Chimney Fire Prevention - Keeping The Flu Clear

Fire prevention is no laughing matter. Home fires can spring up in seconds and devastate your home, injure people, and cause mass amounts of property damage in a very short period of time. If you have a fireplace, you may also have a residential safety issue. The following article will show you possibly fireplace hazards and how to fix them.

Understanding Chimney Fires

Even though the risk seems low because the chimney is insulated and ventilated it can still clog. When this happens a fire could occur. These fires can be slow and methodical or they can be explosive. Billowing smoke, flames shooting from the fireplace, sparks, and a loud rumbling can all accompany a chimney fire.

When you burn wood the smoke makes its way up the flu but what isn't obvious is that it doesn't have to remain gaseous. Creosote is the material that smoke can turn into. Over time this material forms on the bricks of the chimney creating a tar-like substance. Creosote is flammable and will stay there until cleaned or a flame reaches it.

The Chief Causes of Creosote

There several main factors that contribute to creosote being formed and chimney fires becoming more of a possibility. Prevention is the key factor in ending and ridding yourself of fire place hazards.

• Using Green or Unseasoned Firewood: Green wood is very high in moisture and burning it creates more smoke as it smolders. The smoke that it creates is actually cooler than from wood that is dry or seasoned. This cooler smoke is more likely to revert from its gaseous state to creosote.
• Chilly Temperatures: When it is cold outside the cool brick can interact with the smoke to cool it down to the point that it comes out of its gaseous states and forms creosote. An exterior chimney adds to the danger.
• Air Supply: The chimney needs a lot of air flow. If the gas spends too much time in the flu it will settle and form creosote. Make sure the glass doors are closed and the damper is open it all the way open.
• Tight Wood Bundles: Firewood that is bundled tightly will create cooler fires allowing the smoke to settle on the sides of the chimney. Build fires using fewer pieces of wood spread around and not tightly grouped together.

Nothing can stop the formation of creosote, but you can help prevent it from taking over.

Cleaning the Flu

Now that you know what causes creosote to build up, you can get rid of it. You can do it yourself or you can call a certified chimney sweep. Cleaning the flu is relatively easy and you will need:

• Chimney brush
• Connecting rods
• Ladder

Connect enough rods to match the height of your chimney then connect them to the brush. Use the ladder and get to the roof top or the top of the chimney. Insert the brush into the chimney and slide it up and down all sides until you no longer hear debris falling.

Go back inside the house and remove the creosote deposits that fell.