Keeping warm during those cold winter days can be a challenge, but there are a number of ways you can heat your home. Some of the most common include the use of fireplaces and wood stoves. Because these are combustion systems, they need a reliable exhaust to remove the smoke and chemicals from inside the home. Unfortunately, the smoke from these systems will build up residues on the chimneys. Excess tar, soot and other deposits accumulate on the chimney walls that eventually turn into a flammable residue known as creosote. Creosote can be a dangerous by-product, but it can also build up and block the exhaust. This is a serious problem on newer chimneys where the exhaust is actually a small vent to restrict the loss of air when the stove or fireplace isn’t used.
One serious problem with regular chimneys is aging. Heat from constant use breaks down the brick and mortar. Combine that with the effects of weather and you have a chimney that can crack, crumble or otherwise fall apart. An expert Chimney Repair Service in Carroll County MD can take steps to improve both the function and form of your chimney. For instance, if the damage is cosmetic, it might be possible to reface the chimney surface. If the damage is structural, the repair may require the chimney to be removed or rebuilt. Chimney design generally makes this part of the home separate from the wall structure. This allows the chimney shell to be replaced when required. If the shell is in working order, the contractor may be able to place an insert in the chimney.
Along with Chimney Repair Service in Carroll County MD, you may want to consider the other exhaust vents in your home. For example, the dryer vent is an often used and very important outlet. Drying clothes collects a lot of lint. Not all of this material is collected in the lint trap and because it has soap residue and other chemicals it sticks to surfaces and other materials. This creates a very hazardous situation because your dryer puts a lot of heat through this vent and the accumulated lint can be very flammable. Ensuring the quality and cleanliness of your stove, chimney and dryer exhaust is one of the best ways to reduce the chance of a household fire.
