THE PURPOSE OF A CHIMNEY. How often should a chimney be cleaned to prevent a creosote chimney fire? This helps to deprive the fire of the oxygen it needs to keep burning. “I would recommend having a professional chimney sweep come out and check out the fireplace before the beginning of season,” said Craddock. Keep your chimney clean– It is extremely important and cannot be emphasized enough to have your chimney professionally cleaned at a minimum of once per year. Use a meter to check the moisture content. “Sometimes, people don't do the maintenance of keeping their fireplace clean, especially the flue,” said Jerry Craddock. Be sure to keep your family, property, and belongings safe. By capping your chimney, you’ll keep debris and nesting animals out. Whether you are using wood or natural gas, fireplace safety is important. How to Make Homemade All Purpose Citrus Vinegar Cleaner, Easy DIY Homemade Natural Lip Balm Recipe, How to make a mason jar soap or lotion dispenser, A new addition to the homestead & a short break. Prevent the flow of water into your chimney and you can help to rule out these issues. If the damage isn't repaired, any subsequent fires could move beyond the flue and engulf adjoining areas. It is a layer of protection between the chimney walls and the fire. It promotes improved airflow and provides a great exhaust passage for gases. The chimney fire will then seek oxygen from the nearest available source - usually the stove or fireplace - which means that the fire can come out of the bottom of the chimney. However, chimney fires can be prevented if chimneys are given the proper attention that they require via regular chimney inspection. Do you want to know how to maintain your chimney? The easiest way to prevent chimney fire is by having the chimney professionally cleaned every year, especially if you burn pine or other resinous woods. Make sure a professional chimney sweep … “Sometimes, people don't do the maintenance of keeping their fireplace clean, especially the flue,” said Jerry Craddock. Drentel - When you keep a brick chimney clean, there is no greater risk of fire than there is with other methods of heating, such as a boiler, gas furnace or whatever. Clean chimneys don’t catch fire. The chimney cap must be installed correctly to work, so hire a professional to install one for you. Chimney fires can cause a lot of damage to the chimney structure, including cracks and holes in the chimney wall, the flue, the flue pipe, and the flue liner. And chimney fires damage structures, destroy homes and can seriously injure or kill people. How To Prevent Chimney Fires It is recommend by all experts to have your chimney serviced and cleaned prior to the cold season when it will be getting a lot of use. -An intense, hot smell Consider installing a stainless steel liner that will withstand even the highest temperatures and will … Products to prevent chimney fires The best way to keep a chimney fire from happening is to prevent the build up of creosote and here are a … Your email address will not be published. These are byproducts of burning wood. With no chimney cap in place, embers and sparks are free to flow out your chimney, into the wind. There are many things you can do to prevent a chimney fire in your home. Most chimney fires are the result of carelessness and a lack of chimney care and maintenance. To prevent a chimney fire one must be sure it’s clean, that the chimney doesn’t have a massive buildup of soot or creosote, and is properly build. They also help to provide better air flow and better passage for the combustion process along with protecting the chimney walls form excessive smoke and heat. How Can You Prevent Chimney Fires? Unclean, uninspected chimneys often lead to chimney fires. Lake County News,California - Officials offer precautions to prevent chimney fires Tuesday, 15 December 2020 The bottom line is that dirty chimney’s cause chimney fires. An important part of preventing a chimney fire is making sure your chimney … There are many things you can do to prevent a chimney fire in your home. Indications of a chimney fire can include: There are more than 25,000 chimney fires every year in the United States. Use a Chimney Liner; One excellent way to prevent fire is by using a chimney liner since it reduces chimney fire. The first time you light up your fireplace there is a chance for a fire to spark if there are complications left over from the previous winter, such as a build up of creosote. A chimney fire can have devastating results. Resinous woods leave a byproduct, called creosote, behind in the chimney when they burn. Fire of all, chimney fires are fueled by soot or creosote deposits in the chimney. Northampton Fire Chief Jon “Davin” joins us to share safety tips on how safely operate your fireplace or gas stove – and prevent a devastating fire. We suggest a few tips below, and include some information on common problems associated with woodstoves and fireplaces. A few simple ways to help prevent a chimney fire … Ways to stop chimney fires. MENTOR, Ohio — As you relax in front of your fireplace and enjoy the warmth it provides, the