How to Prevent a Chimney Fire

2/20/2020 (Permalink)

These cold nights call for cozying up in front of a crackling fire with a hot drink and fuzzy blanket. But before you light it up, follow these steps to prevent a chimney fire.

• Clean your chimney. You can tell if it’s time to clean it if the smoke is coming out of the stove and not drafting up through the chimney 
• Use dry wood. If the wood is wet or not cured, it will not burn as hot and will smoke more. This can build up creosote in your chimney which can be dangerous. 
• Do not overload your wood burning stove with wood. It can either burn too hot or get too much oxygen. This can cause the metal to warp or weaken.
• Schedule an annual chimney inspection. Sometimes we can't see damage so an inspector can find out if there is a problem and fix it, remove creosote, debris, critters or nest. 
• Install a chimney cap. This prevents debris and critters from getting in. It also prevents "back puffing" which is escaped smoke reentering the chimney and then your home. 

Questions about fire prevention or fire damage? We're here to help. Call us today - 410-242-7370