Now that the Yuletide Season has passed, and Santa has completed his annual chimney sweep, it might be a good time to seriously assess the sometimes forgotten issues surrounding that smoke vent. I experienced the fright of a blazing chimney fire a few years ago, complete with frantic neighbors and fire trucks and firemen in the living room, in the attic and on the roof, water and steam and a citation to get my chimney cleaned. I learned a lot about chimneys and the importance of maintaining them. They are hidden away in a wall or structure that we hardly ever think about. It is my hope that this article will help you avoid some of the problems that they can produce.

I recently interviewed Philip Murphy, owner of Murphy’s Chimney Service to get some expert tips.  Philip began chimney service as a young 15 year old in Ireland, and has logged in many years of experience in all aspects of the business. He provides a  wide range of services including: gas and oil furnace linings, fireplace chimney linings, custom chimney caps, firebox repair and replacement, cleaning and gas log or fireplace installations.  I asked Philip for some tips that would help homeowners and he shared these:

• Inspect your chimney annually to determine if there is a need for repairs or cleaning. By shining a bright flashlight up the chimney, you can see if there is an accumulation of soot deposits on the sides.
• Burning “wet” or green wood can leave a lot of deposits adhering to the inside of the chimney which reduces the draft (air flow) up the chimney and can contribute to chimney fires.
• Creosote, a natural by-product of burning wood, is a tar-like substance that condenses on the walls of chimneys and if left too long can turn to a hardened glaze that is a primary cause of fires. Philip is a big advocate of eradicating baked-on soot and creosote and then treating the chimney with anti-creosote deterrents. (The Mother Earth News has a detailed discussion about Creosote Removal.)
• Check to see if your chimney has a rain cap (concrete or metal covering above the smoke’s exit point). A cap should be installed to keep rain from damaging the masonry inside the chimney or rusting the damper or firebox, and to keep out rodents (rats, squirrels), pine cones leaves and needles.
• Many chimneys are poorly designed (i.e. damper set too low) and smoke enters the room. A retrofit called a “smoke apron” can be installed to cause the smoke to turn upwards and enter the chimney instead of following the path of least resistance into the house.
• Gas inserts can be quite expensive to purchase and install, but gas log systems with a heat deflector that sends heat into the room can be a good replacement for burning wood while retaining the “authentic” fireplace look and benefiting from the warmth.
• And one last word of advice from a seasoned contractor: When you receive a bid, always read the fine print and always get references from previous customers (and call some of them).

Be safe and be warm during these cold nights!

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