allaboutchimneys-blog

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Common causes of chimney fires

Chimney fires can be spooky and potentially dangerous to you and your home. Fortunately, they're also preventable.  All too often, professional chimney service companies like this one hear stories of chimney fires that were preventable.  There was a recent chimney fire in Fairfax, VA that is a perfect example of a chimney fire that could have been prevented.  At its root, chimney fires are triggered by creosote buildup in the chimney flue itself. Eventually, that creosote ignites and burns at extremely high temperatures until it's put out or burns itself out.

So what causes this buildup? Here are four common things that may lead to the problem and what you can do about them:

The Chimney Is Not Cleaned Regularly

Over time, every chimney will build up some degree of creosote. This buildup can be cleaned off in a couple of different ways:

running a     specialized wire brush inside the chimney to scrape it off

burning a     specialized creosote-busting fire log

hiring a     service to clean your chimney for you

It's important to note that creosote does build up no matter what wood you burn or what style of chimney and stove you have. Depending on the frequency of use, you may want to have your chimney cleaned about once a month. You can consult a chimney sweeping service if you aren't sure how often is right for your home.  Read this article to learn more about annual chimney sweeps.

Smoldering Wood

If you want to keep the house cozy while you're away at work, you can dampen it down and let a log smolder away. This creates a 'cold fire' that's more smoke than flame. However, be aware that this technique causes the chimney itself to cool down. This increases creosote buildup, so have it swept more frequently.

Burning the Wrong Wood

Wood with a high concentration of resin is easy to light and fills your house with heat, fast. However, it also leads to faster creosote buildup. Firewood with high resin content includes:

pine

fir

cedar

spruce

Don't toss this wood out; it can be a valuable part of your fire starting kit. Just make sure you use these woods in moderation.

You may also be burning firewood that's in poor condition. Ideally, it should be dry and seasoned for several months. So what kinds of wood are great for burning? If seasoned and dry, you can look for:

oak

ash

hickory

maple

beech

cherry

hawthorne

If you see that some of your wood is still green or got wet, set it aside in a dry corner of your house or garage. You'll have some great, seasoned wood to heat the house in early spring or next winter. You can learn more about choosing the right firewood by reading this article.

Burning Trash in the Fireplace

It may be tempting to get rid of paper trash by tossing it into the fire. However, these items weren't intended to be burned in a wood fireplace. Waxed paper, oily popcorn bags, and chemical-laden printed ads can all add to your creosote problem.

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What's Involved In a Chimney Sweep?

Keeping your chimney clean is a crucial part of fireplace maintenance.  Not only can it be dangerous to neglect a regular chimney sweep, but it can also lead to costly chimney problems.  A homeowner in Columbia, MD said it best when he said “A chimney that is cleaned is a chimney you can trust. “ Fortunately, chimney cleaning is a fairly simple process when you call a professional chimney service company.  Chimney service companies like ours are always ready to help.  Many homeowners wonder what’s involved in a chimney sweep. Here's everything you can expect a professional to do when you're having your chimney cleaned.

Inspection

Before actually getting to work and cleaning out your chimney, it's important to make sure your chimney needs to be cleaned. Cleaning your chimney regularly is always good, so you don't necessarily have to worry about cleaning your chimney too much. However, a little bit of soot on the inside of your chimney doesn't warrant a professional cleaning; you can simply clean it yourself or wait a bit longer.

To determine if your chimney needs to be cleaned, a chimney technician should take a look at the creosote buildup inside of it. If the buildup is too thick or has a certain look to it, then they will proceed with cleaning the chimney. There are three types of inspections we perform:

·         A level I inspection involves inspecting the structure of your chimney and making sure the chimney isn't blocked with combustible materials like creosote.

If you're installing a new heating appliance, switching your fuel type, or recently had a malfunction that likely caused damage, you'll need a level II     inspection.

If the chimney service technician notices an issue during a level I or level II     inspection but can't find the culprit, then he will do a level III     inspection.

Preparation

The prep work is the first thing that needs to be done.  Getting your chimney swept can be messy. Any ash that goes down the chimney will quickly enter your home through the fireplace. A professional will prepare the area to prevent creating a mess during the cleaning process.  Proper prep includes things like removing fragile items from near the fireplace, laying down a drop cloth to set tools on so we don't get ash all over your home.

Cleaning

Once we've verified that you need a chimney sweep and prepped the area, a professional will get started on the cleaning process. This starts by using tools to clean out the flue (or inside) of your chimney. Here are some of the differences when you go with a professional chimney sweep:

We use specialized tools to make sure we get as much buildup removed as possible.

Years of experience means we know how to use these tools better than the average person.

We'll collect ash and debris that we clean out from your chimney dispose of it to keep your home clean.

If we catch any larger problems during the cleaning process, we'll recommend a solution based on what we see as your best option. It's important to heed this advice and have repairs done as soon as possible to prevent larger problems.

Chimney cleaning is a dirty job, but it's a job that somebody has to do. Always call a professional chimney service company.