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

Aint that the truth. I had a fire in one of my rentals a few years back. Tenant over fired the fireplace box... used it like a wood stove and stuffed it full of kiln dried fir. The heat ignited the framing behind the fire box. Im not sure if pyrolysis occurred or not. There was fire damage for sure but it was amazing how much damage occurred in the home from the heat alone. Somewhere around here I have a picture of the melted thermostat in the hallway. Sure glad Shawn's family is safe, wow.

 

Ya got me... I have no reason not to. This weekend it will be, I've procrastinated too long and haven't swept for a while.

Sorry 'bout your aunts misfortune. Thanks for sharing the story. It at least gave me the push needed to potentially prevent more misfortune.

 

Finally cleaned mine last weekend. 1st full year with the new IS.

 

Sorry to hear about their house, glad they are ok.

With a metal roof and double wall insulated stove pipe chimney would I loose the house in a chimney fire?

 

damm Shawn, that is a tough reminder of the potential consequences of NOT keeping your chimney clean. I am glad no one was hurt. To lose an entire house has got to be rough even if it were insured!

I tend to keep an eye on my chimney cap and specifically the spark arrestor for any accumulation. I will inspect the chimney as a whole right after Labor Day, and then After New Years Eve and sweep it each inspection. I rarely have to sweep between inspections.

If anyone has "Glazed Creosote" from burning less than dry/seasoned wood, multiple cleanings and sweepings are necessary. The Glazed Creosote is the most flammable of all!

 

I don't know.. it may be possible.. but I am from Vermont every spring we make maple syrup.. boiling down sap is basically a controlled chimney fire.. these old buildings are basic wood sheds with an 4 foot by 8 foot firebox (sizes vary) with metal pans on them that hold sap.. 20 feet or so of metalbestos pipe and metal roofs.. my great uncle would put half a cord thru it in 12 hours.. there was always 5 feet of flame shooting out the top of pipe. that's when it was running good! in my 45 years and gramps 70 or so never saw 1 burn down... but man firestations did seems crazy I know.. I would never do this in my home! there is usually snow on ground also...

 

Done.

 

Glad for the reminder Shawn Curry. I just placed my order for my chimney cleaning set and it will be here Friday. cleaning out this chimney for the first time, since we only moved in a couple months ago. We haven't had any fires in it yet, but I feel them coming, especially now that the Holiday Season is upon us. Everybody stay safe on those roofs this weekend!