Our Company Blog

Resolving Chimney Smoke and Drafting Problems

Your chimney should work for you. Like other systems in your home, you may take it for granted until it doesn’t work. Your chimney will work fine for a long time, venting your fire as it should, smoke escaping out the top of the flue. As long as it’s working, many homeowners don’t worry about scheduling routine services. The biggest thing to remember about the chimney system, however, is that when it works, it’s good. When it doesn’t work, it’s very bad.Resolving Chimney Smoke & Drafting - Suffolk NY - Chief Chimney

Dangers of a Smoky Fireplace

If you find that your fireplace smokes when you’re lighting the fire, especially in a cold chimney, it’s not a huge deal. If a little smoke escapes your stove when you open it to load in more wood, that isn’t a huge deal. When you have a persistent smoke issue and the damper is in the open position, it’s a problem. When the smoke pushes into your room consistently, and visibly, you have a problem. Your inefficient chimney isn’t just a fire hazard at this point. It’s also a hazard to your health.

Troubleshooting

Sometimes a smoky fireplace is a simple problem with a simple solution. If the chimney is cold, it can be difficult for the smoke to rise up the chimney. If the fire is hot and has been burning for an hour or more, this is likely not the issue. It may be that you have a draft problem, meaning your house is too tightly sealed and cannot draw air from it to create a draft. If this is the issue, it can be resolved simply by cracking a window or opening a door on an opposite side of the house. Other appliances may also interfere with the chimney’s draft. You may also try shutting these off to see if there is a difference in the chimney’s performance.

If you have tried troubleshooting with no luck, are burning dry, seasoned wood, and your damper is in the correct position, and you still have a smoky fireplace, it’s time to call a professional.

Chief Chimney Services Offers Diagnostic Inspections

At Chief Chimney Services, the safety and comfort of our customers in Suffolk County is our #1 priority. Fire is not the only safety concern when it comes to fireplaces. Smoke inhalation can cause respiratory issues over time, sudden respiratory distress in asthmatics, and carbon monoxide poisoning in people of all ages. If you think you or a family member has inhaled too much smoke, seek medical attention.

If you haven’t resolved your smoky chimney/fireplace yourself, you can count on Chief Chimney Services. One of our technicians will come in and assess the entire chimney system for failing parts. It may be a simple issue that was overlooked during construction or something that occurred over time. If it’s a chimney sizing issue, it can be resolved with a new, appropriately-sized liner. We can replace it if it’s a faulty damper. If there is a solution to your chimney problem, the Chief can resolve it.

Contact Us

Call Chief Chimney Services to handle your smoky fireplace in Suffolk County. Call 631-863-2460, or schedule online.

By John Pilger on February 26th, 2018 | Tagged with: Tags: , , | Comments Off on Resolving Chimney Smoke and Drafting Problems

The Importance of a Clean Fireplace for Valentine’s Day

We are halfway through the cold season, and there is light at the end of the tunnel. It’s still important to maintain the chimney properly, however—even if you’re using it less, and even if it is working fine. If your chimney system is broken or damaged, you may not notice it until it’s too late, and serious damage has occurred. Besides the obvious safety perks of a clean chimney, you may also find that a clean chimney is just what you need to make your Valentine’s Day warm, comfortable, and romantic.A Clean Fireplace for Valentine’s Day - Suffolk NY - Chief Chimney

Why Sweep Your Chimney

In order to keep your family and property safe, it’s important to keep up with routine maintenance. Both the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommend routine sweeps and annual inspections for the most efficient and safe chimney system possible—year-round. When your chimney is cleaned, there isn’t anything in the flue to obstruct airflow, so the smoke rises out as it should. The alternative is that the air slows, and smoke stalls, depositing soot and creosote on the flue walls and even pushing smoke back into the house. Carbon monoxide is very dangerous. Carbon monoxide poisoning often goes unnoticed. If you have a smoky chimney, and you’re troubleshooting to no avail, contact a chimney professional and schedule a chimney sweep today.

Most chimney sweeps include a level 1 inspection that assesses the readily accessible portions of your chimney system. This inspection will identify any hazards that may put your family and home at risk. A level 1 inspection is recommended annually and may be required by your homeowner’s insurance. Kill two birds with one stone, and have your chimney sweep completed now.

