Is your chimney liner leaking? If so, you could be in a world of trouble. Chimneys are a great way to keep your house warm on a cold day and make your home feel really cozy, and are also a cheaper alternative to electrical heating. However, the costs can quickly spiral out of control if you are not careful about safety and maintenance and end up with a leaking chimney liner. This can cost you financially and even affect your health.
When you have a fire going, you should look outside and make sure you see smoke exiting your chimney. This is absolutely critical but even if you do observe smoke, that does not mean everything is working properly. You could still have tiny holes in your chimney liner that are difficult to see. Check all the rooms that your chimney passes through for signs of smoke or other damage. If you have reason to suspect a leak, the best thing you can do is call a professional to come check it out. Even if you do not have any signs of leaking, you should still get a chimney inspection every few years to make sure your liner is not deteriorating.
A flue liner can become cracked or damaged over time, even if nothing obvious has happened to your home in the meantime such as a major renovation. Slight settling of your home over time could cause a properly-installed liner to shift and no longer line up with the chimney, creating a small space where gases can escape. This is not difficult to fix if caught early, but can quickly lead to more serious problems with repeated fireplace use.
If you think you have a cracked or leaking chimney liner or you are unsure of the status of your liner, avoid lighting any more fires until a professional can look it over. It is very dangerous to use a damaged liner and could result in a house fire or dangerous gases entering your home.
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Topics: Heating and Air Conditioning