Dallas Home Inspections, Fireplace & Chimney
Maintaning Your Home Series
Proper maintenance, repair and upgrades to your fireplace and chimney are an important part of protecting your family, the home itself and the contents. Many house fires are caused by defects, inadequate construction and improper maintenance of fireplaces and chimneys.
Fireplaces and chimneys should be inspected and cleaned annually. Yes, even if you don't use it. Unused fireplaces may develop cracks or other problems over time like nesting birds and damaging moisture penetration.
With use, fireplaces and chimneys will develop creosote and soot which should be removed by professional cleaning to prevent chimney fires.
Fireplaces with gas logs or other gas fired devices should have a "damper block" installed on the flu or damper door to prevent the damper from closing completely. These devices help prevent unwanted and dangerous gases from entering the living area in the event of a gas or carbon monoxide leak.
Fireplaces and chimneys should be inspected to ensure that they are safe. Home Inspectors and fireplace specialists will identify things like damaged fire brick, damaged firebox liners, damaged masonry, lack of screens or glass doors, damaged or missing chimney caps and screens, inoperative dampers and many other possible issues.
Care should be taken to keep flammable materials away from the fireplace opening. It is amazing how often we find wood trim, mantels and other flammable materials which are too close to the fireplace opening. These safety hazards should be corrected.
As Professional Home Inspectors, we also inspect the attic area around fireplaces and chimneys to identify defects like a lack of fire stopping, insulation in contact with the chimney and improperly supported chimney flu.
Tree limbs should not be within 10 feet of the chimney. If they are, there is a fire danger. Tree limbs in contact with the chimney may also damage the exterior materials.
Masonry chimneys are often built with a mortar cover. Mortar covers do not have a long lifespan. They will soon crack and allow moisture to penetrate the chimney components. Moisture penetration issues at the chimney can be prevented with the installation of a metal chimney cap and proper flashings.
All chimneys should have a cap and screen installed. Caps and screens prevent rain and unwanted pests from entering the chimney. Chimney screens also help defuse any hot embers which may escape.
Older homes with fireplaces often have chimneys which are 30 inches or wider at the roof deck. A chimney "cricket" is highly recommended to allow water to go around the chimney more easily.
For wood frame and siding chimneys, the siding and trim should not be in direct contact with the roof deck. There should be a space between the siding, trim and the roof deck to prevent the accumulation of moisture. Proper chimney flashing also prevents water leaks to the interior of the home.
Again common to older construction, many chimneys were build with a single step flashing. Today's current building standards recommend a counter flashing be installed over the step flashing.
Proper inspection, maintenance, upgrades and repair of fireplaces and chimneys is important for family safety. Correcting fireplace and chimney defects will also prevent stumbling blocks when a house is inspected by a buyer's home inspector.
If you have additional questions about your home's fireplace and chimney or would like to schedule an inspection, contact your Professional Home Inspector.
David Selman, Certified Master Inspector #10299
www.selmanhomeinspections.com
469-371-3228
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