Most chimney fires are preventable with routine maintenance, including a yearly chimney inspection.
Chimneys are an important part of many homes because fireplaces play a key role in their heating and cooling strategy. Unfortunately, chimneys can also cause hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage every year and can cause injuries and even death due to chimney fires. The good news is that most chimney fires are preventable with routine maintenance, including a yearly chimney inspection (from a professional chimney sweeping company). Read on for some important tips on how to prevent chimney fires.
Preventing Chimney Fires
There are several things that you can do to prevent chimney fires. First, only burn seasoned, dry wood and always opt for large logs over small pieces. Wet wood will deposit more creosote on your chimney walls, which is very flammable. Creosote is the #1 cause of chimney fires, with dead animals or nests being a close second. Never start fires with lighter fluid or kerosene, only kindling and matches, and never burn glossy paper, cardboard, or wrapping paper. Finally, ensure that you have your chimney serviced and inspected every year. Don’t skip this important maintenance activity, because the sweeps are the folks who are going to be able to spot the fire hazards first and deal with them before they flame up.
Identifying Chimney Fires
All of these tips are great to put into practice moving forward. Still, you should also know how to identify a chimney fire when it is happening – after all, would you recognize that there was a second fire in your chimney if there was already one burning in your fireplace? First, a free burning chimney fire is often very loud- if it sounds like a train, it is not just your fireplace fire going strong. You will also likely see billowing smoke and possibly flames from your chimney. These fires are dangerous; you must get out of the house quickly if it spreads. Slow burning chimney fires are harder to spot – they are quieter and can sometimes go undetected before they spread to the rest of the house. Prevention is the best way to protect yourself–ensure your chimneys are cleaned and maintained yearly.
Call the Experts at Champion Chimneys for a Chimney Inspection Today!
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.). Courteous service is our trademark, and our crews arrive on time in uniform, driving fully equipped trucks. 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.