As the colder fall nights are now closing in, many of you that are fortunate enough to own a fireplace or stove will be splitting wood (seasoned of course), making kindling, and stocking up your log stores as you prepare for another winter.
Having a stove or fireplace in your home is a fantastic way to keep warm and cozy during the colder months of the year, plus they can help to boost the aesthetics and add value to your property in the process. Unfortunately, as great as they are, they do require regular maintenance to keep them safe and efficient.
Without question, one of the biggest headaches for those with stoves or open fireplaces is keeping the chimney in safe working order. Because they’re exposed to the elements and the extreme temps that come with fire, chimneys are prone to damage and there will come a time when they will need to be repaired or replaced.
The good news is that DIY chimney repair kits are now readily available and offer convenient repairs and fixes for reasonable prices. But are they really worth the cost?
What are Masonry Chimneys?
In homes across the nation, for those who own fireplaces or stoves, masonry chimneys are likely to be the most common chimney type.
Masonry chimneys are so much more than just a tube designed to exhaust smoke from your home when you have a fire. They’re complex creations that are comprised of a number of different components. These are as follows:
- Smoke shelf
- Chimney damper
- Smoke chamber
- Flue liner
- Flue
- Chimney crown/cap
Masonry chimneys can be made from a number of different materials, including things such as concrete, bricks and mortar, steel and cast iron, flue tile, masonry stone, and more besides. These materials form the backbone of your chimney and hold everything together. If they become damaged, this will harm the integrity of your chimney and potentially your entire property.
One of the main reasons why DIY chimney repair kits are in such high demand is because masonry chimneys are constantly in need of repair and maintenance. They are exposed to the elements all ear round, and months of hot sunshine, heavy rain, frost, snow, ice, and strong winds can really take their toll. Overtime, the masonry and brickwork may become chipped or damaged, and if left to progress, the problem will only get worse.
This is why, at the first sign of any damage, you should repair your chimney immediately. The longer you leave it, the worse the damage will be, and the greater the costs.
Common Chimney Repair Issues
Before we can look at DIY chimney repair kits and whether they’re a worthy investment, we’re going to highlight a few common chimney repair issues.
Remember, a full working chimney isn’t just important for ensuring your fire burns efficiently, it’s also vital from a health and safety perspective. Having a faulty or damaged chimney could prove extremely dangerous and can pose all manner of different health risks.
Here are a few common chimney repair issues and what you can do to rectify or avoid them.
Damaged Chimney Crowns
If you own a chimney and you’ve not yet had to repair or replace your chimney crown or cap, think yourself lucky, because you’re most certainly in the minority.
Damaged chimney crowns are very common issues affecting chimneys, and although an annoyance, the good news is that they are an easy fix, and relatively cheap as well.
Your chimney crown sits proudly atop your chimney and is designed to help shield the inside of your chimney from a variety of different things, including the elements, as well as birds, insects, and other creatures. They’re designed to allow smoke to safely escape, without allowing rainwater or animals to get inside your chimney.
If your crown has eroded, rusted, or been damaged by the weather or anything else, it will need to be replaced as soon as possible.
Cracks and Chips in the Brickwork
Another set of very common problems affecting masonry chimneys are cracks and chips in the brickwork and masonry.
Again, the elements and general wear and tear can take their toll on your chimney’s brickwork, causing cracks, chips and breaks. These issues must be addressed immediately as leaving them is considered a fire hazard.
If you do notice any signs of damage to the brickwork of your chimney, a DIY chimney repair kit could be ideal as it will contain the necessary materials and replacement parts so you can patch up the problem before it gets any worse.
Damaged Flashing
The flashing of your chimney is basically a seal between where your chimney meets your roof. It basically prevents rainwater and anything else from outside, from making its way into your home. Think of the seal around your bathtub or shower, and the same principle applies to the flashing of your chimney.
If you find that the flashing on your chimney is damaged and is letting in rainwater, a DIY chimney repair kit would be ideal as, depending on the kit you purchase, it could contain a new replacement flashing, and the materials needed to correctly install it.
Damaged Flue Liner
If the liner to your flue is damaged, it won’t allow smoke to be vented correctly, and it could pose a fire risk. Not only that, but it will also affect the efficiency of your fire.
Flue liners can become damaged and worn overtime, and if they are damaged, they will need to be replaced before the fire is deemed safe to use.
Once you’ve identified that the liner is damaged, and where the problem is, you can then get to work on replacing it. For those with the capabilities, a DIY chimney flue liner replacement is not a particularly difficult job. Again, there are plenty of DIY chimney repair kits out there that will contain all the essentials needed to carry out the repair.
Are DIY Chimney Repair Kits Worth the Cost?
Assuming that you know what you’re doing and are qualified and experienced enough to carry out the repairs safely and correctly, DIY chimney repair kits are indeed worth the cost.
With so many different kits to choose from, they’re designed to allow you to carry out a wide range of repairs yourself. This is not only convenient, but it also means that you’ll save money on labor.
So, yes, DIY chimney repair kits are worth the cost, in most cases at least.