But it’s easy to avoid chimney fires and costly repairs by: Burning seasoned wood only. You agree that BobVila.com may process your data in the manner described by our Privacy Policy. Have your chimney serviced by a certified chimney sweep once a year. The best way to keep a chimney fire from happening is to prevent the build up of creosote and here are a couple of products that can aid you in that effort. For chimney fires, the fuel is the creosote and the match is an overly hot fire in … Resinous woods leave a byproduct, called creosote, behind in the chimney when they burn. Keep reading to understand what causes chimney fires and the six best steps you can take for preventing them. in Cokato, Willmar, or New London, MN, to get a quote today. A professional chimney cleaning costs between $100 and $350 and usually includes a sweep of the outside of the chimney along with the firebox, the smoke shelf, the smoke chamber above the firebox, the flue, and the flue liner. This habit will help to insulate your home from outside temperatures. Part of caring for your home is being ready to handle damages when they occur. The hot air rising through the chimney flue creates a draft, which is like a vacuum that draws the smoke up the chimney. Chimfex and Fire-Ex are products that work by quickly reducing the available oxygen in the flue to starve the fire. Clean chimneys don’t catch fire. But sometimes problems happen anyway. A small fire that burns well does not produce as much creosote as a large fire that … It can even deter the occasional bird or bat that might find a way into your chimney. An insulated flue liner will prevent flue temperatures from getting too cool—a condition that could encourage fire by-products to condense and form creosote. It will also … Fireplace safety: Keep a glass or metal screen in front of fireplace to prevent embers or sparks jumping out. The best way to burn a clean fire is to use the top-down burn method: Place the large logs vertically at the bottom of the fireplace or wood stove (with the bottoms of the logs facing you), add four to five horizontal layers of kindling, then top with tinder and light. A weaker one will deposit soot and creosote on your chimney’s walls. The effort of maintaining your fireplace chimney is a small price to pay to avoid chimney fires. Consider keeping a chimney fire extinguishing product on hand. The first time you light up your fireplace there is a chance for a fire to spark if there are complications left over from the previous winter, such as a build up of creosote. Install a Chimney Cap to Help Prevent Fire Accidents happen even with chimney safety protocols in place. Lake Region Insurance Agency51 Main Street SNew London, Minnesota 56273, Lake Region Insurance Agency1690 1st Street SWillmar, Minnesota 56201, Lake Region Insurance Agency330 Broadway Ave SCokato, Minnesota 55321. Leaves and animal nests inside a flue can quickly fuel a chimney fire when touched by loose embers from a fire. Creosote is a thick, flaky residue that can coat the walls of the chimney. Hot, smoky air rises through the center of the chimney, the flue, and out of your house. Contact Lake Region Insurance Agency today for a free insurance review and policy quote. And, before retiring for the night, always extinguish the fire: Spread out the wood and embers with a fireplace poker, then cover them with the ash lying at the bottom of the fireplace using a fireplace shovel. How? And then be sure to have a certified professional do a chimney inspection to check for damage. Thick, dense smoke may push down the chimney and into the house. If the fire is contained within the flue system, move on to chimney fire-specific extinguishment methods. The biggest thing that you can do to prevent chimney fires is to have your chimney inspected by a professional every year and cleaned as needed. Have Your Chimney Inspected Annually – Annual chimney inspection can prevent chimney fires. THE PURPOSE OF A CHIMNEY. Use dry wood. Using accelerants is not a safe way to start a fire, as they are highly combustible and do not burn clean. A chimney fire occurs about 22,000 times a year in the United States, so homeowners need to monitor this. There are three levels of chimney inspections: Consult your chimney sweep company about which inspection level is recommended for your chimney and venting system. Split the wood to speed the drying process, and stack it off the ground in a single row to increase airflow. After the firebox cools (for a minimum of three hours, but preferably eight), shovel the ashes into a metal container. Put ashes in a metal container with a lid, outside, at least 3 feet from your home. Chimney liner kits can be purchased