Your fireplace is an important part of your home that brings warmth, comfort, and enjoyment to your house and to your family. Over time, your fireplace may experience deterioration that could potentially put your home and your family in a dangerous situation. If your fireplace is showing any signs of deterioration or damage, you should immediately contact a trusted professional who can assess and repair your fireplace issues in a timely and efficient manner.

Signs Your Fireplace Is in Need of Repairs

For a homeowner, fireplace deterioration or dysfunction often goes unnoticed as it can be difficult to detect just by glancing at your fireplace. It is important to take the time to closely check your fireplace for visual indicators that there may be an underlying issue. Even if it looks like there is only minimal distress, any amount of fireplace deterioration can lead to serious issues over time if the warning signs are left neglected.

Your fireplace will need to be inspected if you notice chipped or missing mortar between the fire brick in the firebox, cracks or gaps between refractory panels, or holes in the firebox or smoke chamber. Another indicator of a potential issue is the appearance of efflorescence (white residue) on the masonry around the firebox. Additionally, signs of deterioration in your fireplace may be an indication of more extensive issues in your flue or your chimney system.

Steps to Take if You Notice These Warning Signs

If you notice any of the above warning signs, you should immediately contact a trusted professional who can repair these issues as soon as possible. If these issues go unresolved for a long period of time, there is a higher chance that you could experience more severe issues or compromise the safety of your family and your home. 

Additionally, there are preventative measures you can take to catch these warning signs in the early stages. It is always a good idea to invest in fireplace services like an annual chimney sweep and inspection to maintain the quality and safety of your fireplace.

If you are a Indianapolis fireplace owner and notice any of the warning signs above, please refrain from using your fireplace and immediately reach out to Brick + Ember Outfitters Indianapolis. All of our outfitters are certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America and are highly skilled in repairing any fireplace-related issues. Contact us to schedule a fireplace assessment and repair services today.