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14 June 2013

Portland Chimney Sweep Increases Fireplace Safety

By Grace Daniels


In locations where wood is a plentiful resource it is often used to supply heat in homes. Whether burned in a wood stove or fireplace, this fuel can provide a warm atmosphere for a home. However, both stoves and fireplaces need chimneys to vent the gases created as wood burns. According to fire prevention experts, flue fires cause loss of life and extensive property damage annually. A Portland chimney sweep offers the services to make use of fireplaces safer.

With regular cleaning of the flue, homeowners can burn firewood in a safer manner. The flue directs smoke and other combustion byproducts out of one's home. When it is clean, a fireplace can operate with the greatest efficiency and the creosote buildup is eliminated, increasing safety for the occupants.

Green firewood as well as that of evergreen trees is naturally higher in creosote than hardwoods that have been seasoned in a dry location for at least a year. Wood that is properly stacked has the best opportunity for these volatile compounds to evaporate naturally in the seasoning process. Burning a hot fire and leaving dampers open will helps to prevent creosote buildup.

Even when owners use these steps in reducing the creosote buildup, the burning of any type of wood eventually leads to the material's buildup. Creosote is highly flammable and is often discovered as soot coating the damper as well as the walls of a fireplace, stove or flue. As the layer grows thick, it can eventually catch on fire. Flue fires can start quickly and spread to the home quickly.

Chimneys that are coated in thick layers of creosote are unable to draw the smoke and exhaust gases from the fire as they should. While having smoke fill the home can cause significant problems, an even greater problem is created if carbon monoxide fills the home. This odorless and colorless gas is a silent killer of unsuspecting home occupants.

Clean chimneys ensure that fireplaces operate at top efficiency. They allow wood to burn and provide the maximum amount of heat while also reducing the smoke escaping into one's home. Cleaning ensures one finds the greatest enjoyment form the fuel being consumed in the fireplace.

For maximum safety, owners should have their chimneys inspected and cleaned a minimum of one time per year. In addition, if a buildup of soot is noticed on fireplace walls or the damper it is time for service. Other signs one needs to take action include smoke leaks inside the home or the smell of smoke that fills a room even though the stove or fireplace is not being use

Although consumers can purchase cleaning brushes to do the job for themselves, they may want to consider hiring professionals. Cleaning chimneys is a dirty job that involves working several feet above the ground. A Portland chimney sweep can do the job safely. They have the right tools to do the job correctly and can inspect chimneys to ensure they are working safely.




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