The National Fire Protection Association recommends all homeowners have annual inspections of all their chimneys, fireplaces, and (clothes dryer) vents.

One of the reasons to clean your chimney is because of the potential fire hazards that may occur when you don’t have it cleaned.

An annual chimney sweeping will prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, and prevent house and chimney fires.

Don’t think that’s so important?

Well, without proper maintenance, heating systems (your fireplace or furnace) can release toxic gases into your living area that can create a health hazard, causing serious illness, or even death.

Not sweeping (or cleaning) your chimney and fireplace has been known to cause house fires and or property damage.

When tar and soot (otherwise known as creosote) from burning wood or natural gas form on the inside walls of your fireplace, it must be removed, and preferably by a chimney professional. Chimney sweeping is creosote removal.

Many brand new homes have a problem with chimney deterioration (brick spalling, brick cracking, and mortar joint erosion). This occurs because modern, high efficiency, heating appliances (ie: furnaces, water heaters, wood stoves, etc.) are more efficient than they have ever been, but the excess condensation they create cause more build up of creosote in chimneys than ever before, so it’s important that every household have a regular checkup from a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep.

Dangers of soot (creosote) buildup

As wood burns, the by-products of combustion (smoke), flow away from the fire and up the chimney. Because the chimney is cooler than the fire, condensation occurs. This means that soot and tar form a residue that sticks to the interior of your chimney. This residue (creosote) is a highly flammable substance, and if it is not regularly removed, it can ignite and cause dangerous chimney fires.

FACT: Creosote preservative or creosote chemical, is a liquid by-product of coal, used to preserve telephone poles and railroad ties. Not to be confused with “wood smoke” creosote.

The silent chimney fire

When creosote in your chimney ignites, the chimney fire might not be noticed at first, this is when it becomes a silent danger.

The fire in the chimney burns so slowly and reaches such high temperatures that it quietly damages the chimney and surrounding structures, or may suddenly start other areas of the house on fire. Again, these flue fires are usually preventable through regular, professional inspections and cleanings.

The loud chimney ire

Better than 50% of the time, people hear the chimney fire because these fires have enough upward force that they cause a loud noise to be noticed. According to professional firefighters, it sounds like a freight train howling and whistling. The loud chimney fire is commonly due to “heavier” creosote build-up.

Carbon monoxide is especially dangerous because it is not easily detected. The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are often mistaken for common illnesses such as headaches, the common cold, nausea, fatigue, depression, or worse.

Carbon monoxide detectors are now readily available and no home should be without at least two of them: One on each level of the house and another near the sleeping area of the home. Detectors are NOT a substitute for routine maintenance, but can be a lifesaver should problems occur.

Carbon monoxide problems are often caused by poor ventilation, and blocked chimneys are one of the largest single causes of carbon monoxide poisoning in the home.

Many homeowners think their chimneys only need to be cleaned and inspected if they burn wood in their fireplaces or wood stoves. But almost all heating appliances, whether they burn gas, oil, wood or coal, rely on the chimney to safely carry toxic gases produced by the heating system of the house.

A carbon monoxide detector (that is checked at least 4 x per year) can warn homeowners if the deadly gas has already entered the living area, but an annual chimney inspection can help prevent carbon monoxide from entering the home in the first place.

– Courtesy of www.ChimneyDepartment.com.