10 Amazing Fun Facts About Your Chimneys

What is the purpose of chimneys? One basic purpose is to allow smoke to escape the home while we warm up by a burning fire. Even our forefathers in ancient times understood the importance of preventing to allow smoke to fester, as indicated by holes in the roofs and walls of their homes. Residential chimneys have become safer and more common throughout time, but the ones we have today can still be difficult to maintain.

One of the best things about having a fireplace and chimney is being able to snuggle up close to a warm fire. EcoShield Roofing would like to remind you that your chimney must be properly installed and protected with roof flashing. Water can leak through your roof and cause structural damage if it isn’t.

What areas of a chimney stack require attention? The good news is that only a few specific portions of it are affected. You might even look at the stack from the ground to see if there are any loose chimney pots or degraded mortar. Where the stack joins the roof, the flashing can potentially fail. If you’re not sure what to look for, EcoShield Roofing can examine your chimney stack for you. Our skilled roofers provide free roof health checks, in which they ascend to rooftops to examine the stack in detail.

What exactly about a chimney requires maintenance? You must keep its flue clear of blockages because it is responsible for transporting toxic smoke and fumes out of the house. To that purpose, you should hire a professional chimney sweep at least once a year to clean the chimney. If you frequently ignite fires with it, it will require more frequent sweeping. Otherwise, excess soot and tar could build up on ledges inside the flue, posing a fire hazard. Any form of combustion in that chimney can release carbon monoxide, an odorless but potentially fatal gas. Another reason to keep a carbon monoxide detector on hand

What are the options for repairing a chimney stack? If we determine that a repair rather than a replacement is necessary for your chimney, we can go to work on it after receiving your consent. Your chimney may require repointing, which is recommended every 25 years for any chimney. We can do the work using three parts sand and one part cement, saving anyone else from having to do it for a while. We can remove or re-launch pots if you have had a coal fire removed from your home, rendering the chimney flue unnecessary. We can even take down an unsightly chimney.

Here are 10 fun facts about chimneys that you might not know:

Ekibastuz, Kazakhstan, is home to the world’s tallest chimney. It stands 1,377 feet tall and was completed in 1987.

Chimneys were originally used in Northern Europe in the 12th century, although they were not widely used in homes until the 16th and 17th centuries.

Condensation happens as hot smoke, unburned wood particles, gases, and hydrocarbons float up a colder chimney, forming the creosote residue.

Hard woods like hickory or white oak use less wood and require fewer trips to the woodpile. These woods burn for longer because they are denser.

If your chimney has a strange odor, it’s most likely due to creosote buildup along the walls. Make an appointment for a professional chimney cleaning and purchase commercial chimney deodorant.

Have you ever wondered why chimney smoke rises and exits the chimney rather than entering your home? Warm air rises, causing an updraft that carries all of the smoke with it.

A chimney cap can be used to cover the top of your chimney. Chimney caps can keep rain and animals out while also increasing updraft and reducing the quantity of smoke that enters your home.

Chimney flames can reach temperatures of up to 2,000°F.

A chimney liner is a protective coating that is applied to most modern chimneys. This inner liner, which can be constructed of aluminum, stainless steel, terra cotta, or other fireproof materials, helps prevent excessive heat from entering the rest of your home.

Chimney sweeps, like pigs, were thought to bring good fortune. On New Year’s Day in some towns, chimney sweeps would stroll through the streets with a pig, and locals would pay a nominal fee to make a wish while pulling a hair from the pig.

EcoShield Roofing specializes in roof replacements and repair for metal and shingle roofs. We are a roofing business with all the correct credentials and the required local and state licenses to get your job done right.

We also offer roof repair and gutter installation to ensure that your roof continues to work properly for years to come. To get started on your new roof, schedule a free estimate now!