Chimney Fire After Cleaning

Clean creosote buildup from all parts of the chimney.

Chimney fire after cleaning.

The main culprit of chimney fires is creosote. These sticky deposits are called creosote. 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. Professional inspection will check for creosote as well as blockage damage and structural problems.

Preventing future chimney fires. Remember however that homes are replaceable but lives are not. Immediately remove any nests or other debris you find inside the chimney. Make sure a csia certified chimney sweep inspects your solid fuel venting system annually and sweeps and repairs it whenever needed.

This cleaning will help create a safer operation of your system during the heating system. Your sweep may have other maintenance recommendations depending on how you use your fireplace or stove. Creosote removal is vital to your safety. Another idea to try out when it s time to clean your chimney is a chimney sweep log.

If there is no chimney cap install one to prevent more animal invasions to your chimney. Your chimney sweep should both inspect the chimney and prevent further damage and fires all in one visit. This highly flammable dark brown substance coats chimney walls when by products of a fire smoke vapor and unburned wood condense as they move. 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.

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. 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. 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.

Most chimney fires start in the smoke chamber smoke shelf area so it s the most important area to clean figure a. See cleaning the chimney yourself below. Creosote is a highly flammable substance that builds up inside your chimney or liner as a result of burning wood. As the damage caused by chimney fire can vary so widely it is important to have your chimney system evaluated by a professional chimney sweep as soon as possible after a chimney fire.

Luckily chimney fires are almost entirely preventable with regular maintenance a clean chimney simply cannot catch fire. Besides you must have your chimney cleaned each year.