In the most severe cases, chimney fires can destroy houses and put lives at risk. Install a Chimney Cap to Help Prevent Fire Keep reading to understand what causes chimney fires and the six best steps you can take for preventing them. Use the proper ladders when it is required to access the roof. These wood species are fine for a bonfire outdoors, but they burn up quickly and leave excess creosote on your chimney walls. If your wood is wet or not fully cured, it will not burn as hot as dry wood. There are only two ways to prevent chimney fires: take away the fuel and take away the match. The best way to keep a chimney fire from happening is to prevent the build up of creosote and here are a couple of products that can aid you in that effort. As independent agents, we access plans from many providers so that you can choose from the best options out there. First, a chimney liner could be necessary in helping a chimney pass inspection. There’s nothing like a warm fire on a chilly winter night. The best way to prevent a chimney fire is to have an annual inspection performed by a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep. A firefighter can make sure your home is safe. I would recommend him to anyone looking for a trusted, honest insurance agent. Visit us in Cokato, Willmar, or New London, MN, to get a quote today. The standard chimney inspection with a cleaning from a sweep costs about $150 to $350. Great people, very patient and quick ti get to you if they are busy! Some people have described a sound like a plane taking off. This pro will inform you of any damage and, if desired, repair it as well as remove soot, creosote, or obstructions such as bird nests. The bottom line is that dirty chimney’s cause chimney fires. Because many defects that lead to chimney fires, such as a cracked flue liner, aren’t visible to the naked eye, it’s crucial to have a Chimney Safety Institute of America-certified chimney sweep inspect your fireplace or woodstove, chimney, and venting system once a year. And then be sure to have a certified professional do a chimney inspection to check for damage. Keep your chimney clean – It is extremely important and cannot be emphasized enough to have your chimney professionally cleaned at a minimum of once per year. The main culprit of chimney fires is creosote. Caps also prevent acidic rainwater from entering and corroding the chimney. A small fire that burns well does not produce as much creosote as a large fire that … And chimney fires damage structures, destroy homes and can seriously injure or kill people. What Should I Do If I Have a Chimney Fire? Fill the metal container with water and store it outside the home away from other flammable materials until you’re ready to discard them. Clean chimneys don’t catch fire. When that hardens into creosote on the chimney walls, there’s an increased risk of chimney fires. As a result, this causes a fire to break out inside your chimney. Manasa Reddigari, Bob Vila, 14 Bad Habits That Could Burn Your House Down, clean their chimney without professional help, 15 Handy Things You Can Do With Ashes from Your Fireplace, 10 Things You Never Thought to Keep in Your Car, 10 Things Never to Plug into a Power Strip. This situation creates a cooler, dirtier fire. This happens when the fire isn’t hot enough, or your chimney is too short. Low-temperature, slow-burning fires, particularly those left to smolder overnight, produce more smoke and leave behind more unburned combustible material. This habit will help to insulate your home from outside temperatures. today for a free insurance review and policy quote. Wet wood equals more smoke and less heat. Resinous woods leave a byproduct, called creosote, behind in the chimney when they burn. Not allowing your fire to smolder. Avoid softwoods like fir, pine, and cypress. Getting chimney liners installed is important for several reasons. Check for any soot buildup and remove it, clean the interior of your fire place, inspect the chimney and its cap, and consider using fire screens to help keep any lit fires inside your fireplace. Lake Region Insurance Agency Provides Auto / Car Insurance, Home Insurance, Business / Commercial Insurance, and Life and Health Insurance to All of Minnesota, Including New London, Willmar, and Cokato. in Cokato, Willmar, or New London, MN, to get a quote today. This will prevent the buildup of creosote and possibly avoid a dangerous fire. THE PURPOSE OF A CHIMNEY. Get enough seasoned wood to last through this winter. Leaves and animal nests inside a flue can quickly fuel a chimney fire when touched by loose embers from a fire. The heat can transfer through the fireplace to the surrounding, non-fireproof parts of your home. Consider keeping a chimney fire extinguishing product on hand. Always stick to the best fire starters when selecting fuel, kindling, and tinder. And if your chimney’s flue liner (the layer between the flue and chimney walls) is uninsulated, it’s recommended to insulate it by either wrapping a heat-resistant insulation blanket around the liner or pouring an insulation mix like vermiculite (available at hardware stores and on Amazon for $10 and up) into the space between the flue liner and flue. It closes off the fireplace when you don’t have a fire going, and swings up to open the flue when needed. Build Small Fires. There are more than 25,000 chimney fires incurring $125 million-plus in property damage every year in the United States. The fact is that clean chimneys simply don’t catch fire. Regular chimney inspections and cleanings help prevent fires … Keep your wood stack in a sheltered area or cover it in wet weather. They also help to provide better air flow and better passage for the combustion process along with protecting the chimney walls form excessive smoke and heat. But sometimes problems happen anyway. Murphysboro Fire Chief Steve McBride says the fire department responds to at least two chimney fires a year. Contact. Not burning trash in a fireplace or woodstove. If you think you had or have a chimney fire, even a small one, always call 911. So stay on top of your chimney’s servicing needs to keep your home safe and avoid costly repairs. The main culprit of chimney fires is creosote. You love your home and take good care of it. 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