Fireplace Safety: Keep Your Fireplace and Chimney Clean

April 22, 2022 12:00 am Published by Leave your thoughts

It’s easy to forget the outside of your home during the cleaning, regardless of how attentive you are. However, parts of the house, such as the fireplace and the chimney, might not get as much attention. A fireplace is a luxury in many households and a feature that can increase the value of your home. However, if you ignore the cleanliness of your chimney, your home and family might be at risk. A significant number of house fires result from creosote accumulation inside the chimney. Creosote (a carbonaceous chemical) is a highly flammable matter which accumulates in the chimney when you burn wood. A small accumulation of creosote glazing can create the possibility of a chimney fire.

Factors Influencing Creosote Accumulation in Your Chimney

If you’re not careful about your burning practices or your burning appliance isn’t working well, the creosote production rate can be higher. Some wood types also produce more creosote than others when burned.

Other factors that influence the volume of creosote that builds up on your chimney walls include insufficient airflow volume into the chimney and burning inappropriately seasoned wood.

A significant buildup of soot and creosote can be sufficient to start a chimney fire which might damage your chimney and extend to the entire home.

How Often Do You Need To Clean Your Fireplace and Chimney?

Keeping your chimney clean and safe requires regular cleaning and inspection. However, cleaning usually depends on how often you use it. For example, the more you use it to burn wood, the more creosote will accumulate; hence more cleaning is required. Regular cleaning helps improve the system’s safety during heating.  

So, how often should you clean?

The CSIA (Chimney Safety Institute of America) advises homeowners to clean chimneys and fireplaces of soot when there is a 1/8″ accumulation. It’s also a good idea to clean the glaze on the chimney flue regardless of the amount of grimy accumulation. The National Fire Protection Association or NFPA recommends chimney inspection and cleaning at least yearly.

Chimney cleaning involves removing blockages, soot, and creosote accumulation in the chimney firebox, liner, and damper.  

Bottom Line

Chimneys and other ventilation structures are some of the areas that should not be neglected. Maintaining your fireplace and chimney means improving the safety of your home and family. Your fireplace and chimney should be cleaned often by a professional as a safety measure. It helps to prevent home fires.

Custom Fire Art is your go-to professional if you’d like more information about chimney installation, maintenance, and safety. Our team of skilled and committed technicians is ready to help you install your fireplace and advise you on fireplace maintenance so you can keep your home heated without endangering your health or that of your family. Reach out to us at (425) 507-0480 or fill out our contact form to message us online today and discuss your project.

 

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