Fireplace glow can be deadly if guidelines aren't followed
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
A warm, glowing fire and the smell of burning wood is the perfect backdrop for chilly November evenings in Indiana.
But the beginning of fireplace season can be dangerous for families.
If the fireplace is not properly ventilated and the chimney and flue not cleaned and open, there can be deadly effects on those trying to enjoy the warmth and ambiance of a fire.
Gas fireplaces come with a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, while traditional wood fireplaces can cause roof fires or even explosions.
Before a fireplace is used every year, it should be checked by a certified professional chimney sweep, says Eric Trojan, owner of Modern Chimney Cleaning & Services, Syracuse.
"The fireplace should be inspected yearly and cleaned if necessary, according to the National Fire Protection Association," says Trojan.
"If you burn anything, the chimney will have to be cleaned. Even if the fire is hot, (creosote) builds up."
The chimney is designed to vent and exhaust the gases that come from the burning wood. However, creosote builds up from the resin, tar and other by-products that are not burned out of the wood.
It is most important to check the top of the chimney, including the cover, if there is one. It is possible that animals could be blocking the chimney with nests. Sweeps have found dead raccoons, birds, ducks and squirrels in chimneys.
A chimney sweep certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America must know the requirements and codes of fireplaces. The sweep will use a tight-fitting brush to scrub the creosote out of the chimney.
Trojan says that compressed air or log chains do not clean the chimney well enough. Even if a chemical that is supposed to prevent creosote is put on the wood, it cannot totally eliminate creosote from building up in the chimney.
Trojan recommends cleaning the chimney after every 100 fires. He says it is also important to check for cracks in the liner, if the chimney has one.
If creosote builds up, the fire can burn at temperatures up to 2000 degrees F, according to Trojan. This heat can cause the mortar in brick chimneys to crack, burn and even explode. Wood close to the fireplace can catch on fire.
The creosote can also cause fires in the chimney itself. Sparks coming from the chimney can then ignite the roof of the home.
"The more creosote, the more intense the chimney fire," Trojan says.
He also warns of houses that use gas furnaces with old chimneys, since carbon monoxide has a greater chance of leaking into the house. He recommends using a carbon monoxide detector. However, wood fires release enough smoke to warn people before carbon monoxide levels get too dangerous.
Trojan says that new pre-fabricated fireplaces are safer than the old brick fireplaces, if they are installed properly. The new designs use several layers of metal in the chimney.
Tim Ellis, a sales representative at Collier's Fireplace Shoppe, Warsaw, said there are several types of gas fireplaces in addition to the wood fireplaces.
The first involves connecting a gas line to the fireplace that is then hooked up to a log. It provides the look of a real fire but is not a significant source of heat. These fireplaces require a chimney that is open and any doors in front of the fireplace to be open. And Ellis reminds people not to try to roast marshmallows over the gas log.
The second kind is a gas log that is vent-free. This may not look as realistic, but can be a source of heat. These can only be installed in fireplaces that have a workable flue and chimney that could be opened. Ellis also says these can produce by-products, such as carbon monoxide.
When lighting a fire, both Trojan and Ellis gave several tips.
"Make sure it draws correctly before lighting it," he says. An easy way to pre-heat the chimney is to roll a newspaper into a tube and light the end like a torch. Hold it in the chimney to help establish a draft. "A hot chimney draws better," Trojan says. "The smoke will not roll back into your room if it's preheated."
He also says the best kind of wood to burn in the fireplace is seasoned hard wood. This is wood that was cut, split and stacked covered for a year prior to burning. This kind of wood will burn cleaner than green or wet wood. Trojan adds that prepacked logs are safe to burn in fireplaces.
Ellis reminds people starting a fire not to use any starting fluids. It is important to make sure the damper is open so the smoke will not go into the room. He says that if homeowners just use common sense, they should not have problems.
When a wood fire is burning, Ellis says it is safest to keep a screen over the fireplace to keep sparks from shooting out and possibly catching carpet or furniture on fire.
