-- According to the CSIA (Chimney Safety Institute of America) and local owner of SirVent Chimney and Venting operating in the Huntersville, NC and Charolette North Carolina, annual chimney inspections are not just for overly cautious homeowners. They’re a must for all homeowners, especially before lighting up the first fire of the season.
SirVent owners say “before lighting up any logs this season, it’s critically important for homeowners to take the correct steps to keep their fireplaces and families safe. ”
Even though chimneys do not require daily upkeep, Experts say that regular maintenance efforts help chimneys operate safely and prevent deaths and injuries while protecting homes from fire.
Chris Stacy, owner of SirVent Chimney and Venting in Huntersville, NC says “ Think about it… you can’t see the inside of your chimney system, and when you’re dealing with fire and carbon monoxide, you don’t want to leave things to chance or guesswork. You want to do everything within your power to ensure your family and home are protected from unnecessary threat. With an annual inspection performed by a professionally trained and certified chimney sweep, you can enjoy your fireplace and chimney with confidence and peace of mind.”
Mr Stacy says, “Any number of serious problems can occur when chimneys are not well maintained. Chimney fire and carbon monoxide poisoning can be deadly. The carbon monoxide is often the biggest threat since it is virtually invisible without a proper detector.”
The National Vital Statistics System says that, in 2015, 393 deaths resulted from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning in the United States.
Chris says “just like carbon monoxide, chimney fires are also an extremely dangerous byproduct of poor chimney maintenance and the effects can be just as devastating if not worse”.
The Chimney Safety Institute of America notes that chimneys expel the byproducts of combustion, including smoke, water vapor, gases, unburned wood particles, hydrocarbon, tar fog, and assorted minerals, which can condense on the inside of the chimney flue. The residue, called creosote, is highly combustible. With the right conditions, a chimney fire can start without the homeowner even knowing about it and eventually combustion can occur.
According to the CSIA, homeowners should:
“Have chimneys inspected annually and properly cleaned by a professional chimney technician.
Make sure tree branches and other obstacles are cleared away from the top of the chimney.
Use seasoned hardwoods that have been split for several months to a year. “Green” wood creates more creosote.
Apply the top-down method of building a fire produces less smoke. This means using larger pieces of wood on the bottom and the smallest twigs and kindling at the top. The fire will burn from the top and down, igniting the wood beneath as it goes.
Put a cap on the chimney to keep out rain, snow and small animals.
Install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms throughout the home and routinely check the batteries.”
Learn more about chimney maintenance and Sirvent Chimney and Venting on their website.
Release ID: 259054