Many homes have clay flue tile as flue liners. Get a Quote for Cleaning, Repair, Replacement, or Rebuild. At this time, we will remain open and keep all scheduled appointments. Here are 11 clues of a chimney fire. Creosote is a sticky, tarry substance that is created in fuel burning fires; because it is extremely flammable, it is important that creosote is removed during annual chimney sweepings.. Signs of a chimney fire. These Are the 7 Chimney Fire Signs You Should Know About. Signs of a chimney fire . Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Add a Fireplace To Your Home. A chimney fire may be accompanied by loud popping noises, excessive amounts of dense smoke, or an intense, hot smell. This is another reason that annual chimney inspections are critical. Summer Fireplace Maintenance Tips: Preparing Your Fireplace for the Cold Ahead, Excessively loud cracking or popping noises, An intense burning smell from your fireplace. The primary cause of chimney fires is ignition of creosote buildup. There are a few different signs to look out for: Direct Roof Damage – The heat from a chimney fire can scorch or warp your roof. The following signs are indicators that a chimney sweep will look for to detect whether or not you have had a chimney fire: The heat from a chimney fire is often greater than your chimney cap or damper are rated to withstand. These cracks are difficult to notice, and can spell disaster if not repaired before you have another chimney fire. Not only can these inspections identify potential risks for a chimney fire, they also might spot indications of a previous one. Chimneys are designed to safely evacuate heat and smoke from your home. Is your fireplace ready to keep your home cozy? A fire is only meant to be within a fireplace. Any damage greatly increases your risk of heat escaping the flue before it exits your home. Like flue tiles, the brick masonry of your chimney is not impervious to heat damage. Stay healthy! ): Protect your chimney from creosote build-up by using only well-seasoned wood and avoiding low damper settings for extended periods. What You Need to Know, [5 Benefits] of Continuous Pilot Mode for Your Fireplace, How to Prepare Your Fireplace for Dangerous Winter Storms, Fireplace Design: Spice up Your Boring Room, Air supply being restricted by closing the glass doors, Failing to open the damper wide enough to let the unit breathe, The lack of sufficient make-up air to move heated smoke up the chimney, Warped metal of the damper, metal smoke chamber connector pipe or factory-built metal chimney, Cracked or collapsed flue tiles, or tiles with large chunks missing, Heat-damaged TV antenna attached to the chimney, Creosote flakes and pieces found on the roof or ground, Roofing material damaged from hot creosote, Evidence of smoke escaping through mortar joints of masonry or tile liners. The danger is that any future creosote buildup could lead to another chimney fire in an already damaged system. While flames spewing from the top of the flue are a guaranteed sign of a large chimney fire, smaller chimney fires often go unnoticed. Do Duraflame logs clean chimney? -NFPA September 2017 Home Structure Fires Report. Flames, sparks, … The heat from a chimney fire is often greater than … With proper chimney system care, chimney fires are entirely preventable. Thin slices of chimney tile can begin to pile up at the bottom of the chimney, if … Creosote forms when volatile gases are given off during the burning process that combine and condense on their way out of the chimney. Chimney fires can be very deadly. 6 Questions to Answer Before Buying a New Fireplace, 5 Reasons for Chimney Leaks and How to Fix it, How to Tell if You Need a Chimney Rebuild, 10 Things That Can Happen to a Chimney in the Spring, What Homeowners Should Know About Their Chimney and Venting System, How are home heating and chimneys related? Top 11 Trending Fireplaces for Homes in 2019, The History and Legends of Chimney Sweeps, How to Operate and Maintain a Gas Fireplace, Here’s Why it’s Important to Maintain Your Wood-Burning Fireplace, Why Home Buyers (and Sellers) Love Fireplaces. That is the part of the chimney that directs the airflow out of your home while protecting the chimney construction itself from the generated heat. This issue can increase your chances of carbon monoxide poisoning or a repeat fire. The brickwork, tiles, mortar, and more will show obvious signs of deterioration that will only worsen if not properly addressed. And never burn household trash, cardboard or Christmas trees in your fireplace. For now, let’s continue talking about the signs your chimney had a fire. … And never use your fireplace or stove as an incinerator. Broken, cracked or about to collapse tiles in the interior chimney lining. In some cases, the issue is benign – such as lighting a fire when the flue is full of cold air. Creosote build-up is pretty sneaky. When investigating whether or not a chimney fire has occurred, our CSIA-certified chimney sweeps look for the following signs: cracked flue tiles or tiles with missing pieces creosote that looks puffy or like a honeycomb warped metal accessories and parts What skills do I need to be a chimney sweep? 