The chimney crown is an important part of the chimney, so if you’re worried it might be damaged, look for these clues and call a chimney professional as soon as possible.
Spring is finally here, so now is a good time to take care of some much-needed and highly important chimney maintenance. Generally, you should be do chimney maintenance at least once a year, including having a chimney inspection. Typically, during a chimney inspection, the chimney sweep will look for anything that is starting to get damaged while also cleaning out the accumulated soot and creosote that could cause a chimney fire if it wasn’t taken care of. If your inspection does show damage, you should invest in chimney repair as soon as possible (and the off-season is a good time) to avoid the problem escalating. The chimney crown is one of the most common areas that need repair, especially if you’ve put off this important maintenance for a few years or more. The chimney crown is an important part of the chimney, so if you’re worried it might be damaged, look for these clues, and call out a chimney professional as soon as possible.
What Is A Chimney Crown?
The crown is the slab at the top of the masonry chimney. It is usually tapered or slanted and it should extend over the outer side of the chimney by at least two inches. The point of the crown is to keep water from running down the masonry, since water is one of the biggest sources of damage.
Visible Damage On The Outside
There are several types of external damage that you might notice that indicate the crown is having problems. First, a crack in the chimney crown might be visible from the ground or from a window. If so, don’t wait. If you can see the crack, water is probably already getting in and damaging your masonry. Even if you can’t see any damage from the ground, if you are noting water damage, loosening mortar, or efflorescence (white stains from mineral crystallization) on your chimney, thats a sign that the crown could be compromised. Finally, the bricks are spalling (chipping off) the source of this really problematic damage might originate in a damaged crown.
Evidence Of Damage On The Inside
If you’re noticing tiles or any other materials flaking or falling or and falling inside of your chimney, you likely have an issue with damage to the crown. Likewise, pooling water inside your fireplace is a sign of a huge issue, and damage to the crown is likely the source or at least a contributing factor.
Schedule Your Chimney Cleaning from Champion Chimneys, Inc.
When you need a trusted company for your chimney inspection and chimney cleaning, you can trust our team. Champion Chimneys, Inc. is a fully licensed, bonded, and insured chimney service company that has served customers in Baltimore County, Howard County, and Anne Arundel County, Maryland, since 2001. Our team is trained and certified by Certified Chimney Professionals, Inc. (CCP, Inc.). We specialize in all aspects of your chimney system. Whether you need chimney and flue cleaning service or a full chimney rebuild or inspection, contact us at 443-Chimney today and let us fix all your chimney problems. Also, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.