Checklist for Spring Chimney Maintenance

When spring arrives and the heavier fireplace season is over, it’s time to have your chimney checked out and perform a few basic maintenance tasks. Chimney Solutions of Chattanooga, TN, would like to cover what you need to know to take care of this annual service.

Chimney Sweeping

While there are some spring chimney maintenance tasks you can do on your own, chimney sweeping isn’t one of them. Professional chimney technicians use special brushes, rods, whips, solvents, and vacuums to remove flammable creosote from the chimney flue, thereby reducing the chance of a destructive chimney fire.

Chimney sweeping also removes tree debris, small animal nests, and dead small animals, all of which can cause odors and serve as fuel for a fire. (Note that a proper chimney cap will keep debris out of your chimney.)

Chimney Inspection

A basic chimney inspection should be performed once a year, ideally in the spring, for reasons we’ll explain below. This inspection looks at all readily accessible areas of your chimney and fireplace system:

• Chimney cap
• Chimney crown
• Masonry bricks and mortar
• Chimney flashing
• Chimney flue and flue liner
• Fireplace damper

An inspection by a qualified technician will spot early signs of damage and malfunction, allowing them to be repaired quickly before they get out of hand. In addition to physical chimney issues, your inspector can address sluggish fires, smoke backups, chimney odors, and other problems.

Spring Maintenance Tasks You Can Do

It’s a good idea to thoroughly clean your firebox’s surfaces at least once a year. This means vacuuming out the ash and removing built-up creosote and soot with a household cleaner or a vinegar-and-water solution.

A clean firebox not only looks nicer, but it also makes it easier for you to notice any irregularities in the firebricks or other interior parts of your firebox.

Also, take a good look at your exterior chimney. Do you see:

• Cracked bricks?
• Crumbling mortar?
• Brown, green, or white stains?
• Unseated flashing?
• Clogged mesh in the chimney cap or a loose cap?
• Cracks in the concrete of the chimney crown?

Report these and other issues to your chimney company.

Why Spring?

Doing your annual chimney maintenance in the spring is smart for several reasons, including that chimney companies get very busy and scheduling service can be difficult as winter approaches.

Another good reason to do this work in the spring is that certain repairs may be needed and getting them done before summer is more convenient for most people. And spring repairs are a lot better than waiting until just before you need to start using your fireplace regularly again.

Repairs that could be required include:

• Masonry brick replacement
• Tuckpointing to replace crumbling mortar
• Resealing or replacement of chimney flashing
• Repairs to or rebuilding of the chimney crown
• Chimney liner repair or new liner installation
• Rebuilding parts of a seriously damaged chimney exterior
• Chimney cap repair or replacement

Give your chimney company plenty of time to get this work done by scheduling it in the spring.

Chattanooga, TN Chimney Services

Chimney Solutions was founded in 1998 and serves all of Chattanooga, TN, and Hamilton County, TN. We provide annual chimney inspections, certified chimney sweeping, and a full menu of chimney repairs. We’ll get your chimney into great shape ahead of the next cold season. Reach a chimney expert by phone or through our contact form.