Putting a crackle instead of a pop in your fireplace fires this season is a snap. A crackling fire when the weather gets cold is great. A fire that “pops” instead of burning properly is frustrating. It can also be dangerous.
It’s time to get your fireplace ready for winter. If you need help, call a chimney sweep or mason. The colder the weather, the busier they’ll get. If you wait, they may not get to you until spring.
OK, so that’s an exaggeration.
Why is it important to have your fireplace and chimney inspected? Because a fireplace with problems could result in a flash fire or small explosion. Even if the problem isn’t that bad, something as simple as an inappropriate spark arrester could allow rain in your chimney and fireplace, damaging both.
(A spark arrester is a metal cage fastened to the top of your chimney. Its top is solid metal, the sides a semipermeable metal cage. The top prevents rainwater from entering. The cage-type walls hold in ashes and keep out most debris such as leaves, yet permit the chimney to breathe.)
All fireplaces should be inspected annually. This is especially true if you burn lots of wood. It’s more so if you burn predominantly softwoods. Softwoods burn fast and at a lower temperature than hardwoods. The burning of softwoods often leaves creosote residue that can be highly flammable if left to build up.
That’s not to say that all fireplaces and chimneys need to be repaired or even cleaned annually. Many of the newer, steel fireplaces might not have to be cleaned for years.
There are steps anyone can take to get an idea whether the fireplace or chimney needs work.
One of the most common problems people complain about is the smell of soot and smoldering debris that doesn’t completely burn. Instead of rising through and escaping from your chimney, it backs up into the room. In effect, it’s the opposite of the way your fireplace is supposed to work.
Try a spring-loaded damper on top of your chimney. That should shut off enough air from entering at that point yet allow enough oxygen for your fire to burn properly. Talk with a chimney sweep about installing it.
Guidelines to help prevent problems in your fireplace or chimney include the following:
– Burn hardwoods or a mixture of hardwoods and softwoods. That should help cut creosote buildup.
– Burn only seasoned wood. Unseasoned, or green, wood promotes smoke buildup.
– Make sure your chimney has an adequate spark arrester. Loose ashes could ignite a neighbor’s roof or even your own.
– Don’t burn pine cones. They can leave a sap-like glaze on your chimney’s walls.
– Don’t burn newspaper or wrapping paper. Ashes from newspaper are prime suspects in many a house fire. Wrapping paper is dangerous because it can burn very hot and give off many hot ashes.
– Have a fire extinguisher near your fireplace.
To hire a chimney sweep to inspect your fireplace and chimney, look under chimney sweeps in your Yellow Pages. You might expect an inspection to run $35 to $60. Cleaning of your fireplace and chimney may run extra, but it’s worth it.