The Danger of an Unclean Chimney

If your chimney continues to work while dirty, there are many things that can occur.

You may experience:

  • a smoky fireplace while the fire is lit,
  • a drafty or stinky fireplace while it’s not lit,
  • or may even have a fire that devastates your household with injuries and loss of property or life.

A dangerous chimney is no laughing matter, but it can also cramp your style for your big Valentine’s date.

Dirty Chimneys Stink

When the chimney is dirty, it can stink—actually smell! If you notice your chimney has an odor, you may have a dirty chimney or a bigger problem. The best solution is to schedule a chimney sweep with a professional. If the chimney isn’t cleaned, you may also have difficulty lighting or keeping a fire burning, reaching the desired temperature, or burning too much wood. All of these issues can be avoided completely with a chimney sweep, and there’s still time.

You can schedule a chimney sweep with Chief Chimney Services now, and we’ll have your system cleaned before Valentine’s Day!

By John Pilger on February 12th, 2018 | Tagged with: Tags: , , , | Comments Off on The Importance of a Clean Fireplace for Valentine’s Day

Fireplace Smoking Problems

The last thing you want to experience on a cold winter’s night is a smoky fireplace. A smoky chimney doesn’t have to be wafting clouds of smoke out into your room. It can also smell strongly of smoke, cause respiratory distress, and produce excessive smoke inside the fireplace that hides the flames. A smoky fireplace can take on different forms, but one thing is for certain—it shouldn’t occur at all.Fireplace Smoking Problems - Suffolk NY - Chief Chimney Services

Reasons Your Chimney Smokes

Draft Problems

  • Your chimney should vent the smoke from your fireplace, but to do so requires an updraft to carry smoke and gases up and out of the house. The heat from the fireplace should create the push the air needs to rise, but if the chimney system is competing with other draft-producing appliances in the house, it may not vent properly.
  • Troubleshoot: Crack a window or door in another part of the house. Do not run large appliances or ceiling fans while the fireplace is going or when fireplace doors are open.

Airflow Problems

  • It may be that you have an obstruction in your flue. Your chimney may have a creosote buildup that has become a dangerous obstruction. It may be filled with debris, or the damper may be stuck in an engaged position, closing off the flue opening and preventing airflow.
  • Troubleshoot: Look into your chimney with a mirror to check for obvious obstructions. If the flue is closed to airflow, DO NOT ATTEMPT A FIRE until it has been assessed by a certified chimney sweep.

Incorrect Fuel

  • Burning the wrong type of fuel in your fireplace can cause smoke problems. You should only burn properly seasoned wood in your fireplace. It should be cut and dried so that it burns cleanly. Green/fresh wood will smoke more, as well as leaves, pine cones, pine needles, clothes, and trash.
  • Troubleshoot: Plan ahead and cut or buy wood with adequate time for it to season. Check the wood’s dryness by inspecting it visually before burning.

Cold Chimney

  • If your chimney is cold, your fire is battling a great deal of cold air. The cold air in your chimney will fall as the warm air from your fire attempts to rise. The cold air will win, push smoke into your house, and make it difficult to light the fire and keep it lit.

Troubleshoot

  • Prime your chimney by lighting a rolled newspaper and burning it completely while holding it at the mouth of the chimney. This small amount of heat slowly warms the air in the chimney. By the time the newspaper is burned completely, your chimney should be ready to vent your fire.

Contact Us

There are other reasons that your chimney may not be venting properly. If you’ve attempted to troubleshoot and still get the same results, it’s a good idea to stop using your fireplace until a professional can assess it. There may be unseen problems with your chimney system that can put your family and home at risk if not addressed. Schedule a chimney inspection with Chief Chimney Services, and you won’t be waiting long. Chief Chimney Services offers the best services in the Suffolk County Area—and in a timely manner. Call us today at 631-863-2460 or schedule an appointment online now.

