It’s that time of the year when the weather starts to get colder, and people start to spend more time indoors. A New Jersey winter is on its way, bringing with it colder temperatures, snow and ice. With that in mind, when’s the last time you had your chimney inspected?
Chimneys Can Have a Litany of Issues Over Time
If you’re like most people, you tend to forget about the chimney. It’s there, but what does it matter, really? Well, chimneys, like anything, can have issues. And over time, weather, animals and other factors can cause problems with chimneys. Therefore, it behooves a homeowner to schedule chimney inspections so their chimney(s) don’t get neglected over the years.
Being Proactive Helps Your Home
A chimney inspection ultimately helps keep your house safe from potential chimney fires and carbon monoxide leaks. There could be parts of your chimney that have crumbled or cracked. Sometimes liners can corrode and fail. A chimney has to deal with heat and smoke– you want to make sure it’s working properly and not going to cause problems, right? There’s also the potential that an animal has taken up residence in your chimney.
Chimney Inspections Discover What’s Truly Going On
Chimney inspections involve checking to make sure the structure is sound and free of obstructions, like animal nests or creosote. Inspections can also be done when new appliances are installed, when a home is being sold or when a homeowner detects that something’s probably wrong– and the inspection can discover what’s truly going on. An inspection usually takes about a half an hour to an hour to complete. A report with photos will be the result, and if repairs are needed, then it’s on the homeowner to find a company to make those repairs– inspectors are not repairers, usually.
In New Jersey, you can call Cornerstone Home Inspections to schedule a chimney inspection– the number is 1-800-648-6187. Now’s a good time to call, before winter sets in and you want to use your fireplace. Check this page for more info.