Our Company Blog

The Freeze-Thaw Cycle

When it comes to cold weather, Ohioans know what that’s all about. When the cold hits, it feels amazing to be able to just hunker down and cozy in, especially when you have a snapping, crackling fire burning in your fireplace. If you have an outdoor job, then there’s not much that can take the cold out of your toes like this kind of warmth. Not only can the cold seep all the way down to your toes, but it can also do some damage to other things as well. If it gets too cold, your car might not start because the oil gets too thick and the battery doesn’t have as much juice. The cold weather can be hard on your water pipes, and you want to make sure that they stay warm and open. And the cold can be hard on your chimney system as well. 

Freeze-Thaw Cycle

The bricks and mortar that make up your chimney system aren’t as solid as they may appear. Both, but especially the mortar, are porous, and when precipitation falls, it can seep into the pores and settle there. When the temperature begins to fall it causes that moisture to freeze, and when that happens, it expands, causing the surface area to crack in order to accommodate the ice. When it warms up, the ice melts and leaves more room, so that the next time precipitation falls, more sits in the pores, freezes, and expands again, making the pores even bigger. This is an ongoing process, and over time it can cause instability in the structure of the chimney. This is a dangerous situation as it can cause bricks to fall, but even if it doesn’t get to that extent, the cracks in the mortar can make it so that, instead of directing the smoke to exit through the chimney, it will allow the smoke and the dangerous chemicals it contains to get back into your home. This can cause health issues such as coughing, asthma attacks, heart problems, and other lung diseases. 

Call Chim Cheroo Chimney Service Inc

If you’re worried about the damaging effects of the freeze/thaw cycle to your chimney system, then give Chim Cheroo Chimney Service Inc a call and set an appointment to have us come in and give it a good inspection and cleaning. At Chim Cheroo, we’re proud of our Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) certification and our National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG) membership. We also know that our excellence in sales and service has earned us an A+ from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). The satisfaction and safety of our customers comes first, so no matter what problems you may have, we’ll make sure you’re 100% satisfied. If you hire Chim Cheroo Chimney Service Inc, the next time you’re sitting in the middle of an Ohio snowstorm, enjoying the warmth of a crackling fire, you’ll be able to relax, knowing everything is safe and sound!

Suffering From Chimney Leaks? Let Us Help!

The holidays are over and it’s several days into the new year. You’ve got the holiday decorations put away in the storage room, and you’ve finally got a little time to look around the house and see how things are holding up. Maybe you are finally going to start that redecorating project you’ve been putting off, or maybe you like to just take a close look at each room in your house and see what odd jobs need to be done to fix things up. If you take a look into the living area and notice that there are some brown spots on the ceiling around the fireplace, or if the wallboard or trim boards are looking a little soft or soggy, then chances are you have a leaky chimney. This is a real problem, but one that the professionals at Chim Cheroo Chimney Service Inc can help you out with! We are proud to say that we stay on top of all the latest techniques and resources that will keep your chimney leak-free.

What’s Causing Those Leaks?

There are several different possible sources of chimney leaks. For instance, take a look at the top of the chimney from the outside of the house. At the very top, there’s a concrete piece that is called the chimney crown. The chimney crown is designed with slanted sides that overhang the edge of the roof by at least two inches so that when precipitation hits, it runs down and away from the place where the chimney meets the roof. If your chimney crown is cracked or chipped, that might not happen. Another thing you might notice sitting on top of the chimney crown is a structure called the chimney cap. A chimney cap is designed with a slanted, solid top and mesh sides. The slanted sides direct the precipitation away from the hole that lets the smoke out and onto the chimney crown. This, unlike the crown, isn’t built on, so not every home has one. If your home doesn’t, that could be another reason that your chimney is leaking.

Another thing that might be causing leaks is loose or ripped flashing. The flashing is the metal strips that cover the juncture of the chimney and the roof. If these strips get torn or ripped, then precipitation could be leaking into your chimney. Or if you’ve noticed that the mortar between the bricks is getting crumbly and loose, then precipitation could be leaking into the home through cracks and crumbles.

It’s plain to see that there are lots of reasons that you might be experiencing chimney leaks. It’s also clear that if your chimney is leaking, there’s one great chimney company to call to get those leaks fixed. That company is Chim Cheroo Chimney Service Inc. Every sweep that works for Chim Cheroo is CSIA certified, and we take great pride in the work we put in to make sure that your home doesn’t get ruined by nasty chimney leaks. If you notice signs of chimney leaks, give Chim Cheroo Chimney Service Inc a call right away!