This photo shows the inside of a flue tile looking down from the top. this is a 13 inch square tile. The creosote had built up to the point that there was less than a 4 inch opening in the tile. Your chimney needs to be cleaned by a professional chimney sweep every 1 to 2 years. If you use it regularly, it should be cleaned at least once per year. The build up shown in this photo occurred over a 3 year period. The homeowners were very lucky that the home didn't suffer extensive damage when they had a chimney fire over the Christmas holiday
A less costly repair for a damaged crown is a chase cover like this one made out of Aluminum. This provides a water tight solution, extends down the side of the chase a few inches to shed water away. We can also attach a rain cap giving a complete solution to keep not only water out but also keep birds and animals out.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS OF CROWNS AND CHASE COVERS
CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS OF CROWNS AND CHASE COVERS