Chimney Inspection | Costa Mesa, CA
1957 Costa Mesa home with voids between chimney tiles in the flue. This was found by doing a chimney inspection. Learn more about our chimney inspection service.
Cracked flue which is a fire hazard | Placentia, CA
We have found a lot of homes from 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s have cracked flues which are a fire hazard.
1983 Home of a prefabricated rusted chimney
This prefabricated chimney had refractory panels which had large cracks but on examining chimney flue, it was discovered that it was very rusted and hazardous to use.
Anyone with an older chimney and fireplace of this type should take pictures up the flue to check if there are issues of this type with their chimney. They should have a chimney inspection if any rust is observed.
Factory Built Chimney Flue
These before and after pictures of a factory built chimney flue. That ugly matierial you see in the before is creosote. Creosote is a byproduct of incomplete combustion of wood, typically most prevalent when first starting a fire and when burning unseasoned wood. Creosote is very flamible and where large deposits accumulate in a chimney, a chimney fire is very possible and extremely dangerous. The normal temperature in a chimney during a regular fire would be around 500 degrees. When a chimney fire occurs the temperature can go as high as 1800 degrees. When they occur, they can destroy the chimney and set the house on fire. Removing the hazardous creosote and inspecting the chimney for safety and integrity are the two main purposes of a chimney sweep.
Chimney with cracked crown and flue
Here is a video chimney inspection we did where we found the chimney with a cracked crown and flue.
Chimney reline to address cracks and hazards in the flue
There are several methods available. The method we use has several advantages. It is less expensive than a metal liner and the spray on solutions some companies use. It is very strong and durable and cannot be brushed out with steel wire brushes.
Another advantage is that the HeatShield® system does not significantly decrease draft like a steel liner does. A decrease in draft might cause the combustion gases to spill into the house. HeatShield® is a specially formulated “Cerfractory®” sealant material that restores the integrity of your chimney’s flue to vent hazardous flue gases from your home. It eliminates the dangers in your chimney caused by gaps, cracks, and spalling for years to come. By using either the Repair System or the CeCure® Sleeve Relining System (depending on the defects found) your chimney will be restored to its original peak level of safety and efficiency.
Old hazardous masonry chimney
This is an example of an old, hazardous masonry chimney. This is a severe fire hazard if the fireplace is used to burn wood or gas fires.
40 Year old home with 3 cracked chimney flues
This is a video of a home in San Juan Capistrano that is approximately 40 years old. All 3 chimneys had severe cracks and gaps in the chimney flue. This is a severe fire hazard if the fireplaces are used to burn wood or gas fires. If you are purchasing a home that was built over 20 years ago, don’t take a chance that the chimney will not have gaps.
Approximately 40% of the homes that were built in the 1980s and earlier have cracks and gaps within the chimney flues. Regular home inspectors do not inspect the chimneys with a video camera and as a result most of the cracks are not detected. Approximately 15,000 homes per year in the U.S. have home fires which start in the fireplace/chimney.
Fireplace Repair Before and After
Here is a fireplace we cleaned & repaired and shows the fireplace before the work and after the fireplace repair and cleaning.
I use a gas furnace, do I still need to clean my flue?
While most homeowners are aware of the need to clean and inspect their flue if they use a wood burning fireplace or stove, many are not aware of the importance of cleaning and inspecting their flue when gas furnaces and other gas heating appliances are involved.
Follow Us:
