In addition to heating your home, fireplaces are the perfect touch for the holiday season. You can only enjoy your fireplace through proper chimney maintenance, however.
Unfortunately, many people neglect to repair their chimneys, which poses severe health and home value risks. Today we’ll discuss three reasons to stop putting off your chimney repair so you can stay cozy and safe.
Faulty Chimneys Are Dangerous
Whenever you burn wood in your home, a thick, black material called creosote builds up in your fireplace and chimney. This happens when smoke containing small, intact pieces of wood travels up the chimney. Once there, it cools and leaves condensation. While this is normal, this material is highly flammable.
A single spark is all it takes for a disaster. Once a fire starts, it can easily reach 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit and spread into your home. With 25,000 cases in the US annually, they’re also more common than you’d think.
Clogged chimneys can’t safely remove smoke from a structure, letting toxins enter a home.
Some of these are benzene, formaldehyde, acrolein, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Together, they can have wide-ranging negative impacts on your health. Some milder effects are eye irritation, a runny nose, bronchitis, and asthma attacks. More serious complications like heart attacks, stroke, irregular heart rhythms, and heart failure have also been known to occur.
Have your chimney inspected every year to prevent this. During this simple checkup, professionals can also spot damage that needs attention in your chimney and fireplace.
Another easy step to stave off chimney fires is burning seasoned wood that’s been dried for at least a year. You should also keep your damper fully opened and never start fires with glossy pages, wrapping paper, or cardboard.
Faulty Chimneys Decrease Your Home’s Value
Another reason to stop putting off your chimney repairs is to protect your home’s value.
The average chimney inspection costs around $450. This may seem expensive for a quick visit, but it’s negligible compared to in-depth fixes. Crown repairs, for instance, usually cost around $900, with masonry repairs and liner replacements averaging around $2,000 and $2,500, respectively.
Chimney inspections are also a core part of buying and selling a home. Most real estate agents agree that well-maintained fireplaces add value to a home, usually between $1,000 and $5,000. So, if you keep your fireplace and chimney clean and serviced, you could add value to your home if you choose to sell. It also prevents expensive repairs during the selling process.
A chimney in good condition can also protect you legally by avoiding lawsuits and other hassles. It’s also worth mentioning that if a potential buyer thinks your chimney is damaged, this can cause further doubts and keep you from selling altogether.
Rundown Chimneys Are Ugly
There’s no other way to say it: no one wants to look at a dirty, rundown chimney. Crumbling brick, decaying cinder, gunky creosote buildups, and grimy rooftop leaks are just a few of the unpleasant views homeowners have to deal with.
Service your chimney regularly, and you can be proud of your home’s appearance while resting assured in its safety.
Get in Touch
With over 20 years of experience, Capitol Chimney Services is the DC area’s one-stop specialist for all chimney repairs. We pride ourselves on our customer relationships and the personalized service we provide for each repair.
So, we'll keep your home warm and safe whether you need a chimney repair, inspection, cleaning, or installation. Book your chimney appointment today!
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