Clay flue liner. Morter in the joints. Damper Plate. Hearth. Firebox. By now, if your asking yourself “what are these?” your not alone. Having a fireplace place inspection done on your home by a qualified professional inspector at 5280 Property Inspections is extremely crucial if you plan on enjoying the fireplace during Colorado’s cold winter months . Making sure the components are all in place, and operating properly as well will save you a lot of head ache down the road. For example, did you know that if your damper door is closed and it doesn’t operate it will fill your house with smoke when you start your fire? Or if your hearth is to small or the fireplace doesn’t have one that the embers from the fire can cause damage to your floors? All of this will be noted in your inspection so you don’t have to wonder…..”Is my fireplace operable?”

Facts about fireplaces

Fact #1) According to the The National Fire Association Standard 211 “Chimneys, Fireplaces, and vents shall be inspected at least once a year for soundness, freedom from deposits, and correct clearances. Cleaning, maintenance, and repairs should be performed if necessary”

Fact #2) Chimneys can develop a bad smelling odor, especially during summertime. This is from the natural wood burning process. The wood puts off a chemical called creosote deposits. Smells become enhanced when the air conditioning is on and humidity levels are higher. These odors make their way into the house due to air being pulled down the chimney, typically this is because an overall larger problem of air pressures in the home. A good way to help reduce the smell is by a thorough chimney sweeping, or even placing baking soda or kitty litter in the fireplace when your not using it. Most people realize that this is not a complete solution though. The best way to resolve this problems is by a solid mounted top damper to reduce the air being pulled into the home.