Chimney Safety

With autumn in full swing, I thought some information on chimney safety would be prudent. Do you have a wood burning fireplace? I do and I LOVE it! Yes, it's nice to turn on a switch and have a fire (gas) and it's not messy and quick and easy. But, man oh man, do I love the smell of a real fire! Hopefully this info is helpful to you.

Traditional wood burning fireplaces are still very popular and can be a wonderful feature on any property. However, they represent a unique safety issue for homeowners. Regular maintenance and upkeep are essential to keeping in home fireplaces / stoves fully functional, and therefore, fully safe for you and your family. According to FEMA, chimney and stove related accidents account for 36% of residential home fires.

To keep your property, and more importantly your family, safe while using your traditional fireplace, be sure to follow these simple safety and maintenance tips. 


INSPECT YOUR CHIMNEY AT LEAST ANNUALLY
This ideally will be done by a specialist, but at a minimum, you can check to see that there's no debris, animal nests or other obstructions in your chimney.

KEEP THE AREA AROUND YOUR FIREPLACE CLEAR OF HOME CLUTTER.
I know this sounds like a no-brainer, but in reality, many people use their hearth to store items, often too close to the fireplace. Also, remove fireplace waste on a regular basis. Make sure that the ashes are over 5 days old when you remove them and the best practice is to use a metal can for the waste.

INSTALL ADEQUATE ANIMAL GUARD
Birds and squirrels can easily take up residence in your chimney and can cause major problems.

WHILE USING YOUR FIREPLACE, USE WOOD SUITED FOR BURNING
Soft and/or moist wood does not burn as well as dry hardwood. This can cause creosote buildup in your chimney. Creosote is the black, oily residue that builds up on the inside of your chimney when woods are burned at low temperatures. Creosote is highly combustible, and can easily cause a chimney fire. Even a little creosote on the inside of your chimney can cause a problem, because the buildup restricts airflow in the chimney, reducing the combustion heat of the fire, causing more creosote to be created.

NEVER, EVER USE A FLAMMABLE LIQUID TO START OR AID A FIRE IN YOUR HOME CHIMNEY

USE A FIREPLACE GRATE TO KEEP EMBERS FROM COMING INTO LIVING SPACE
A mesh gate will protect the interior of your home while still allowing adequate air flow to the fire. Do NOT shut the glass cover on a fireplace when there is a fire. An inadequate air supply will cause the fire to burn at a lower temperature, again creating dangerous creosote.

Be safe and smart, whether you have a gas or wood burning fireplace, enjoy it this autumn and winter. Here's a few local Colorado Springs chimney cleaning companies that I recommend.

Dr. SOOT Chimney Sweep
   Phone: 719-598-4466
   Web Site

Clean Sweep Chimney Sweeps
   Phone: 719-533-0542
   Web Site

Ray's Chimney Service Plus
   Phone: 719-475-1998
   Web Site