By John Pilger on December 29th, 2017 | Tagged with: Tags: , , | Comments Off on Fireplace Smoking Problems

Keep a Clean Chimney for Santa

Your fireplace may be the most popular aspect of your home this season. The adults can relax by the fire after the kids go to bed, use it as a backdrop for countless festivities and photographs, and even save on utility costs by lighting a fire for zone heating. The real moment for the fireplace to shine is Christmas morning, though. Stocking stuffers, gift exchanges, and family photos are just the beginning. The Jolly Elf himself makes his entrance by way of the fireplace! If you have a fireplace, you are one step ahead of everyone else, but it’s more important than ever to make the experience great for everyone (including Santa Clause), by keeping the chimney clean.Keep a Clean Chimney for Santa - Suffolk NY - Chief Chimney Services

Routine Maintenance

You might have your dream fireplace, but the best way for it to work like a dream is to keep it well-maintained. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) both recommend regular chimney sweeps and annual chimney inspections to keep your chimney system working safely and efficiently. Keeping up with this maintenance will make your chimney system work well year after year. The damaged, broken, and forgotten chimney is one that has been neglected. Make sure your fireplace is in tip-top shape for Christmas and all year-round by scheduling your chimney sweep now. Chief Chimney Services offers chimney sweeps and inspections year-round, to best serve our customers in Suffolk County area.

Why Clean Your Chimney

A clean chimney is a chimney that works well. When you schedule a chimney sweep with Chief Chimney Services, a certified technician will come into your home, and clean your chimney from top to bottom, removing all creosote, ash, and soot from the fireplace and flue.
While we’re there, we’ll also:

  • Check the flue for cracks or obstructions that can affect airflow and cause a drop in efficiency
  • Check the cap and crown for damage that can cause water damage and allow animals into the flue
  • Check that the damper is functioning properly so that drafts don’t affect your chimney, waste your central heat, or cause smoke to push into your house
  • Check the masonry for water damage, cracks, or gaps that can cause a drop in efficiency, raise the risk of fire, and put your family at risk for carbon monoxide intrusion
  • Check the firebox for damage

Besides checking traditional wood-burning masonry fireplaces and appliances, we also specialize in gas and oil-burning appliances.

Contact Us

It’s not that Santa needs the cleanest chimneys possible. It’s that he, like Chief Chimney Services, wants every boy and girl and family to be safe and warm this holiday season. When you hire a professional to clean your chimney system, you will be your safest. You will have less issues with your fireplace, and you will need less services in general. Give yourself a Christmas gift this year, and hire Chief Chimney Services to clean your chimney.

Call 631-863-2460 or schedule online.

By John Pilger on December 7th, 2017 | Tagged with: Tags: , , , , | Comments Off on Keep a Clean Chimney for Santa

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.Avoiding Holiday Chimney Fires - Suffolk NY - Chief Chimney Services

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!

By John Pilger on November 23rd, 2017 | Tagged with: Tags: , , | Comments Off on Avoiding Holiday Chimney Fires

Operating Your Fireplace this Autumn

October for many simply means new decorations, Halloween parties, and pumpkin spice treats. For some, though, it is time to think about your fireplace. When you’re ready to light your first fire of the season, you want to know your chimney is ready, and that your fire will be safe and warm.Using Your Fireplace this Fall - Suffolk NY - Chief Chimney Services

A Fire-Ready Fireplace

Both the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) recommends routine maintenance for a safe and efficient fire. You may schedule annual chimney inspections and base your chimney sweeps on your inspector’s recommendations. You may schedule your sweep for spring, and your inspection for fall. Maybe you just want to do them both together, and that is fine, too. The important thing is that your chimney is safe and has been assessed by a certified chimney sweep before burn season.

Preparing for Winter

Your chimney may be in good shape, but you’d like some added protection. You can schedule waterproofing services with Chief Chimney Services before winter. This vapor-soluble sealant keeps water molecules out, while allowing gases to escape.

Proper Fuel Store

When you have a wood-burning fireplace, insert, or stove, you should have a supply of properly seasoned wood to burn in your fire. Burning green/fresh wood or any other material including trash and cloth, it can burn incompletely, increasing the smoke, creosote, and pollution produced by your fire. Burning seasoned wood will decrease the amount of wood you have to burn during one season, saving you in resources and utilities. You will also need chimney sweep services less often when you have an efficient fire, saving you money in maintenance and repairs.

