Your Chimney – What to Look For

How does your chimney look from the outside? Whenwas the last time you took a really good look at it? If your like most folks, if it doesn’t cause you a problem it’s not in the forefront of your mind right? The problem is that a chimney takes a lot of abuse no matter what the weather and no matter how much you are using it. High wind can actually put stress on a chimney and cause torsional twisting that can lead to failure of the mortar (especially if you have a TV antenna attached to it). Once the mortar does start to crack open, water can enter these cracks and as it expands when frozen, it places extreme pressure and makes the cracks even bigger over time. Another area on a chimney to watch is the flashing. Flashing is generally made of aluminum, copper, or galvanized steel. While all of these are made to last an extremely long time, they can fail.  The material used to “caulk” the gap between the flashing and the chimney can give out as well.

It is very important to look inside your attic where the chimney connects to the home and make sure that the flashing is still holding up

Active Water Stains as seen on Wood and Bricks

 it’s end of the deal. The picture in this post shows that the integrity of the flashing was compromised and allowed water to penetrate into the attic. You can see dark stains on the rafters and roof decking as well as efflourescence (white powdery stains) on the chimney bricks.

So what should you do? You can start with examining your chimney very closely from top to bottom with a good set of binoculars. You want to look for and cracks in your mortar, any damaged bricks, such as discoloration, pitting, spalling, crumbling, etc. Next, head into the attic and look at the area around where the chimney either passes through the roof or is attached to the outside of the home. Here you will want to look for water stains, a white powderey residue on the bricks (efflourescence), or any other type of damage such as the dark staining on the wood components. Take advantage of your time in the attic and look at the other roof penetrations. Here you should be looking for water stains that may indicate that you have a problem as well.

I will be addressing the Chimney Crown tomorrow so check back in.

A Long Hard Winter

Water Damage in Attic

This has been an extraordinary winter to say the least! We were shy of a record amount of snow in January and we have had numerous wind storms along with ice storms that have passed through the area. How did your house hold up? I’ve noticed many homes in Northeast Ohio have signs of wind damage everywhere. Many homes in my own neighborhood are suffering from missing shingles, loose siding and loose fascia. All of this type of damage can lead to water intrusion into your home if left un-repaired. Whatever you do, don’t procrastinate on something like this. Get this type of damage fixed right away as water damage can be extensive and expensive. Water can lead to mold, mildew, and wood rot just to name a few problems. I’ve also inspected roofs that from that outside all appearances indicate that everything is in good shape however upon entering the attic, I have found extensive water damage that is active and causing serious damage to the roof sheathing and the attic insulation. The water damage had not yet made it’s way into the ceiling of the bedroom (sure to be noticed by it’s inhabitants), but it had traveled approximately 20 feet from where it had entered and was damaging everything along it’s path.

Home inspections are just for buyers and sellers of real estate! A home inspection makes perfect sense for the spring. I obviously offer complete home inspections, but  I also offer Exterior Inspections, Attic Inspections and Wood Destroying Insect Inspections in addition. The detailed computer generated inspection report is complete with digital photographs and provides you with information on the “health” of your home. Many clients use these inspection reports as part of their routine home maintenance program, and you can too.

Contact me for more information on pricing and scheduling your inspection today.

Natural Gas Part 2

Natural Gas prices continued to decline into the month of March. I currently have suppliers that are offering variable rates as low as $5.99/Mcf. Keep in mind that variable rates have outperformed the fixed market rates for about 12 years in a row! For those customers who may be squeamish about a variable rate, please remember two things: (1) Variable rates are worth a try because you are not locked into a contract, and you can change at any time to a fixed rate. and (2) with warmer weather approaching, give it a try….kick the tires and see what it is like. If that isn’t enough to convince you to give it a try, I now have a supplier that offers a fixed rate too. That rate is currently $8.57/Mcf.

Remember, the advantage with using me as your Independent Broker, you have someone watching these prices for you. If you are in one of my variable rate plans and the prices start to climb, I’ll pick up the phone and call……