Clean your chimney this weekend, if you haven't already!

We're supposed to have some unseasonably warm weather here in the NorthEast this weekend. PLEASE, PLEASE, take this opportunity to clean your chimney, if you haven't done so already! If you have any questions, this is the time and place to ask!

My Aunt's parents house burned down on Tuesday due to an apparent chimney fire. Don't let this happen to you!

Heroic neighbors save Englewood couple from house fire | WINK NEWS

 

Dayum Shawn! I'm glad they got out and glad they had some good people there to help at the right time.

And yes.....clean the chimney folks....don't put it off!

 

That sucks.

I've only burned 3 nights this year so far....been wicked warm. I'm pretty sure my chimney is OK.

 

Great! I cleaned mine at the beginning of October. Wasn't trying to lecture; but this one hit pretty close to home for me. So, I just wanted to put a reminder out there.

 

No lecture implied. Great reminder.

I clean my chimney on Holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentines Day. Probably overkill, but that's OK.

 

I do the same. Its a good insurance policy and peace of mind thing! One can never be accused of being too over cautious when it comes to keeping the family safe!

 

Glad everyones ok Shawn! Good reminder. I did mine in October and will do it again a few times over the season. Just like lukem I clean mine more than needed but it makes me feel comfortable and only takes me 45 minutes each time. Ive been doing it that way out of habit from the days when I had a smoke dragon and just never changed my cleaning habits although my burning habits have changed tremendously and so has the amount of soot I get!

 

For us guys with easy access, chimney sweeping is nothing but peace of mind.

 

It's not a "smoke dragon" if you run it right! Dry wood was always the key.

I clean mine from the roof; otherwise I'd have to take the stove apart somewhat. So I like to do it before burning season, cause I sure don't want to be up there when there's snow on the roof.

 

Did the 1st cleaning of the season about a month ago, 2nd cleaning will be due (assuming a somewhat normal winter from now on) around the first of Feb. I sweep from the roof too, and always clean the cap. Shawn, sorry to hear of your relatives loss, and glad to hear they're OK.

 

Yeah burning right is the key which Im sure I wasnt. I was self taught back in those days. It was also before the internet lol.

 

Great reminder Shawn... mine done Oct 15.. but with outside chimney and clean out tee I check it a lot.. takes less than 2 minutes to check and 10 minutes or so to do a partial clean.. inside pipe and stove undone and cap with screen not removed.. but a quick look at both and 27 feet out class a brushed..

Reminders about safety always a good idea I mean let's face it we areally building fires inside our homes!

 

Good they are safe.
Real bum deal losing everything

 

Yep, that's the most important thing. I heard most of their photos were spared. I saw some pictures of it and it looks like most of the damage was in the living room. But it was gone - just a stone hearth standing there and nothing but sky behind it!

 

Dry wood and not trying to get 15 hour burns out of a 6-8 hour rated stove.
It's real easy to get complacent and lazy when you got it all figured out and year after year you sweep a clean chimney.
You really have to make it a habit to get in there and clean it out just like you pick a day of the year to replace smoke alarm and CO batteries and then test them however you can.

 

Even if things don't burn, the heat does a lot of damage, scorching and melting

 

I have an older couple that lives out here by me that I give wood to. I had learned they had a chimney fire last year and told them I would not give any wood to them this year until they promised to get the chimney cleaned. I am happy to say they did so and I have kept my end of the bargain and given them more wood. Sorry to hear your story Shawn.

 

That stinks. Glad everyone is ok though, things can be replaced. I haven't got up there yet this year. Mines a pain either way I do it. Either go from the top off a ladder or pull the whole insert out and go from the bottom. I'll get on it this weekend though.