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TOPIC: Jimmeny Cricket

Jimmeny Cricket 14 years 8 months ago #18622

  • Ian Niquette
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An earlier photo that I posted got me going on this subject today. Lets talk about chimney crickets and how they pertain to home inspection. Do they matter?

First of all, we need to know what a chimney cricket is. Without spelling out the technical definition, lets make it easy. It is a small peaked roof built on the backside, or  high side, of a chimney to direct water and debris away. When a cricket is installed on your chimney, debris will be less likely to build up behind the chimney and therefore will not deteriorate your roof material.

Lets take a look at a chimney cricket. Nevermind the shingle job over this cricket, we are only concerned with the chimney cricket here.


Now, if  we disregard the shingles, we will see that water running down the main roof towards this chimney will be directed away as it approaches. A chimney cricket will help keep the back side of your chimney free of debris and water puddling or ponding. Picture this in early spring in a northern climate. Water trickling down the roof in the day time begins to freeeze as the temperatures drop. Now if that water freezes right behind the chimney, you may have an ice dam issue. By having the chimney cricket, the water will be directed around the chimney, rather than gathered up directly behind it.

Now, lets take a look at a chimney that does not have a cricket installed. You will notice a small amount of debris, if you look really hard.



Notice how the lack of a chimney cricket has allowed the debris to be gatherd up behind the chimney. There is actually a maple tree growing behind that chimney.  Not something  your home inspector really wants to find. A cricket would have prevented this build up. Hopefully this will be cleaned up before it gets out of control and does some damage.

As a rule of thumb, chimney crickets are recommended on chimneys that are over 30' wide. Do not be fooled by this rule however. If you are having problems with debris behind your chimney that is less than 30" wide, you may still want to consider a chimeny cricket. A good home inspector will note the absence or presence of a chimeny cricket for you, and may also make recommendations as to the effectiveness of a chimeny cricket.

If you are unable to access your roof to see behind your chimney, hire a home inspector or other chimney professional to do a proper examination of the area to see if a  chimeny cricket is needed behind your chimney. If a chimeny cricket is needed, hire the proper professional to do the work for you, and have it inspected upon completion of the work or repair.

Chirp! Chirp!

Couldn't get the pics right in the post, so here's the attachments.






Attachments:

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Square One Home Inspection
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Last Edit: by Ian Niquette.

Re: Jimmeny Cricket 14 years 8 months ago #18767

I liked that.  I need to start blogging more!

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HLC Home Inspections LLC
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Re: Jimmeny Cricket 14 years 8 months ago #18824

Looks like someone poked a hole in that first one, maybe trying to see inside the chimney.  What a crappy cricket that is!

That is a good blog Ian.  Keep it up!

As to chimney crickets, I find if you don't light too big a fire, the crickets fall down and are cooked just right.  Then you can collect them, dip them in your fave dip or chocolate and chow down.  They are much better than basement crickets, which I find to be much too chewy.

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Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC
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Northern Virginia Home Inspector
Festina Lente - Make Haste Slowly

Re: Jimmeny Cricket 14 years 8 months ago #18825

  • Ian Niquette
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Wow, that is hilarious Jay. the whole time I was writing that one, all I could think of was chocolate covered crickets. Weird.

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Square One Home Inspection
Square One Home Inspection proudly serves Green Lake, Fond du Lac, Dodge, Marquette, Columbia, Winnebago, and Waushara Counties. Complete home inspections, thermal imaging and Radon testing available.
www.squareonehomeinspection.com
Keywords : Fond du Lac Home Inspection,...

Re: Jimmeny Cricket 14 years 8 months ago #18829

Mmmm Mmmmm   :-X

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HLC Home Inspections LLC
www.OklahomaHomeInspector.biz
We are a licensed inspector for the state of Oklahoma.?  Our focus is Oklahoma City, Moore, Mustang, Yukon, Tuttle, and many other areas surrounding OKC.
HLC-Home-Inspections-Oklahoma-City

HLC Home Inspections LLC...

Re: Jimmeny Cricket 14 years 8 months ago #18854

When it comes down to survival, I'm glad I've had the opportunity to actually eat a cooked cricket...not the best, but a damn sight better than starving!

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