Fireplace Safety

Burn season is long, and during cold weather, families often spend an increased time indoors. Additionally, through fall and winter there are many reasons to have guests and host get-togethers, and it’s important that everyone stays safe.

  • Never leave children unattended with a fire. You can add a barrier by installing a screen or custom glass doors.
  • Keep the damper open while the fire is burning to allow the smoke, gas, and particulate pollution up the flue.
  • Keep decorations, furniture, and drapes away from the hearth.
  • Use only proper fireplace tools and accessories when stirring the fire or adjusting logs. For added protection, use leather gloves to prevent burns.
  • Check the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. If you do not have these installed, do so before lighting a fire.
  • Plan a fire escape with your family and make sure to practice at least monthly so that everyone knows how to best leave the house during a fire.
  • Keep a first aid kit and fire extinguisher in the house. First aid kits should only be used for minor injuries, not to replace emergency care. A fire extinguisher should be used only to escape or to put out a small fire, not to attempt to put out a house fire.

When Autumn arrives in full swing, you won’t want to wait to light your fire. Make sure it’s safe so it’s ready when you are.

By John Pilger on October 8th, 2017 | Tagged with: Tags: , , , | Comments Off on Operating Your Fireplace this Autumn

Enhance Fireplace Efficiency and Style

Did you know that if you have a problem with your fire, it may not be a problem with your fireplace or chimney? If you have trouble with your chimney system, and it has been checked for safety, cleanliness, and function, there is probably another issue.Enhancing Your Fireplace - Suffolk NY - Chief Chimney Services

Burning Properly Seasoned Wood

Your wood-burning fireplace, stove, or insert is designed to burn properly seasoned wood only. When you use the wrong fuel, the fire doesn’t burn properly and the chimney won’t work properly.
Signs you’re burning the wrong wood:

  • The system requires frequent cleaning
  • An excess of ash due to incomplete burning
  • Dark blue/gray smoke from the chimney
  • Small flame
  • Blackened glass/window on stove or fireplace
  • Smoky fireplace even while damper is fully open
  • More wood required to reach a desired temperature

When you burn the correct wood, you should see a hotter fire, a bigger flame, and thinner smoke. It will take less wood to reach the same temperature, saving you resources, time, and energy (hauling, cutting, stacking wood). When you burn properly seasoned wood, you will find there is less creosote and soot buildup inside the chimney flue, because the air is hot enough to drive it up and out of the chimney system. There will be less particulate pollution to pollute the environment and less necessary cutting from the environment. In all, you will save big when you burn the right fuel in your wood-burning fireplace.

Choosing the Right Wood

Not all woods are created equal. Some trees are much harder than others, and how hard they are will determine how long your wood should sit and season before it’s burned. Trees live and grow using water, and their trunks and branches are filled with tiny vein-like tubes that hold water. When you cut the tree down, or when your supplier cuts it down, these tubes are still filled with water. If you let the whole tree sit, it may take years for tubes to dry, if ever. But if you cut the wood and let it sit, it will dry in a matter of months, and will be ready to burn efficiently.

Hard woods have a higher heat output than soft woods, but require longer to season (6-12 months). Softer species of wood can season in a shorter amount of time (3-6 months), but will burn faster and with less heat output. Which you use will depend on availability and personal need. If you use a fireplace occasionally, you may not be picky about the type of wood you use, but you should be picky about the quality of wood you choose.

Check Your Wood Before You Burn!

Even if you buy your wood, you can make sure it’s seasoned by looking it over before you buy. It should be dull in color, light in weight, the bark should pull away from the wood with cracks along the edges of the wood, and produce a hollow noise when hit together.

The wood you burn plays a big part in how your chimney functions! Revitalize your fire by burning the correct fuel! If you still have chimney problems, ask a professional at Chief Chimney Services. Call 631-863-2460 today.

