Chimney Fire After Cleaning

Your sweep may have other maintenance recommendations depending on how you use your fireplace or stove.

Chimney fire after cleaning.

Creosote is a highly flammable substance that builds up inside your chimney or liner as a result of burning wood. Creosote a tar like substance that collects in the chimney as you use your fireplace is highly flammable and is the source of many chimney fires. Creosote deposited over a long period becomes highly flammable and it s often the cause of chimney fires. These sticky deposits are called creosote.

Preventing future chimney fires. Clean creosote buildup from all parts of the chimney. Most chimney fires start in the smoke chamber smoke shelf area so it s the most important area to clean figure a. Immediately remove any nests or other debris you find inside the chimney.

Clean chimneys don t catch fire. Luckily chimney fires are almost entirely preventable with regular maintenance a clean chimney simply cannot catch fire. Regular cleaning of a chimney can reduce the risk of a chimney fire but even if you choose to clean the chimney yourself you should also have the chimney inspected by a professional on a regular basis. If you find creosote on either the firebox or chimney remove it before lighting another fire this usually only needs to be done once a year.

Besides you must have your chimney cleaned each year. Since that area is hard to reach in some fireplaces check yours to see if you can reach into it and still have room to maneuver a brush. Put a chimney fire extinguisher into the fireplace or wood stove close the glass doors on the fireplace close the air inlets on the wood stove use a garden hose to spray down the roof not the chimney so the fire won t spread to. This cleaning will help create a safer operation of your system during the heating system.

Remember however that homes are replaceable but lives are not. Your chimney sweep should both inspect the chimney and prevent further damage and fires all in one visit. The main culprit of chimney fires is creosote. Creosote removal is vital to your safety.

See cleaning the chimney yourself below. Make sure a csia certified chimney sweep inspects your solid fuel venting system annually and sweeps and repairs it whenever needed. It take only a small accumulation of creosote glazing to create the potential for a chimney fire. If there is no chimney cap install one to prevent more animal invasions to your chimney.

Another idea to try out when it s time to clean your chimney is a chimney sweep log. A fireplace cleaning log helps to prevent chimney fires and they help remove debris deposited along the chimney walls.