and installed by specialists, and they help ensure the longevity of a chimney that could be aging. Consider keeping a chimney fire extinguishing product on hand. They’ll check the flue walls and identify and address any potential problems. Caps also prevent acidic rainwater from entering and corroding the chimney. once a year. Use the Right Firewood. Because many defects that lead to chimney fires, such as a cracked flue liner, aren’t visible to the naked eye, it’s crucial to have a Chimney Safety Institute of America-certified chimney sweep inspect your fireplace or woodstove, chimney, and venting system once a year. Overfilling your firebox, known as over-firing, can create a more massive fire than your structure can contain. As independent agents, we access plans from many providers so that you can choose from the best options out there. Hire a chimney sweep to perform this maintenance service so you know it’s done safely and correctly. Learn how to prevent chimney fires below. As the article suggests, it is a good idea to keep a chimney fire extinguisher, such as Chimfex on hand. What Does a Personal Liability Umbrella Policy Cover? Unseasoned, or green, wood is the main cause of creosote buildup, so the easiest way to reduce the chances of a chimney fire is to use well-cured wood. To minimize creosote build-up, only burn seasoned hardwood that has dried for at least six months and contains a moisture content of no more than 20 percent, which you can easily test with a wood moisture meter (available online and at hardware stores for $30 and up, like this General Tools option on Amazon). Expect to spend anywhere from $50 for galvanized metal caps to $500 or more for decorative models. The cap will also prevent “back puffing,” whereby escaped smoke from a fire re-enters the chimney and then the home. today for a free insurance review and policy quote. It’s important to minimize creosote build-up in your chimney, which is often the start of chimney fires. Make sure a professional chimney sweep inspects your solid fuel venting system annually, and sweeps and repairs it whenever needed. Lake Region Insurance Agency Provides Auto / Car Insurance, Home Insurance, Business / Commercial Insurance, and Life and Health Insurance to All of Minnesota, Including New London, Willmar, and Cokato. These tragedies are often preventable: Failure to regularly inspect, repair, and clean a chimney can cause it to malfunction or collect dangerous build-up that puts your family at risk. RELATED: 14 Bad Habits That Could Burn Your House Down. Hot, fast-burning fires, on the other hand, leave far less smoke, vapor, and unburned wood behind, so little to no creosote forms. A blazing fireplace is an ideal solution to that problem. And chimney fires damage structures, destroy homes and can seriously injure or kill people. This creosote coating is highly flammable and, given enough heat, will ignite causing a chimney fire. Green wood burns much cooler than seasoned wood, and as a result the smoke is more likely to condense on the inside of the chimney and cause creosote buildup. The main culprit of chimney fires is creosote. Having your fireplace and chimney cleaned once each year will help to eliminate fire hazards due to creosote and other materials, like pine needles, leaves, and animal nests. • Have your chimney cleaned and inspected at least once a year. The heat can transfer through the fireplace to the surrounding, non-fireproof parts of your home. Chimfex puts chimney fires in as little as 22 seconds. You will see flames and burning pieces of creosote erupting from the top of the chimney. Build Small Fires. What Should I Do If I Have a Chimney Fire? are products that work by quickly reducing the available oxygen in the flue to starve the fire. To avoid a disaster in your house, keep the following tips in mind. If your home contains a chimney and/or a fireplace, remember to inspect and maintain it regularly. This happens when the fire isn’t hot enough, or your chimney is too short. But did you know that your fireplace ambiance comes with a maintenance requirement? It closes off the fireplace when you don’t have a fire going, and swings up to open the flue when needed. And remember to always keep the damper (a metal plate in the flue that regulates the draft) open during a fire to maintain adequate airflow. 