Why Sweep a Chimney?

Chimneys are swept to remove residues in thefireplace system that has suffered a chimney fire
chimney which can block the flue and prevent propershould never be reused and should always be
drafting, and to remove flammable deposits which canreplaced according to the Chimney Safety Institute of
cause a chimney fire.America.FURNACE FLUES & WATER HEATER
All types of appliances which burn fuel and vent toFLUESFurnaces that use oil or gas also produce
the outdoors should be inspected annually and sweptdangerous byproducts. First, the fumes that are being
when needed such as:Chimneys that need annualvented are generally more dangerous than wood
inspectionFireplaces that burn wood or gasChimneyssmoke because they contain higher levels of carbon
serving wood stovesWater heater flues & furnacemonoxide than wood smoke. Leaky connector pipes,
fluesVented gas hearth products: gas fireplaces, gasimproper flue sizing and other chimney problems such
freestanding stoves, gas logs & gas insertsWOODas cracked flue tiles, oversized flues or undersized
BURNING FIREPLACES & WOOD STOVESWoodflues and structural defects or deterioration can all lead
smoke occurs because not all the chemicals in woodto fumes entering your home. Carbon monoxide
can be burned by your fireplace or wood stove.cannot be seen and cannot be detected by the human
Smoke contains tiny, unburned but flammable solidnose.Visible soot in the house is one indication of a
particles which adhere to the walls of your chimneyproblem with your furnace and it's venting system.
which are called creosote. As these depositsVisible soot means you need to call your furnace
accumulate, a stray spark from your fire can igniterepair company, but also your chimney sweep! Your
them causing a chimney fire.Chimneys and connectorchimney exists to carry fumes and soot away from
pipes (such as the black pipe connecting a woodthe living space, so even a faulty furnace should send
stove to the chimney) are designed as a passagewaysoot up the chimney. Sooty walls may indicate a
for smoke which passes through at relatively lowproblem with the furnace, but this ALWAYS indicates
temperatures they are not built to withstand chimneya problem with the venting!Oil soot is particularly nasty
fires, which can burn in excess of 2000 degrees. Ato deal with. It is harder to remove and we use
chimney fire can destroy the mortar in a masonryspecialized equipment to deal with it. Soot from gas
chimney which can cause a chimney to collapse orfurnaces and water heaters is less likely, but an annual
allow the fire to spread to the framing members ofinspection can help identify problems and correct them
your home. Sometimes a first chimney fire will "only"before a small problem becomes hazardous.Annual
crack the flue tile liners. This situation is dangerouscleaning and inspections are very important to the safe
because a subsequent chimney fire now has an easyand efficient operation of your home's central heating
pathway to the walls of your house, allowing forsystem. The chimney sweeping process averages
massively destructive and dangerous house fires.one to two hours.*Article reprinted with permission of
When you have been advised that your flue tiles areVictorian Fireplace ShopKaren Duke is a fireplace,
cracked, it is time to take action and have the chimneychimney and hearth industry expert of over 25 years
repaired!PREFABRICATED FIREPLACESPre-fabin both the retail and service sectors. She is a CSIA
fireplaces are a particular concern to chimney sweeps.Certified Chimney Sweep and has numerous hearth
Although highly regulated and safety tested in the lab,industry certifications. She is the founder and
too often we find hidden dangers due to improperwebmaster of and she is the co-founder and
installation. Installation defects such as improperwebmaster of which is one of the largest online
clearances, improperly connected pipe and substitutefireplace retailers in the world. She makes her home in
components combined with overfiring and generalMechanicsville, Virginia. Karen's contact information can
deterioration can lead to home fires. A prefabricatedbe found on either of the above sites.