By John Pilger on September 27th, 2017 | Tagged with: Tags: , , , | Comments Off on Enhance Fireplace Efficiency and Style

Elements Of A Perfect Chimney System

Your chimney is designed to last a lifetime. Ideally, it will last as long as your house stands. However, this is only possible if it is properly constructed, maintained, and used.Perfect Chimney System Elements - Suffolk NY - Chief Chimney Services

Your Chimney System

Your chimney has one job: to vent your fire. A fire, no matter what type of fuel it burns, will release byproducts as it burns. These need to be vented out of the home. This protects the house from smoke saturation, added moisture, and health risks. In order for all of the many parts of the chimney system to work correctly, there are factors that need to be in place.

Proper Construction

Your chimney should have been constructed by a CSIA certified chimney sweep. A general contractor doesn’t have the training or knowledge of chimney science to design and build a chimney. Especially one that will vent properly, stand as long as it should, and withstand high heat.

  • Design and Function
    In order for your chimney to vent properly, it should be built specifically for the size of the fireplace. A chimney that is too tall or wide will not vent properly because the air will cool before it escapes through the opening, leaving the soot, creosote, and unburned wood particles on the flue walls.
  • Chimney Liner
    Your flue liner should be properly fitted for your fireplace or fire appliance. In many older chimneys, clay tile liners were installed, and are now damaged or not appropriate for the fuel type that is used in the fireplace. The best liner available is a stainless steel one, appropriate for all fuel types, affordable, and long-lasting. Another option, and one available at Chief Chimney Services, is a relining with HeatShield® Cerfractory® Flue Sealant, which repairs and relines the flue from top to bottom at a low cost, transforming an old clay tile liner into a durable, long-lasting one, and safe for all fuel types.

Properly Maintained

Even a well-constructed chimney system can become deteriorated prematurely, when it isn’t properly maintained. The ideal chimney system is swept and inspected regularly. This is to identify any weaknesses or hazards. In addition, to maintain the highest level of safety and efficiency. When the chimney is inspected, all parts are assessed, and should be replaced if damaged.

  • Chimney Cap
    Prevents damage caused from water and animals.
  • Chimney Crown
    Protects against water from the flue liner to the outer edge of the chimney opening.
  • Flashing
    Protects the intersection of the chimney and roof, the weakest part of the chimney system, and most susceptible to water penetration.
  • Waterproofing
    An industrial sealant that prevents water from penetrating the masonry, while still allowing vapors to escape.

Proper Use

Your chimney system is designed for one fuel. Also, it should only be used appropriately. Wood-burning systems should burn only properly seasoned wood. Gas systems should only burn natural gas, and should be checked and connected by your gas company. Proper fire safety protocol should be remembered. Plus, municipal codes and manufacturers instructions should be followed at every turn.

The chimney is a large system with many parts. Having said that, when built properly, maintained properly, and used properly – it can be the perfect addition to your dream home!

 

By John Pilger on September 7th, 2017 | Tagged with: Tags: , , , | Comments Off on Elements Of A Perfect Chimney System

Uses for Ashes in the Spring

Through an entire burn season your fireplace or stove has produced buckets and buckets of ashes. If you saved them you might wonder what you could use them for. Whether you’ve added them to compost through the winter or have kept them separate there are many uses for ashes this spring.Uses for Ashes in the Spring - Suffolk NY - Chief Chimney Service

Ashes in Your Garden

Ashes added to your compost can enhance the nutrients therein before adding it to the garden.  Sprinkled directly onto the garden before tilling can help you attain a certain level of acidity and placing a 1/4 cup of ashes directly into the hole when planting tomatoes can mean a healthy plant and plump fruits. Placing them in a flower garden can also enhance the color of some species as well as promote healthy plants.

Ashes for Cleaning

When you are deep into your spring cleaning, you can use ashes as an effective and safe cleaning aid. Ashes mixed with a small amount of water can clean your fireplace or stove glass better than most products on the market. You can use the same mixture for shining your metal handles, as well as chrome on your car!

Ashes as Pest Repellent

As spring rains and warm weather persist, bugs and pests might seek shelter in your home. If you notice the shiny trails of slugs weaving along your floors or walls, you can use ashes to stop them in their tracks. It may be difficult to find the place where they enter, but sprinkling ashes along cracks can prevent slugs and snails. If you’re unable to find the cracks that allow these pests into your house, you can also sprinkle ashes along the foundation and in the crawl spaces beneath your house.

