Tips to Extend Your Chimney’s Lifespan

A well-built chimney should last a lifetime; however, weather and lack of maintenance can take a toll, requiring expensive repairs or a total rebuild. This post examines how you can extend your chimney’s lifespan.

Regular Inspections

The most important thing you can do to keep your chimney healthy and extend its lifespan is to schedule regular inspections by a certified chimney specialist, especially if you live in a climate that undergoes a freeze/thaw cycle.

A certified chimney technician has the training and experience to identify potential issues like water damage and damaged mortar joints, so you can repair them before they worsen. The Chimney Safety Institute of America recommends yearly chimney inspections. However, as mentioned, if you live in an area with severe weather conditions, it’s wise to schedule this at least twice a year.

Install a Chimney Cap

Installing a cap is another effective strategy to protect your chimney and extend its lifespan. Chimney caps prevent unwanted guests like birds and other critters from entering the chimney, creating a blockage and wreaking havoc. Moreover, caps prevent water and snow from draining down the flue, leading to water damage and mold. Caps come in many varieties, but most experts recommend stainless steel because it resists corrosion.

Waterproofing

Water is the number one chimney enemy. When water soaks into the bricks and mortar joints, it freezes and expands, causing cracks. Failing to fix the damage could lead to spalling bricks and deteriorating mortar joints, which could cause your chimney to lean or collapse.

There’s a wide range of waterproofing products available, and your chimney professional can determine which one is best for your chimney based on the climate in which you live.

Burn Seasoned Firewood

It’s surprising how many fireplace owners make the mistake of burning ‘green’ firewood, old furniture, or other flammable materials. The only material you should burn in your fireplace is seasoned firewood because everything else can cause excessive creosote buildup, which is corrosive and puts you at risk of a fire.

Seasoned firewood is wood that’s been dried for at least six months or a season. Green wood contains too much moisture, which makes it more difficult to light, produces too much smoke, and is less efficient at providing heat. If you don’t have seasoned firewood available, you can opt for kiln-dried firewood; however, it is more expensive.

Keep Your Chimney Clean

Besides yearly inspections, you should also hire a professional chimney sweep for annual cleaning. Professional chimney sweeps have the right tools to remove dangerous creosote, which protects your chimney from aging and internal fires.

Don’t Put Off Minor Repairs

Most chimney rebuilds we’ve performed were necessary because owners failed to get minor chimney repairs fixed.

Tiny cracks don’t take long to worsen, leading to spalling bricks and deteriorating mortar joints. If your chimney specialist notices an issue during a routine inspection, plan to deal with it now instead of putting it off. In almost every case, your chimney will be in worse shape if you wait.

Call the Pros at Hudson Valley Chimney Inc.

The good news is that everything listed here is extremely cost-effective compared to a total chimney rebuild. Hudson Valley Chimney Service has proudly served the Hudson Valley area since 1976. Our technicians are fully certified, and we offer a comprehensive list of services, including chimney sweeping, inspection, waterproofing, repairs and restoration, crown and cap installation, tuckpointing, flue relining, and more. Book an appointment today by calling 845–471–1071.