Every single time you light a fire, a little bit of smoke will cling to the walls of your flue. This residue is called “creosote.” By itself, this isn’t a problem unless you happen to be dealing with a very large quantity. With annual cleaning, the creosote shouldn’t pose much of a risk on it’s own.
This all changes if the creosote mixes with water. This will happen if you don’t have a chimney cap, or if the cap you have is in disrepair. The two mixed together are very acidic and will start to cause the silica in your mortar joints to decay.
The mortar joints are made of mortar (the “glue” that holds your chimney together). Mortar is made of silica (or another bonding agent) and sand. Once the silica is gone all you have is sand. Sand, on it’s own, won’t hold anything together- it will just fall away.
As the mortar joints fail, your flue will begin to work incorrectly, allowing gases from the fires you light to circulate back into the home. This can be dangerous as one of the primary gases produced by a fire is carbon monoxide.
This danger and other dangers can be prevented with the installation of a cap. This simple undertaking will save you a lot of money in repairs and upkeep down the road.
If you’re considering putting a cap on your chimney, ARC Chimney Sweeps of Atlanta, GA can make or acquire a cap that will fit any chimney or home. We offer a variety of styles and materials for you to choose from. Not only that, but every cap we offer you will come with a warranty. We can also inspect your chimney for any damages that may have occurred prior to the cap’s installation. These services, too, come with a warranty. Your satisfaction is guaranteed.
If you have any questions about getting a chimney cap, or are set on purchasing one and would like to know more about the process, call us.
If you choose to purchase a cap from us, you can rest assured that you will be receiving a quality home upgrade and first rate service. We also offers a free inspection with the purchase of a new chimney cap.
Our number is (404) 994-4371.
We look forward to working with you.