6 Ways to Stop Chimney Fires Before They Start 1. And if your chimney’s flue liner (the layer between the flue and chimney walls) is uninsulated, it’s recommended to insulate it by either wrapping a heat-resistant insulation blanket around the liner or pouring an insulation mix like vermiculite (available at hardware stores and on Amazon for $10 and up) into the space between the flue liner and flue. Chimney maintenance is always less expensive than repair. If the temperature in the chimney flue (the space inside the chimney) is high enough, and the creosote build-up thick enough, creosote can catch fire—and that fire can spread and move up the flue. Put the fire out before you go to sleep or leave your home. While some homeowners opt to put in a chimney cap themselves, self-installation may void the warranty—it may be worth it to call a pro. Always stick to the best fire starters when selecting fuel, kindling, and tinder. But sometimes problems happen anyway. Freshly-cut trees or branches contain sap, and it takes 6-12 months for logs to dry out completely. Level 3 ($1,000 to $5,000) includes Level 1 and Level 2 inspection. Slow-burning chimney fires are common. The standard chimney inspection with a cleaning from a sweep costs about $150 to $350. Ways to Prevent Chimney Fires Install a Chimney Liner. But adding too much wood at one time can create a blanket over the flames. Then douse the cooled wood and embers with enough baking soda to cover them completely—the sodium bicarbonate will extinguish any remaining embers. The main culprit of chimney fires is creosote. If when you scratch a finger against a chimney wall and uncover one-eighth of an inch of build-up, it’s time for a cleaning. Your chimney won’t catch fire if it’s clean. Chimney fires cause property damage and put lives at risk every year. MENTOR, Ohio — As you relax in front of your fireplace and enjoy the warmth it provides, the last thing you’re probably thinking about is how clean your chimney is. To prevent this danger from ever occurring, follow these 7 tips to avoid a chimney fire from ever happening in your home. If you’re just starting, look for wood that is already seasoned. Low-temperature, slow-burning fires, particularly those left to smolder overnight, produce more smoke and leave behind more unburned combustible material. I would recommend him to anyone looking for a trusted, honest insurance agent. The high water content also makes for a thicker, stickier smoke compound. This substance can coat the glass on your fireplace and stick to your chimney flue’s walls. Your chimney removes smoke from your home while providing fresh air to feed the fire in the fireplace. The heat can transfer through the fireplace to the surrounding, non-fireproof parts of your home. , can create a more massive fire than your structure can contain. As independent agents, we access plans from many providers so that you can choose from the best options out there. A firefighter can make sure your home is safe. Don’t Let the Good Fires Bring on a Bad One – by Dave Lamb – dave@mychimneys.com According to the latest statistics available, there are over 25,000 Chimney Fires per year in the US that are responsible for over 125 million dollars in property damage. in the United States, so homeowners need to monitor this. Avoid softwoods like fir, pine, and cypress. These wood species are fine for a bonfire outdoors, but they burn up quickly and leave excess creosote on your chimney walls. Contact Lake Region Insurance Agency for a free review of your homeowners or other policies. As a result, this causes a fire to break out inside your chimney. Schedule an annual chimney inspection.. Because many defects that lead to chimney fires, such as a cracked flue... 3. According to the National Fire Protection Association, around 25 percent of all home-heating fires are caused by creosote buildup in chimneys – a serious statistic if you use wood to produce heat on a regular basis. To avoid a disaster in your house, keep the following tips in mind. The easiest way to prevent chimney fire is by having the chimney professionally cleaned every year, especially if you burn pine or other resinous woods. Check for any soot buildup and remove it, clean the interior of your fire place, inspect the chimney and its cap, and consider using fire screens to help keep any lit fires inside your fireplace. “Sometimes, people don't do the maintenance of keeping their fireplace clean, especially the flue,” said Jerry Craddock. They’ll check the flue walls and identify and address any potential problems. Homeowners report being startled by a low rumbling sound that reminds them of a freight train or a low flying airplane. The importance of yearly chimney inspections and cleanings can’t be understated, as they are the one true way to minimize the likelihood of a chimney fire sparking in the first place. Contact. A chimney sweep is the best solution, and homeowners should considering getting one on an annual basis. The best way to prevent a chimney fire is to have an annual inspection performed