As the days get shorter, and the leaves start changing, you may be tempted to light a fire in your wood burning fireplace. While it\u2019s enjoyable to sit and relax by a nice, warm fire, if you haven\u2019t had your chimney inspected or cleaned this year, I would recommend holding off.<\/p>\n
September 30 \u2013 October 6 is National Chimney Safety week. On average, 20,000 chimney fires occur in the U.S. each year. With proper inspections and cleaning, these fires can be prevented.<\/p>\n
Neglected chimneys can destroy your home or injure your family. While some chimney fires burn wildly out of control, others can burn discretely without you ever knowing.<\/p>\n
Here are some signs of a chimney fire:<\/strong> Slow burning chimney fires may not be visible, but still can cause damage to your chimney or home.<\/p>\n Here are visible defects indicating you\u2019ve had a small chimney fire:<\/strong> An inspection by a certified and reputable company will be able to explain what\u2019s going on with your chimney.<\/p>\n Understanding what causes chimney fires is the best medicine for keeping your family safe:<\/strong><\/p>\n 1. Creosote buildup.<\/strong> Creosote is a residue that travels up your chimney and builds up on your flue over time. In fact, some creosote builds up every time a wood burning fireplace is lit. If that residue isn\u2019t properly cleaned out, the chance of a fire igniting in your chimney increases.<\/p>\n 2. Clay flue liner defects.<\/strong> Over time, liners can crack allowing hot gases to escape. If the hot gases enter into the home, it can cause nearby framing to ignite.<\/p>\n 3. Improper maintenance.<\/strong> Cracked cement in and around the fireplace can cause hot gases to escape as well.<\/p>\n 4. Improper installation.<\/strong> Proper installation is critical to keeping your family safe. The National Fire Protection Association, fireplace manufacturers, and the venting manufactures have recommended guidelines for safe and proper installation.<\/p>\n 5. Other causes. <\/strong>Fires can start for a number of additional reasons such as: If you enjoy a gas fireplace, here are a few things to check annually:<\/strong> As the days get shorter, and the leaves start changing, you may be tempted to light a fire in your wood burning fireplace. While it\u2019s enjoyable to sit and relax by a nice, warm fire, if you haven\u2019t had your chimney inspected or cleaned this year, I would recommend holding off. September 30 \u2013 October […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3161,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3160","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/flagshipinsuranceservices.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3160","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/flagshipinsuranceservices.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/flagshipinsuranceservices.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flagshipinsuranceservices.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flagshipinsuranceservices.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3160"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/flagshipinsuranceservices.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3160\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flagshipinsuranceservices.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3161"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/flagshipinsuranceservices.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3160"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flagshipinsuranceservices.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3160"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flagshipinsuranceservices.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3160"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nLoud crackling and popping noise;
\nDense smoke;
\nA strong hot smell; and
\nLoud rumbling sound.<\/p>\n
\nWarped metal;
\nCracked or collapsed flue tiles;
\nDamaged roofing material;
\nCracks in exterior masonry;
\nPieces of creosote on your roof; and
\nSmoke seeping through mortar joints.<\/p>\n
\nToo much wood in the fireplace;
\nFaulty igniter or connections;
\nNo grate;
\nDamaged damper;
\nBird nest or debris buildup; and
\nLow hanging tree branches.<\/p>\n
\nInspect the glass for cracks;
\nInspect the latches to make sure they still securely hold the glass;
\nMake sure the logs haven\u2019t shifted;
\nMake sure the gas shut-off valve stops the flow of gas and test the igniter; and
\nInspect the burner for clogged holes. If a burner hole is clogged, turn off the gas and clear the obstruction(s) with a pin or small needle.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"