Your Englewood home’s chimney hides dangers most homeowners miss, until it’s too late. You can safely spot creosote buildup, cracked mortar, or rusted caps yourself, but never climb on roofs, ignore smoke backups, or assume ‘it looks fine.’ When in doubt, call Steven P Chimney LLC’s licensed team to avoid costly repairs or fires. Start with these three safe checks before winter hits.
Which Simple Brickwork Checks Can You Safely Perform on Your Own This Winter?
Englewood’s older homes often have brick chimneys with hidden weaknesses, but you don’t need a chimney sweep to catch early problems. From ground level, do this: 1. Inspect the chimney cap: Look for rust, warping, or missing sections. A damaged cap lets rain and debris in, corroding your clay flue liner (common in pre-1980s homes). Check our guide on liner repair>>/compare/repair-vs-replace-chimney/ if you spot cracks. 2. Check mortar joints: Use binoculars to scan for white powdery stains (efflorescence) or crumbling mortar between bricks. In Englewood’s freeze-thaw cycles, this means water damage, a leading cause of liner failure. Learn more about masonry risks>>/blog/chimney-waterproofing-englewood-essential-factors/. 3. Smell test: Light a fire and watch the smoke. Slow drafts or smoke seeping into the room? This signals a blocked flue (creosote, debris, or a collapsed liner). Never burn fires to ‘clear it’, this accelerates creosote buildup. See our seasonal prep guide>>/blog/seasonal-chimney-sweep-englewood/ for timing. You can also review everything we handle.
Warning Signs That Mean ‘Stop DIYing and Call Steven P Chimney LLC Immediately’
Englewood’s older masonry chimneys (especially those built before 1950) hide silent dangers. If you see ANY of these, halt use and call us: - Orange/yellow flames: A sign of improper combustion, likely due to a cracked liner or restricted airflow. This can release carbon monoxide (CO) into your home. CO risks in older homes>>/blog/7-signs-you-need-a-professional-chimney-sweep-littleton-co/. - Cracked or bulging masonry: If bricks are spalling (flaking) or the chimney leans, this means structural failure. DIY fixes (like patching with cement) won’t stop water penetration, it’ll trap moisture and accelerate decay. Compare repair vs. rebuild>>/compare/repair-vs-replace-chimney/. - Creosote chunks (glossy or tar-like): Thick, stage 3 creosote is a fire hazard. Scraping it yourself can damage your liner or cause toxic fumes. Our CSIA-certified sweeps use rotary tools and vacuums to remove it safely. See our creosote removal process>>/services/. - Animals nesting: Birds, squirrels, or raccoons in your chimney chew through liners and leave combustible nests. Never reach in, this risks falling debris or bites. We use humane removal and one-way caps to prevent recurrence. There is more in contact the office.
Why Should Homeowners on Palisade Avenue Avoid DIY Fixes for Masonry Damage?
Some ‘quick fixes’ void warranties, violate code, or create hazards. Avoid these common DIY mistakes in Englewood’s older homes: - ‘Sealing’ a chimney with roofing cement: This traps moisture, rotting wood supports and corroding metal flashing. Use pro-grade waterproofing (like our Elastek coating) instead. Learn proper waterproofing>>/blog/chimney-waterproofing-englewood-essential-factors/. - Ignoring a ‘smoky’ fireplace: If smoke billows into the room, your damper may be stuck, but it could also mean a collapsed liner. Never force the damper, this can displace bricks or damage the flue. - Using a ‘chimney rocket’: These cheap, flimsy liners (often sold online) won’t withstand Englewood’s temperature swings. A pro-installed stainless-steel liner (like Aluminum or Ceramic) lasts decades. See our liner options>>/services/. - Climbing on the roof: Falls from chimneys are a leading cause of injuries in DIYers. Even ‘quick’ repairs like replacing a cap require proper footing and tools. Leave it to our certified crew>>/about/, we’ve worked on historic Englewood masonry for years. Background in the team behind the work.
How Do You Know When Your Historic Home's Liner Needs Professional Attention from a Chimney Sweep?