He warns of the smoke and damage that can be caused by a chimney fire, so he stresses it is important to keep the chimney clean and free of blockages. [[In-content Ad]]
A warm, glowing fire and the smell of burning wood is the perfect backdrop for chilly November evenings in Indiana.
But the beginning of fireplace season can be dangerous for families.
If the fireplace is not properly ventilated and the chimney and flue not cleaned and open, there can be deadly effects on those trying to enjoy the warmth and ambiance of a fire.
Gas fireplaces come with a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, while traditional wood fireplaces can cause roof fires or even explosions.
Before a fireplace is used every year, it should be checked by a certified professional chimney sweep, says Eric Trojan, owner of Modern Chimney Cleaning & Services, Syracuse.
"The fireplace should be inspected yearly and cleaned if necessary, according to the National Fire Protection Association," says Trojan.
"If you burn anything, the chimney will have to be cleaned. Even if the fire is hot, (creosote) builds up."
The chimney is designed to vent and exhaust the gases that come from the burning wood. However, creosote builds up from the resin, tar and other by-products that are not burned out of the wood.
It is most important to check the top of the chimney, including the cover, if there is one. It is possible that animals could be blocking the chimney with nests. Sweeps have found dead raccoons, birds, ducks and squirrels in chimneys.
A chimney sweep certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America must know the requirements and codes of fireplaces. The sweep will use a tight-fitting brush to scrub the creosote out of the chimney.
Trojan says that compressed air or log chains do not clean the chimney well enough. Even if a chemical that is supposed to prevent creosote is put on the wood, it cannot totally eliminate creosote from building up in the chimney.
Trojan recommends cleaning the chimney after every 100 fires. He says it is also important to check for cracks in the liner, if the chimney has one.
If creosote builds up, the fire can burn at temperatures up to 2000 degrees F, according to Trojan. This heat can cause the mortar in brick chimneys to crack, burn and even explode. Wood close to the fireplace can catch on fire.
The creosote can also cause fires in the chimney itself. Sparks coming from the chimney can then ignite the roof of the home.
"The more creosote, the more intense the chimney fire," Trojan says.
He also warns of houses that use gas furnaces with old chimneys, since carbon monoxide has a greater chance of leaking into the house. He recommends using a carbon monoxide detector. However, wood fires release enough smoke to warn people before carbon monoxide levels get too dangerous.
Trojan says that new pre-fabricated fireplaces are safer than the old brick fireplaces, if they are installed properly. The new designs use several layers of metal in the chimney.
Tim Ellis, a sales representative at Collier's Fireplace Shoppe, Warsaw, said there are several types of gas fireplaces in addition to the wood fireplaces.
The first involves connecting a gas line to the fireplace that is then hooked up to a log. It provides the look of a real fire but is not a significant source of heat. These fireplaces require a chimney that is open and any doors in front of the fireplace to be open. And Ellis reminds people not to try to roast marshmallows over the gas log.
The second kind is a gas log that is vent-free. This may not look as realistic, but can be a source of heat. These can only be installed in fireplaces that have a workable flue and chimney that could be opened. Ellis also says these can produce by-products, such as carbon monoxide.
When lighting a fire, both Trojan and Ellis gave several tips.
"Make sure it draws correctly before lighting it," he says. An easy way to pre-heat the chimney is to roll a newspaper into a tube and light the end like a torch. Hold it in the chimney to help establish a draft. "A hot chimney draws better," Trojan says. "The smoke will not roll back into your room if it's preheated."
He also says the best kind of wood to burn in the fireplace is seasoned hard wood. This is wood that was cut, split and stacked covered for a year prior to burning. This kind of wood will burn cleaner than green or wet wood. Trojan adds that prepacked logs are safe to burn in fireplaces.
Ellis reminds people starting a fire not to use any starting fluids. It is important to make sure the damper is open so the smoke will not go into the room. He says that if homeowners just use common sense, they should not have problems.
When a wood fire is burning, Ellis says it is safest to keep a screen over the fireplace to keep sparks from shooting out and possibly catching carpet or furniture on fire.
He warns of the smoke and damage that can be caused by a chimney fire, so he stresses it is important to keep the chimney clean and free of blockages. [[In-content Ad]]