| Chimneys are swept to remove residues in the | | | | fireplace system that has suffered a chimney fire |
| chimney which can block the flue and prevent proper | | | | should never be reused and should always be |
| drafting, and to remove flammable deposits which can | | | | replaced 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 to | | | | FLUESFurnaces that use oil or gas also produce |
| the outdoors should be inspected annually and swept | | | | dangerous byproducts. First, the fumes that are being |
| when needed such as:Chimneys that need annual | | | | vented are generally more dangerous than wood |
| inspectionFireplaces that burn wood or gasChimneys | | | | smoke because they contain higher levels of carbon |
| serving wood stovesWater heater flues & furnace | | | | monoxide than wood smoke. Leaky connector pipes, |
| fluesVented gas hearth products: gas fireplaces, gas | | | | improper flue sizing and other chimney problems such |
| freestanding stoves, gas logs & gas insertsWOOD | | | | as cracked flue tiles, oversized flues or undersized |
| BURNING FIREPLACES & WOOD STOVESWood | | | | flues and structural defects or deterioration can all lead |
| smoke occurs because not all the chemicals in wood | | | | to 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 solid | | | | nose.Visible soot in the house is one indication of a |
| particles which adhere to the walls of your chimney | | | | problem with your furnace and it's venting system. |
| which are called creosote. As these deposits | | | | Visible soot means you need to call your furnace |
| accumulate, a stray spark from your fire can ignite | | | | repair company, but also your chimney sweep! Your |
| them causing a chimney fire.Chimneys and connector | | | | chimney exists to carry fumes and soot away from |
| pipes (such as the black pipe connecting a wood | | | | the living space, so even a faulty furnace should send |
| stove to the chimney) are designed as a passageway | | | | soot up the chimney. Sooty walls may indicate a |
| for smoke which passes through at relatively low | | | | problem with the furnace, but this ALWAYS indicates |
| temperatures they are not built to withstand chimney | | | | a problem with the venting!Oil soot is particularly nasty |
| fires, which can burn in excess of 2000 degrees. A | | | | to deal with. It is harder to remove and we use |
| chimney fire can destroy the mortar in a masonry | | | | specialized equipment to deal with it. Soot from gas |
| chimney which can cause a chimney to collapse or | | | | furnaces and water heaters is less likely, but an annual |
| allow the fire to spread to the framing members of | | | | inspection 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 dangerous | | | | cleaning and inspections are very important to the safe |
| because a subsequent chimney fire now has an easy | | | | and efficient operation of your home's central heating |
| pathway to the walls of your house, allowing for | | | | system. 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 are | | | | Victorian Fireplace ShopKaren Duke is a fireplace, |
| cracked, it is time to take action and have the chimney | | | | chimney and hearth industry expert of over 25 years |
| repaired!PREFABRICATED FIREPLACESPre-fab | | | | in 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 improper | | | | webmaster of and she is the co-founder and |
| installation. Installation defects such as improper | | | | webmaster of which is one of the largest online |
| clearances, improperly connected pipe and substitute | | | | fireplace retailers in the world. She makes her home in |
| components combined with overfiring and general | | | | Mechanicsville, Virginia. Karen's contact information can |
| deterioration can lead to home fires. A prefabricated | | | | be found on either of the above sites. |