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Chimney and Fireplace Damage in Main Line, Philadelphia

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Fireplaces provide comfort to you and your family during cold nights. In order for the fireplace to remain reliable, they need to be maintained. If no cleaning or maintenance is done on a chimney, the more chances that it will cause a chimney fire.

Chimney fires are dangerous and loud. Witnesses of chimney fires describe rattling noises like the sound of shaking pipes. Neighbors would see a pillar of black smoke. Chimney fires can also run silent and when they do, it might be too late before anyone notices the flames licking the inside of homes.

Keeping the fireplace is all about preventing the buildup of creosote. Moisture, unburned bits of wood, tar fog, smoke all combine together in the cooler parts of the flue and become creosote. Creosote looks like black or brown residue. They can be wet and sticky or dry. Though they come from pre-burned materials, they are highly combustible and serve as fuel for chimney fires.

  1. Use only seasoned wood and dry fuel in the fireplace. The correct use of the fireplace or wood stoves means using the right kinds of fuel for them. Seasoned wood pellets and seasoned hardwoods only. Light a match and check if the fire goes up the vent. Place the kindling and the logs on the grate and make sure they are on the back of the fireplace. Never use trash, wrapping paper, cardboard boxes, or plastics for fuel.
  2. Get a certified chimney sweep to check the chimney once a year. Make sure the chimney sweep is certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA). The chimney sweep will perform cleaning and repair of your chimney. Please make sure to follow the advice of the specialist on the proper use of your fireplace after the service is done.
  3. Ventilate. When you have a fire going, kindly make sure you have windows and glass doors open. You need to make sure there is enough air flowing inside your house to keep the residue from building up in the flue.
  4. Screen the fireplace. A screen covering your fireplace is a good guard against stray embers or sparks from the hearth. Make sure you have fire safety devices near the fireplace and buy a non-flammable rug. Test your smoke alarms monthly and remember to put it in a fresh set of batteries every year.
  5. Clean the outside area near your chimney.

Make sure your firewood rack is at least 30 feet from your house. Check your ventilation system for blockage and put a mesh around your chimney to guard it from sparks. Double check that the vent pipes follow the recommended measurement. They should be 3 feet beyond the level of your roof.

Remember that chimney fires are dangerous. Statistics show that there are at least 25,000 incidents of chimney fire in the United States per year. These fires cause over 125 million in damages. The loss of lives cannot be calculated. If a chimney fire happens inside your home, secure your family and friends and lead them outside. Call 911 immediately.In cases of fire and smoke damage brought on by a chimney fire, you only need to call Niki Francis and we will remove smoke and soot residue, clean your house and restore it. You can get in touch with us at 888-744-9798.