Having a cracked liner in your chimney can be a hazardous problem. Furthermore, using a chimney with a cracked liner could have disastrous consequences if not dealt with immediately. In this article, we discuss why you should never use a chimney with a cracked liner and what damage it could cause to your home.
Fire Hazard
Fire risk is the main danger of using a chimney with a cracked liner. A crack in the chimney liner can allow smoke and other combustible gases to escape. This creates an open flame that could easily ignite nearby materials such as wood, furniture, carpets or curtains. The sparks from your fireplace could still land on other surfaces and cause a fire hazard, even if there is nothing near your fireplace to catch fire.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Another hazard associated with a cracked liner is the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless and colorless gas that can be extremely dangerous when inhaled in high concentrations. When a chimney has a cracked liner, CO cannot travel up and out of the home as intended but escape into other parts of the house, creating an unsafe environment for you and your family.
Structural Damage
A cracked liner can also cause structural damage to your home. The smoke and other gases escaping through the crack in the liner can cause discoloration of walls and ceilings and warping or cracking of wood beams near the fireplace. In addition, moisture from condensation in the chimney could enter these cracks and lead to water damage inside your home.
It’s important to note that all of these dangers associated with using a chimney with a cracked liner are preventable by having regular maintenance checks done on your fireplace and chimney. If you notice any signs of wear or damage, it is best to immediately contact a professional for an inspection so they can make chimney repairs before further issues arise.
If your chimney liner is cracked, you should contact a professional as soon as possible to have it inspected and repaired. Chimney Doctors in West Charlton, NY, are experts in fireplace and chimney maintenance and can help prevent further damage to your home. Call us at (518) 882-5009 to learn more about our services.