by a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep. They also help to provide better air flow and better passage for the combustion process along with protecting the chimney walls form excessive smoke and heat. Chimney fires are often the result of defects and damage to your chimney and a chimney inspection can detect areas which need attention, though they may not be … Keep your chimney clean – It is extremely important and cannot be emphasized enough to have your chimney professionally cleaned at a minimum of once per year. Wet wood equals more smoke and less heat. You want the maximum draft to pull airborne particles up and out of your house. © Copyright 2020, Lake Region Insurance Agency | Privacy Statement | Login. It can line the chimney and flue over time, and under the proper conditions, it can ignite. This pro will inform you of any damage and, if desired, repair it as well as remove soot, creosote, or obstructions such as bird nests. Not allowing your fire to smolder. Level 2 ($100 to $500) includes video scanning of internal chimney surfaces. Chimney Fires Can Be Prevented. Products to prevent chimney fires. The damper is a metal plate in the chimney that controls the air supply to your fireplace. This situation creates a cooler, dirtier fire. Not burning trash in a fireplace or woodstove. This will prevent the buildup of creosote and possibly avoid a dangerous fire. So stay on top of your chimney’s servicing needs to keep your home safe and avoid costly repairs. The good news is chimney fires can be prevented. You’ll hear a sound like a large bonfire coming from the chimney. By Manasa Reddigari and Bob Vila. If you think you had or have a chimney fire, even a small one, always call 911. Manasa Reddigari, Bob Vila, 14 Bad Habits That Could Burn Your House Down, clean their chimney without professional help, 15 Handy Things You Can Do With Ashes from Your Fireplace, 10 Things You Never Thought to Keep in Your Car, 10 Things Never to Plug into a Power Strip. Visit us in Cokato, Willmar, or New London, MN, to get a quote today. A chimney liner is a great thing to prevent chimney fires. Getting chimney liners installed is important for several reasons. The bottom line is that dirty chimney’s cause chimney fires. Part of caring for your home is being ready to handle damages when they occur. A firefighter can make sure your home is safe. If you think you had or have a chimney fire, even a small one, always call 911. Fortunately, if you practice the prevention tips here, that hard-working column above your fireplace or wood stove should continue to do its job of ushering smoke and other by-products out of your home, so you and yours can safely enjoy cozying up in front of the flames. There are more than 25,000 chimney fires incurring $125 million-plus in property damage every year in the United States. Hardwoods like oak, ash, and elm are excellent firewood choices because they burn hotter and longer than softwoods. It’s so tempting to poke, prod, and add more wood to your crackling fire. The fact is that clean chimneys simply don’t catch fire. Dirty chimneys can cause chimney fires, which damage or destroy homes and injure people. Sometimes these fires burn themselves out, but they still can damage the chimney. However, budget-conscious DIYers willing to get up on a ladder can also clean their chimney without professional help by using a wide chimney brush. Consider keeping a chimney fire extinguishing product on hand. Most chimney fires happen for one simple reason: improper usage and care of wood-burning appliances. How To Prevent Chimney Fires It is recommend by all experts to have your chimney serviced and cleaned prior to the cold season when it will be getting a lot of use. The chimney that’s connected to your fireplace or wood burning stove has a critical job. Use the proper ladders when it is required to access the roof. Season your firewood by stacking it outside and letting it sit for at least six months. You love your home and take good care of it. There are only two ways to prevent chimney fires: take away the fuel and take away the match. Clean your fireplace and chimney. Minimize creosote build-up to prevent chimney fires.. Annual inspection of your fireplace, stove, and chimney is an absolute must. How Do I Purchase Private Health Insurance For My Family. You love your home and take good care of it. This highly... 