Five Fireplace & Chimney Safety Tips from the Experts

If you want to know about fireplace and chimney safety, a good place to start is with the Chimney Safety Institute of America, generally referred to as the “CSIA.”

Felgemacher would like to share five valuable CSIA safety tips for using and maintaining your fireplace and chimney.

Tip 1: Have your fireplace and chimney inspected annually

Yearly inspections by a qualified inspector can turn up early signs of problems you might not be aware of. Many fireplace and chimney inspectors are trained to make needed repairs or upgrades to your system.

Things an inspection will look for include:

• Evidence of wear in the bricks and refractory panels of the firebox
• Damage to the chimney liner
• Fireplace or chimney components that were improperly installed
• Excess creosote or debris in the chimney flue
• Faulty gas line connections and problems with gas appliance components
• Damaged chimney bricks and mortar
• Signs of a chimney leak
• Obvious signs of malfunction anywhere in the system

Tip 2: Watch for signs of fireplace and chimney damage

Fireplace and chimney damage often gives clues.

Here are some of them:

• Rust inside the firebox or on the chimney’s exterior masonry
• Chunks of flue tiles in the firebox
• White stains on chimney bricks (means water is seeping in)
• Firebox cracks or deterioration
• Water in the firebox
• Cracked chimney bricks and crumbling mortar
• Smoke constantly backing up into your home
• Strong odors coming from the chimney and fireplace
• Fires that are hard to start and keep going

Tip 3: Clean your chimney

Annual chimney sweeping is a rule of thumb, but yours may need it more or less often. Creosote, which forms when smoke condenses in the flue, is the main target of chimney cleaning. You can decrease creosote buildup by burning only dry, seasoned wood, which produces less smoke than damp wood.

Tip 4: Using your fireplace damper

Dampers should remain open during fires and until the last ember has gone out. This prevents the backup of smoke and deadly carbon monoxide. At all other times, keep the damper closed to prevent air exchange between the home and the outside world.

Tip 5: How to improve the draft

Smoke and combustion gases should rise from the fireplace and move through the chimney.

Here are some ways to ensure a proper draft:

• Remove excess creosote and debris from the chimney.
• Make sure the flue liner diameter and chimney height are correct for your fireplace.
• Install a top-mount chimney damper to help keep standing flue air warmer, which enhances the draft.
• Don’t use kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans when running your fireplace.
• Remember to open the fireplace damper before starting your fire.
• If your home is particularly airtight, crack a window near the fireplace.

A few of our own fireplace and chimney safety tips

Years of working with New York homeowners and their fireplaces and chimneys have taught us a few things.

Fireplace screens

Consider a fireplace screen to contain embers and ash and to protect people near the fireplace.

Signs of a chimney fire

These include tapping and clicking sounds; rumbling like from a distant train; and excess dark smoke coming from either end of the chimney.

Building the fire

Don’t cram firewood into your firebox. Give the logs room to breathe to help with drafting and keep the fire from getting excessively hot.

Burn only firewood

Never burn plastics, metals, clothing, furniture pieces, packing materials or anything else other than actual cut firewood. These other items can give off toxic fumes and create too much heat.

Visit us

At Felgemacher’s fireplace shop, you can shop for a great new fireplace or stove and learn more about keeping your fireplace and chimney in great, safe shape.

Visit us at 2727 Broadway, Suite 5, in Cheektowaga, NY. You can also reach us by phone or get in touch through our contact form.