Santa's Friend Chimney Service Blog

National Fire Prevention Week – October 8-14

Your home is where you go to relax and wind down. It’s where you put your feet up and enjoy the company of the ones you love. So, when it comes to keeping your home and family safe, there’s nothing you won’t do! You make sure that sharp corners are covered so little heads are protected from cuts and bruises. Additionally, you turn the handles of pans in toward the stove so they don’t catch on someone’s clothes as they pass, protecting them from burns. You even make rules, like no throwing balls in the house, to protect the people and possessions you hold dear. That’s why it’s so important to take notice of the week of October 8 – 14: National Fire Prevention Week!

Statistics

The U.S. Fire Administration collects data which helps it keep people informed about the importance of fire safety. There’s some really good news based on the latest data collected, too. Between the years of 2005 and 2014 the number of house fires gone down. In addition, with that decrease came a decrease in fire related deaths and injuries as well. That’s a great trend, one that everyone would like to see continue! There are things all homeowners can do that will help prevent a deadly house fire.

Fire Safety Tips

Keep all things flammable away from your fireplace. Make sure that any pillows, rugs, blankets, toys, books are at least three feet away from your fireplace. This keeps them from possibly igniting when too close to a fire. Contain your fireplace fire by having a metal or glass screen in front of your fireplace. Make sure its one that is big enough to catch any stray spark or ember. Also, never leave a fire unattended, especially if there are children in the room!

One thing that often gets overlooked in the hustle and bustle of everyday life is checking out smoke and fire detectors. Check the batteries at least once a month and change the batteries every six months – whether they need it or not. This simple, inexpensive tip can make sure you and your family have enough warning to get out of the house and to safety, if a fire starts in your home.

A fire safety plan is also essential when it comes to keeping your family safe from the devastating effects of a house fire. Make sure that every family member is aware of the safest escape route from each room. Also, make sure it is well practiced to getting out of the house by that route. National Fire Prevention Week is a great time to come up with such a plan and practice putting it to use!

Inspection

A great way to stop a fire before it starts? Have your fireplace inspected and cleaned on an annual basis. Make sure you use a CSIA certified chimney sweep company like Santa’s Friend Chimney Service! This will make sure that your chimney is clean and safe to use. Put your worries at ease by calling Santa’s Friend today.

Importance of Annual Chimney Inspections

It’s so easy to see the importance of some of the things we do. Do you have your car serviced every three to five thousand miles? Of course, because you don’t want to be caught standing on the side of the road with your hood up, waiting for someone to help you. Do you have an annual physical? Yes, because you want to continue to be healthy and know what to do to prevent or cure illnesses. Do you check the batteries on your smoke detector once a month? Yes, because you want to make sure you’re protected in case a fire breaks out. And how often do you check your credit score? It’s important to stay on top of these things so your physical, material, and financial status stay positive and healthy. So, why do people think it’s okay to skip a yearly chimney inspection and cleaning?

Why Have An Annual Inspection?

The first thing your chimney sweep is going to look for is creosote build up. Over the course of the winter months, your chimney undergoes a lot of wear and tear. When you burn that wood fire, water vapor, unburned wood particles, minerals, and even tar fog are released, and these organisms escape up your chimney in the form of smoke. Unfortunately, not all of these elements make it out into the open air.

When the smoke hits the cooler chimney surface near the top of your chimney, it condenses and forms creosote, a highly flammable, black or brown, hard or tarry substance that can cause a lot of problems. And the more often you use your fireplace, the more this creosote will build up. As with any other highly flammable material, all it takes is a spark to start a roaring fire – just what you DON’T want inside your chimney! Your chimney sweep will be able to determine how deep the creosote layer is and then will use the proper tools to break this free and eliminate it from your chimney, all the while keeping the residue out of your home.

Structural Damage

Another thing your chimney sweep will be looking for is structural damage. Your sturdy chimney is just that: sturdy. But sturdy does not mean impenetrable, and even the strongest chimneys are susceptible to the wear and tear of time. One of the most damaging elements your chimney faces is precipitation. Rain can beat on the mortar of your chimney and, over time, cause it to wear and weaken. And when that rain gets in the pores of your mortar and then freezes, the expansion that occurs will cause those cracks to get deeper, which leads to instability.

Chimney Fire

Your chimney sweep will also be looking for signs that you have had a chimney fire. You think that you would know if you’ve had a chimney fire, right? Well, that’s not always the case. Sometimes a chimney fire can take place without the homeowner knowing, and that’s dangerous because structural damage can occur. A well trained, CSIA certified technician from Santa’s Friend Chimney Service will be able to spot that damage and any other problems, recommend solutions, then follow through with the necessary repair work.