Prevent Chimney Fires This Winter: A How-To Guide to Safety and Preparedness

Some chimneys have a knob that rotates a rod to adjust the damper. These knobs are generally found on the exterior of the fireplace, usually centered above the fireplace opening, but sometimes off to the side. If you have a top-mount damper, check for daylight at the top of the flue. Your inspector will check all structures inside and out, including flashing seams for potential leaks. It is important to have any repairs completed as soon as possible, and you can expect to spend between $200 to $1,050 for chimney repairs. The flue is the major component separating a chimney cap from a chimney crown. The crown covers the top of your chimney, allowing the flue pipe to pass through to vent your home, and the cap covers the flue pipe.

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If there is a blockage in the chimney or part of it’s damaged, your fireplace may not work efficiently. This can cause poor draft, a chimney fire, or even a house fire. This is one of those aspects of the home that tends to go unnoticed … unless there is an issue. Because the risk involved with chimney malfunctions is so great in terms of safety and cost, it is important to understand how it works – and how to keep it in top operating condition.

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It should not be difficult,  but I cannot seem to get it to work. There always seems to be some minor snafu that does not make the exercise worth doing. I will have to experiment with your technique of adding an extra floor and not fussing with attic walls. What I am wondering about regarding my suggestion is, if attic walls don’t provide room definition, then there shouldn’t be any 3rd floor framing to worry about. Or draw the walls on the attic level (they should want to stay under the roof unless you make them do otherwise … There are a few ways to keep your chimney cleaner and safer for longer. The force of the air comes down and pulls smoke with it, resulting in a downdraft of smoke coming out into your living room.

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For both safety and efficiency reasons, a fireplace or wood-burning stove must have the flue perfectly installed on the outside. It is important to regularly check the pipes and flue of a fireplace to make sure they are in good condition and working properly. If the pipes or flue are damaged or clogged, they can cause safety problems, such as fire or carbon monoxide buildup. Factory-built fireplaces are the least common type of chimney and are usually made of metal, glass, or ceramic. Each type of chimney has its benefits and drawbacks, so it’s important to choose the right one for your home.

Downdraft is the number one problem created by improper pressure systems in your chimney. If your chimney has a downdraft, you need to pay attention to it and develop a solution. Many new homeowners encounter these problems when they buy an older home where the fireplace wasn’t adequately maintained. To identify spalling bricks, carefully examine the exterior surface of your chimney. Look for areas where the bricks appear to be crumbling or have rough patches.

This is also a good exercise to do before starting a fire to ensure that the top-mount damper is open all the way. Here are different methods you can use to determine if the damper is open or closed. The worker should give you a certificate afterwards, confirming that the chimney has been swept. Keep this as, in the event of an accident such as the chimney catching fire, your insurance could be invalidated if the insurer thinks it was due to poor maintenance. Chimneys require routine maintenance to maintain energy efficiency and safe operations.

Chimney Flue

When the DIY option doesn’t pan out, you have another option at your disposal. Your fireplace has a lot of working components above it in the chimney. There’s a smoke shelf, crown, cap, and most importantly, the chimney damper.

The CDC strongly recommends you take care to avoid contaminating your hands and clothes. Wear an N95-rated respirator if working in a confined space to prevent accidental ingestion of eggs or other harmful materials. Avoid stirring up dust and debris by using a spray bottle to lightly mist the area with a little water. Wear rubber boots that can be scrubbed or cover your shoes with disposable booties so that you do not bring eggs into your living space. Material contaminated with raccoon feces should be removed and burned, buried, or sent to a landfill.

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