Preventing Chimney Fires This Winter 

A roaring fire in your fireplace is a refuge from the cold, dreary, gray weather outside. It warms your extremities and your heart. So, you want to ensure that your fireplace is safe to use and that you won’t have to worry about hazards. How do you do that? Here are some tips for preventing chimney fires this winter.

Make Sure Your Chimney is Inspected and Cleaned Regularly

If you want to ensure that your chimney is safe for use during winter, it is imperative to have it cleaned and inspected by a professional chimney sweep service at least once a year. They have the tools, training, and experience to spot a potential problem that could lead to a chimney fire and endanger your home.

The Hidden Danger of Creosote

The number one cause of chimney fires is creosote, a gummy, black material that collects inside your chimney each time you burn logs in it. Creosote is highly flammable because it has a low ignition point, and the more it accumulates in your chimney, the greater the chance you will have a chimney fire. If you used your chimney frequently last year, it should be cleaned to remove creosote. A qualified chimney sweep service will use specially designed brushes and formulated solutions to scour creosote out of your chimney and reduce the possibility of a fire occurring this winter.

Repairing Compromised Chimney Liners

Chimney liners defend your home from exorbitant heat and poisonous gases. They extend the length of your flue, and when damaged, scorching temperatures could lead to a roof fire or a blaze in your attic. When our qualified chimney sweeps examine your chimney, they use video to explore its interior and see if there is any damage to your chimney liner. If holes are in the liner, it will be replaced with a new, stronger liner, usually made of stainless steel.

Make Sure Your Chimney is Free of Blockages

If a neighborhood family of squirrels decided that your chimney was the ideal spot for their new nest or any other kind of wildlife nest, then a chimney fire could develop. If burning sparks float up your chimney and run into a nest of leaves and pine needles, a fire will happen in seconds. When a professional chimney sweep service inspects your chimney, they will remove any blockages that could cause a chimney fire or worse.

When your chimney is blocked, smoke and toxic fumes can’t escape through the chimney and will instead flow back into your home. It is hazardous because carbon monoxide is a tasteless, odorless gas known as the silent killer. Blocked chimneys are one of the leading causes of carbon monoxide poisoning and could be a threat to your family. So, you can clearly see why removing blockages from your fireplace is essential on multiple levels.

Keep Furniture Away from Your Fireplace

A substantial cause of fires during winter is furniture placed too near a fireplace. Embers can leap out of the fireplace and onto your easy chair or couch. It only takes a moment for the furniture to start smoldering and spread to the rest of the room. Be sure to position your furniture at least three feet away from your fireplace. You can also place a screen in front of your fireplace to keep embers from escaping your fireplace.

Be Prepared for a Chimney Fire

You may take all the necessary precautions and still have a chimney fire occur because of an unknowable unknown. With that idea in mind, keep a fire extinguisher placed in the same room as the fireplace and in rooms connected to your chimney in case there is damage to the liner. Place fire and carbon monoxide detectors around fifteen feet from your fireplace. Don’t place them too close; you will be beset with false alarms.

To Sum Up

With a bit of foresight and preparation, you can rest easy that your home is safe from chimney fires this winter.

Hudson Valley Can Clean and Inspect Your Chimney

Our experienced and knowledgeable chimney sweeps can inspect and clean your chimney so that there is no danger of a fire. Contact us today. We will be happy to discuss all your chimney needs.