Can Chimneys Get Repaired in Winter?
Winter is the time when you rely on your chimney the most, so it’s fair to wonder if it’s possible to repair chimney damage during the cold weather months.
It used to be that chimney repairs were relegated to warm weather; however, with advanced masonry materials, it’s possible to perform repairs throughout the year.
When’s the Best Time to Repair My Chimney?
As mentioned, chimney repairs are typically performed during warm weather, because some materials used for chimney construction cure better when it’s warm. Another reason most chimney repair services prefer warm weather repair is that they can more easily identify parts of the chimney where moisture has gone through a freeze/thaw cycle.
Also, contractors working on your roof would rather do it during the long, warm days of summer.
However, the best time to repair your chimney is as soon as you notice damage or your fireplace isn’t working properly. Waiting until the right time could make the situation worse and put your family at risk.
Winter Chimney Repair
In Massachusetts, it’s common for winters to be wet and messy. And excess moisture is a primary cause of chimney damage.
Moisture gets into chimneys in several ways. When your chimney suffers damage, such as cracks in the flashing, the crown, or mortar and bricks, water seeps into these materials. Once absorbed, the water expands through freezing/thawing cycles, weakening the masonry, and leading to additional cracks. The fundamental problem is that many homeowners don’t notice the damage until it’s too late, which is why annual chimney inspection is a must.
Although chimney repairs are best performed during summer, it’s not safe to wait until then if your chimney is damaged or malfunctioning. Using your fireplace and chimney under these conditions puts your family at risk of fire and carbon monoxide poisoning.
If it’s winter and your fireplace and chimney aren’t operating correctly, call Above & Beyond Chimney Service for repairs to protect your home and ensure your family’s safety.
How Do Cold Temperatures Affect My Chimney’s Masonry?
Owning and operating a chimney is a double-edged sword; you need it to keep you warm during winter, but it’s the winter weather that takes the greatest toll on the masonry and other parts.
Because bricks and mortar are porous materials, they absorb water like a sponge. Once water gets in, it wreaks havoc as it freezes and expands during winter. This constant freezing and expansion cause bricks and mortar to crack and deteriorate if you don’t catch it early.
The problem is that this freeze/expansion/thaw cycle happens slowly and most homeowners aren’t aware they have a problem until the chimney crumbles.
The best way to protect your chimney against water damage is to hire a licensed professional chimney service to inspect it once a year. Also, if you don’t have one, it’s helpful to install a chimney crown to deflect the water away from the flue and provide additional protection to the masonry.
How Does Winter Chimney Repair Work?
Back in the day, it wasn’t workable to undergo chimney repair during winter because the materials used in masonry repair wouldn’t properly cure. Today, we have high-quality materials that cure in colder temperatures, making winter chimney repair possible.
Having said that, some repairs are best left to warm weather months such as tuckpointing, chimney reconstruction, and crown repair or replacement.
The best way to determine whether your chimney is a candidate for winter repair is to call the professionals at Above & Beyond Chimney Service for an inspection and consultation. Our certified technicians will evaluate the damage and determine which repairs must happen now to keep you and your family safe and which can wait until spring or summer.
Signs of Chimney Masonry Damage
The keys to a healthy chimney are annual inspection and maintenance and detecting signs of chimney damage early.
Watch for these early signs of chimney damage:
- Structural damage such as crumbling
- Cracked chimney crown or cracks in the mortar joints
- Loose or missing bricks
Look for these issues regularly because the sooner you detect them, the sooner you can call for repairs. The longer you wait, the worse the problem gets and the more expensive it is to fix. Failing to repair damage to your chimney quickly results in deterioration. Once deterioration begins, it allows water to get into your system, which brings a host of problems, such as:
- Foul odors caused by moisture in the flue
- Broken liner tiles
- Water stains on your interior walls or ceiling near the fireplace
- Water in the firebox
To keep your chimney in the best aesthetic and operating condition, call Above & Beyond Chimney Service to schedule annual chimney inspections and maintenance.
About Above & Beyond Chimney Service
Above & Beyond Chimney Service has over 25 years of experience providing homeowners throughout southern Massachusetts with the very best in chimney, fireplace, dryer vent, and air vent maintenance and repair.
We’re a family-owned and operated company and members of the National Chimney Sweep Guild. We strive to be the area’s go-to chimney service company by offering a comprehensive list of services, including:
- Chimney sweeping
- Fireplace and chimney inspection
- Chimney and fireplace restoration
- Tuckpointing and masonry repair
- Chimney waterproofing
- Dryer and air duct cleaning
- And more!
We proudly serve homeowners throughout the South Shore and 95 Corridor areas. For questions or to book your appointment, contact us by phone at (781) 383-0415 or by filling out our online contact form at https://aboveandbeyondchimneyservice.com/contact-us/.