Chimney Sweeping & Repair in Birmingham, AL

The Birmingham Ap station averages 47 nights a year at or below 32°F and 6 at or below 20°F.^1,2 Repeated freeze-thaw cycles open small masonry cracks; an inspection should include the crown, the cap and the condition of the flue tiles. The median home in the city of Birmingham was built in 1965, older than the U.S. median of 1980 and older than the Alabama median of 1986.³ Older masonry chimneys may be unlined or have cracked clay tile liners; a Level 2 camera inspection is the standard way to confirm the liner before the first fire of the season.

The stock is old by national standards: 72% of Birmingham's housing units were built before 1980 (U.S. 50%), and only 7% since 2010.³ Annual precipitation is about 57 inches, with 18 days a year of an inch or more.^1,2 Heavy rain tests the flashing and crown; most chimney leaks enter there rather than through the brick, and the inspection report should say which. Measurable snow is rare (about 1.4 inches a year).^1,2

Heating and cooling loads are both real: about 2,533 heating and 2,177 cooling degree days a year (base 65°F).^1,2 With both heating and cooling seasons, assemblies are specified for moisture movement in both directions. Building permits in Birmingham are normally issued by the city building department.^4,5 Where a liner or rebuild needs a permit, the contractor files it with the city before work starts.