You know your chimney is an integral part of your stove or fireplace. More than just there to remove smoke from your home, your chimney is designed to ensure that enough air is drawn into the stove or fireplace for the fire to burn clean.
For a stove or fireplace to work correctly, there must be sufficient draft in the chimney. This may lead to problems with ignition, smoke in the living room, bad combustion, and even smoke nuisance in your neighborhood.
Chimney Elements
Many may think a chimney is simply a pipe or ventilation gateway that goes straight up and out of the home. A good chimney has many more elements involved.
Flue. You may have heard of a flue (not the kind that makes you sick). Occasionally combined with the chimney liner, the flue is the vertical shoot through which combustion materials, like smoke and environmental irritants, exit the home.
Liner. The chimney liner is there to protect your home from the intense temperatures created by the fire in your fireplace or wood stove. If even a small crack develops in a liner, you must have it replaced or repaired before using it again. This is a SERIOUS safety issue.
Cap. An essential add-on, chimney caps prevent rain, snow, and sleet from pouring into your home through the flue. They also keep out downdrafts, debris, and animals. We recommend them highly.
Flashing. The metal flashing is located at the point where the chimney and the roof meet. It is there to prevent water from going through the roof and causing damage to your home. Flashing has a tendency to rust and will wear out more quickly than other parts of the chimney system. It is important that it is monitored and kept in good repair.
Crown. This is the cement part of the chimney at the very top. It keeps water from getting into your chimney system. If damaged, this is another component that is very important to have repaired as soon as possible.
Damper. The two metal plates just above the firebox of your stove or fireplace are the doors to the damper. They need to be opened prior to starting a fire and closed when the fire goes cold to prevent heat loss. A good seal is important to maintain room temperature.
Smoke Chamber. Located between the damper and the flue, the smoke chamber is where the by-products of your fire are compressed into a smaller space in order to exit through the chimney.
Chimney Services
Yepez Painting and Construction offers specific chimney-related services. We aren’t chimney sweeps and we don’t do it all. Instead, we focus on what we do well.
Repairs. Should any element of your chimney be damaged or in need of repair, call the Yepez Team for an evaluation of the situation. Some repairs are better replaced, and we will be glad to advise you as to the appropriate course of action.
Painting. If you prefer your chimney match your home or if it needs a facelift, Yepez Painting and Construction is the best possible choice to complete the project.
Chimneys are a unique subset of the construction industry and not all contractors work with them. When you have a chimney project or concern, please call us at either 214-429-9348 or 214-584-7605.
