Annual Chimney Inspections

Storks nesting in chimneys were once believed to bring good luck, according to European folklore. But, in fact, nests in chimneys - or blockages of any kind - are nothing short of bad news. They can cause smoking problems, chimney fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.

In 1998, there were 18,300 residential fires in the United States originating in chimneys, fireplaces and solid fuel appliances, according to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. These fires resulted in 160 personal injuries, 40 deaths and $158.2 million in property damage.

Virtually all of these fires were preventable according to the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), a non-profit institution dedicated to public and chimney professional education. Both CSIA and the National Fire Protection Association recommend yearly chimney inspections to help prevent these hazards.

Many American homeowners think their chimneys only need to be cleaned and inspected if they burn wood in their fireplaces or wood stoves. But almost all heating appliances, whether they burn gas, oil, wood or coal, rely on the chimney to safely carry toxic gases produced by the heating system of the house.

A carbon monoxide detector can warn homeowners of potential poisoning after the deadly gas has already entered the living area, but an annual chimney check can help prevent carbon monoxide from entering the home in the first place.

Overall, an annual chimney evaluation is an important yet modest investment that can reduce the danger of chimney fires or carbon monoxide poisoning. Suggestions for you to do at home include removing ash from your firebox periodically. If you use your fireplace on a regular basis, be sure to have your chimney cleaned by a professional once a year and schedule a chimney evaluation if you're selling or adding on to your house, if you suspect water damage near your chimney or after a major event, such as a tornado. Most importantly - act immediately when you suspect something is wrong.

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