If you invest a little time and money in regular chimney maintenance, you can keep your chimney system in excellent condition and enjoy safe, trouble-free operation for many years. While some maintenance tasks can be handled yourself to save money, other work should be performed by a qualified chimney professional. Regularly inspect the exterior of your chimney for signs of water damage, cracks in the masonry, or debris buildup around the flue opening. If the mortar between the bricks is beginning to crack or deteriorate with age, you can help prevent water infiltration and interior damage by sealing the cracks with Crack Magic Crack Sealant. The top of your chimney is covered by a mortar cap that protects the upper layer of bricks and surrounds the flue opening. Sealing this mortar cap with a product such as Crown Seal helps prevent rain and snow from penetrating the chimney. If you live in a cold climate, keeping the exterior of your chimney properly sealed against moisture can also help prevent structural damage caused by repeated freeze/thaw cycles. You can also improve the appearance of your chimney by cleaning the bricks with Brick and Mortar Cleaner.
To help protect and maintain the inside of your chimney, consider installing a chimney cap over the top of the chimney to keep rain, snow, animals, and debris from entering the chimney liner. A HY-C stainless steel chimney cap provides adequate clearance above the flue for the proper exhaust of combustion gases. Its surrounding screen mesh also acts as a spark arrestor while helping keep animals and debris out of the flue. If you frequently burn fires, products such as Anti-Creosote and Creaway can help minimize creosote buildup inside your chimney liner. You can further reduce creosote formation by burning dry firewood in small, hot fires instead of green wood in cooler, smoky fires.
In addition to using these products to maintain your chimney system, you should have your fireplace or woodstove and chimney inspected and cleaned by a qualified chimney professional at least once a year. An experienced chimney sweep can identify potential problems and recommend any necessary repairs to help ensure the safe operation of your fireplace or woodstove. With regular care, professional inspections, and proper maintenance, you can help avoid costly major repairs and enjoy a safe, efficient fireplace and chimney for many years to come.