The same people who replace a faulty exhaust system on their car to avoid the threat of carbon monoxide poisoning will allow their home’s exhaust system – the fireplace chimney or furnace flue – to go unchecked and unmaintained for years. That’s a big mistake. The warmth and comfort provided by a wood stove or fireplace help make the winter months even more enjoyable. However, without proper maintenance, they can be potential fire and safety hazards.
By taking a few simple precautionary steps before lighting a fire you can help protect your family and home this winter season.
- Have your chimney professionally inspected and cleaned each season. Cleaning is needed in fireplaces to remove creosote that builds up in the chimney. Creosote is a highly flammable tar-like substance which builds up inside a chimney or metal flue.
- Build smaller, hotter fires that burn more completely and produce less smoke.
- Never burn cardboard boxes, wrapping paper, trash or Christmas trees – any of these can spark a chimney fire.
- Use seasoned, dry hardwood. Freshly cut wood or green wood produces a great deal of creosote and should be avoided.
- Install stovepipe thermometers to help monitor flue temperatures where wood stoves are in use, so you can adjust burning practices as needed.
- Use proper fireplace equipment such as fire-resistant gloves, tongs and pokers when tending your fire.
Some telltale signs that something is wrong with a fireplace or chimney.
- Smelly and smokey fireplaces
- Water leakage
- Loose bricks in the firebox or gaps between bricks.
- A broken or severly rusted damper, which will let in the cold air.
- Major cracks found in the backwall.
- No cap on top. Without a cap, birds, raccoons, and squirrels can make a home inside your fireplace.
With the roaring cost of natural gas, many homeowners are scrambling to find alternative fuel sources to cut their heating costs. Many are turning to wood stoves and fireplace inserts. Wood stoves are more efficient for heating purposes than a regular fireplace. While a fireplace puts 10% heat into your room, a wood stove can give you up to 75%! Longer burn times and ash drawers add to the convenience. Variable speed blowers move the heat quicker and to larger areas of the house.
For more information, contact us at 260-625-5110. Stars has been servicing Fort Wayne and surrounding areas home for over 39 years.