Dangers Of Using Your Fireplace Without An Inspection

Cold weather showed up quickly this year in the Midwest. It feels like we went from using our air conditioners just a few weeks ago to now having the heat on all day. While the colder weather might feel inviting to start using your fireplace, there are five dangers of using your fireplace without an inspection. Let’s look at those and why they matter.

Chimney fires

Of course, the most immediate and obvious danger to using your fireplace without an inspection is the potential for a chimney fire. Creosote is a tar-like substance that wood releases during the burning process. As more wood burns, the layer of creosote thickens, causing fire risks.

Creosote is also highly flammable and is the number one cause of chimney fires. An inspection will identify chimneys at risk for fire from creosote build-up and a chimney cleaning can remove it.

Flue and liner damage

A chimney flue is the channel that leads from the fireplace up through the chimney and ends at the crown — hopefully topped with a properly installed chimney cap. A liner is a flexible pipe from a wood-burning stove, connecting with the chimney and running its entire length.

If either are damaged or not working properly, you should wait to light a fire until they can be professionally inspected. Otherwise, you’ll run into similar fire risks as creosote building in the chimney.

Animal nests

Animals love to make their nests on top of your fireplace, especially if you’re missing a chimney cap. As the hot air escapes out of your chimney while using your fireplace, it’s the perfect place for birds and other wildlife to create a nest.

This can create a two-fold danger. Fires are the most obvious one, though the second and potentially more deadly concern is carbon monoxide poisoning. Gasses escape through your chimney, but animal nests can actually create a blockage and prevent those gasses from leaving the home. The buildup then backs into your home and, since carbon monoxide has no smell, you wouldn’t know there’s a problem until it’s too late.

Water damage in the surrounding structure

Using your fireplace without an inspection can hide potential water damage in your fireplace’s masonry or the surrounding structure. As most Hoosiers don’t use their fireplace during June, July, or August, you may not be aware of any water leaks from rain showers. Those summer downpours can sometimes cause problems with your fireplace’s functionality, leading to both housing structural dangers as well as carbon monoxide backups. In addition, water damage can even lead to the fireplace itself needing to be replaced.

Get back to using your fireplace today

As the nights start to get dark even earlier, the temptation to light a fire in your fireplace will only grow with each passing day. That’s why you shouldn’t delay getting an inspection any longer. Contact us today and we’ll get you on our schedule ASAP so you can get back to enjoying that beautiful fire on a cold Indiana night.