Home Coupons Tap to Call Now

Safety Issues with Chimneys in Old Houses

Old ChimneyThe chimneys in houses built many decades ago were built with different requirements than today’s, which sometimes means that safety is a real concern. Any chimneys built prior to the 1950s were almost certainly masonry or block chimneys. The most common problem with old houses is that the chimneys aren’t lined, since that wasn’t a requirement when the fireplace was built. There are other issues to be on the lookout for, as well.

No Chimney Lining

Many people who have old homes and unlined chimneys simply don’t realize how important a chimney liner is. The following are some of the reasons to have a chimney liner installed before using a fireplace:

  • Whenever a chimney is used, highly flammable creosote and soot are deposited inside the chimney or flue. A spark can cause the creosote to ignite, starting a hazardous chimney fire.
  • If there are any gaps in the chimney masonry that is next to combustible materials, the house is in danger of catching fire in the event that there is a chimney fire.
  • If a modern gas appliance is used with the chimney, the huge amounts of condensation produced will adhere to the masonry. The moisture will go through freeze and thaw cycles in wintertime which slowly deteriorates the chimney masonry.
  • When a chimney is unlined, there is a much greater chance that deadly carbon monoxide and other toxic fumes will be released into the home.
  • Chimneys that have no lining have diminished performance because they typically have poor drafting.
  • It’s possible you could have problems with an insurance claim, if there is a fire and the chimney was not lined.

Masonry IssuesDeterioration

Bricks that were made in the 1600s and 1700s were of a much better quality than today’s bricks, chiefly because of the method used for firing them. In spite of their incredible durability, there comes a time with every chimney when the mortar wears out. If the damaged mortar in a chimney is not replaced, the chimney will begin to lean and will ultimately collapse. Fortunately, there is a procedure called “tuckpointing” which makes it possible to simply remove old mortar and replace it with new. No tearing down or rebuilding is required, if you catch the problem in time. Tuckpointing will restore the original shape of the chimney and strengthen the entire structure giving it a fresh look.

When mortar deteriorates, the chimney structure becomes much more vulnerable to moisture damage that can create the need for many different types of costly repair.

Pyrolysis

In decades past, clearance between the fireplace and chimney and combustibles was not a safety consideration. It has been found that it can take many years for pyrolysis to occur. After wood beams have been exposed to the heat from a fireplace for even 50 years or more, they will suddenly ignite because of the process of pyrolysis. The process causes the wood to be highly combustible. If you can see wood that is directly against chimney masonry, it’s very possible that pyrolysis is occurring. It’s best to have a chimney professional assess the potential danger of your fireplace before using it again.

Old homes and fireplaces are beautiful, but the chimneys are not always safe to use. Contact our chimney professionals today for an annual chimney inspection, installation of a chimney liner, and help with any questions you may have about the safety of your fireplace and chimney.

Northeastern Chimney, Inc.
formerly Nayaug Chimney Services, LLC
37 Cody Street, West Hartford, CT 06110
Phone: 860-233-5770

Chimney Inspections in Hartford, Glastonbury, 06001 Avon, 06002 Bloomfield, 06006 Windsor, 06010 Bristol, 06010 Forestville, 06011 Bristol, 06016 East Windsor, 06019 Canton, 06023 East Berlin, 06025 East Glastonbury, 06029 Ellington, 06030 Farmington, 06032 Farmington, 06033 Glastonbury, 06034 Farmington, 06035 Granby, 06037 Berlin, 06040 Manchester, 06041, 06042, 06043 Bolton, 06043, 06045, 06050 New Britain, 06051, 06051, 06052, 06053, 06066 Rockville, 06067 Rocky Hill, 06070 Simbury, 06071 Somers, 06074 South Windsor, 06078 Suffield, 06080, 06081 Simsbury, 06082 Enfield, 06083, 06084 Tolland, 06085 Farmington, 06088 East Windsor. 06089, 06090 Granby, 06092, 06093, 06095 Windsor, 06096 Windsor Locks, Hartford, 06105 West Hartford, 06106, 06107, 06108 East Hartford, 06109 Wethersfield, 06110 Elmwood, 06110, 06111 Newington, 06117, 06118, 06119, 06127, 06128, 06129, 06131 Newington, 06133 Elmwood, 06133 West Hartford, 06138, 06226 Willimantic, 06232 Andover, 06247 Hampton, 06248 Hebron, 06249 Lebanon, 06447 East Hampton, 06447 Marlborough, 06450 Meriden, 06451,06455 Middlefield, 06457 Middletown, 06459, 06475 Old Saybrook, 06480 Portland and many more CT towns

