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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Our Service Area
If you live within 20 miles of Marion County, there’s no need to call any other chimney provider! The team here at Chimney Solutions Indiana will be in our marked trucks and clean uniforms and at your door on time! We travel to Zionsville, Carmel, Fishers, Brownsburg, Westfield, Geist, Eagle Creek, Noblesville and all throughout the Indianapolis, IN area.
We believe that education and ongoing training is important, which is why we continuously invest in ourselves and our team to deliver better service to you. We’re Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) – certified and members of the National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG), so whenever advancements are made within the industry, we’re among the first to know about it. When you work with Chimney Solutions, you can expect the latest information and the most advanced services and techniques. We strive to exceed expectations on every job from a routine chimney sweep and chimney cleaning to a full chimney restoration.
We’re committed to providing the best service possible and look forward to serving you and your family, year after year. Call 317-757-6979 to get started! >>