Fireplaces bring that warmth and cozy feeling to your home on a dreary winter day. It’s where you can relax beside the dancing flames sipping your favorite hot beverage or engaging with family and friends while the snowy day slips away. Whether your charming fireplace is wood or gas-burning, masonry or prefabricated, it will eventually need repairs. In this post, we will discuss some of the most common fireplace repairs we perform for customers in Lenexa, KS, Grandview, MO, and throughout the Kansas City, KS/MO region:
Clogged Flue
A clogged flue is perhaps the most common fireplace repair. The Kansas City area is home to abundant wildlife that are creatures of habit. These critters, like birds, opossums, raccoons, and squirrels, often seek shelter inside a toasty chimney. This can harm the animal, your home, and your family. As these critters build their nests or get stuck in the narrow flue pipe, it will restrict the expulsion of smoke and harmful gases from your fireplace. When the obstruction becomes severe, the building pressure will eventually cause a backdraft forcing smoke, soot, carbon monoxide, and other harmful contaminants to pour inside your home. A chimney sweep can solve this!
Pilot Light Misfire
Another common repair is the thermocouple on a gas fireplace. When you notice that the pilot light keeps burning out or won’t light up, the thermocouple may need cleaning or replacement. Since firing problems can also be due to gas leaks, loose fittings, and clogged burner ports, always consult with a National Fireplace Institute (NFI) certified technician like the experts at Fluesbrothers before attempting any repairs or modifications to a gas-burning heating appliance.
Throat Damper Damage
Most masonry fireplaces built in Independence, MO, Shawnee, KS, and surrounding KC/MO communities have a throat damper. The damper sits above the firebox just below the flue and operates like a window to the outside world. You open it to allow oxygen to flow into the firebox, giving life to a sparkling fire while smoke and fumes rise out the flue, exiting at the top of the stack. Conversely, closing the damper after extinguishing the flames prevents the warm air from escaping, keeping your home warm longer. However, due to age, creosote buildup, and corrosion, it is common for metal or iron dampers to rust, warp, or have other damage, making it difficult to operate. It may also not open or close fully, reducing energy efficiency that results in higher heating costs. When a damper is challenging to use or has lost its airtight seal, it needs immediate repair or replacement.
Cracks in the Firebrick
The firebox should be constructed with firebrick and refractory mortar, which can withstand the higher temperatures of a flame-burning fireplace. Still, moisture, creosote buildup, and combustion gas residue can accelerate its deterioration resulting in cracks, decay, or gaps in the firebrick and mortar. So, if you see any cracks in the masonry, contact Fluesbrothers to schedule a chimney and fireplace inspection today.
Kansas City Chimney & Fireplace Repairs
Your annual chimney inspection is the best way to minimize fireplace repairs.
So, if it has been more than a year since a Certified Chimney Sweep® has seen your fireplace, Call Fluesbrothers at (913) 236-7141 to schedule a visit, or use this handy form to contact us online today! We serve the entire Kansas City, KS/MO region, including Olathe, KS; Leavenworth, KS; Lee’s Summit, MO; and Raytown, MO.
