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Chimneys can last for decades, safely removing smoke from your home and keeping your fireplace ventilated. However, they do need maintenance and repairs to keep them safe and functional. There are an estimated 25,000 chimney fires and many other chimney problems that occur every year. If you have an older chimney, you need to make sure it kept maintained. Have you inspected your chimney to ensure it is ready to last the winter?

Signs of Chimney Problems

A routine check of your chimney is the best way to catch signs of disrepair. As your chimney gets older, it may settle or become unstable. This can allow air in that can cause a chimney fire or result in a collapsed chimney. Some signs to look for include:

• Spalling or shaling. If there are pieces of chimney tile falling inside in the fireplace, this is called shaling. Pieces of chimney falling around the outside structure is called spalling. Both are signs of damage that can lead to structural problems.
• Leaning chimney. Take a close look at your chimney from outside. Is it leaning, or does it have deteriorating mortar joints? This can be caused by settling and too much moisture, leading to a crumbling or collapsing chimney.
• Rust or white stains. Rust on dampers or the firebox and white staining on the outside of the chimney are signs of too much moisture. This can cause deterioration of the mortar and chimney.

If you notice any of these problems, call a chimney or masonry expert to schedule a professional inspection and repair. This can prevent chimney failure during the winters months and keep your family safe.

Posted on behalf of:
Anglin’s Foundation & Masonry Repairs
1027 Oregon Trail
Marietta, GA 30008
(770) 422-2924