If your home has a chimney, you must inspect it regularly and repair any damage as soon as possible.
The National Bureau of Standard proved that a chimney with no lining could cause a fire accident within a few hours. Yet, that is not the worst that can result from a deteriorating chimney flue.
Why is Chimney Flue Repair an Emergency?
Apart from the risk of a fire outbreak, if you fail to repair a damaged chimney flue, poisonous gases from the flue can escape to your living area and threaten your health and life.
The flue gases can also weaken the brick and mortar and lead to a collapse of the chimney. This could cause an accident, damage other structures, and lead to financial loss. That is why you must never ignore chimney flue repair. The regulation enforces it.
Can You Repair the Chimney Flue Yourself?
Whether you can repair the chimney yourself or not depends on the level of damage to the flue.
In some cases, it may not even require a repair but a complete reconstruction. However, if there are damages to only a few bricks, and you have the basic knowledge of home improvement, then you can do it yourself. Otherwise, it would be best to hire a professional.
What Do You Need to Repair Your Chimney Flue Yourself?
If you choose to repair your chimney flue yourself, you will need the following tools:
- Hammer
- Chisel
- Mortar Mix
- Bricks
- Caulking
- Ladder
- Mortar Trowel
- Flat Trowel
- Wire Brush
- Cleaning Materials
Step-by- Step of How to Repair a Chimney Flue
You can follow the following simple steps to repair your damaged chimney flue.
- Step 1: Evaluate the Damage
The first step is to have a good look at the entire chimney flue and evaluate the damage. To have a better view of the chimney flue condition, you should first clean it thoroughly. With that, you will be able to see all points that require a repair. Cleaning the chimney flue will also help prevent dust from your body as you work on the damaged area.
- Step 2: Remove the Damaged Bricks
Once you have identified the damaged part of the flue and concluded that you could do it yourself, then remove the damaged bricks. You can use the chisel and the hammer to remove this part without damaging other components gradually. With the flat trowel, you can cut away the damaged part of a brick and keep the remaining portion for repair.
- Step 3: Replace the Removed Brick
You must have had good bricks in place before starting the repair work. The initial evaluation of the flue condition will inform you of the number of bricks you will need. Replace the damaged bricks with new ones similar in size, color, and quality to the others in the flue. Use the mortar to fix the bricks perfectly in place.
- Step 4: Seal Up All Openings
Use waterproof caulking to seal the entire brick area. This is to close up the spaces between the bricks, make the chimney flue waterproof, and prevent leakages of heat and gases.
- Step 5: Strengthen the Mortar
If some parts of the chimney flue are damaged, then it is likely that the mortars in other regions are weak and can crumble. Therefore, you can strengthen them by putting a layer of caulk on them.
The Last Line
A regular inspection and maintenance of the chimney flue are essential. Although you know how to repair a chimney flue now, you must first clean it to identify the damaged brick. Then, remove the damaged brick and replace them with new ones. You should then cover the area with caulking to make it waterproof.