Does your chimney lean? If so, what can you do about it? No matter the type of chimney you have, they all work in the same way and are serious hazards to your family and your home if they become compromised and subsequently ignored. If this problem exists with your chimney, continue reading for how to handle this issue.
Your Chimney Leans, What Now?
You may not realize it at first if your chimney is leaning, especially if a previous owner of the home masked the problem with caulk or mortar. However, if you in fact notice something suspicious, especially new cracks between bricks or along the chimney, you most likely have a leaning chimney. Another sign of a leaning chimney which you should look out for is leaking from the roof around the flashing, which indicates space created by the leaning structure.
If you think your chimney leans, but or not sure or just want to reassure yourself that there isn't a problem with your chimney, you can use a long level to check to see if the chimney is flush, or vertical in two planes. Also, you should be sure to take note of whether the horizontal mortar lines are level. If these tests show that your chimney leans, you should contact one of Guaranteed Chimney's experts for all of your Westchester chimney needs.
Hazards of a Leaning Chimney
A leaning chimney poses a serious threat to your home or business. To start, the bricks may fall from the chimney structure that can cause serious or fatal injuries. Secondly, the leaning chimney can and will damage the interior of the chimney, including the flue. These damages could then cause chimney fires. Last, but certainly not least, a leaning chimney can compromise the integrity of the entire structure of the mortar and your roof, and will certainly affect other parts of the chimney system.
Your chimney was most likely built as one unit, meaning that the hearth or firebox, damper system and other parts of the chimney will be directly affected by a structural problem within the chimney. The chimney liner can also become strained and cracked if the structure fails.
By simply strapping the chimney in place or caulking the cracks closed, you may overlook possible damage to your chimney system, unseen with proper inspection.
What We Can Do
At Guaranteed Chimney of Westchester, we are licensed, insured and experienced in chimney repairs. We can restore both your chimney and fireplace and if your chimney is leaning, a full chimney rebuild may be in store. Our technicians are skilled and experienced to build the chimney that you envision for your home or business.
If you aren’t convinced your chimney is leaning or that it needs a complete rebuild, you can have your chimney inspected by one of our chimney experts. While a level 1 inspection is the standard annual inspection, the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) recommends a level 2 inspection if you suspect any chimney changes caused by damage to the home, new parts installed or removed, structural problems and building fires.
You can schedule your inspection with Guaranteed Chimney today by phone or online. We are ready to repair, inspect and rebuild your leaning chimney today!