We’re licensed, insured, and specialized in Englewood’s older homes, here’s when to stop guessing and call us: - Before winter: If your chimney hasn’t been inspected since last season, schedule one now. Englewood’s low humidity and high winds dry out creosote faster, increasing fire risk. Book your fall sweep>>/contact/. - After a storm: High winds or hail can displace bricks or damage caps. Even if it ‘looks fine,’ hidden cracks let water in, leading to liner corrosion in months. - When selling your home: A CSIA-certified inspection (not just a sweep) boosts resale value by proving your chimney meets current code. See our inspection process>>/compare/chimney-sweeping-vs-inspection/. - If you’ve had fires with odd smells: Petroleum odors, burning hair, or ‘rotten egg’ smells mean improper combustion, often from a failed liner or blocked flue. Our video inspections catch these issues before they’re dangerous. Get a quote>>/pricing/ for a full diagnostic sweep. More on this in the neighborhoods we visit.
Englewood-Specific Chimney Quirks: What Makes Older Homes Riskier
Englewood’s mix of historic bungalows and modern additions creates unique chimney risks: - Brick chimneys built before 1970 often lack proper flashing, letting water seep into wood framing, a fire hazard. Our masonry specialists repair without removing drywall (common in older homes). - Gas fireplaces with shared chimneys: If you added a gas line later, creosote from wood fires can contaminate the gas flue, causing CO leaks. We inspect both flues in one visit. - High-efficiency inserts: These reduce drafts, making creosote buildup worse. If you upgraded, schedule a sweep every 6 months. See our high-efficiency service>>/services/. - Englewood’s clay soil: The expansion/contraction cycles can shift chimney foundations, causing misaligned flues. We use laser alignment tools to spot this before bricks crack. Serving nearby areas>>/areas/littleton-co/: We’ve seen this in Highlands Ranch and Castle Rock too.
Pro Tip: The ‘Englewood Chimney Checklist’ for Homeowners
Print this seasonal checklist to track your chimney’s health: - Spring: Inspect cap, crown, and mortar for winter damage. See our summer prep guide>>/tips/getting-your-chimney-ready-for-englewood-s-summer-weather/. - Fall: Sweep before first use, creosote dries out in cold weather. Fall sweep timing>>/news/why-fall-brings-the-most-chimney-sweep-calls-in-englewood/. - After heavy rain: Check for water stains in the fireplace (sign of a leaking liner). - Annually: Schedule a CSIA Level 2 inspection if your chimney is older than 20 years. Why inspections matter>>/compare/chimney-sweeping-vs-inspection/. Pro move: Take photos of your chimney each season. Changes (like new cracks or rust) become easy to spot over time. Need a second opinion?>>/blog/how-to-choose-best-chimney-sweep-englewood-10-must-ask-quest/
Frequently Asked Questions
My Englewood fireplace smells like burning plastic when I light it, what’s causing this and is it dangerous?
That plastic-like odor usually means creosote is burning off your chimney liner, a stage 2 or 3 buildup. It’s not immediately dangerous, but inhaling creosote fumes can irritate lungs. Never burn fires to ‘clean it’, this accelerates buildup. Call Steven P Chimney LLC for a deep clean before winter. See our creosote removal process>>/services/.
I see white powder on my Englewood chimney bricks, is this just dirt, or should I worry?
That white powder is efflorescence, mineral deposits from water damage. In Englewood’s freeze-thaw cycles, it means moisture is seeping through cracks, corroding your clay liner over time. Scrubbing it off won’t fix the root cause. We seal leaks with Elastek waterproofing to stop further damage. Learn more>>/blog/chimney-waterproofing-englewood-essential-factors/.
My chimney cap is rusted through, can I replace it myself, or should I call a pro?
While replacing a cap is a simple DIY, Englewood’s older masonry chimneys often have hidden complications: - Improper sizing can restrict drafts, causing smoke backups. - Cheap caps (like galvanized steel) rust faster in our dry, windy climate. - Misalignment can damage the flue over time. We recommend calling us, we custom-fit caps and inspect the flue for damage during installation. See our cap replacement service>>/services/.