A classy home always has a fireplace, but taking care of the chimney and other components is less than glamorous. Many dangers can occur when you own a fireplace, but many people also wonder, “Are chimney cracks dangerous?” Here’s what you need to know.
How Do Cracks Happen?
Your chimney can crack for various reasons. However, the most common one is the weather, and unfortunately, there’s nothing we can do about that. Other factors that can crack your chimney are earthquakes, age, or poor chimney construction.
What Happens if There Are Cracks?
Many things can happen when there’s a gap between the brick and mortar or cracks in the brick. Heat, gas, and moisture can escape through the cracks and slowly deteriorate your chimney from the inside out. The big kicker—cracks in the brick and mortar can cause harmful gas to seep into your home. This is a cause for concern because carbon monoxide poisoning can be detrimental and even fatal to your health.
When Should You Repair Your Chimney?
The minute you notice cracks forming on the flue, call a chimney repair company right away. No matter how small, ignoring the problem will lead to even more significant issues that you don’t want to deal with. To protect your home and family, repair the chimney as soon as you can, and don’t use the fireplace until you have this issue fixed.
How Can You Prevent Cracks?
Placing a liner in your chimney helps prevent the harmful gases from lingering back in the house. It also helps prevent chimney fires. Cracks are inevitable and something you should get used to. While there won’t be new cracks every year, some will still pop up no matter how tirelessly you work to keep your flue in tip-top shape.
As you can see, taking care of your chimney is vital for the health of your home and the occupants that live there. Are chimney cracks dangerous? Yes, you should be getting a chimney inspection once a year to stay on top of any repairs you may need and avoid future complications. Always pay attention to your chimney and flue, and you’ll catch these problems immediately.