contains spalling bricks
• Warped or missing roof flashing

Leaky chimney issues should be dealt with as soon as they’re discovered to avoid significant water damage to the masonry, the chimney components and adjacent building materials of your home.

Common signals of a chimney leak include:

• White staining (efflorescence) on the chimney’s exterior bricks
• Water dripping into the firebox
• Damp patches on the ceiling and walls near the fireplace
• Unpleasant odors coming from the firebox
• A damper that’s too rusted to maneuver easily

Known or suspected chimney fire

Not all chimney fires are big, blazing events. Many are small and brief, starting and going out on their own. Any size chimney fire can cause structural and home damage, so if you know or suspect you’ve had a fire, you should bring out a trained chimney sweep.

Normally, step one will be a thorough inspection to determine if, in fact, a chimney fire has taken place and to gauge any damage that was caused. Chimney fires can destroy the chimney liner and compromise nearby home building materials. Bricks and mortar also can be harmed by a chimney fire, leaving the structure susceptible to major water damage and possible collapse.

Here are chimney fire signs to be aware of:

Strange tapping/clicking noises

Rumbling, like the sound of a faraway train

Large quantities of dark smoke exiting the top of the chimney or backing up in the fireplace

If you experience any of these, call 911 right away and then put out the fire in the firebox if you can do it safely.

Smoke entering the room

If there’s no chimney fire and you have smoke backing up into your home, it means a drafting problem exists. Professional chimney sweeps can figure out why air isn’t flowing correctly and make the necessary repairs to solve the problem.

Likely reasons for sluggish drafting include:

• Flue obstructions such as tree debris, animal nests or built-up creosote
• Broken damper that won’t fully open when a fire is burning
• Not enough air circulation in the home
• Improper flue size for the fireplace

Drafting issues need to be dealt with quickly, because smoke entering your home carries with it carbon monoxide, which can be fatal to humans and animals.

Creosote in the chimney

Smoke from burning wood condenses into creosote, which clings to your chimney liner. Creosote is responsible for most chimney fires in the U.S. each year. Chimney sweeps use rotating brushes, scrubbers, solvents, vacuums and other industry-grade equipment to safely and thoroughly remove creosote from chimneys. This job should be professionally done once a year to keep your chimney and home safe.

Dubuque Fireplace & Patio of Dubuque, Iowa, is ready to help with all your chimney cleaning, inspection and repair needs. When it’s time to call a chimney sweep, call the DFP experts first at (563) 582-5156. In the Highland, WI, area, contact Chimney Specialists at (608) 929-4887.