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!