Do fireplaces and chimneys in older homes need more frequent maintenance?
Often, yes, and Swannanoa's older homes are getting a fresh look right now. The Grovemont-area houses from the 1940s through the 60s carry original masonry fireplaces, and storm recovery has many of them being rebuilt and renovated. An older or storm-touched chimney here often needs real repair — relining, masonry work — on top of the appliance's standard yearly service.
Old masonry, meeting new work
The 1940s-to-60s homes around Grovemont and Swannanoa Village were built with original masonry fireboxes that are now three-quarters of a century old — eroded mortar, aging clay liners, rusted dampers. As storm-damaged houses get rebuilt and renovated, those old chimneys are being opened up and evaluated, and a renovation is exactly the right moment to reline a cracked flue or add a sealed insert rather than paper over a tired firebox. Doing it during the rebuild is far cheaper and cleaner than coming back to it later.
A damp valley keeps the pressure on
Swannanoa's river-valley fog, cold-air pooling, and damp air are hard on masonry — moisture into the brick, freeze-thaw splitting the joint, dampers and caps rusting sooner than up on drier ground. So even a sound-looking older chimney here needs its waterproofing and crown maintenance watched, separate from the annual service the burning appliance gets. The valley simply doesn't let old brick dry out and stay that way.
Rebuilding it to last
If you're putting a home back together, do the hearth once and do it right. We inspect the flue with a camera, and as a licensed gas contractor we permit any new fireplace or conversion with Buncombe County and pressure-test the line. Swannanoa is fifteen minutes east of our Asheville showroom. Call (828) 545-0525.
Fireplace help in Swannanoa
We install and service fireplaces throughout Swannanoa and the rest of Buncombe County — just 15 minutes east from our Asheville-area showroom.
Related questions
- I just moved into a home with a fireplace — should I have it inspected before using it?
- How often should a wood-burning fireplace chimney be swept?
- Does a masonry chimney need waterproofing or crown maintenance?
- How long does a chimney liner last, and when should it be replaced?
- What happens if a wood-burning chimney is never swept?