by Where heating is applied to a home in the form of a fireplace there is always a chimney attached to this with its job being to remove smoke and other noxious products produced from the burning of the fuel. By this action it helps keep the air in the home clean and free from products like carbon monoxide which is colorless, odorless and can be fatal in large enough quantities.
When a chimney develops cracks either inside or outside, this can be of concern and could jeopardize the safety of the occupants of the house. One of the important safety tips for DIY chimney repairs is checking a chimney once a year or, depending on how much it is used, more often as this can be of great importance and this will pick up any problems that are occurring. The home owner can either do any repairs themselves or get a professional in to repair the chimney.
Chimneys are often made of bricks and mortar especially in older homes. The way they are made creates a funnel through which hot air is pulled along with other residue. The heating and cooling of the bricks and mortar over a long period tends to crack the structure causing leaks. Doing routine maintenance service will often pick these up before they are well advanced.
More important safety tips for DIY chimney repairs is when it is also necessary to clean the chimney of any debris. Creosote, the product in chimneys that can cause a fire, can build up on the inside of the chimney along with the ash. This is a residue from the burning of wood and should be removed with the appropriate products such as a creosote sweeping log which is impregnated with a chemical to help loosen this tar type product. When a chimney sweep does a clean they will usually remove all these waste products and leave the chimney clean.
To inspect the chimney you will need to get onto the roof and check between the joining areas of the bricks and mortar or look for any other faults. If any are found then these will need fixing with a new application of mortar in the gaps and allowed to dry or by other means if other faults are found. Where the work appears to be difficult or more involved it may require a professional in to do the work if the owner feels it is beyond their capabilities of knowledge and safety.
