Chimney problems we find in Middletown and Anchorage, Louisville
Documented by David York, Owner
This page is based on 7 completed Chimney Experts inspections in Middletown and Anchorage. The photos are from those inspections, and nothing in them identifies a home.
Most homes we checked in Middletown and Anchorage were built from 1965 to 1983. Five of the seven had a brick fireplace with a clay tile flue, and one was a condo with a factory-built fireplace.
These chimneys are now 40 to 60 years old. That is about when a crown poured tight against the flue tile starts to crack, and when the mortar joints inside the flue start to open up. We found both of those again and again here. In 3 of these 7 homes we also found signs of a past chimney fire, like cracked and scorched flue tiles. The smoke chambers above the dampers were often rough brick with open joints.
This page shows what our crew found in 7 inspections, with real photos from those chimneys and no names or addresses.
What we found in 7 Middletown and Anchorage inspections
- A cracked or broken crown5 of 7
- A crown with no overhang5 of 7
- A crown poured tight against the flue tile with no gap5 of 7
- Worn or missing mortar on the outside brick4 of 7
- Signs of a past chimney fire3 of 7
- Cracked clay flue tiles3 of 7
- Open mortar joints between flue tiles3 of 7
- Flaking brick3 of 7
- A rough, uncoated smoke chamber with gaps3 of 7
Photos from these inspections
What it means for you
Signs of a past chimney fire are the finding to take seriously. A chimney fire can crack flue tiles without anyone in the house knowing it happened. Once tiles are cracked or joints are open, heat and smoke can reach the wood framing around the chimney. We ask you to stop using that fireplace until the flue is repaired or relined.
The crown problems are more common and easier to fix. A crown with no overhang and no gap at the flue tile will keep cracking, so rebuilding it the right way stops the water at the top. Keeping the flue swept keeps creosote from building up again. NFPA 211, the national standard for chimneys, calls for an inspection once a year.
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Questions we hear in Middletown and Anchorage
Could my chimney have had a fire without me knowing?
Yes. A chimney fire can crack flue tiles without anyone in the house knowing it happened. In 3 of 7 Middletown and Anchorage homes we inspected, we found signs of a past chimney fire, like cracked and scorched flue tiles.
Is it safe to use a fireplace with cracked flue tiles?
No. Once tiles are cracked or joints are open, heat and smoke can reach the wood framing around the chimney. We ask you to stop using that fireplace until the flue is repaired or relined.
Why do crowns in Middletown and Anchorage keep cracking?
These chimneys are now 40 to 60 years old, and a crown with no overhang and no gap at the flue tile will keep cracking. Rebuilding it the right way stops the water at the top. NFPA 211, the national standard for chimneys, calls for an inspection once a year.
Not sure what your chimney is telling you? Try our chimney problem diagnosis guide, or browse all of our inspection findings.
What homeowners say about working with us
“The cap installation went smoothly and while already on the roof they checked the crown for any cracking. Found a small crack that hadn't been there last year. Sealed it while up there. That kind of attention while already on site saves a separate visit.”
“we had 3 different chimney companies give us different opinions on the same chimney. one said it was fine, one said it needed a full rebuild, one said something in between. chimney experts was the 4th visit and was the most specific about what was actually wrong and why. that specificity is what finally let us make a decision”