The Hauppauge Fire Department recommends an annual chimney inspection by a reputable chimney sweep organization. Depending on how often you use your fireplace to burn wood, creosote residue will build up in your chimney.
Many factors influence the amount of creosote stuck to the walls of your chimney, such as the volume of airflow into your chimney and the burning of improperly seasoned wood, which encourages such a buildup.
Creosote will also build up in the flue if you have unburned wood in the firebox.
Maintaining your chimney on an annual basis can be critical. Fire not only gives off heat energy, it also produces combustion products, including carbon dioxide, water vapor, and other fumes.
Carbon monoxide is found in these fumes, and the highly toxic gas can build-up indoors. An examination by an experienced chimney sweep is the only way to learn if your chimney, whether masonry or metal, needs a cleaning.
There are things homeowners can do to better avoid often dangerous chimney fires.
Here are a few steps homeowners can take:
* Do not let ashes gather in the firebox. Clean them out if they are accumulating.
* Be sure to only use seasoned firewood in your fireplace. If you gather it yourself, season it for a year or more before you burn it. If you buy it from a vendor, ensure that the firewood company only offers seasoned wood.
* Ensure the damper is entirely open BEFORE lighting a fire in the firebox.
* Do not burn pressure-treated or painted wood in the fireplace. This will hasten creosote buildup (pressure-treated wood) or potentially create toxic fumes (painted wood) that are dangerous to your family members.
* Put the largest logs on the bottom of the firebox, followed by smaller logs on top. Why? The fire will burn hotter and produce less smoke. Top that pile with kindling (around one inch) and crushed newspaper to get the fire started properly. This method will retard residue buildup in your chimney.
* Have an annual inspection of your chimney by a professional. Hire an experienced, reliable chimney sweep to mechanically clean your chimney, removing tar and creosote.
Finally, every home and business should be equipped with properly maintained carbon monoxide detectors. If they activate do not hesitate to contact your local fire department.