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