This is the time to use your fireplace for that waft of warmth around the room. Well, there may be a safety risk if your chimney is showing signs of rust. So, perform a chimney inspection and look for these signs.

Signs Of A Rusted Chimney

To fix the rust on the chimney, you need to find the problem area first. If you don’t know where to look, then here are some things that will help you find the rust easily so that you can get on to fixing it.

Look Around The Leaks

Firstly, you should know why rust develops. It occurs on the metal parts of the chimney when they come in contact with moisture or water. A chimney has several metal parts, like the flashing, the damper, and even the chimney cap and those are very common places where rust can occur. So, you want to see these areas first.

If there are leaks in the foundation and structure of the chimney, then you need to look around them and see if there are any red and brown spots and stains. That will be rust.

There’s A Smell

Rust is basically the deterioration of a metal and it also smells like it. There might be a metallic smell when you burn the fireplace and it just won’t be pleasant. There can also be a smell when the chimney isn’t fired up.

So, if you go up to where the chimney is, and see some stains then the best way to tell whether it’s rust or not is to use your nose. If it smells metallic and like iron, then it is rust.

Seals Are Damaged

There are a lot of seals on the chimney. These are what prevent water from seeping inside the chimney. Well, the seals can only last for so long and they need to be looked at from time to time. So, if you see any leaks and water on the base of your fireplace, then the seals are probably damaged or broken and they’re letting water from the outside in.

This is bad because not only will it lead to rust, but it will also cause the fire to snuff out quickly and that is not what you want.

Check The Flashing

The flashing of the chimney is the most common place for rust to occur. It is a metal strip joint at the base of the roof and the bottom of the chimney. It is the place where the chimney meets flush with the roof and it is a dangerous place for rust to form, because not only will it cause water to leak into the house, but it will also cause a lot of damage to the roof.

You will need to check the roof flashing from time to time because it is not good at all and it can lead to another set of problems that you don’t want. If it’s corroded, you will need to replace the chimney flashing.

Rust Stains

Rust can be seen by stains on or near the chimney. Rust spreads fast, especially if there is a lot of moisture corroding the metal. So, if you see reddish brown spots or stains near the chimney or up the fireplace, then you can be certain that your chimney has fallen victim to rust and is now leaving stains behind.

So, if you want to see whether your chimney has rust or not, then always look out for these rust stains, because they will answer a lot of questions.

What Are The Fixes For A Rusted Chimney?

Now that you know where the rust is, you need to fix it and also prevent it from happening in the future. If you don’t fix it, the moisture will keep deteriorating the chimney and damage the chimney flue, bricks, and flashing. Here is everything you need to know.

Regular Inspection

One of the first things you need to do when it comes to fixing rust and preventing it is to have regular inspections done on the chimney. This is important because you don’t want to leave your chimney unattended. You must get your chimney checked from time to time because it will only save you from unwanted trouble in the future.

So, whenever you can, try to schedule an inspection as it will only tell you what is wrong with the chimney and what needs to be done. Timely inspections will save your chimney from a lot of damage – including rust.

Waterproof Sealant To The Rescue

If you want to seal the chimney, especially from the place where it meets the roof, then you need something more. Waterproof sealants are going to be your best friend when it comes to preventing water from coming inside the chimney.

Even if you have small cracks and fissures in your chimney, you want to rely on a waterproof chimney sealant to get the job done. This is only going to ensure that water doesn’t seep in and doesn’t cause – you guessed it – rust. So, whenever you want to seal your chimney up, go for the waterproof kind.

Clean The Chimney

It is also very important that you clean the chimney regularly or have chimney sweep services Upper Marlboro do it for you. Even if it’s summertime and you’re not using it regularly. Cleaning it every day will make you inspect the chimney and if there are any early signs of chimney rust or damage, then you can spot them immediately and get it fixed.

This is something that a lot of people don’t do, but doing it will save you from sudden problems and repairs. So, always be safe than sorry and you will not only save your time but money as well, which is amazing.

Call A Professional

When it comes to a chimney sweep or inspection, you always want a professional to take a look at your chimney. This is crucial because you only know so much about a chimney and it won’t do you any good if you decide to spend a little less money and get the job done.

There will be a lot of areas that you won’t understand and this is where you need professional help from someone who knows chimneys like the back of their hand. So, don’t be afraid to dial up a professional to inspect your chimney. It will only pay you off in the long run.

Prep It For Winter

Lastly, you must clean and maintain the fireplace and chimney, especially before the chilly months turn your way. It is crucial because chimney sweeps and cleanups are very hard to do and expensive when it’s snowing or is very cold outside.

So, you want to be quick and maintain and clean the chimney and fireplace before it is time to fire it up. You will find rust and get rid of it on time and you will be able to get your chimney in good shape, just in time for those chilly months.

Conclusion

Rust in chimneys is very common, but that doesn’t mean that it’s always easy to detect. Now you know the telltale signs, so you can fix it yourself or hire a chimney repair Columbia MD expert who can remove the rust and fix the issue that caused it.