Ways to Help Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

The first rule of taking care of a fireplace? Put in a smoke/CO detector. Period. No questions asked. ALL THE TIME! Are we all on the same page? And make sure it’s working. This means you need to check it often and change the batteries often, even if you think the ones you took from your TV remote or your son’s game controller are still good. It makes sense and is the law in most states.

Clean the chimney flue. This is the second rule of fireplace maintenance. As the smoke goes up the chimney, it leaves behind creosote, which builds up on the inside of the chimney. Over time, this buildup can make it harder for air to move through your home, letting smoke and fumes back in. Creosote can also be set on fire. When there is enough of it, it can catch fire and start a fire in the chimney that quickly spreads to the rest of the building. That’s not good. To be clear, a chimney is not the same thing as a flue. A chimney is the structure on the outside of a house that sticks up through the roof. The chimney’s shaft is called the flue. This hole is where the smoke and fumes come out. There are times when a chimney has more than one flue.

Make sure your damper works, which is the third rule. Even if the handle moves, that doesn’t mean that the damper is opening or closing correctly. Get a flashlight and poke your head up there to have a look. If the damper isn’t fully open, it can also cut off the flow of air and let the fumes back into your home. Also, if it doesn’t close, you’re losing money because heat is going up the chimney.

Check that the fireplace is getting enough air. This is rule number four. With doors and windows that are better at keeping heat in and cold air out, homes are much better sealed than they were in the past. Great for keeping heat in and cold out, but sometimes this can cause backdrafting. You might have to open a window in the room where the fireplace is.

If you’re keeping track, this is tip number 5: only burn firewood in your fireplace. Never, and I mean NEVER, burn painted, stained, or treated wood, plywood, or particle board in your fireplace. Not only do these things give off poisonous fumes when they burn, but the chemicals and glues in them can cause them to burn much hotter than traditional firewood, which can cause your fireplace and chimney to get too hot.

Another tip for keeping your fireplace in good shape is to never vent a new appliance into a chimney flue that is already there. It might be tempting to connect the new dryer vent to the chimney of the fireplace, which is close to the dryer, but don’t do it. This is not only dangerous, but it’s also against the law. In short, one device, one chimney.

The last maintenance tip for your fireplace is to make sure that the chimney and flue are not cracked, which would let smoke and fumes get into other rooms of your home. Bricks, stones, and mortar can get worn down by time and weather. It’s a good idea to have a qualified professional with the right tools check your fireplace and chimney to make sure everything is safe and working as it should. Make sure you and your family are warm and safe inside when it gets cold outside. If you suspect that your chimney or fireplace is having some issues, have an expert inspect it. Call Local Chimney Sweep Cleaning today. We also offer Chimney Cleaning Paradise and other affordable services.

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