Can Chimneys Get Repaired in the Winter?
A fireplace is an optional appliance when you purchase a new house. However, homeowners fortunate enough to own a fireplace know its value during colder months. It provides essential warmth when indoor temperatures drop. Heating a room the “old-fashioned way” offers an extremely unique experience.
Always Check & Prepared
Many don’t consider the preparation needed to ready their fireplace for the colder months of the year. For instance, homeowners often schedule chimney and fireplace inspections, only to discover necessary repairs before they can safely use them. Consequently, this raises the question: can technicians repair chimneys during the winter?
Best Time to Repair Chimneys
Most masonry repairs and work ideally take place during the warmer months of the year. This is because repairmen prefer the warmer climate, as it allows the materials used in masonry to cure properly. In fact, summer repairs benefit skilled repairmen, as they can remedy places where moisture is already liquified and exposed areas are then revealed. However, this principle doesn’t apply during colder months.
As a result, homeowners should get ahead of the game in masonry repairs, especially for chimneys and fireplaces. Unfortunately, many homeowners wait until late fall to get their fireplaces inspected. By that time, it is nearly too late to repair the masonry in preparation for winter.
Inspect the Chimney Early
While chimney repairs in winter are possible, they are not ideal for achieving the best results for a safe, efficient fireplace. However, scheduling a chimney inspection in early spring or after the fireplace season can save you time and prevent problems. Moreover, ensuring optimal functionality and safety by scheduling a chimney inspection in early spring. It allows ample time for repairs before the next fireplace season.
Masonry Chimneys & Cold Weather
A seasoned chimney inspection professional doesn’t commonly provide a list of recommended repairs. However, an inspection ensures the unit’s safety for your family’s use, providing peace of mind during fireplace season. Suboptimal conditions and climate typically discourage chimney repairs and masonry work during fall and winter. In contrast, spring and summer are preferable for such tasks.
Moreover, chimneys built with masonry techniques are known to deteriorate in quality due to water damage and wind. Additionally, inherited chimneys may exhibit issues stemming from poor construction or neglect, underscoring the importance of thorough inspection and maintenance. Hence, it is ideal for masonry chimneys to be repaired during the warmer months because of its ideal conditions. During drier months, it becomes easier for technicians to address water issues and allow the materials to cure properly. Conversely, in the winter, it becomes difficult to diagnose these repairs since most of the masonry is in its freeze/thaw cycle. As a result, frozen masonry hinders chimney inspections, especially for moisture-prone structures, necessitating warmer weather for thorough assessment and repairs.
Addressing water damage and leaks in warmer months for optimal repair quality, especially around the chimney, ceiling, or attic, is crucial. During the summer months, offer ideal conditions for chimney and roof repairs, often done together, ensuring optimal results and longevity of repairs.
Roofing & Chimney Repairs
As previously mentioned, roofing repairs are mostly done along with chimney repairs in order to fully address water damage issues. From an expert’s standpoint, we would most likely recommend not only doing both types of repair at the same time. But also in a certain order during the summer months. If you were to consult us, we will advise addressing your chimney issues prior to your roofing. You might wonder, why? This is because repairing a chimney involves a lot of foot traffic and possible wear; because of the decreased foot traffic, it is best to have the roof fixed after the chimney is fixed.
When obtaining quotations for chimney repairs, a licensed professional could point out that certain things are necessary, like waterproofing the masonry around the chimney, replacing the flashing, recommending a crown repair, and establishing chimney crickets.
In warmer weather, all of those previously mentioned chimney repair services are ideal. The same principle applies to major chimney repairs, such as completely rebuilding the chimney in its entirety or relining it. Try not to procrastinate in getting it repaired once it is already advised. You run the risk of being unable to use your fireplace at all during the winter if you do this. That would be extremely disadvantageous for you and your family whenever you need a little warmth.
Be Wise. Get it repaired Early.
Taking action early can prevent problems and give you an advantage in achieving your goals. Don’t give yourself a headache by bombarding yourself with last-minute chimney repairs during winter. It’s not only more costly and inconvenient but there’s also a chance the repairs won’t be done correctly.
Get your fireplace inspection and repairs done early in order to keep your home safe from fire hazards, carbon monoxide poisoning, and even pest infestations. Contact us right now to talk to a professional!
Chimney Repairs in the Summer
Chimney repairs are best done in the summer, according to the golden rule. Nevertheless, very few homeowners really follow this guideline, typically delaying having their fireplaces examined and repaired until late autumn or even winter. By then, it would be too late to schedule and make all the necessary repairs since the weather is bordering on a colder extreme. As a result, you will have to spend the winter without utilizing the fireplace with your family.
We advise beginning the check as early as spring to spare yourself from this headache. Not only does it save you time, but it also saves you lots of money!