20,000 chimney fires happen on average every year, increase your chances of carbon monoxide poisoning, Always use hardwoods that have been properly seasoned, Common Old Chimney Problems in Aging & Historic Homes, Tips for Buying a New House with a Fireplace, FAQs About Chimney & Fireplaces for Your Home. The creosote in the interior lining has turned honey comb type or puffed up. The following are some of the signs from the CSIA that you have experienced a chimney fire. The only course left to you then is to take the connector pipes down (if it is a wood stove) and clean them and the chimney. Signs of Chimney Fires. Shaling Flue Tiles. You may be able to tell if a chimney fire damaged the mortar joints by looking for smoke that escapes from unusual parts of the masonry. While a major chimney fire may leave flames shooting out of the top of the chimney, a minor or smaller chimney fire may be obscured by the normal smells, sounds, and smokes of the fire. Always use hardwoods that have been properly seasoned. These deposits indicate a chimney fire and block airflow in a chimney. Don’t try to climb in and clean more than what’s easily reachable. If your chimney hasn’t been inspected or cleaned this year, contact us today! If a chimney fire has occurred, you may notice cracks, holes, or missing pieces throughout your chimney. Chimney fires, and subsequently chimneys, share certain common characteristics and can be counted on to behave within predictable parameters. Fireplace residue can be dangerous to your health, and without the right tools, you won’t be able to clean it thoroughly anyway. The only things more dangerous in your fireplace than a chimney fire is a follow-up one! While large chimney fires are easy to spot, small chimney fires may go unnoticed. Creosote flakes in the firebox, on the roof near the chimney or on the ground Is your chimney currently inoperable? Due to trapped heat, the chimney can get hotter than intended – which ignites the creosote. If you see or hear any of this, here’s what to do: Call the fire department. Even small warping or damage impacts the functionality of a damper. Creosote itself is also combustible at the right temperature. Always have a certified chimney sweep take care of these projects for you as each case can be unique and you want to ensure that all the steps you can take to correct it have been taken correctly. Avoid roaring fires by only adding enough fuel to keep the fire at the desired temperature. Over 20,000 chimney fires happen on average every year. PROVIDING SERVICES. Spotting the signs of a chimney fire. The main culprit of chimney fires is creosote. These are guaranteed to contribute to creosote buildup quickly. It can increase your chance for near-by combustibles in your home’s construction to catch fire. When creosote burns, the deposits expand and leave a puffy residue. If your chimney is back-puffing or if you notice smoke escaping in strange parts of your home, your flue isn’t working correctly. Cracks in the flue tile indicate your chimney has rapidly heated or cooled down. There are three stages to combustion – drying, pyrolysis, and charcoal. The sparks they produce can lead to chimney fires. This is a chimney fire, and it can be very dangerous. Fireplaces and wood stoves are designed to safely contain wood-fueled fires, while providing heat for a home. These signs may indicate that your chimney has experienced a slow-burning chimney fire: Fluffy, gray, “ashy”, or “honeycombed” creosote (normally, creosote is a flat, black, often shiny substance) Warped or discolored (“annealed”) metal components — this indicates the metal structures have been damaged by intense heat It’s important to pay attention to any active fire and make sure it doesn’t get out of control. An active small or moderate chimney fire often gives you a few clues including: A strange clicking or tapping sound coming from the chimney/fireplace; Large amounts of dark, dense smoke exiting from either end of the system Incomplete combustion is unavoidable, though you can minimize its impact by burning properly seasoned wood with a clean chimney. If you don’t burn clean wood and hot fires regularly, it quickly builds to a point where it is dangerous to burn a clean hot fire. It’s possible you’ve had a chimney fire and don’t even know it. When they’re damaged, they don’t work as effectively. Home Carbon Monoxide Risks: How to Stay Safe This Fall! After using your fireplace and it’s safely done burning, shovel your fireplace ashes and dispose of them. As we mentioned before, few people can tell when a chimney fire has occurred. If you are feeling ill or would prefer to reschedule, please contact our office and we will work with you to push back your appointment. Any breach in your flue liner is a major concern. When a chimney fire happens, the mortar joints or brick can crack and open new pathways for heat or fire. After any chimney fire, you will need to replace them. Find the nearest Midtown Chimney Sweep Professional. COVID-19. Signs of a chimney fire include: Puffy or honey combed creosote indicates there has been a fire in your chimney. Like puffy creosote, warped metal dampers indicate a chimney fire. When your chimney’s airflow is blocked or the flue is damaged, it can lead to poor airflow. 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