How to Prevent Fireplace Chimney Fires

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• How to Prevent Chimney Fires
• The chimney is more than just an architectural
  structure in your home. It has an important
  function which is to carry toxic gases emanating
  from the fireplace, furnace or stove out of your
  home. As you unwind in front of your fireplace
  and bask in the sparkling flame, the condition
  of your chimney is probably the farthest in your
  mind. However, the truth is, if you do not spare
  a thought for the health of your chimney then
  that relaxation might not last.
• This is because dirty chimneys are prone to
  chimney fires, which can lead to injuries and can
  also damage structures as well as homes.
• Warning Signs
• To prevent a chimney fire one must be sure its
  clean, that the chimney doesnt have a massive
  buildup of soot or creosote and is properly
  build. Some factors may warn you that the
  chimney might go up in flames. Whenever the
  following signs appear, its best to call a
  professional chimney sweep or to get rid of it
  immediately
• A loud popping and cracking noise and a lot of
  dense smoke. It can create an intense smell that
  emanates out of your chimney
• A massive buildup of a dark brown or black powder
  in your chimney, which can be creosote or soot.
  Creosote flakes and pieces found on the roof or
  ground are also a cause of worry and should be
  cleaned immediately
• The warped metal of the damper, a warped metal
  smoke chamber connector pipe or a warped
  factory-built metal chimney
• Cracked or collapsed flue tiles, or tiles with
  large chunks missing
• Discolored or a distorted rain cap
• Damaged roofing material, which is mainly caused
  by hot creosote
• Cracks in exterior masonry
• Evidence of smoke escaping through mortar joints
  of masonry or tile liners.
• Chimney fires can be explosive and easily
  conspicuous to neighbors and passersby.
• However, some are less dramatic due to the fact
  that they do not get enough air to fuel them and
  one would only notice during a chimney
  inspection. Still, they can cause damage to the
  chimney structure.

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• What are the effects of chimney fires on
• Factory Built Metal Chimneys
• Most factory-built metal chimneys require special
  tests before they are installed. These include
  testing the ability of the chimney to withstand
  high flue temperatures without sustaining
  damage. However, if there is a chimney fire,
  damages might still occur and factory-built
  metal chimneys will need to be replaced if
  damaged in any way.
• Masonry Chimneys
• Regardless of whether the flue is older, tile
  lined chimney fires in a masonry chimney can
  melt mortar, crack tiles and damage the outer
  masonry material. This happens mostly when
  thermal shock occurs causing tiles to crack and
  mortar displaced. This gives a leeway to flames
  and is extremely hazardous.
• How to Prevent a Chimney Fire
• Use dry wood. Wet wood does not burn as hot as
  dry wood and churns out more smoke. Wet wood
  often leads to rapid creosote buildup.
• Clean your chimney. It is often easy to tell if
  the stove pipe needs cleaning, i.e. when the
  smoke does not draft up but comes out of the
  door.
• Burn your wood stove daily. Burning wood stove
  hot enough on a regularly will help prevent
• the buildup of creosote.
• Use creosote remover powder. This is a powdery
  substance that when put in woodstove before
  burning a hot fire turns the creosote into a
  powder. This does not in any way substitute for
  cleaning your chimney, but rather helps reduce
  creosote and minimizes chances of a creosote
  chimney fire.
• Burn the hardest firewood you can find. Softwood
  has a lot of pitch in them which also
  contributes to the creosote buildup and chimney
  fire.
• Regular chimney cleaning. Ensure regular cleaning
  of your fireplace interior including the floor.
  Also, vacuum and ensure you wear protective gear
  while cleaning your fireplace.