Clean Sweeps of Michigan's Blog

Chimney Mold 101

The Rundown on Chimney Mold

We all know that homes can be affected by mold growing inside the house; however, most people think of the basement as the prime area for mold growth, although your chimney and fireplace can also create the perfect environment for mold to grow, especially if you have a leaky chimney. Not an uncommon problem, chimney mold can have adverse effects on the health of your family, and it can spread quickly to other parts of your home. If you ever see actual mold growing on the bricks of your fireplace or notice a musty odor in your home, you need to call an experienced chimney company like Clean Sweep & Air Ducts of Michigan to check out your fireplace and chimney for mold growth and have it removed promptly. We would like to tell you more about chimney mold because mold can cause serious health problems and should be addressed as soon as possible.

Mold can cause an allergic reaction that can aggravate breathing problems and cause headaches.

How does mold grow in my chimney?

If you do not use your fireplace all year long, your chimney is at greater risk for mold growth. Unused fireplaces provide the perfect environment for mold growth because they are dark, damp, and poorly ventilated. Since mold spreads quickly, it does not take long for it to invade your entire chimney and even your home.

What are the signs of chimney mold?

Sometimes you can actually see the mold growing on the bricks around your fireplace, but usually the mold is unable to be seen since it is growing inside your chimney. However, you may see mold growing in other parts of the room where the fireplace is, as mold tends to spread quickly. If you see mold in a room with a fireplace, you should immediately call Clean Sweep & Air Ducts of Michigan to inspect your chimney for mold growth. Other signs include a musty odor coming from your fireplace and the development of respiratory problems in you and your family due to breathing in mold spores.

What are the adverse health effects mold can have on myself and my family?

You may notice common-cold symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, headache, sore throat, and a runny nose. Mold can also lead to serious illnesses like bronchitis, allergic reactions, asthma attacks, chronic sinusitis, and pneumonia

How do I remove mold from my chimney?

You should call a professional Chimney Safety Institute of America-certified chimney company like Clean Sweep & Air Ducts of Michigan to inspect your chimney for mold growth and to remove the mold. If you are suffering from mold-related health problems such as respiratory issues, it is essential that you stay away from the area with mold and do not try to clean the mold yourself. You can remove any mold growing on the exterior of your fireplace with an antifungal cleanser and a stiff brush, but you may want to check with your doctor to be sure it is okay for you to attempt to clean up any mold yourself.

If you have more questions about chimney mold, contact Clean Sweep & Air Ducts of Michigan today to talk to our staff. Our certified and trained technicians are ready to sweep your chimney clean of any mold growth.

Common Masonry Repairs

If you want to see just how bad a neglected chimney can get, check out our Chimneys Gone Wild gallery. Don’t let your chimney show up here! Call us today to schedule an inspection and sweeping.

Notice how the bricks on the walls of your chimney deteriorate over time? This is normal and yes, it is bound to happen at some point. Your chimney masonry, after having been exposed to different and even severe weather conditions and temperature extremes for a long period of time, will eventually have cracks and damages. This is unavoidable.

However, there is always a remedy for it. Clean Sweep and Air Ducts of Michigan would like to tell you more about your masonry, what the common repairs are, and why there is a need for these repairs.

Why is there a need for masonry repairs?

First of all, your roof and the brick walls of your chimney are prone to damages due to temperature and weather changes. This means that all the heat, freezing and especially thawing will make it really hard for these walls to keep standing. There may even be times when there are unexpected natural events like storms and earthquakes that will also contribute to deterioration and damage.

Second, your masonry needs repair because of water and moisture. It’s the biggest enemy of chimneys because it is the precursor of many chimney related problems like molds, water damage, and many more. Not only will it affect your pockets, it also affects your health.

What are these repairs?

1. The first common repair is brick replacement or restoration. This is done by carefully assessing the condition of the bricks and seeing to it that broken bricks are replaced. In some instances, we have to completely rebuild the entire structure and make up a new one. Sometimes, only a little repair with the bricks is needed on some parts and not the whole structure. This is called the repair or rebuild service.
2. There is also what we call tuck pointing. This is the process of removing mortar in masonry joints that is damaged or deteriorating and replacing or adding new mortar to those joints. Old chimneys used to have mortar made of weaker materials. But today, new components for mortar are made to be strong and long-lasting.
3. We also have chimney crown restoration. When your chimney crown begins to crack and spalling happens, you can apply a crown coat. This is a flexible sealant which serves as a protective covering for the crown so that water cannot get through it. However, if the damage is extensive, the best thing to do is to build a new chimney crown.
4. Lastly, we have the chimney flashing repairs. This is done by replacing the flashing. If the flashing is not fixed, it can cause water leaks in your home and eventually lead to more damages.

To avoid the possibility of your chimney falling into pieces, make sure to have your annual chimney inspection and sweeping so that your chimney will stay in good condition whether in use or not in use.

When you have all of these done, it will definitely strengthen your chimney and delay deterioration. We and our masonry professionals, duly certified by the CSIA, have been serving the people of Mid-Michigan, Northern Ohio and Northern Indiana for quite some time now and we’ve since been dubbed as Michigan’s Best Chimney Company. We always give our very best because we know you deserve it! So call us if you need help with your chimney.