How Well Do You Know Your Fireplace And Chimney?
Is your home is equipped with a fireplace? I so, we hope you have gotten a lot of good use out of it. Fireplaces are a great spot to gather around with friends and family, and they add an unbeatable ambiance to any party or event. Not to mention, they make heating up your living space a breeze!
Fireplaces contribute a lot to a home, so regular maintenance and inspections are an important thing to schedule every year. It is also important to have basic knowledge of the various parts that make up your chimney. While most homeowners can easily build and maintain fires, when it comes to fireplace anatomy, they don’t know much.
If this sounds all too familiar, keep reading to learn more about how your chimney functions. Covering every detail would take some time. However, we can give you a quick look inside your appliance. This way you have a better understanding of how everything works together to enhance your home’s aesthetic.
Your Chimney’s Anatomy
- Firebox: The firebox is the main opening at the front of your fireplace, and it is where your fires burn. Whether you have a masonry fireplace or a prefabricated one, this is an area that takes on a lot of wear and tear, as well as heat. This is why having your firebox cleaned, inspected, and repaired from time to time is very important!
- Liner: The chimney liner serves a very important role. It prevents the fire and heat produced in your fireplace from deteriorating your brickwork and mortar. It also protects the adjacent woodwork and keeps the air and toxins flowing properly – all of which help your fireplace run more efficiently, as a whole.
- Damper: When your fireplace is not in use, you need to be sure that the cold outdoor air doesn’t enter through the chimney. At the same time, you don’t want the heat in your home to escape! The damper seals the chimney, so your home stays warm until you are ready to light your next fire.
- Crowns and Caps: Your chimney cap and crown both serve important functions for keeping out excess water. The crown seals the chimney and directs water away, while your cap will cover the flues and any other openings, to ensure water never gets in. Both are vital pieces in keeping harmful moisture away!
- Flue: When fires burn in your appliance, toxins and smoke is created. These gases need somewhere to vent, so that they do not back up into your home. A flue offers a passageway for these fumes, so they can escape into the outdoors, rather than into your living room.
Count On Us!
These are just some of the many working parts of your chimney. If you are ready to learn more, give the experts at Wells and Sons Chimney Service a call today! We’ve been trusted since 1979 and have served thousands in the Allentown, Phoenixville, Pottstown area. We look forward to serving you!