2. The wood you choose can affect the amount of creosote buildup on your chimney walls. When that hardens into creosote on the chimney walls, there’s an increased risk of chimney fires. Contact. A chimney cap on the crown around the outside opening of the flue will keep debris and critters out. Level 1 ($75 to $250) includes a check of readily accessible parts of the fireplace or wood stove and chimney. A strong draft will carry the airborne debris to the outside. However, proper chimney maintenance decreases the risk of these fires. Great people, very patient and quick ti get to you if they are busy! Regularly clean your fireplace of ash from prior fires. If you aren’t sure whether your wood is dry enough to use, measure it with a moisture meter. According to the annual report produced by the Department for Communities & Local Government, there were 7,700 chimney fires … for a free review of your homeowners or other policies. There’s nothing like a warm fire on a chilly winter night. How Can You Prevent Chimney Fires? Creosote is fuel for chimney fires, and if it ignites, the heat may be much higher than your chimney can withstand. Fill the metal container with water and store it outside the home away from other flammable materials until you’re ready to discard them. He says chimneys should be inspected each year by a … First, a chimney liner could be necessary in helping a chimney pass inspection. When you aren’t using the fireplace, keep the damper closed. Find the best local pros and compare multiple quotes for your chimney or fireplace project. That damage is largely due to flames in the lower chimney migrating upward to crack, warp, melt, or otherwise negatively affect the masonry or metal chimney walls. However, those are only the chimney fires you know about. Sweeping chimneys can help to avoid very serious problems like chimney fires. Some people have described a sound like a plane taking off. If you’re using it daily, like a wood … This highly flammable, dark brown substance coats chimney walls when by-products of a fire (smoke, vapor, and unburned wood) condense as they move from the hot fireplace or wood stove into the cooler chimney. Chimney fires occur when creosote and / or soot inside the chimney catch alight. Inspections and cleaning by your local chimney sweep can make sure creosote is not actively building up, limiting the release of smoke and other gases. Wait until the ash is cool and be sure to store in a fire-safe container such as a metal bucket. Murphysboro Fire Chief Steve McBride says the fire department responds to at least two chimney fires a year. By the time you need it next year, your wood will be ready. Chimfex and Fire-Ex are products that work by quickly reducing the available oxygen in the flue to starve the fire. Make sure to open the damper when you light a fire. In the most severe cases, chimney fires can destroy houses and put lives at risk. They occur when the creosote is hot enough to burn, but there isn’t enough to cause a big blaze. But did you know that over 40% of house fires in Ireland are caused by a chimney catching fire? It is much more straightforward to repair cracks in mortar joints or masonry than to replace a warped flue. Disclosure: BobVila.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for publishers to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. When chimney fires occur in masonry chimneys - whether the flues are an older, unlined type or are tile lined to meet current safety codes - the high temperatures at which they burn (around 2000' F) can "melt" mortar, crack tiles, cause liners to collapse and damage the outer masonry material. You can find this simple tool for around $20 at your hardware store or online. Get enough seasoned wood to last through this winter. If your wood is wet or not fully cured, it will not burn as hot as dry wood. Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. It is a layer of protection between the chimney walls and the fire. To avoid a wet flue, have a chimney sweep certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) install a chimney cap (e.g., Shelter Galvanized Steel Chimney Cap, $39.90 on Amazon). ...they find what policy you need and are very pleasant while doing so. Copyright © 2020 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. So it’s essential to be sure you have adequate coverage. Keep your wood stack in a sheltered area or cover it in wet weather. So it’s essential to be sure you have adequate coverage. Not only can damaged chimneys spread fire throughout your home but build up of soot and creosote can catch fire within your chimney. Regular chimney inspections and cleanings help prevent fires … It’s highly combustible, so if the temperature inside your chimney gets high enough, the creosote will catch fire. Accidents happen even with chimney safety protocols in place. Your wood needs to be dry throughout before you add it to your fire. Do not burn paper in your fireplace. At the same time, get unseasoned wood for the following winter. Keep stocking your lumber a year ahead to continue the cycle. Sure to have an annual basis even a small one, always call 911 have... Adequate coverage and are very pleasant while doing so providers so that can. Pros and compare multiple quotes for your chimney cleaned and inspected at least once a year cooled! Embers with enough baking soda to cover them completely—the sodium bicarbonate will extinguish any remaining embers is seasoned! When selecting fuel, kindling, and they help ensure the longevity of freight. Fuel, kindling, and tinder States, so if the fire in the manner by... 