Who doesn’t like to enjoy a nice warm fire when celebrating the holidays? Whether it is just yourself and your immediate family members at home, or you are having some guests over to celebrate over dinner, a good fire in the fireplace makes the mood that much nicer and warmer.
With that said, we want to make sure that nothing goes wrong while you are enjoying yourselves or after the festivities are over. There are several things that you should know to do in order to keep your home safe when it comes to your fireplace and chimney use. Using these tips, you should be able to enjoy a safe and warm season without worrying about trouble from your fireplace.
Tell us if this tale sounds familiar.
To the untrained eye, a chimney may look like a simple brick and mortar pillar with a pipe or two at the top. In reality, you know that your chimney has many parts to it. And much like other areas of your home, your chimney needs regular, specialized care.
Water entering your home is certainly a cause for alarm. Inclement weather can make our homes especially susceptible to leaks and water damage. Most homeowners are unaware that their chimneys can be a potential site of a leak in their homes. Your chimney receives exposure to the elements: wind, rain, snow, sleet, etc. Winters here in Minnesota are especially brutal, so in this part of the country, your chimney is more susceptible to damage. Water entering through leaks in a chimney will freeze during the winter, and as the water expands when it turns into ice, it will cause even larger cracks.