The chimneys purpose is to collect smoke from the fireplace, and send it to the outside of your home. If it is functioning properly, it will help you keep the house free from carbon monoxide. Also, it helps to lessen the dangers that you might experience when building a fire inside the home. You have to apply the proper maintenance for the chimney to continue safely serving its purpose. One of the main problems faced by a chimney is the change in temperature between the seasons. This causes the mortar to be brittle, and it becomes more vulnerable to collapse. Even stainless steel lined chimneys are prone to this problem. Sometimes they cannot withstand the elements, and start to crack.
The same thing goes for water. Don’t let leaking chimneys go unfixed. They won’t last long if there is water dripping inside the chimney. The life span of a solid clay chimney is at least a hundred years. When water is constantly applied, via rain or even a sprinkler system, it will decrease that time significantly. Just look at how much time and effort you are going to save if you maintain your chimney by fixing leaks when they happen. Putting plants at the base of the chimney is also problematic, because the excess water from the plants will go directly to the base of the chimney. Also remember to check the chimney cap regularly. This is the first line of defense in keeping water out of your chimney appliance. It shields the chimney from the top all the way down to the fireplace during rainy days. Make sure you have the chimney cap inspected at least once a year. This will help you avoid the dangers that a malfunctioning chimney cap can bring. Regular chimney inspections are the surest way to making sure your home is safe when using the fireplace and the technician can help you determine if waterproofing the bricks on the chimney stack might be a solution for you.