The time was that when people thought at all about fireplace maintenance, they considered only the seasonal need to have the chimney cleaned of all its soot buildup along with whatever debris would fall in and the odd animal unlucky enough to become trapped. But such a vision is about as archaic as the singing chimney-sweep played by Dick Van Dyke in the movie Mary Poppins. Fireplaces have always been more complex than they seem, and modern ones more so. This is especially true of gas-fired fireplaces. Which means that Brick Fireplace Repair Services in Baltimore MD are properly the province of trained professionals.
A brick fireplace can suffer damage from the house settling on its foundations. An uneven shift or a slight warp in the foundation is enough to start a crack in the brickwork going. Even in the actual furnace area itself, this can become a serious problem. If the crack widens, it allows an uncontrolled venting of smoke and soot which gets in between the walls and eventually up into the attic spaces. The immediate problem is, of course, the mess that’s created. The not-quite so hidden danger of fire from embers venting through that crack should be evident to anyone with a functioning brain. Also, a crack in the fireplace must inevitably imply or set off cracking in the chimney structure itself. Allowed to develop long enough, damage to a fireplace can entail a huge reconstruction expense at minimum and a safety hazard at worst.
This is why when the time comes for the seasonal cleaning of the chimney, it and the fireplace should also be inspected for shifting and cracks resulting from that motion. Spotting the problem early can allow for a relatively simple repair to maintain the structural integrity of both fireplace and chimney. If a major crack has developed, a full reconstruction of the fireplace may be necessary, in which case the homeowner will need the services of fully trained professionals experienced in fireplace installation and maintenance.
Browse our website to find out the full range of our services for area homeowners. We provide sales, installation, maintenance services, and carry out complete brick fireplace repair services in Baltimore MD and Annapolis. If you suspect a problem, contact us today.
