Did you know that most chimney fires go undetected? This becomes a huge safety issue as undetected fires can cause equal amounts of damage to the chimney structure as more obvious fires do. It's extremely important to take care of your chimney in order to keep your family and home safe – and here's how!
RUTLAND Products recommends the following to keep your chimney clean, safe, and operating efficiently:
- Get a professional chimney inspection 1-2 times per year. At RUTLAND Products, we recommend bookending your burn season with a chimney inspection to ensure maximum safety. A CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep® can recognize if an undetected chimney fire has occurred and can recommend the proper safety measures.
- Use a chimney cap to protect your chimney from weather, and to prevent any animals or debris from entering the chimney.
- Burn dry, seasoned wood only! Burning wet wood produces more smoke, which poses health hazards, and is also more likely to cause dangerous creosote buildups.
- Use RUTLAND Soot and Creosote Removers regularly during burn season to reduce dangerous soot/creosote buildups. Consult this handy chart to determine the optimal frequency of use for your chimney!
- Burn hardwoods such as hickory, oak, ash, and beech when possible. Hardwoods tend to burn at higher temperatures and tend to burn cleanly without creating much soot or creosote.
- Use RUTLAND's Burn Indicator on your wood or coal stove to ensure that you are burning at the optimal temperature. It is not advised to burn any type of wood below 200°F.
- Always utilize a fireplace screen if there are young children or pets around. Not only does this protect young children and pets from accidentally burning themselves, but it also reduces the chance of plastic toys or stuffed animals being hidden in or near the fireplace.
- Regularly test smoke detectors to ensure that there are working smoke alarms in every room. Replace the batteries annually and have a family fire safety plan in place!
These tips help keep your chimney operating safely and reduce the likelihood of dangerous chimney fires.