Like anything else, chimneys, especially old chimneys, require regular maintenance to keep them in top order, and chimney services refers to any service associated with the building, repairing, or cleaning of chimneys. Here is a quick guide to the various chimney services:
Chimney construction and repair: Nowadays, new chimneys may be added to a building simply and quickly with the invention of chimney systems. Chimney repairs include pointing of the chimneystack and relining of the flue (see below). Also, chimney specialists may remove old and unsafe chimneys.
Chimney Lining: Many old chimneys need relining, due to normal wear and tear, and there are various signs that may indicate a chimney needs relining. This includes the smell of smoke in various areas of the home and a flue that is full of soot and tar. If you are not sure whether your chimney needs relining, a chimney specialist can perform a pressure test on your chimney to check the efficiency of the flue and ascertain whether the lining does indeed need replacing. If your flue does need relining, there are many modern ways to do this with the minimum of upheaval: for example, Thermocrete is a product that relines your chimney without any building work needed.
Chimney Cowls: There are various types of chimney cowl. Bird cowls prevent birds and other small mammals gaining access to the chimney – such types of animal are drawn to chimneys because of the privacy and warmth, but they may cause a blockage in the chimney and thus bring about a build up of dangerous gasses, such as carbon monoxide. Anti-downdraught cowls prevent smoke from a fire being blown back into a room as a result of high pressure in the chimney.
Chimney Sweep: When coal is burnt, soot builds up on the inside of the chimney and if this is allowed to build up too much, the airflow within the chimney is compromised, leading to problems with draw and lighting the fire – there is even a real risk of the chimney catching fire. If you have a wood-burning stove or burn logs on your fire, there is an even greater risk of chimney fire: burning wood leaves creosote residue in the chimney, and creosote is an extremely flammable substance that needs to be periodically scraped away from the flue to prevent a dangerous build-up. A professional chimney sweep will ensure that the chimney is free from soot build-up or obstruction from another source, thus allowing a clear passage for the toxic gasses to escape. Blocked flues can cause death through carbon monoxide poisoning. If you use solid fuel, you should aim to have your chimney swept once every 12 months.
In the interests of health and safety, it is important that chimneys are adequately maintained, especially as they get older, in order for them to work as efficiently as possible. To access whichever chimney service you require, look online or in the yellow pages for specialist providers of such services.
