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Masonry

Is your chimney safe?

Each fall, homeowners turn their attention to home improvement. They may clean gutters, garages and basements and generally prepare for winter. But, according to the Chimney Safety Institute of America, they usually fail to inspect, repair or clean their chimneys, despite the potential for damage to their property or even to their lives.

Half of US households have at least one fireplace or freestanding stove, according to the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association. The average age of a wood-burning fireplace in this country is 23 years. Seven out of eight are more than 10 years old, making them likely targets for updating.

Chimneys require regular maintenance to function safely and efficiently. The United States Fire Administration recommends that homeowners hire a certified chimney specialist to inspect and clean their chimneys and wood stoves.

Chimney fires, resulting from the buildup of creosote, can occur without anyone being aware of them, according to the CSIA. A single chimney fire can go undetected, while a second can burn down the house.

How do you know if you’ve experienced a chimney fire? Here are the signs a professional chimney sweep looks for:

• puffy creosote, with rainbow-colored streaks, that has expanded beyond creosote’s normal form
• warped metal of the damper, metal smoke chamber, connector pipe or factory-built metal chimney
• cracked or collapsed flue tiles or tiles with large chunks missing
• discolored and distorted rain cap
• creosote flakes and pieces found on the roof or ground
• roofing material damaged from hot creosote
• cracks on exterior masonry
• evidence of smoke escaping through mortar joints of masonry or tile liners

While 58 percent of homeowners use fireplaces solely to enhance atmosphere, according to the HPBA, some use them as heat sources. Heating fires account for 36 percent of residential home fires in rural areas every year, according to the USFA. Often these fires are due to creosote buildup in chimneys and stovepipes.

Creosote is black or brown in appearance. It can be crusty and flaky, tar-like, drippy and sticky or shiny and hardened. Often, all forms will occur in one chimney system.

Whatever form it takes, creosote is highly combustible. If it builds up in sufficient quantities and catches fire inside the chimney flue, a chimney fire will result. Although any amount of creosote can burn, sweeps are concerned when creosote builds up in sufficient quantities to sustain a long, hot, destructive chimney fire.

Besides having your fireplace inspected annually, here’s what you can do to prevent a chimney fire:

• Refrain from using flammable liquids to start the fire.
• Use only seasoned hardwood. Soft, moist wood accelerates creosote buildup.
• Build small fires that burn completely and produce less smoke.
• Avoid burning cardboard boxes or trash in the fireplace.
• When building a fire, place logs at the rear of the fireplace on an adequate supporting grate.
• Always use a metal mesh screen with fireplaces. Leave glass doors open while burning a fire.
• Never restrict air supply to fireplaces; otherwise, you may cause creosote buildup that could lead to a chimney fire.

For more information on chimney fires and how to prevent them, visit the Chimney Safety Institute of America web site at www.csia.org.

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