Chimney Inspection: Preventing Collapse by Nick Gromicko
When I inspect a chimney I look at the mortar between the joints . I use a screwdriver to scratch the mortar to see if it is soft and removable or hard and not affected. I look to see if there is cracking at the connection to the wall of the house. Small cracks should be monitered but medium and large cracks are a cause for concern. Leaning or separated chimneys may be near collapse and need only a slight tremor, a falling tree limb or exceptionaly high wind for it to fall causing damage, injuries or even death. A large cause of separation and/or collapse is the ground movement during earthquakes but another cause, chimney footing defects, cannot be overstated. These defects include under size footings in any or all three dimensions, deteriorated footings such due to the use of low PSI concrete and bad soil under the footing which is not capable of supporting the tremendous load of a masonary chimney. A cracked chimney may have cracks in the fire box , flue, hearth or other areas which can lead to smoke and poisoness gases to enter the house and possibly lead to a fire. I also check for the presence of straps or deteriorated straps or if there is an apparent need for straps.
I dont have a chimney so couldnt take my own photo.however, I found the perfect image for this assignment off the internet!
I dont know the age of this chimney but Im guessing it could be 30-yrs or older. It appears to meet the 3-2-10 rule which states the masonry chimney should extend at least 3ft above the highest point where the chimney passes through the roof, and 2ft above any portion of the building within a 10ft distance horizontally. It appears to have apron flashing in the front and step flashing on the side. Im unable to determine if counter flashing was installed. Due to the age and condition it may require a detailed inspection from a licensed contractor to see if it needs to be resealed to prevent water protrusion. There are other areas of concern: 1st the mortar lines are eroded and in many areas completely missing and needs to be repointed. This poses a serious compromise to the structural integrity of the chimney and should be repaired immediately by a licensed chimney contractor. 2nd observation that warrants immediate attention is the top of the chimney appears to have missing bricks and spalling at the top with vegetation growing in between the mortar lines. Also, tree branches are too close and need to be trimmed back.
Ceiling Fan Inspection
Ceiling fans provide comfort for occupants by circulating air within a room. Many times ceiling fans are installed by inexperienced home owners or unqualified local handyman services. In such cases, little attention is given to the fact that no part of the fan blade should be closer than 7 feet from the floor and should be at least 18 inches from the wall. Other common mistakes are poorly secured mounting plates, which will cause the fan to wobble, and its possible that it could break away from the ceiling and fall, seriously injuring someone below. In summary, all ceiling fans should be inspected for proper installation and operation.
When inspecting this chimney, I determined that it extended three feet high. I also inspected the flashing to determine it had correct flashing and counter flashing. I noted it had a flu cap with a spark arrestor and that the chimney cap was not cracked and had a proper slope away from flu. There was no spalling or pointing that was needed.
Chimney collapse can be a dangerous situation. When inspecting a chimney, I must look very carefully at certain things. I will want to look for mortar between joints that crumbles with a screwdriver. I will look for insufficient or missing lateral supports. I will check for damage to the chimney such as tree damage. I should also look for visible tilting or separation.
At first look it appeared that this chimney was just built extremely high. But with the 3-2-10 rule I realized that the pitch of the roof was high. With a measurement from the top of the roof over to the chimney I realized it was within 10ft and had to be extended another 2 feet above that.
Chimney Inspection: Preventing Collapse A chimney is a heavy and vulnerable structure attached to the house. It has its own footing and is not supported by the house. This means that the structural integrity of the chimney alone must be intact. Checking for mortar corrosion can help prevent a collapse. Also checking to make sure the Chimney footer is still intact and the right size is very important.
I submitted a picture of a fire place. Any object susceptible to igniting should be kept at least 16 inches away from the opening of the fire place. The wooden dolls and decorations placed in front of fire place are a hazard and should be moved back an appropriate distance.
