Company Blog

Here we are again! Chimney fire “season”.

Two common causes for these fires occurring more often in late December and early January:

  • Burning of wrapping paper and old trees after Christmas.
    – Burning materials aside from the designated fuel can result in a devastating chimney fire, but in reality, even apparently safe burning can result in such an irritating inconvenience.
  • Lack of service (routine, regular chimney sweeping).
    – Our tendency for procrastination puts off annual service and then (at the last minute before the need for holiday fires) there’s no way to get an appointment and we think, “well, we really haven’t used it THAT much. It’ll probably be ok…..”

 

Anatomy of a Chimney Fire

Anytime wood burns, it creates by-products of combustion. These materials include smoke, soot, carbon monoxide, and creosote. The build-up of creosote is responsible for chimney fires. Creosote can be black or brown in color and flakey or slick in texture. Any combination of traits is highly flammable. With every fire in the fireplace or stove, creosote condenses along the interior of the chimney, building to increasingly dangerous levels. A stray spark or ember, from burning wrapping paper for example, can easily ignite the creosote, turning an innocent, homely fire in your fireplace into a catastrophe.

Creosote burns at 2000 degrees Fahrenheit, which is four to five times hotter than traditional wood fires. This extreme heat and the other chemical traits of creosote make these fires very difficult to extinguish quickly. Resulting damage can include melted mortar, cracked bricks, cracked flue tiles and exposed woodwork in the house. Once the woodwork catches fire, the house could very well burn to the ground, costing thousands of dollars in damage and potentially injuring or killing people inside the house.

While chimney fires often create noteworthy displays of light and explosions, they can also be secretive and slow-burning, causing damage without alerting anyone. A chimney sweep will look for signs of a chimney fire, including smoke leaking through the masonry materials, honeycomb textured creosote, discolored chimney components, and heat damaged roofing. Generally, chimney fires will leave severe damage in their wake and require extensive repairs. Sometimes it could even require entire chimney rebuilds, in order for the chimney to function safely again. These are not inexpensive repairs, so avoiding chimney fires would be a worthy goal.

Fortunately, chimney fires are, for the most part, preventable.

  • First, current fire safety standards mandate an annual chimney sweep, which involves the removal of built-up creosote from the interior of the chimney.
    – For fireplaces and stoves that experience heavy use, experts recommend more frequent sweeps, if need is indicated.
  • Second, burning the proper fuel for the fireplace or stove goes a long way toward reducing creosote buildup in the first place.
    – Burning wood that has been properly seasoned cuts down on creosote buildup, as well as burning more hardwoods than softwoods. Avoid burning freshly cut wood – like an old Christmas tree – and any kind of papers or decorations, which burn very hot and can emit sparks and embers.

For more information on preventing chimney fires, visit our Company Blog page. In the search box on that page, type “chimney fire”. That will get you started.

To schedule a routine chimney sweep in Upstate South Carolina, contact Blue Sky Chimney Sweeps.

Knowing What to Ask When Choosing a Chimney Sweep

If you haven’t had your chimney cleaned and inspected recently, don’t worry – there is still time.  Today’s post is going to provide some basic information about common problems, levels of inspection and choosing the best sweep.  The chimney sweep you ultimately hire to partner with you to maintain your chimney, if chosen wisely, can usually answer any questions you may have.  Here’s a few that come to mind.

Why do you need a chimney sweep?

Even if you don’t use your chimney regularly, unexpected things can happen.  One way to look at this question is to consider what could happen if your chimney goes unattended.

  • Creosote is released during the burning of the firewood, can collect on the interior of your chimney and may cause blockages. Creosote buildup can lead to draft problems and/or chimney fires.
  • Draft problems, if associated with gas fuel, can contribute to dangerous carbon monoxide entering the home.
  • Uncovered chimneys can provide attractive shelter for nesting animals.
  • If excessive water absorption is an issue, leaving it unaddressed can result in a shortening of the life of the chimney structure.

Levels of Inspection

There are different levels of inspection, and they have different purposes.  When interviewing a prospective chimney sweep company, ask to make sure their technicians now how to perform these inspections as they are defined by the National Fire Protection Association.

  • A level one inspection is the most basic inspection.  This inspection is most often called for with annual maintenance.
  • A level two inspection is what you will have done if the technician sees issues while doing a level 1 that indicate a video scan should be performed.  It will also be recommended if there have been any changes in the way your chimney is being used (change of fuel or appliance), if the chimney is new to you, or if the house is being bought or sold.
  • The third level is what will need to be done if diagnostic measures require any part of the chimney to be deconstructed.

Questions to Ask when Choosing.

How do you make sure you are getting trained professional who will do the job right.  Here are some things you might ask.

  • How long has the company been in business?
  • What kind of training do employees get?
  • Does the company have any testimonials or reviews?
  • What have neighbors or co-workers heard about the company?
  • If there are any negative comments or reviews on the internet, how were these handled publicly?
  • Ask if the company has any business liability insurance.
  • Are they a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep?  The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) is the only nationally recognized certification organization for chimney sweeps.

Getting Ready

There is really nothing you have to worry about that is chimney specific when preparing for a visit from a qualified professional chimney sweep except

  • Do not burn a fire for at least 24 hours before the sweep appointment.  This will assure that it the fireplace is cool enough to work in.
  • Remove valuable breakable objects from the mantle and hearth areas.
  • Restrain pets so they cannot interfere or get hurt during the process.

An informed customer is a customer better able to make decisions about his or her home. Here at Blue Sky Chimney Sweeps|Bless Your Hearth, we want you to feel confident about your sweep, the services you desire and knowing the job was done well. Call us today to schedule your annual inspection.  To schedule your appointment call Blue Sky Chimney Sweeps|Bless Your Hearth today to speak with our friendly folks in customer service!