Santa's Friend Chimney Service Blog

Is Your Chimney Up to Code?

An older home can have lots of character, but it can also require more maintenance to be sure all of its systems are up to current building and safety codes. These standards are constantly updated, and making sure everything is working as it should is part of the responsibilities of being a homeowner. If you are considering buying an older house with a fireplace, the chimney should be inspected to ensure it meets codes. At Santa’s Friend Chimney Service, we have the experience and training that is needed to see if chimneys and fireplaces are up to code, and we can easily make repairs that will bring the chimney and venting system up to current building and safety standards. The most common problem we find with older chimneys is that they are not lined. We would like to tell you more about chimney liners and why they are necessary for an efficient and safe chimney.

Why does my chimney need to be lined?

According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), most local fire codes mandate that every chimney be lined for safety reasons. Chimney liners serve three very important purposes. They protect your home from the extremely high temperatures that are produced during combustion. Without a liner, the wooden parts of a house could catch fire. They also protect the bricks and mortar of your chimney from the corrosive byproducts of combustion. The toxic combustion gases can eat away at these masonry materials if no liner is present to shield them. Even more importantly, the liner keeps carbon monoxide from being able to leak into your home. The third function of a chimney liner is to provide a properly sized flue for your heating appliance. If you install a new fireplace insert, the chimney will most likely be too large for the insert, and this can cause draft problems. To be sure your heating appliance works efficiently and safely, you need a chimney liner that matches the size of the appliance.

What kinds of chimney liners are there?

At Santa’s Friend Chimney Service, we can install a new stainless steel chimney liner that will work with any type of heating appliance. Our CSIA-certified chimney technicians will take precise measurements of your heating appliance to ensure the new liner matches it exactly. If you have a masonry chimney with a wood-burning fireplace, we can also line your chimney with HeatShield, which is similar to the clay tile liners of the past. You can trust us to install a liner that will work with the fuel type of your heating appliance. We will be sure your chimney will function efficiently and safely as well as be up to code.

Unlined chimneys is just one of the issues we find when inspecting older chimneys. Other things such as chimney height and exterior masonry damage can also cause problems with chimneys meeting current building and fire codes. If you are looking at older homes, contact Santa’s Friend Chimney Service at 601-854-7563 to make an appointment for a chimney inspection.

Fireplace Safety Tips for the Holidays

Your fireplace is your focal point for entertaining and decorating during the holidays, but it is important to keep in mind a few safety suggestions and tips during this busy time. The holidays are about celebrations, loved ones, and joy, and the last thing you would want to experience during this season is a house fire. As reported by HouseLogic, residental fires increase by more than double during the holidays. The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) cited over twice the amount of open-flame fires on both Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. The amount of damage from these holiday fires are even more alarming as the number of deaths per 1,000 house fires increases by 70 percent, and the amount of property loss is 34 percent higher than from fires on any other day of the year. As you can tell from our name, Santa’s Friend Chimney Service loves the holidays, and we want everyone to be as safe as possible and enjoy spending time with friends and family by the fireplace. Remembering the following safety tips will help you reduce the risk of a devastating residential fire this holiday season.

ONLY BURN FIREWOOD IN YOUR FIREPLACE OR STOVE

After unwrapping gifts, some people have been known to throw the scraps of wrapping paper into the fireplace or stove to burn. Unfortunately, these people found out that burning holiday paper in this manner is not very safe. The dyes used on wrapping paper can cause the fire to spark and produce flash fires. These types of fires can quickly spread into your home, especially if you have combustible items like decorations around your hearth for the holidays. Additionally, you should never burn your Christmas tree in the fireplace or stove. This can also become hazardous very quickly. The safest thing to burn in your fireplace and stove is seasoned firewood and nothing else.

KEEP YOUR HEARTH AREA CLEAR OF DECORATIONS AND GIFTS

Even if you are only burning seasoned wood, hot sparks and embers can jump from the fireplace and easily ignite a residential fire if any combustible items are nearby. Santa’s Friend Chimney Service understands how important the hearth area can be when it comes to holiday decorations, but you should never hang decorations made from combustible or flammable materials around the fireplace. You should also take care to keep your Christmas tree away from the fireplace or stove. Even though the image of the tree right beside the fireplace is a very cozy holiday picture, the majority of holiday fires involve Christmas trees. No matter if your tree is real or artificial, it can be very dangerous to place it too close to your fireplace or stove.

WATCH OUT FOR KIDS AND PETS

If you are entertaining friends and family with small children during the holidays, you want to ensure that there is always adult supervision in the room with the fireplace or stove. Never leave children alone in the same room as a burning fire. This also goes for pets. Even if you have fireplace doors and a protective screen, you can never be too careful when it comes to fire safety and children and animals. Accidents can happen quickly, so even when you are in the room with kids and animals, keep an eye on them to be sure they are not playing too close to the fire.

Santa’s Friend Chimney Service wishes you all a safe and happy holiday season. Contact us at 800-390-9939, if you have any chimney or fireplace needs to be able to safely enjoy your fireplace over the holidays.