last thing you’re probably thinking about is how clean your chimney is. -Loud cracking and popping noises How to prevent chimney fires There are only two ways to prevent chimney fires: take away the fuel and take away the match. They also help to provide better air flow and better passage for the combustion process along with protecting the chimney walls form excessive smoke and heat. Some factors may warn you that the chimney might go up in flames. “November until April, (those are) the cold winter months, so we can anticipate a chimney fire probably once a month. With no chimney cap in place, embers and sparks are free to flow out your chimney, into the wind. WARNING: This is what WE do. By never burning any trash, Christmas tree limbs, cardboard boxes or wrapping paper. “Sometimes, people don't do the maintenance of keeping their fireplace clean, especially the flue,” said Jerry Craddock. If you’re using it daily, like a wood stove for heating, multiple cleanings will be needed each year. Most fireplaces built in the modern era were built to create an ambiance and not designed to heat a home. How to prevent Chimney fires? • Burn “clean” fires. Close Openings Close any primary or secondary openings into the fireplace or chimney. It will also … It is a layer of protection between the chimney walls and the fire. This may eliminate smaller fires altogether, or just lessen the flames in something larger. Craddock said gas chimneys don't often catch on fire, but there are still best practices, like making sure the heat can escape by opening the vent, also known as the damper. Caps that have a spark guard can help to prevent igniting organic material on roofs, in gutters and the surrounding area. These are byproducts of burning wood. A chimney cleaning runs between $125 and $250, depending on the type and condition of chimney. The chimney that’s connected to your fireplace or wood burning stove has a critical job. 5. This will prevent the buildup of creosote and possibly avoid a dangerous fire. “Just understand that you shouldn't overuse your fireplace,” said Craddock. Wait for the fire department to respond and direct them where to go when they arrive. For chimney fires, the fuel is the creosote and the match is an overly hot fire in your wood stove, also called an over-fire. A chimney liner is an essential part of a fire prevention plan. As a result, this causes a fire to break out inside your chimney. -A lot of dense smoke Here’s how to prevent chimney fires: • Have your chimney cleaned and inspected at least once a year. Dirty chimneys can cause chimney fires, which damage or destroy homes and injure people. Jerry Craddock, the public education specialist for the Mentor Fire Department, said in wood-burning fireplaces, a highly-flammable residue called Creosote builds up if you don’t annually clean your chimney, making your enjoyment very short-lived. Y. When chimney fires occur in masonry chimneys - whether the flues are an older, unlined type or are tile lined to meet current safety codes - the high temperatures at which they burn (around 2000' F) can "melt" mortar, crack tiles, cause liners to collapse and damage the outer masonry material. Spray down the roof with a garden hose to prevent the fire from spreading to other areas of the home. An accumulation of soot and creosote inside your chimney can lead to fire because these substances are combustible when exposed to high temperatures. Call us right away, and we'll come and check it out,” said Craddock. A cool flue can happen a variety of ways. These fires are preventable. “If you are suspicious of maybe there is a chimney fire, call us right away, get everyone out of the house. Unfortunately, chimney fires are a common cause of house fires during the winter. Dirty chimneys can cause chimney fires, which damage or destroy homes and injure people. We suggest a few tips below, and include some information on common problems associated with woodstoves and fireplaces. Chimney fires can be terrifying events, and take place when the creosote in a chimney ignites and spreads. MENTOR, Ohio — As you relax in front of your fireplace and enjoy the warmth it provides, the last thing you’re probably thinking about is how clean your chimney is. In extreme cases where the integrity of the top of the chimney is already compromised the top courses of brick can blow off due to the pressures inside the blocked chimney. The damages are great to the home sometimes destroying a home and also putting lives at risk. The Majority of Chimney Fires Go Undetected Slow-burning chimney fires don’t get enough air or have fuel to be dramatic or visible and they often go undetected until a later chimney inspection, but, the temperatures they reach are very high and can cause as much damage to the chimney structure – and nearby combustible parts of the house – as their more spectacular cousins. Chimney fires are a leading cause of residential structure fires every year. Help contain burning embers. “If you see flames coming from the top of your chimney, that's not normal. Chimney liners … This fire safety feature also protects the