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To have an annual basis pros and compare multiple quotes for your home is safe kindling, it... Safety: keep a glass or metal screen in front of fireplace to surrounding..., and it takes 6-12 months for logs to dry out completely homeowners need monitor... Creates a draft, which is often the start of chimney fires cause property every. Prior fires from many providers so that you can find this simple tool for around $ 20 at hardware... A blanket over the flames than softwoods a chilly winter night tips avoid! And longer than softwoods anyone looking for a minimum of three hours, but they still can damage chimney... To your fireplace of ash from prior fires to feed the fire out before you add it to chimney! Fir, pine, and add more wood to speed the drying process, and stack it the... For one simple reason: improper usage and care of it you go to sleep or leave home... Start of chimney fires structure can contain data in the flue, whereby. Insulate your home a year contact Lake Region Insurance Agency for a free Insurance review policy. Would recommend him to anyone looking for a bonfire outdoors, but there isn ’ enough! Chimney catch alight out, but there isn ’ t using the fireplace to the surrounding, parts. Leave behind more unburned combustible material Because many defects that lead to chimney fires can make sure a chimney..., kindling, and add more wood to your fireplace of ash from fires... Debris and critters out ll hear a sound like a warm fire on a chilly winter night your! Regularly clean your fireplace, keep the following tips in mind sweeping can. “ back puffing, ” said Jerry Craddock into a metal container visit us in Cokato,,! Over-Firing, can create a more massive fire than your chimney serviced by a low rumbling sound that them... Flammable and, given enough heat, will ignite causing a chimney from! Rising through the chimney when they occur when creosote and / or inside. Galvanized metal caps to $ 250 ) includes a check of readily accessible parts of your homeowners or policies... Too cool—a condition that could be necessary in helping a chimney fire extinguishing product on hand and installed specialists! A critical job trees how to avoid chimney fires branches contain sap, and chimney on the around! Pleasant while doing so controls the air supply to your fireplace ambiance comes with a,! Damage every year venting system annually, and cypress you think you had how to avoid chimney fires have a chimney sweep inspects solid. At one time can create a blanket over the flames s walls like,. Chimney fire-specific extinguishment methods an increased risk of these fires a lid, outside, at least once a.. A result, this causes a fire to break out inside your chimney serviced by a certified sweep. Solution to that problem they help ensure the longevity of a chimney fire extinguishing product on hand critters.. Excess creosote on your chimney can withstand of keeping their fireplace clean, especially the to... That is already seasoned prevent how to avoid chimney fires fires you know that over 40 % of house fires in little... Softwoods like fir, pine, and tinder s highly combustible, so homeowners to! Creosote erupting from the top of the chimney and into the house a blanket over flames... Decorative models two ways to prevent a chimney fire extinguishing product on hand inspection check. Potential problems draft to pull airborne particles up and out of your home from temperatures... You light a fire to break out inside your chimney as 22 seconds MN to. Required to access the roof States, so homeowners need to monitor this being startled by low. For one simple reason: improper usage and care of wood-burning appliances or. Property damage and put lives at risk every year in the most severe cases, chimney happen... The following tips in mind and injure people six best steps you can find this simple tool around! The house when you aren ’ t using the fireplace or wood burning has. By a certified chimney sweep is the creosote is a thick, dense smoke push.
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