Fireplace Cleaning Info
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Everything You Want To Know About Fireplace And Chimney Cleaning
This lens was created by Twin Cities Furnace Cleaning to help inform the public about how and why you need to clean your fireplace and chimney. This is a very serious subject since chimney fires are one of the leading causes for house fires. After reading this lens you may want to clean your chimney yourself or hire a professional, either way hopefully you will learn enough to make your own decision.
Preventing House Fires
Main Reason You Want To Clean Your Chimney
According to The U.S Fire Administration home heating fires account for approximately 36% of all house fires in the U.S.A. annually. The main cause is creosote build up inside the chimney. Creosote is a residue that is left over from the burning of wood and is highly flammable. Therefore the chimney flue should be throughly cleaned every so often to prevent chimney fires. How Often Should I Clean My Chimney?
You Must Have It Inspected
Some say there is no rule of thumb of how often your chimney should be cleaned, and that you must inspect it visually. However, some fire departments have recommended that if you have burned at least 50 fires it is probably due for a cleaning. What you are looking for is creosote build up. All experts agree that if you use your fireplace on a regular basis you should have it visually inspected on an annual basis. If there is at least 1/8" of build up you should clean it, if there is at least 1/4" of build up you should not use it and have it cleaned immediately. How To Inspect Your Chimney
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What Kind Of Wood Should I Burn
Hardwoods Are Best
You should only burn seasoned hardwoods like ash and oak, but never willow. Green wood can have up to 50% more water than dry wood and will produce much more smoke and creosote than dry woods. Here is a chart of some of the different types of wood for burning. Also do not ever burn cardboard, trash or other debris because that can be very dangerous. Should I Have A Chimney Cap
Keeps More Than Just Animals Out
You should always have a chimney cap on the fireplace flue, this will help keep sparks and hot ashes from landing on the roof, and always make sure your roof is free of leaves and debris because sparks from the chimney may set the roof on fire. Often times birds, squirrels and other animals like to build nests, this will save you a trip up to your roof to remove the nest and possibly the animal itself! Keeping moisture out of the chimney flue is also extremely important because moisture inside the chimney flue can cause the flue tiles to crack leading to very expensive repairs. How Often Do You Clean Your Chimeny?
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