Our Company Blog

Avoiding Holiday Chimney Fires

During the holidays, homeowners take pride in their homes more than ever. Decorating, hosting parties, and relaxing in a clean, beautiful home is the best way to spend the holidays. If you have a fireplace, you are a step ahead of many who wish they had a crackling fire to open gifts by and to hang stockings above. Your fireplace is a great asset, and a coveted one, so make sure it stays that way and does not become a liability.

Chimney Fires

A Dirty Chimney

When your fire is burning, byproducts are released that need venting. Your chimney vents smoke, soot, particles, and tar fog up the flue and out of the house. As these materials rise up the chimney, some amount of it is left on the flue walls—this is called creosote. Creosote is not a major issue if your chimney system is cleaned regularly. It’s easily cleaned away, but can become a problem if allowed to buildup into what’s called “glazed creosote”. Creosote consists of mostly tar, making it flammable. When left in the flue it heats and melts, and moisture evaporates out of it leaving behind a concentrated mass of fuel. Glazed creosote is not only highly flammable, but also more difficult to remove than a regular layer of soot and creosote.

What You Can Do

The easiest way to avoid chimney fires, malfunction, and damage in general is to take care of the chimney.

–Schedule Routine Sweeps
During a chimney sweep, the flammable creosote is cleared away before it can ignite. Soot and debris is also cleared away before it can buildup and obstruct airflow. When the flue is dirty, airflow slows and the smoke, hot gases, and sparks can slow down in the flue, raising risk of fire as well as lowering efficiency of the system.

–Schedule Annual Inspections
CSIA inspections may be the only time a professional gets a look at your chimney from top to bottom. Recommended annually and required by many homeowners insurance policies, the inspection is the most important measure you can take to prevent a chimney fire. Most homeowners don’t know what to look for and will not notice damage until it is too late. During an inspection, a chimney expert assesses the entire system, and reports their findings, big or small. When you schedule your annual inspection in the fall, rest assured that your chimney is ready for fires all winter. If you haven’t scheduled yet, there is still time.

–Practice Fire Safety
You should always practice fire safety and teach your family to do likewise. Never burn trash, clothes, or paper in your fireplace. Many man-made materials will burn incompletely, bringing down efficiency and raising fire risk. Even some organic materials are not appropriate for burning. Paper and leaves are so light, they can rise up the flue while ignited! It’s best to only burn properly seasoned firewood in your fireplace for a safe and efficient fire.

For all of your questions about chimney maintenance, fire safety, and preventing chimney damage this winter, call Chief Chimney Services at 631-863-2460!

How to handle a chimney fire

Homeowners hope they never have to deal with a fire, but it’s something every homeowner should be prepared for. If your home has a fireplace or heating stove, you also should be prepared to deal with a chimney fire.

Recognizing the signs of a chimney fire

First, you should know the signs of a chimney fire. Oftentimes, chimney fires are extremely dramatic and obvious. Flames and sparks shoots out the top of the chimney, dense smoke billows out, and people inside the home hear a roaring noise like a low-flying plane. Other times, however, chimney fires are far more subtle. Some smoke may begin entering the house, or there may be a popping or “raining” sound from inside the chimney.

Responding to a chimney fire

If you believe you are experiencing a chimney fire, your first priority should be to get everyone out of the home safely. While most metal chimney are made to withstand a chimney fire, there is a risk that the fire could escape and ignite your home’s structure. Because of that risk, you should immediately call the fire department. If you feel safe doing so, you can close the doors to the fireplace, and turn off any fans or blowers. Once outside, you can spray water on your roof to prevent any sparks coming from the chimney from igniting your roof.

Following a chimney fire, your chimney should be inspected by a certified chimney sweep before you attempt to burn another fire. A sweep will clean the chimney and inspect the structure. While metal flues can withstand temperatures up to 2,000 degree, they still may be damaged by a fire. The extreme temperatures of a chimney fire can cause major damage to a masonry chimney. Mortar can melt and bricks can crack, compromising the chimney structure.

Preventing a chimney fire

As the saying goes, “Clean chimneys don’t catch fire.” The majority of chimney fires are caused by a buildup of creosote, which is extremely flammable. The best way to protect your home from a chimney fire is to have your chimney swept by a certified chimney sweep at least once a year, and potentially more frequently if you rely on a woodstove as a main source of heat. Your chimney sweep will remove all creosote buildup from your flue, and will look for any signs of chimney damage or weakness.

Creosote forms when smoke cools near the top of your flue, causing condensation. Burning properly seasoned hardwood that is the right size for your fireplace can slow the buildup of creosote in your fireplace. Also, make sure you always burn fires with your damper fully open, and if you have an open-hearth fireplace, never close the fireplace doors when a fire is burning. Having a partially closed damper or closed fireplace doors interrupts the draft of smoke out of your chimney, causing smoke to linger longer and encouraging creosote buildup.

If you’re overdue for a chimney sweeping, or if you’re concerned that your chimney has experienced a fire, call the experts at Chief Chimney Services. We can help keep your home and family safe from the risk of a chimney fire.