According to the National Fire Protection Association, December, January and February account for nearly half of all heating-related fires. The ingredients for a chimney fire can go deceptively unnoticed without proper cleaning. When a fire burns in a chimney, the smoke rises and meets the cooler interior, known as the flue. The smoke then condenses (like water on glass) and becomes a black or brown gummy substance know as creosote, which can build up and catch fire. The continued heat generated inside a chimney can also crack or damage the mortar, allowing fire to escape and ignite surfaces outside the chimney.
As winter quickly approaches, we hope that homeowners will have already been proactive and had their chimneys and heating devices inspected in the spring or summer. But its never too late to call, 503-758-4710, have one of our CSIA certified chimney technicians clean and inspection your chimney now!
