I saw this chimney this past weekend, and thought I just had to post it. If you look at the first photo, it does not look too unusual other than there is no rain cap. But, when you look down the flue, it has more creosote than any chimney I have ever seen before. The creosote was about an inch thick and caked from the top clear down to the inside of the stove. I got a pretty clear shot top to bottom and I am sure that everyone at AR, working in this industry, knows that this is a real fire hazard. And besides, it would ruin Santa's whole trip next year. Can you imagine how black he would be coming out of this thing? In fact, this was not a hard call to make as an inspector: Get a chimney sweep in to clean it, the wood stove and do a full safety inspection. Sometimes these conditions are borderline, it is fairly clean and might be fine for some time. That was sure not the case here. This was a fire waiting to happen and with shakes below it could have been really out of control.

 

First glance

 

 

The view down below

 

I thank you, and Santa thanks you, for the comments,

Steven L. Smith

www.kingofthehouse.com

 

 

 

        

        

Check out "This Day In History" -- music and vintage television from the 1950's through the 1980's.  I enjoy writing these articles because they take me back to my days in radio broadcasting. Click on Elvis' gold record, below, to revisit those golden hits of yesteryear.

           

 

10 Comments on Santa Claus will cry about this one

MAY
21
2007
231,051 Points 3 Featured Posts Outside Blog
Poor Santa will NOT BE VISITING this house!!  Wow...I hope they don't have any kids!!  haha
9:25pm • #1
532,041 Points 15 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Steven,

Yikes, so how old is this house? Is this normal?

9:36pm • #2
205,885 Points 6 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp

Thank you for the second picture! The few times I have been up on a roof, curiousity had me going to the chimneys, but they always had a rain cap on.

10:37pm • #3
MAY
22
2007
650,291 Points Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

ooooh .. Santa would say Yikes!

Carolin Benjamin
Bob and Carolin Benjamin
The Benjamin Team
Keller Williams Integrity First Realty
Gold Canyon Arizona
2:57am • #4
Creosote buildup is never normal.  That's why it is imperative to have a wood burning chimney cleaned and inspected annually.  A chimney fire would do more than ruin Santa's day.  Massive creosote buildup like you see here is caused by burning the fire too coolly (damping it down so it last longer) or by burning green, unseasoned wood which also results in a cool fire, allowing the smoke to stay in the chimney longer, condensing the creosote on the chimney surfaces.  A hotter fire allows the volatile solids in the combustion process to leave the chimney before condensing out.  This chimney has obviously not been cleaned in a long time also.  The National Chimney Sweep Guild recommends a level two inspection whenever a house changes hands, or whenever a new appliance is installed.
1:49pm • #5
1,150,665 Points 53 Featured Posts Outside Blog

David,

 Thanks for answering Lynda's question. One can always count on another BTC inspection instructor to pop in with some good advice while I am straying.
11:09pm • #6
532,041 Points 15 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
Thank you gentlemen, very informative. Today at our mastermind meet (6 Realtors meeting monthly) I brought this up and told them about your blog. Thanks for the information.
11:16pm • #7
1,150,665 Points 53 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Lynda,

If you, or the other masterminds (great name), ever have any inspection questions shoot them this way. Between David, Charles Buell and myself, all here at AR, and the resources we have through the inspection training curriculum at Bellingham Technical College where we all teach, along with working in the field, we can usually give a pretty good answer or at least get the answer for you. We enjoy doing that as, finding things out for other people, is part of where knowledge comes from.
11:19pm • #8
MAY
23
2007
 Ditto what Steve just said.  Knowledge is power.
8:40am • #9
532,041 Points 15 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
Thanks to you both. I've found your posts extremely informative!
11:30am • #10

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Steven L. Smith, Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Bellingham, WA

More about me…

King of the House Home Inspection, Inc

Address: Bellingham, Ferndale, Lynden, Blaine, Sumas, Nooksack, Lake Whatcom, Lake Samish, Anacortes, Mount Vernon, Whatcom County, Bellingham, WA, 98225

Office Phone: (360) 676-6908

Cell Phone: (360) 319-0038

Email Me

Steven L. Smith, King of the House Home Inspection, provides information for real estate buyers, sellers and real estate industry professionals. Blog posts emphasize issues commonly found in Bellingham, WA and Whatcom County. Smith is Washington State Licensed Home inspector #207, a state licensed structural pest inspector and one of the most experienced inspectors in the northwest corner of the Pacific Northwest. Steven L. Smith is lead instructor of home inspection at Bellingham Technical College and teaches classes for Washington State University and the Washington State Department of Agriculture. Steve was a two-term member of the state licensing board.


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