Many chimney fires occur because the flue interior has been neglected by not being cleaned. Chimneys can become choked and partially blocked with an accumulation of soot deposit, left from burning coal or wood. Soot rises up in the smoke and is deposited by it on the surfaces of the flue.
Chimney fires burn at such a hot temperature they melt mortar, destroy chimney liners and damage outside masonry. Several of these smaller chimney fires can do enough damage to your chimney to create pathways for future chimney fires to damage your house.
Most chimney fires happen for one simple reason: improper usage and care of wood-burning appliances like fireplaces and wood-stoves. Not all chimney fires are dramatic events that attract the attention of neighbors and passersby, some a quiet slow burning events that although not visible are still hot enough to cause brick and mortar damage.
If you have a chimney fire the odds are you will have to replace your whole chimney as the flue tiles used to vent the gases have now cracked from the heat of the fire. Chimney fires can also damage roofs and any walls beside the chimney. The heat of a chimney fire can crack and cause failure of the mortar allowing fire to have access to walls nearby.
Should a chimney fire occur, you must call 911. It is smart to keep a chimney fire extinguisher in the home. They are basically flares which take up all of the oxygen in the chimney for a period of time in order to prevent it from burning. The cost of a chimney fire extinguisher is small in comparison to the cost of rebuilding a chimney, a chimney and a roof, or a chimney and a portion of the home. Keeping them nearby whenever you burn a fire in your fireplace or wood burning stove is always a good idea.
Corrosion caused by acidic water condensing inside the flue may cause the liner, mortar, and brickwork to flake and crumble. Chimney sweeps often find this debris creating blockages in the flue, potentially exposing the occupants of the home to carbon monoxide and other dangerous combustion by-products, a situation not to be taken lightly.
Have your chimney inspected by a WETT Certified Professional who is trained to check for problems before a chimney fire happens to you. WETT Inspectors or Licensed Chimney sweeps will inspect and report on the condition of your chimney. You should have your chimney cleaned every year to help prevent the buildup of harmful creosote and also to check for any cracked or damaged flue tiles. The Barrie WETT Inspection Service provides this service to Simcoe County and area.
