I finally came around on pre-season chimney checks

I always considered them extra work. Spotting a huge crack before winter changed that. Now I know they're essential.

3 comments

Log in to join the discussion

Log In

3 Comments

eva_garcia566mo ago

Tell me about it, I also had to learn that lesson the hard way. My own dumb move was not checking the damper and getting a face full of old ash when I first lit it. Now I'm a total convert to doing the checks too.

10

nathan2896mo ago

Your story about the ash made me consider the long term risks we ignore. A friend learned that a closed damper traps moisture inside the chimney all summer. That dampness mixes with soot to create a corrosive paste that eats at the metal. It caused his damper to rust shut completely by fall. The repair bill was huge compared to just doing seasonal checks. So now I see the damper check as part of preserving the whole system, not just avoiding a mess.

1

the_eva6mo ago

Wow, my buddy's chimney liner cracked from that same corrosive gunk.

6