I chose the article titled 6 reasons to hire a professional to perform a home energy audit. Many people will shy away from hiring an expert due to the cost of the audit ($350+ usually). What many home owners dont consider is that by following some of the experts advice you can save 30 % on your home energy and costs which pays for the audit all including its own. The experts may also know of recent energy saving solutions the home owner isnt even aware exists yet.
The support for this chimney is clearly unsafe and poses a hazard to any who walks near, it is not supported correctly. This is a safety hazard, one it could fall on some one at any given time and it also is a fire hazard. This needs to be evaluated by a qualified professional.
The article that I studied was carbon monoxide poisoning, it is clear that it is a safety hazard if they are not in the home. Carbon Monoxide is clearly a silent killer which can be prevented with a simple detector, in conclusion i will make it a point to double check while inspecting a home for a detector.
This photo shows a brick chimney. It follows the 3-2-10 rule stating it rises three feet above the roof, and it is at least two feet above any horizontal structure within a distance of ten feet. However, it is in need of serious repair as it is missing some bricks, and others are loose and out of place. Seeking out a licensed chimney contractor is recommended.
This article’s focus is on inspection of chimneys with the focus on preventing potential collapse. Chimneys are very heavy and can cause severe damage, if faults are left unattended. A home inspector is required to inspect what he can see visually and what is accessible. An inspector is looking for cracks in the flue system, as well as the masonry. Mortar joints should not crumble when probed with a tool such as a screwdriver. Any deficiencies should be reported to the client, and recommendations to a licensed chimney contractor are suggested.
When inspection a chimney and fireplace, I start inside the home and look at the fireplace opening and hearth. Then I would review the damper and spark screen. Take a close look at the combustible area around the fireplace opening to make sure nothing is too close.
When I inspect a fireplace and chimney I start at the inside of the home. Looking at the fireplace I make sure the hearth is large enough for the opening. After measuring the size I will continue to visually inspect the other elements.
Thermal imaging is a great tool to use when inspecting the components of a house. It will help find electrical concerns quickly and safely. Some electrical issues infrared cameras help identify are loose connections, arcing, overloaded circuits and faulty equipment.
Thermal imaging is a great tool to use when inspecting the components of a house. It will help find electrical concerns quickly and safely. Some electrical issues infrared cameras help identify are loose connections, arcing, overloaded circuits and faulty equipment.
Creosote
Creosote is the build up of a black sooty substance on the interior liner of masonry and gas fired chimneys located in the interior liner or exterior wall. The calling out of such a defect is at the discretion of inspector, but when encountering large deposits the inspector should; Advise a buyer of its presence and hazardous condition, and its removal by a licensed contractor. An inspector should always recommend a chimney be swept by a licensed contractor before its first usage after closing.
Chimney Collapse
Chimneys are among the heaviest and most structurally vulnerable of all exterior components of a building. Accidents caused by their collapse can lead to death. A collapse can also cause costly structural damage to the building and its surroundings. Inspection, maintenance and preparedness are critical safeguards against chimney collapse. Wind and other elements may May contribute greatly to a chimney collapse.
An inspector should be mindful of the following: Mortar between the bricks or stones that crumbles when poked with a screwdriver; Missing or insufficient lateral support -- typically, steel straps -- used to tie the chimney to the structure at the roof and floor levels. Building codes in some seismically active regions require internal and external bracing of chimneys to the structure; Mechanical damage to the chimney, such as that caused by falling tree limbs or scaffolding; Visible tilting or separation from the building. Any gap should be frequently measured to monitor whether it is increasing; and chimney footing defects.
The photo was taken of a chimney on an 85 year old home that originally had 5 fireplaces, but which had been replaced with two gas furnaces. The chimney used by one of the newer furnaces showed loose and damaged mortar, and cracking. Repair and repointing was recommended. The chimney cap fixed at the top negated inspecting the liner inside the chimney. But I suspect it was similar to the liner in the other masonry chimney which showed cracks and damage to it, as defects needing repair.