Nayaug Chimney Services LLC
Kreiger Lane GlastonburyCT06033 USA 
 • 860-659-0937

get_header(); ?>
wethersfield ct chimney sweep and chimney cleaningchimney cleaning in glastonbury ctchimney sweep serving avon farmington simsbury wethersfield rocky hill ctnew chimney rebuild in coventry includes masonry work by chimney sweepsinstalling chimney liner in hebron marlborough ct area homenew chimney cap repair in manchester ctadding a stainless steel chimney liner to remedy cracked clay tile liner problem in south windsor ctinstall stainless steel chimney liner for wood burning fireplace insert in tolland ctmasonry repair in glastonbury chimney rebuilding projectbrick rebuilding chimney in colchester ct areanew chimney built in south glastonbury because of chimney leakinstall chimney liner and chimney cap for fireplace insert in east hampton ctchimney inspection and installation of new chimney cap in marlborough ctcleaning wood stove in cromwell ct certified chimney sweepcleaning wood stove by certified chimney sweep in hebron ct lebanon area

Safety Issues with Chimneys in Old Houses

Old ChimneyThe chimneys in houses built many decades ago were built with different requirements than today’s, which sometimes means that safety is a real concern. Any chimneys built prior to the 1950s were almost certainly masonry or block chimneys. The most common problem with old houses is that the chimneys aren’t lined, since that wasn’t a requirement when the fireplace was built. There are other issues to be on the lookout for, as well.

No Chimney Lining

Many people who have old homes and unlined chimneys simply don’t realize how important a chimney liner is. The following are some of the reasons to have a chimney liner installed before using a fireplace:

  • Whenever a chimney is used, highly flammable creosote and soot are deposited inside the chimney or flue. A spark can cause the creosote to ignite, starting a hazardous chimney fire.
  • If there are any gaps in the chimney masonry that is next to combustible materials, the house is in danger of catching fire in the event that there is a chimney fire.
  • If a modern gas appliance is used with the chimney, the huge amounts of condensation produced will adhere to the masonry. The moisture will go through freeze and thaw cycles in wintertime which slowly deteriorates the chimney masonry.
  • When a chimney is unlined, there is a much greater chance that deadly carbon monoxide and other toxic fumes will be released into the home.
  • Chimneys that have no lining have diminished performance because they typically have poor drafting.
  • It’s possible you could have problems with an insurance claim, if there is a fire and the chimney was not lined.

Masonry IssuesDeterioration

Bricks that were made in the 1600s and 1700s were of a much better quality than today’s bricks, chiefly because of the method used for firing them. In spite of their incredible durability, there comes a time with every chimney when the mortar wears out. If the damaged mortar in a chimney is not replaced, the chimney will begin to lean and will ultimately collapse. Fortunately, there is a procedure called “tuckpointing” which makes it possible to simply remove old mortar and replace it with new. No tearing down or rebuilding is required, if you catch the problem in time. Tuckpointing will restore the original shape of the chimney and strengthen the entire structure giving it a fresh look.

When mortar deteriorates, the chimney structure becomes much more vulnerable to moisture damage that can create the need for many different types of costly repair.

Pyrolysis

In decades past, clearance between the fireplace and chimney and combustibles was not a safety consideration. It has been found that it can take many years for pyrolysis to occur. After wood beams have been exposed to the heat from a fireplace for even 50 years or more, they will suddenly ignite because of the process of pyrolysis. The process causes the wood to be highly combustible. If you can see wood that is directly against chimney masonry, it’s very possible that pyrolysis is occurring. It’s best to have a chimney professional assess the potential danger of your fireplace before using it again.

Old homes and fireplaces are beautiful, but the chimneys are not always safe to use. Contact our chimney professionals today for an annual chimney inspection, installation of a chimney liner, and help with any questions you may have about the safety of your fireplace and chimney.

Northeastern Chimney, Inc.
formerly Nayaug Chimney Services, LLC
37 Cody Street, West Hartford, CT 06110
Phone: 860-233-5770

Chimney Inspections in Hartford, Glastonbury, 06001 Avon, 06002 Bloomfield, 06006 Windsor, 06010 Bristol, 06010 Forestville, 06011 Bristol, 06016 East Windsor, 06019 Canton, 06023 East Berlin, 06025 East Glastonbury, 06029 Ellington, 06030 Farmington, 06032 Farmington, 06033 Glastonbury, 06034 Farmington, 06035 Granby, 06037 Berlin, 06040 Manchester, 06041, 06042, 06043 Bolton, 06043, 06045, 06050 New Britain, 06051, 06051, 06052, 06053, 06066 Rockville, 06067 Rocky Hill, 06070 Simbury, 06071 Somers, 06074 South Windsor, 06078 Suffield, 06080, 06081 Simsbury, 06082 Enfield, 06083, 06084 Tolland, 06085 Farmington, 06088 East Windsor. 06089, 06090 Granby, 06092, 06093, 06095 Windsor, 06096 Windsor Locks, Hartford, 06105 West Hartford, 06106, 06107, 06108 East Hartford, 06109 Wethersfield, 06110 Elmwood, 06110, 06111 Newington, 06117, 06118, 06119, 06127, 06128, 06129, 06131 Newington, 06133 Elmwood, 06133 West Hartford, 06138, 06226 Willimantic, 06232 Andover, 06247 Hampton, 06248 Hebron, 06249 Lebanon, 06447 East Hampton, 06447 Marlborough, 06450 Meriden, 06451,06455 Middlefield, 06457 Middletown, 06459, 06475 Old Saybrook, 06480 Portland and many more CT towns

Call Now Button