Do I Need Inspections If I Rarely Use My Fireplace?

The quick and short answer to this question is yes. Regardless of how much or how little you use your fireplace, it’s important to keep up with maintenance. Time alone can have an impact on your fireplace. Wear, tear, and environmental effects can be taking a toll on your home’s fixture without you even knowing. So, while you may not have an excess of creosote to tackle, you can’t avoid the effect of time.

Specific Issues Annual Inspections Tackle 

There are quite a few issues that could come up over the years with your fireplace. Let’s take a look at some of the most common and concerning if neglected. 

Unwelcome Visitors

If you don’t typically have many fires, your chimney can be the perfect home for furry friends. This can be birds, squirrels, mice, or more. They seek heat during the colder months and may find a safe home in your chimney since so few fires are had. Some nests or homes may be more difficult than others to remove, so you may need or want professional assistance. 

Water Damage

After a particularly rainy summer, your chimney and surrounding structures may take a beating. Even the smallest hairline fracture in the mortar can let unwanted water inside. Pooling water can also wear down structures and impact functionality too. One of the most common causes of water damage could be chimney flashing losing its watertight seal. This is something professionals would be able to pinpoint if they had their annual inspection.

Structural Damage

There are so many different structural components to a chimney that can break down over time. One, for example, is the chimney flue and liner. If you aren’t frequently using your fireplace, you may not even know that damage is present. But it plays an important role in fire safety as it ensures the wall of your chimney doesn’t get too hot. If there is a buildup of creosote, this can lead to dangerous chimney fires. 

Some Creosote

Even if you rarely have fires are home, creosote collects after even just one fire. So if you have even just 4 fires a year but never get a chimney sweep, there could still be a collection of unsafe byproduct. Not only does creosote pose a risk for fires, it also comes with a smell and potentially toxic fumes. 

In Need of Annual Maintenance? Call Twin City

If you’re in the Minneapolis area, Twin City Fireplace, Masonry, and Chimney are the experts to call for all your fireplace needs. We have locations in Woodbury and Edina, MN with highly trained and experienced staff to help with anything chimney related. Whether you’re in need of assistance or are looking for regular annual maintenance, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Twin City specializes in the installation and repair of gas and wood-burning fireplaces for both indoor and outdoor spaces. We’re also licensed general contractors, gas fitters, and skilled masons to give you a seamless experience from the first call to the finished installation.