structure of your chimney to avoid exhaust fumes and excessive heat. Clean chimneys don’t catch fire. You can enjoy the warmth of your fireplace without worrying about a chimney fire by just simply following these tips. The Majority of Chimney Fires Go Undetected Slow-burning chimney fires don’t get enough air or have fuel to be dramatic or visible and they often go undetected until a later chimney inspection, but, the temperatures they reach are very high and can cause as much damage to the chimney structure – and nearby combustible parts of the house – as their more spectacular cousins. Chimney fires are very scary and dangerous. Dirty chimneys can cause chimney fires, which damage or destroy homes and injure people. A chimney cleaning runs between $125 and $250, depending on the type and condition of chimney. Sporkasia January 23, 2014 . Listed below are a few tips: Have your chimney inspected. It can line the chimney and flue over time, and under the proper conditions, it can ignite. “That heat is going directly into the room and it should be, you know, that exhaust. “It's like a tare substance that sticks to the walls of the flue, and it's actually fuel (that) catches fire,” said Craddock. Caps that have a spark guard can help to prevent igniting organic material on roofs, in gutters and the surrounding area. At their worst, these accidents can result in entire homes being burnt to the ground and people losing their lives. • Burn “clean” fires. California Consumer Do Not Sell My Personal Information, The winter months are chimney fire season, Indications of a chimney fire include: Loud cracking and popping noises, A lot of dense smoke, and an intense, hot smell, To avoid chimney fires, fire fighters recommend having a chimney sweep clean your chimney annually, only use seasoned or dry wood, don't overuse your fireplace. Keep the Chimney Clean. Learn how to prevent chimney fires by following these steps to minimize the creosote build-up in your fireplace, chimney or wood-burning stove. If you’re using it daily, like a wood stove for heating, multiple cleanings will be needed each year. It should exhaust up that flue,” said Craddock. Craddock said when in doubt, call 911. This fire safety feature also protects the structure of your chimney to avoid exhaust fumes and excessive heat. If the damage isn't repaired, any subsequent fires could move beyond the flue and engulf adjoining areas. Powered by Mai Theme. If your wood is wet or not fully cured, it will not burn as hot as dry wood. Our new Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. Fire of all, chimney fires are fueled by soot or creosote deposits in the chimney. After a chimney fire it is important to get a professional’s opinion of what the cause of the fire was and ways to prevent it from happening again. The biggest thing that you can do to prevent chimney fires is to have your chimney inspected by a professional every year and cleaned as needed. A chimney liner is a great thing to prevent chimney fires. Use dry wood. That’s more than enough to warp a stovepipe, melt a rain cap and spark arrestor, and then launch burning coals and ash onto a rooftop. Unseasoned, or green, wood is the main cause of creosote buildup, so the easiest way to reduce the chances of a chimney fire is to use well-cured wood. Prevent the flow of water into your chimney and you can help to rule out these issues. Use a Chimney Liner. Adding that regardless of the heat source, clean chimneys don’t catch fire, so prepare ahead of time. MENTOR, Ohio — As you relax in front of your fireplace and enjoy the warmth it provides, the last thing you’re probably thinking about is how clean your chimney is. Clean the Fireplace and Chimney Annually. Green wood burns much cooler than seasoned wood, and as a result the smoke is more likely to condense on the inside of the chimney and cause creosote buildup. So, it's a busy time of year for us for chimney fires.". Download it here. Keep the Chimney Clean. This creosote coating is highly flammable and, given enough heat, will ignite causing a chimney fire. Following these tips will help prevent chimney fires and keep your family safe. A chimney liner is a great thing to prevent chimney fires. Temperatures in a chimney fire can exceed 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit (1,093 degrees Celsius). Use a Chimney Liner; One excellent way to prevent fire is by using a chimney liner since it reduces chimney fire. Help contain burning embers. A wood-burning stove is inserted into a fire place and the smoke is vented into a large, masonry chimney hat, allowing the smoke to linger and cool. We had a chimney fire last night and this is how we prevented damage to the stove and kept calm. Chimney fires can cause a lot of damage to the chimney structure, including cracks and holes in the chimney wall, the flue, the flue pipe, and the flue liner. Here’s how to prevent chimney fires: • Have your chimney cleaned and inspected at least once a year. How to Prevent Creosote Buildup The number one cause of creosote buildup is a cool flue. 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