Do you have a chimney, and do you feel like it is not working as it did a month or two ago? Relax! You can get it fixed by your local mason or even do it independently. If you see a crack in whatever type of chimney you have, know that something is amiss. Do not overlook any hints that show all is not well. Remember that ignorance is bliss. You will end up paying lots of money to buy a new home if it decides that it is tired of holding up. Later comes regrets, and you do not want that. The points that follow show what you can do to if your brick chimney is not at its best.
Fires can start abruptly and catch you off guard, especially from a chimney that has several cracks. If you leave cracks unattended for an extended period, they tend to continue to expand. Once they reach the exterior, there will be a chimney fire that, if not controlled, can burn down your home to bits in seconds! This is because chimney fires tend to kindle furiously. Sadly, only the fire department can put the fire out since it can blow out the fire top-down. Worry not; you can do repairs on these cracks alone before worse comes to worst. Log on to youtube by any means available and use the DIYs to repair your chimney. You can do that earlier to know whether you have all the equipment required for that task. If not, you can get them first.
Repairing chimneys is highly dependent on the weather as well as the season. You cannot start repairing blindly. If you are using mortar to do your repair, know that you cannot apply it when the temperature is below 40 degrees Celsius. You should be keen on these temperatures, especially if you know that they keep fluctuating. Apply it when the temperatures are favorable. If you expect the temperature to drop in 24 hours, you should postpone it.
The points above show what you can do if you notice that the chimney is in bad shape. Remember that the weather is crucial if you are planning to repair your chimney. Also, you can consider checking up with the permitting officer in your area. If it is a significant repair, you might need a permit.