From smelling your dryer to peeling wallpaper, these are issues you don’t want to ignore!
Though you probably don’t think about yours often, a chimney is a vital part of keeping your home safe and healthy to live in. A house produces a lot of dangerous stuff, from fireplace smoke to exhaust from gas appliances, and the chimney is how they leave the building (and your breathable airspace). A failing chimney isn’t just an eyesore, it’s a danger to your health. Every year more than 400 people die from carbon monoxide poisoning. Many of those dealths are attributable to a chimney in need of repair.
That makes chimney maintenance an absolute priority, including periodic inspections and seasonal preparation. But even if you do everything right, there’s a good chance your chimney will eventually fail. Knowing the warning signs could possibly save your life. Here are the signs that your chimney needs attention.
Bad Smells
Your chimney is where a lot of the bad gases produced by your house are supposed to go. They rise up and out, so you aren’t bothered with bad odors. If you have a wood-burning fireplace, a smokey smell is pretty normal. But if you’re smelling smoke all the time, or if you smell sulfur or a more “chemical” smell, your chimney might be blocked or your liner might be cracked. That means dangerous gases and fumes are leaking into the house, and your chimney needs attention.
Moisture
Your chimney should have a cap on top that keeps rain from pouring down into your home. Any signs of water infiltration around the area is a sign that your chimney is in trouble.. There are a few ways this can manifest:
- Peeling wallpaper: If wallpaper in an area below your chimney starts to peel away from the wall, it might indicate that your chimney isn’t venting properly and moisture is getting trapped in your walls.
- Water stains or leaks: If you see water stains or leaks below your chimney, the problem could be as simple as repairing the flashing on your roof.
- White staining on chimney masonry: If you look at your chimney’s exterior and see white staining, it’s probably efflorescence. This is a deposit left behind when moisture evaporates. Efflorescence by itself is pretty harmless, but it usually indicates a problem with your chimney’s seal.
Crumbling Masonry
- Spalling: Spalling occurs when moisture is getting into the chimney bricks, freezes and expands.
- Shaling: If your chimney has a clay flue liner, one sign of a serious problem is finding thin slices of the liner in your fireplace. This indicates that the liner is cracked and deteriorating.
- Mortar damage: If the mortar is missing or crumbling, the structure of your chimney has been compromised and it needs immediate repair.
Rust
Another clear sign of chimney problems is rust anywhere in your fireplace. Rusted components indicate that moisture is getting in where it shouldn’t. It might be that it needs a new cap. It could mean the masonry is leaking.
Animals
Ask yourself how the animal got into your fireplace. If the animal was discovered inside the chimney, then your chimney’s cap may be damaged. It’s a serious problem and needs some attention.