July 2006
More than one-third of Americans use fireplaces, wood stoves and other hearth appliances as primary heat sources in their homes. With the cost of heating fuel continuing to rise, many homebuyers will likely be adding or upgrading those appliances. If the chimney and venting system is not adequate or is in poor condition, installing a new hearth appliance may result in carbon monoxide poisoning, chimney fires, or poor performance of the appliance.
Heating fires account for 36% of residential home fires every year. Often these fires are due to creosote buildup in chimneys and stovepipes. Another danger is carbon monoxide seeping back into a home due to faulty ventilation. Each year in America, carbon monoxide poisoning claims approximately 480 lives and sends another 15,200 people to hospital emergency rooms for treatment. All home heating systems require regular maintenance to function safely and efficiently.
Following are some homeowner safety tips to keep the home fires safely burning.
Please contact us with any questions.
We welcome your feedback,
Jeffrey S. Leighton, President
Inspect-It 1st
Email: jleight3@maine.rr.com
Chimney Safety Tips
- If installing or using a wood stove be sure that there is proper clearance from combustible materials.
- Vent only into a chimney that has been inspected.
- Woodstoves should not share a flue with other heating sources that burn dissimilar fuels.
- Check the flue connections and condition of the chimney regularly during the heating season. If a homeowner plans to switch from wood to gas, the flue should be checked to be sure it is the correct diameter.
- If a new hearth appliance chimney is not tall enough to create the necessary draft the chimney will either need to be heightened or a different type of appliance may need to be considered.
- A masonry chimney requires the installation of a liner, regardless of what type of fuel is burned.
- Look for "spalling" brick, resulting from moisture seeping into the brick and freezing, causing flaking brick and loosened mortar seals.
- Watch for rust and white acid stains at joints of metal components of a vent system.
- Watch for corrosion along the horizontal connectors and chimney cleanout doors at the base of the flue.
- Before each heating season homeowners should have flues and chimneys inspected, cleaned, and checked for leakage or blockage by creosote and debris. Black stains on the outside of the chimney or flue is an indicator of creosote buildup or leakage which could mean that pollutants are leaking into the house.
Chimney Inspection
The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) and the United States Fire Administration (USFA) recommend yearly chimney inspections to help prevent fire and carbon monoxide poisonings. The CSIA also recommends homeowners installing a new hearth appliance have their chimney and venting systems inspected by a certified chimney inspector before installation.
I have recently completed training through CSIA and am certifided to perform two levels of chimney inspection:
For more information about Chimney Safety visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission website: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/5017.html
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