When To Have Chimney Repair In Washington DC Done

chimney repair Washington DC

To everything there is a season and making sure you are scheduling your chimney repair in Washington DC during the right one is going to be essential. A lot of homeowners don’t even really think about their chimneys until the fall and that should tell you something right away. If you are thinking about your chimney along with the rest of DC then chances of you getting your repair scheduled and completed in a timely manner is going to be difficult.

Early isn’t always better

Many people then jump to the idea that having repair work done as soon as the fireplace season is over will then be the best solution. That isn’t always the best idea. Like it or not, Washington DC is in a storm belt. Depending on the nature of the spring and summer storms you could wind up having two rounds of chimney repair in Washington DC done. Your best bet is to wait for the magic weeks between the end of the stormy season and the beginning of the cools season.

What’s involved in chimney repair?

When you have a contractor out to inspect your chimney they are going to be looking at several different things.

  • The condition of the chimney cap.
  • The condition of the exterior of the structure and integrity of the mortar.
  • How well the seals between the chimney and roof are holding up.
  • The integrity and cleanliness of the lining.
  • The integrity of the flue.
  • The connection between the insert and the lining if present.

They examine all this because every aspect of your chimney’s functionality plays an important role in keeping your fire risk low. That isn’t just the fire risk in your home, but also the surrounding areas. Your chimney also prevents hot ash and cinders from escaping the chimney as much as it works to keep birds and insects out. The chimney is also the main heat transfer barrier for your whole home. Not just for the heat created from the fire, but also to keep summer heat and moisture out of your home too.

Cleaning is proactive

Given how much we now understand about the role chimneys have in our home’s health and safety, it is recommended that they are cleaned on a more regular basis then our parents cleaned theirs. When you view the cleaning as a proactive and preventative service, like a car tune up, the expense becomes manageable. It is always less to clean a chimney than to rebuild it too.

Find a chimney service and have an inspection done

Go through the process of researching your local chimney repair Washington DC companies to identify who is the best. Then, make an appointment for an inspection. The contractor will look at all of the elements of the chimney, make any suggestions for repairs that may be necessary, but they will also recommend a schedule for cleaning. Cleaning is based upon the use the chimney experiences and its condition. It is always a far better practice to pay for regular cleanings to prevent major chimney repairs from being needed then to just wait until something happens.

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Why you should leave chimney cap repair to the professionals

Everyone loves a do it yourself job because it not only saves money, but it can make your feel good about your home. There are some jobs that are much better left to professionals. Having any type of chimney cap repair is one of them. While the actual repair work may be something you can do, you also have to consider:

* The risk of working on the chimney * The lack of experience in being able to spot other problems with the chimney * The potential the chimney to have a bird or insect infestation

The last one and the first one go together too. If birds, bats or wasps have taken up residence on your chimney you don’t want to be finding out when you disturb them by trying to do the chimney cap repair. A professional service is prepared for everything and knows what the risks are. They also will be able to spot the signs of an infestation sooner and protect themselves.

Why not just leave the cap alone?

This is a very common and very serious mistake that homeowners often make. The actual chimney cap part is the smallest part of the chimney. In fact, many people think it is ornamental and serves no real purpose. When it begins to show signs of needing repair homeowners think it is something they can skip over if there is no money in the budget for it right now. That can be a very expensive judgment to make. What your chimney cap does is essential to promoting the health and safety of your home.

The purpose of a chimney cap

Chimney caps do have an ornamental purpose. They are up there and in view of everyone so it is reasonable that they have developed into a kind of calling card for the home. The real reason they are in place is anything but cosmetic. The chimney cap is an essential part of your fireplace. The cap serves to preserve the integrity of the masonry structure. It “caps off” the runs of brick or stone and makes them stronger as a unit because it serves to connect all of the sides. It keeps rain and snow from entering your chimney and making the interior too damp for burning. If you don’t use your chimney keeping foul weather out is important to manage your moisture levels in the home too. Most importantly, chimney caps keep birds and insects out of your chimney, while keeping hot ash and cinders in.

What to do when you need repair

If you can already tell that you need chimney cap repair you should call a reputable contractor immediately for service. If you are not sure, now is the time to find someone who can provide you with a regular chimney sweep service. That chimney sweep also serves to be a point of inspection for your whole chimney. This is one of the best ways to catch a problem while it is small enough to repair easily and without great cost.

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