Summer Humidity & Your Chimney

The summers can be very hot. Temperatures rise to 100 degrees and hotter. We have stretches of days where humidity can reach up to 80%. Those hazy days of summer. As we head to the beach, lake, or pool to cool off, the humidity is wreaking havoc in your chimney.
Humidity brings moisture. With moisture brings damage to a chimney. Let us discuss some of the effects of humidity.

Smells

When you burn wood in your fireplace, creosote is produced. Creosote is a sticky dark brown oily substance that is produced from burning wood. Creosote builds up over time as you have more and more fires. As the weather warms and there is creosote left in your chimney, the humidity will react with the creosote and expel a smell. The best thing to avoid this is to get a chimney sweep after each fire-burning season.

Unwelcome Visitors

Where better is there a place for small animals to find shelter? Your chimney of course. A chimney is a perfect place for small animals to find a haven from the wild outdoors. During the summer a chimney can be a cool place to hide away from predators in the wild. Nesting can also be a concern, especially if you have a cooler summer day and you choose to have a fire. Always take a look up your chimney before you start a fire.

Mold and Mildew

Humidity brings the production of mold and mildew as well. The moisture that is produced with humidity is never good. The growth of mold and mildew grows during the hot humid days of summer. This can be dangerous, especially for those with respiratory issues, asthma, or allergies.

There isn’t a way you can avoid the humidity. But there are ways that you can protect your chimney and some of the uncomfortable effects of them.

When the summer creeps in along with the humidity your best defense is to get a call out to A1 Chimney. Time to book an annual chimney sweep and inspection. Book early so you can avoid the rush of the fall season. You will be ahead of the game once the winter comes along. Cleaning out the chimney will avoid the smells that come with the buildup. Your family will be happy with peace of mind that any members will not have to worry about their allergies.

Trust Us With Expert Chimney Repairs

Avoid leaks by getting any repairs to the masonry completed as soon as possible. The moisture in your chimney and flue will breed mildew and mold if not cleaned out. The chimney sweeps you schedule will clean this out.

A1 Chimney is your source for everything related to chimneys. Give us a call. We are happy to work with you to set up an appointment that works best for you.

We provide chimney inspections, maintenance, repair, installation, custom chimney caps, masonry repair, flashing, and dryer vent cleaning. We serve the areas of Southern Middle Tennessee and the Tennessee Valley.