Fireplaces are a great addition to many homes and provide warmth and style to any indoor environment. But fireplaces and their chimneys need to be taken care of and respected. Chimney fires are no laughing matter and can be a serious threat to your home and to your safety. Preventing chimney fires should be something that every homeowner is interested in. The St. Paul chimney fire prevention professionals at 2nd Generation Chimneys have years of experience cleaning and maintaining all different types of chimneys. We thought it would be a good idea to put together some of the ways that you can potentially protect your home from chimney fires.
St. Paul Chimney Fire Prevention
During the winter you likely use your fireplace on a regular basis. That use can lead to the build-up of creosote and soot on the inside of your chimney lining. These two materials are the result of burning fuel in your fireplace. They are also the most common cause of chimney fires. These are a few of the St. Paul chimney fire prevention steps that you can take to make sure that your chimney keeps working efficiently and safely.
- Get regular maintenance – Probably the best way to potentially prevent chimney fires is to get your chimney regularly inspected and cleaned by a professional. During regular maintenance and cleaning visits, our chimney sweeps will thoroughly clean and inspect your chimney for any cracks or issues that could be developing it your chimney’s lining.
- Burn the right wood – Make sure that the wood you burn (if you have a wood-burning fireplace) is thoroughly dried. When green, wood can have a lot of resin, water and tannins that can create a lot of creosote when you burn them. Also, evergreens like pine and hemlock tend to have more resin and sap in them which produces more creosote. To help prevent creosote build-up you can burn an aluminum can in your fireplace every once in a while which will help dry out the creosote.
If you’d like to learn more St. Paul chimney fire prevention tips just call 2nd Generation Chimneys today to talk with one of our friendly staff about any of the services that you need.