Because of their devastating impact, understanding the causes of chimney fires can help you prevent them.
Every year, there are over 25,000 chimney fires in the United States. As a whole, these fires add up to over $125 million in property damage. Because of their devastating impact, understanding some of the causes of chimney fires can help you prevent them at your house. Beyond the basics, like skipping an annual chimney inspection or delaying a chimney repair, there are many other things to consider.
Not Getting a Chimney Inspection
Chimney inspections are designed to uncover various potential issues inside the chimney that are virtually impossible to detect from the outside. During your inspection, we will access parts of the chimney that are normally not seen to look for conditions that could lead to a chimney fire, including thick creosote layers, masonry damage, and more. Additionally, the person cleaning the chimney can provide you with a quote for chimney repair.
Creosote Accumulation
Creosote is a sticky, highly flammable substance that naturally accumulates in chimneys every time you start a fire. It’s the natural result of fire byproducts condensing as they leave the chimney’s heat and move to the outside where the air is cooler. As the creosote layer gets thicker, it can catch fire and rapidly spread throughout the flue. In order to reduce the chance of chimney fires, you should only burn properly seasoned hardwood. Avoid hardwood or anything not allowed to dry for six months or more.
Not Following Safety Protocols
Another common cause of chimney fires and house fires is not following basic safety protocols. For example, if you have stockings hanging on your mantle and a fire in the fireplace, you dramatically increase the risk of something catching fire. Not scheduling a chimney inspection or chimney repair is another way of avoiding proper safety protocols, and it can put you at risk of a home fire. Burning the wrong things is also a dangerous idea. Never use fireplaces to burn trash, anything that can generate toxic fumes, or something that should not be burned.
Schedule Your Chimney Cleaning from Champion Chimneys, Inc.
When you need a trusted company for your chimney inspection and chimney cleaning, you can trust our team. Champion Chimneys, Inc. is a fully licensed, bonded, and insured chimney service company that has served customers in Baltimore County, Howard County, and Anne Arundel County, Maryland, since 2001. Our team is trained and certified by Certified Chimney Professionals, Inc. (CCP, Inc.). We specialize in all aspects of your chimney system. Whether you need chimney and flue cleaning service or a full chimney rebuild or inspection, contact us at 443-Chimney today and let us fix all your chimney problems. Also, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.