Traditionally chimneys are made of brick. These structures are found usually anywhere whether they are new constructed houses or old building. Brick chimneys are constructed at the premises and they are not shipped to you after you purchase your home. This is the reason why these chimneys are often called masonry chimneys. The main role of the brick chimneys is to carry smoke and gas out of a building or a home that keeping your home smoke free.

While brick chimneys are durable and long lasting, being exposed to the smoke and heat the main requirement is that they need to be maintained well. During high humidity and extreme weather conditions, brick chimneys need specialized chimney cleaning. You may therefore need to hire a chimney sweeper to keep your structure always clean. You may also need to have your chimney waterproofed, to avoid getting it damaged over time.

Chimney cleaning is also necessary to prevent the build-up of Creosote. This is the combustion residue, brown or black in color that is collected on the inner flue liner. Creosote is highly flammable, so if you allow them to build up by passing on a chimney cleaning, it can catch fire and result in cracks in the brick flue liner. The heat then can reach the combustible materials such as the wood framing of your home and result in fire. Each year most house fires are caused by dirty chimney.

Despite the chimney cleaning, when the structure gets old, eventually you may find it necessary to conduct a brick chimney repair. For you safety it is highly recommended that even common issues require that your structure be repaired by a qualified brick chimney professional. If these issues are not resolved within a period of time, multiple problems can result. If the needed brick chimney repair is not done, the house residents could suffer health problems. Even if the mending issue seems to be small, later on it can develop into a much larger one.

To keep your chimney in its best shape, you should have it inspected annually. One of the most common issues with the brick chimney is the cracks in the mortar and they should be fixed as needed, and they are quite easy to fix. During the brick chimney repair, the area that should you should focus on is the firebox (fires are built here), and the mortar should be maintained in the best possible shape. The mortar crown (the chimney’s top) should also be checked by the brick chimney repair professional to guarantee the absence of cracks.

There can be bigger issues with your brick chimney that a simple repair cannot fix. This would require that the structure be torn down, and have it rebuilt completely from the ground. Note that when a chimney crown has a severe crack, a complete rebuild may not be necessary. Whereas, a crack near the bottom may need to be rebuilt entirely, this is true if the house is located in an area that is prone to earthquakes. You should hold a discussion with a chimney repair specialist about the different alternatives, before you agree to tear your chimney down. Often this is the best move and can save you from too much worries about your chimney repair needs.

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