Ashes as Pet Treatment

Ashes can deter fleas, ticks, lice, and mites in your animals, as well as help with general skin irritations. Sprinkling a bucket of ashes into a chicken coop can make dust-bathing even more affective for your poultry. In the same way, pet owners can rub a small amount of ashes through the coat of cats or dogs to curb a flea infestation. This same small bit of ashes in the fur also neutralizes pet odors. Sprinkling ashes at the bottom of the cat litter box also neutralizes odors.

Ashes to Control Pond Algae

It doesn’t take much, but using wood ashes in your pond, large or small, can control the algae growth that can turn your pond an ugly green. Just 1 tbsp per 1,000 gallons can be an affective and free pond water treatment.

No matter how you store or use your wood ashes this spring, make sure they are cool before using them for any purpose and that you wear a mask to cover your mouth and nose when you are shoveling, sprinkling, or moving ashes. You should also make sure to have your fireplace and chimney professionally cleaned so that ashes aren’t left in your fireplace or stove through the summer. Ashes will start to stink once they mingle with summer humidity. You can schedule an appointment with Chief Chimney Services online or by calling 631-863-2460 today.

By John Pilger on April 17th, 2017 | Tagged with: Tags: , , | Comments Off on Uses for Ashes in the Spring

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Carbon Monoxide is a real danger and the cause of 20,000 exposure-related ER visits per year in America alone. You can’t smell it, see it, or taste it. It is called the silent killer because people can be poisoned suddenly, or over time and never realize it. Symptoms are similar to the common cold or flu, so it’s often overlooked. Because it is almost undetectable, the best way to preventCarbon Monoxide Poisoning - Suffolk NY - Chief Chimney Services poisoning is to prevent carbon monoxide intrusion.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is produced naturally any time fuel is burned. Your fireplace produces it at high rates while a fire is burning, and your chimney vents it. It’s when the chimney isn’t working properly that intrusion can occur.

A Draft Problem

If your fireplace is smoky, you have a draft problem. This means the chimney isn’t venting properly, and smoke along with other toxins, including carbon monoxide are entering the home.

Firebox Damage

Damage to the masonry of the fireplace can allow carbon monoxide intrusion into the home. Holes and cracks in mortar can allow smoke and vapors through into the home.

Missing or Damaged Liner

If the liner becomes damaged or is missing, the gases in the chimney will penetrate the porous masonry of the chimney and enter your home.

A Clogged or Damaged Dryer Vent

The chimney is not the only ventilation system in your house that vents a heat appliance. Clothes dryers also produce carbon monoxide which can lead to CO poisoning if the dryer vent is damaged or clogged.

Preventing Carbon Monoxide Intrusion

  1. Keep your chimney and fireplace maintained properly. This includes scheduling regular chimney sweeps and annual inspections to insure your chimney is venting properly at it’s safest and highest efficiency. At these important service appointments a certified chimney sweep will get a good look at your entire system, clean it up, and offer a detailed report of necessary repairs and actions.
  2. Burn only properly seasoned wood so that your chimney system is more efficient.
  3. Make sure the damper is opened when the fireplace is in use. If the damper becomes damaged or stuck closed, do not burn a fire until the damper assembly is closed. The damper can cause smoke and carbon monoxide to push into the home instead of up the chimney.
  4. Check your gas fireplace monthly: visually check hinges, bolts, and gaskets that are designed to prevent smoke and carbon monoxide from entering the home while your gas fireplace is burning.
  5. Check your dryer vents regularly for leaks and clogs. Have them professionally installed and within code regulations. It is recommended to have dryer vents cleaned annually.
  6. Purchase and install a carbon monoxide detector. This simple and inexpensive action may save the lives of your loved ones.

As with anything else, it is best to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning than to treat it. A slow leak can cause organ damage over time that is irreparable. A large leak can cause sudden death. Prevention is key.

If you’re not certain your home is safe from carbon monoxide poisoning, contact Chief Chimney Services today for expert advice and swift service.

By John Pilger on February 27th, 2017 | Tagged with: Tags: , , | Comments Off on Carbon Monoxide Poisoning