Don’t Get Burned This Halloween: The Chimney Hazards Chicago Homeowners Discover Too Late
October is the scariest month for chimney problems in the Chicago suburbs and we are not talking about ghosts.
Every year it goes the same way. Summer ends, the weather turns, and homeowners who have been putting off their chimney inspection since spring suddenly realize they need their fireplace and they need it now. By October, our schedule is packed. We do our best to fit everyone in, but the homeowners who called in August are sitting by a warm fire while the ones who waited are still on a waitlist.
That is the scheduling reality. But the bigger concern is what is actually happening inside those uninspected chimneys.
What Accumulates Over a Summer? Animal intrusions are common. Raccoons, birds, and squirrels treat an uncapped chimney like a free apartment from May through September. By the time a homeowner lights their first October fire, there may be a full nest or worse, an animal still inside the flue.
Creosote from last season is still there. If your chimney was not swept in the spring or summer, everything that built up during last winter is waiting for you. Light a fire on top of existing creosote buildup and you are dramatically increasing your risk of a chimney fire.
Mortar joints crack over summer too. The freeze-thaw cycle of an Illinois winter stresses masonry, and those cracks do not heal on their own. They expand, let in water, and weaken the structure over time.
What Brickhaus Does About It
Our technicians are certified and equipped to identify problems that are not visible from the firebox. For chimneys that have not been inspected in several years, we use camera inspections to see exactly what is happening inside the flue. We handle everything from animal removal to liner repair to mortar joint restoration all in the Chicago suburbs, all year round.
Do Not Wait for a Warning Sign
Carbon monoxide from a blocked or damaged flue is odorless, colorless, and deadly. A chimney fire can spread to your attic in minutes. These are not distant possibilities. They are the documented outcomes of chimneys that were not maintained.
Call Brickhaus today. Even in October, we will work hard to get you on the schedule. Your family’s safety is worth the call.