Household Repairs Note. If you see smoke curling out of the sides of a chimney or if a chimney feels uncomfortably hot to the touch, damp the fire and call in a masonry contractor immediately. You have a real fire hazard. If you suspect that a chimney is leaking, you can test it by building a smoky fire in the fireplace and blocking the outlet at the top of the chimney with a wet blanket. Smoke escaping through the masonry shows the location of leaks.

Leaks water. Check as follows:

1. Is flashing sound and secured to chimney? For repairs, see flashing, copper.

2. Are mortar joints cracked or eroded? For repairs, see brick.

3. Is top of chimney cracked? It's best to have a mason replace the cap. But if cracking is not severe, chip out the cracks, blow out crumbs with vacuum cleaner, and pack in latex cement. Then cover entire cap with two 1/8 layers of latex cement. Slope cement away from flue toward edges of cap.

Throws sparks. Have spark-arresters installed.

Fireplace smokes, draft is faulty. Have chimney cleaned and examined by a professional. If cleaning does not improve condition, call in a mason.




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May 22, 2012