Chimney sweeping is essential to fireplace safety
They say the sound of a chimney fire is louder than a freight train barrelling down the tracks. So powerful, you hear it rumbling through the walls of your home. It’s a sound nobody wants to hear. Chimney fires are violent, aggressive fires that can spread rapidly, causing irreparable damage.
The good news is chimney fires are mostly preventable, largely by having regular inspections. Enter the venerable chimney sweep, conjuring up images of men climbing down from the roof to clear the inside of the smoke-filled stacks, their silhouette framed against the sky with blackened top coats and wiry brushes. Today’s chimney sweeps use an array of modern technology, like power tools and remote video devices to clean and inspect your chimney. As they inspect, they are looking for many different signs. The real danger of fire comes from the buildup of a glazed residue called creosote, a chemical byproduct of wood burning that begins as a gas when soot and moisture mix. As the layers of soot increase, the creosote forms into an oily tar coating the inside of your chimney. The tar seeps into cracks and imperfections in the surface, becoming the ignition fuse. Even just an eighth of an inch leaves your chimney vulnerable.
Kevin Brooks of Colonial Chimney Sweep is also a Middletown firefighter, witnessing the dangers of chimney neglect. He personally responds to two or three chimney fires per year and knows most of those fires are preventable. “I am surprised how often people tell me they haven’t had their chimney looked at in years,” Brooks says. “People keep using their fireplace daily, and are not aware of the danger.”
It’s not just how frequently you burn a fire that is important. “It depends on how you use your fireplace,” he says. “If you change the type of wood, or start using the fireplace after not having used it for a long time, you should get it inspected.” Even if it doesn’t need to be cleaned, checking your chimney for structural integrity can be just as important. Water can penetrate the cracks and seams inside the shaft as the moisture expands and contracts. Once the seals are broken, the structure is vulnerable. Sometimes birds or raccoons seek shelter inside your chimney, causing additional problems. The worst outcomes can be prevented with just a little preventative maintenance and an annual inspection.
Tips for Fireplace & Chimney safety:
1. Have your fireplace and chimney inspected annually.
-Checking for structural flaws and buildup of soot will prevent small problems from becoming bigger.
2. Use only dried hardwoods.
-A dry wood will burn slowly and more cleanly, reducing the buildup of soot and the risk of fire.
3. Do not throw wrapping paper or other chemically-treated paper into the fireplace.
-Paper treated with chemicals will leave a harmful residue on the inside of the chimney and speeds up the buildup of creosote.
4. Do not throw pine needles and branches into your fireplace.
-Pine trees are highly flammable and could cause a flash of fire igniting flame higher up the chimney.
