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Chimney Health Hazards You Should Know About

Building a fire in the fireplace on a cold, snowy night can be such a comfortable, cozy thing to do. Just snuggling down, watching the snow fall outside the window is a wonderful experience after a long day at work. It’s important that you’re aware of some things that could make this cozy pastime a nightmare situation.

Creosote Buildup

First of all, when you use your fireplace on a frequent basis, the inside of your chimney can become coated with the by-products. These are left when the water vapors and other chemicals in smoke condense on it: creosote. Creosote is extremely flammable, so the danger lies in a stray ember or spark floating up the chimney and setting it on fire. A chimney fire is a scary event, but sometimes a chimney fire occurs without the homeowners even being aware of it. Even if you aren’t aware of it, a chimney fire is a threatening situation because it can cause structural damage to your chimney.

If you do have structural damage, you may be in danger of dangerous gases sneaking back into your home instead of being guided out the chimney. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that is produced when you burn a fire in your fireplace, and if left undetected, can cause serious health problems such as nausea, chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, headaches, or, in extreme situations, death.

Children and Your Fireplace

If you have young children, it’s important to make sure that they are never left unattended while there is a fire burning. Don’t leave flammable items such as stuffed animals or pillows laying around too close to the fire, especially if there are young children around. If you have an upraised hearth, this often gets overlooked as a possible hazard. Young children can fall and cut their head on this; there are padded liners available which can make this a safer situation.

Another important thing to do is to make sure that your fire extinguishers are in working order. You should keep a fire extinguisher close by your fireplace, and give it a visual check every month. Look for visual signs that it has been damaged, like dents or corrosion, and make sure that the indicator on the pressure gauge is in the operating zone. Fire extinguishers should be inspected professionally yearly.

Don’t Forget the Annual Inspection!

The most important thing you can do to keep your fire-burning experience a  safe one is to have your fireplace and chimney system inspected and cleaned on an annual basis. This should be done by a CSIA certified chimney sweep company like Chim Cheroo Chimney Service. They take pride in providing quality service; your satisfaction is of the utmost importance to them. Give them a call today so that your fire-burning nights are worry-free.

Looking for Quality Chimney Care in the Mansfield, Ohio Area

Fireplaces add warmth, beauty, and comfort to many homes. A well-maintained, attractive fireplace can also increase the value of a home. But those who own homes with fireplaces know that, without proper maintenance, dangers exist. Chim-Cheroo Chimney Service, Inc. offers quality services which work to prevent these dangers.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning:

According to the CSIA (Chimney Safety Institute of America) carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can build up in homes with fireplaces that are improperly vented. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can include headache, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, and, if these symptoms are ignored or if concentrations of carbon monoxide get too high, loss of consciousness or death. Thorough inspection and cleaning of your chimney can prevent a build-up of this potentially deadly chemical.

Chimney Fires:

Burning wood in your fireplace can cause a buildup of creosote, a tar-like, sticky substance that coats the inside of your chimney. Creosote is highly flammable, and as it builds up in your chimney, the heat from additional fires in your fireplace can cause it to ignite and cause a fire in the chimney itself. Although there are products sold which claim to prevent creosote build-up, Washington Public Fire Educators, as well as CSIA, have not embraced these claims. Yearly fireplace inspections and cleaning help with early detection of creosote build-up, thus working to prevent chimney fires.

Chimney Failure:

Inspectopedia reports some of the following causes of chimney failure. Chimney movement due to improper chimney construction can cause leaning, cracks in the masonry, or defective footing. Water leaks at the top of the chimney can cause water to seep down into the masonry, and in climates with freezing temperatures, this water can freeze, causing cracks in the chimney to occur. If, during construction, not enough space for movement was left as the interior of the chimney heats up, thermal expansion cracks can occur.

Chim Cheroo Chimney Service, Inc. offers inspections, cleanings, and other services that will keep your fireplace looking great and running great. Annual inspections are performed by chimney sweeps who have met a high set of standards: they have undergone thorough background checks, are fully educated in the latest chimney sweeping techniques, and are certified through CSIA. Chim Cheroo Chimney Service also offers many other services, including chimney cleaning, relining, leak and flashing repair, waterproofing, tuckpointing, crown repair, firebox rebuilds, and chimney rebuilds and restoration.

Anyone looking for quality chimney care in the Mansfield, Ohio area need look no further. Chim Cheroo Chimney Service, Inc. offers superior care and service for chimneys and fireplaces, and as an added bonus, their masonry services come with a two-year warranty. If anything happens to your fireplace or chimney that was caused by something Chim Cheroo Chimney Service did or did not do, the needed repairs will be made free of charge (as long as no other company has worked on the problem area since the repairs were made.)