Damaged Chimney Flue: 1 Small Crack Can Cause Serious Fire Damages

10/1/2021 (Permalink)

Contact the professionals at SERVPRO for complete fire restoration services!

The professionals at SERVPRO have had to restore severe fire damages caused by chimney flue issues.

A damaged chimney flue can cause severe damages to your property without warning. To avoid an unwanted fire damage disaster, you should get your chimney flue inspected for any cracks or damages once a year.

A damaged chimney flue can be caused by many things, such as a small crack that worsens over time. The following blog post will go into detail about how a chimney flue can become damaged and a real-life situation that left an elderly couple with a home with severe fire damage. 

How can a chimney flue become damaged?

Natural disasters, neglect, or improper installation are the main causes of a damaged chimney flue. The number one way to tell if the chimney flue has damages is when there is chipped-off cement mortar inside the fireplace. A property owner must contact a chimney repair specialist at the first sign of excess cement mortar; a crack will only worsen over time and lead to serious structural damage.

A damaged chimney flue may not directly lead to fire damage right away, but the cracks will allow for moisture to enter, increasing the likelihood of mold growth or water damage. It is best to contact the property restoration professionals at SERVPRO when water or mold issues are inside the property.

A recent call

Earlier this year, the professionals at SERVPRO of Union, Towns, Fannin & Gilmer Counties received a call from a distraught gentleman. The call was because the home that he and his wife have been living in for the last fifty years caught on fire and damaged their living room and bedroom. 

Soon after the call, we dispatched our crews and were on-site in thirty minutes. Upon arrival, we were greeted by a fire marshal who explained to us that a crack in the chimney flue caused the fire loss.

After the property owners signed the necessary paperwork, we began removing all the fire-damaged debris and categorizing what could and couldn't be salvaged. The fire damage clean-up took two weeks to completely remove all caracoled items and free the property from excess smoke damage.

The next step was to rebuild the property "Like it never even happened." Before the rebuild process, the rebuild team at SERVPRO agreed that we wanted the elderly homeowners to feel like they were getting an upgrade rather than a replacement for their home. So, we went and upgraded their bedroom and living room that now has their dream bar.

In the end, the elderly couple was delighted with our team and was astonished at how we turned a terrible situation into something that they can proudly call their home.

How to avoid chimney flue fire damage?

The best way to avoid any type of chimney fire damage is to schedule regular chimney inspections with a chimney repair company. During a chimney inspection, the professionals will carry out a complete check of your chimney to ensure no damaged or worn parts are in place. If there is excess soot build-up, they will even perform a chimney cleaning.

Wrapping up

We hope you now know how important it is to schedule professional chimney inspections because when your chimney flue gets damaged, it can cause severe fire damage to the inside of your home.

Please contact the professionals when a damaged chimney flue causes fire damage to your property. SERVPRO of Union, Towns, Fannin & Gilmer Counties is an IICRC certified firm with the professional knowledge to handle any size fire damage disaster. We are readily available 24 hours a day, every day of the year, to help you with your fire damage claim.