Chimney Safety Information

CHIMNEY FIRES do not occur in a clean, intact, properly installed/constructed chimney.

A well-built or correctly installed chimney is the first step to a chimney that removes fumes from your home and contains flammable deposits so they don’t penetrate your home. But even the most efficient stoves and the best-built chimneys need annual inspection and periodic cleaning. Older, more inefficient stoves produce more flammable creosote than newer models. Other factors can also contribute to chimney fire dangers, including poor quality wood, bad burning habits, and improper wood storage. A badly designed chimney or one that’s been poorly maintained is a growing danger to your home and family.

After the fire has been put out and the surrounding surfaces have cooled down, call a certified chimney sweep to inspect the chimney. A chimney fire nearly always causes damage, so be prepared that repairs will likely be needed. Report the fire to your homeowners’ insurance company along with a copy of the inspection report and repair estimates. Do not use the chimney until a full inspection and, if necessary, completion of the repairs. Failure to complete the repairs leaves the chimney more susceptible to subsequent chimney fires with an increasingly greater chance of the fire spreading to the rest of the home.

As frightening as a chimney fire can be, the more gradual weather effects of wind, rain, and snow on a chimney are actually more threatening. As mortar starts to age, it becomes more porous and is more easily penetrated by water. Freeze/thaw cycles break apart the mortar and the chimney structure becomes weakened. While a chimney is built from the ground up, it deteriorates from the top downwards. If you notice problems with your chimney such as crumbling mortar, it’s time to do something about it now before the damage accelerates into a costly repair. Most chimney sweep companies offer masonry repair to fix the existing problem and many also offer waterproofing systems that can help prevent further damage.

Unfortunately, all too many chimneys fail due to improper construction or improper installation. Poor construction can make a brand-new chimney unsuitable for use. Prefabricated metal chimneys are too often installed with improper connection, improper clearances to combustibles – or even the wrong type of job for the appliance that it’s venting. Your best protection is an annual inspection to help assure the chimney has been installed properly and is being regularly maintained.