Modern chimney systems do an amazing job of handling the smoke, combustion gases and heat that fireplaces create. Accomplishing this requires that a number of parts and components all work together.

Anderson’s Chimney Sweeps & Masonry Services of New Cumberland, PA, would like to present a little primer on the anatomy of your chimney and how to make sure all of it works right.

Chimney Masonry

Bricks and mortar make up the external chimney housing. Damaged bricks can allow water to move in and further damage the masonry and cause rotting and decay to home building materials, the chimney liner and the fireplace damper.

Chimney crown

Covering the top of the chimney minus the flue opening is the concrete chimney crown. It serves to keep rain, snow, animals and debris out of the chimney’s interior spaces. Cracks in the crown will lead to water damage.

Chimney cap

Full-width chimney caps and flue covers guard the opening of the flue against water, animals and debris. Chimney chase tops, found on chimney chases connected to manufactured fireplaces, perform a similar function.

Chimney liner

Chimney liners are required by law in all newly built chimneys. They perform the critical job of channeling smoke, intense heat and dangerous combustion gases up and away from the home.

Smoke chamber

Located below the chimney liner and above the fireplace, smoke chambers gather and then feed smoke and gases up into the flue.

Chimney flashing

Flashing seals the gap between the exterior chimney and the roof, keeping water from spreading down below the roof and causing a variety of problems in unseen parts of the home and the chimney.

Fireplace damper

This component, commonly installed just above the firebox, opens and closes to regulate the flow of air and control the intensity of the fire.

Dampers can be shut to prevent the home’s interior air from escaping up the chimney.

Other important parts of a modern chimney system include:

• Ash dump
• Appliance connector
• Smoke shelf
• Clean-out opening
• Wythe

The role you play in all this

If you’re like most homeowners, you know how to use your fireplace and understand a little about how your chimney works. But it’s the things you don’t know that can become serious problems if ignored.

This is why all fire safety agencies, including the Chimney Safety Institute of America and the National Fire Protection Association, strongly recommend that all working chimneys be professionally inspected on an annual basis.

Experienced chimney technicians are able to quickly spot early signs of chimney damage and malfunction. Early detection and the right repair work can prevent or resolve:

• Chimney fires
• Smoke and deadly carbon monoxide backups
• Widespread water leaks
• A leaning or collapsed chimney
• Mold outbreaks
• Horrible smells in your home
• Small animals living in your chimney

Your job is to schedule an annual chimney inspection and let the professionals take it from there. If you run a wood-burning fireplace, annual maintenance should include chimney sweeping to remove built-up creosote, which causes most reported chimney fires in Pennsylvania each year.

The solutions your chimney needs

Anderson’s has been taking good care of our customers’ chimneys since 1990. We know how to clean, inspect and repair your chimney to keep it working safely and at peak efficiency.

Call a New Cumberland, PA, chimney expert today or get in touch with our handy contact form.