Special offer

Fireplaces - Hidden Dangers...

Reblogger
Real Estate Agent with The Eric Steart Group of Long & Foster Real Estate MD 586955

A good reminder to play it safe with our wood burning fireplaces as winter approaches.  This is very good info to keep in mind if you are going to use your fireplace this winter.

Original content by TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc. TN Lic#050

Fireplaces - Hidden Dangers...

With old man winter just beginning to clear his throat with the first cool snaps of the winter season, many Americans begin firing up their fireplaces. But before you start enjoying the ambiance of the warm embers glow with the blanket, a bottle of bubbly and your sweetie, is your fireplace really safe from the hidden dangers that most folks do not even know about?

Statistically, over 1/3rd of Americans use solid fuel (wood) as their primary source of heat. Most of these are in rural areas. Statistics also show that 36% of residential home fires start in the fireplace or wood burning stove.

When was the last time you:

  • Had your chimney or flue evaluated by a licensed chimney sweep? Most residential fires are caused by creosote build-up and flue fires.
  • Checked the air inlets? Some modern fireplaces draw air from the exterior. Insects find these protected areas a cool spot to build their nests. Blocked inlets can cause poor combustion and CO to build up.
  • When was the last time you checked to see if tree branches were hanging over the flue?
  • When was the last time you checked the batteries in your smoke detector? Statistics show that most deaths could have been prevented. Missing/dead batteries was the number one cause.


Be safe.

  • Do not use incendiaries to start a fire. Flammable liquids are unsafe.
  • Use only seasoned hardwoods. Soft, green wood causes creosote to build up in flues and liners.
  • Keep firewood away from your home. We do not want to bring in WDO's do we?
  • Build smaller fires. These burn better and produce less smoke.


By practicing a few "rules of the road" you and your sweetie can cuddle and enjoy the bubbly☺☺☺
  

© 2009 michael thornton | complete home inspections, inc. | brentwood, tn | 615.661.0297 | www.completehomeinspectionsonline.com

Helping YOU Live YOUR American Dream...

Comments (9)

John Mulkey
TheHousingGuru.com - Waleska, GA
Housing Guru

Dan - Good suggestions for a topic that far too many ignore.

Oct 27, 2009 12:17 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

Hey, Dan, what's a WDO? Wood destroying object? Wooly dead organism?

sacramento agent

Oct 27, 2009 02:08 AM
Dan Quinn
The Eric Steart Group of Long & Foster Real Estate - Silver Spring, MD
Dan Quinn

John - I admit it.  I need to clean out my chimney, but I am not going to burn anything in it until I get it done.

Elizabeth - Good question.  Wood Detroying Organism (insects) is the correct answer.

Wooly dead organism - so funny!  That's what they look like sometimes!

Oct 27, 2009 02:40 AM
Gabriela Agostinelli
RE/MAX100 - Leonardtown, MD
Gabriela A-Team

Great re-blog Dan. My husband is working on our gas fireplace. we don't want to miss Santa Claus! lol

Oct 28, 2009 12:32 AM
Dan Quinn
The Eric Steart Group of Long & Foster Real Estate - Silver Spring, MD
Dan Quinn

Gabriela - Try this.  Leave a big men's boot in the fireplace after the kids go to bed on Christmas Eve.  Then on Christmas Day, get your camera ready, point out the boot in the firplace and tell the kids that Santa must have lost one of his boots when going back up the chimney!  I did that one year and the kids went wild when they found the boot!!

 

Oct 28, 2009 01:05 AM
1~Judi Barrett
Integrity Real Estate Services 116 SE AVE N, Idabel, OK 74745 - Idabel, OK
BS Ed, Integrity Real Estate Services -IDABEL OK

With cold weather coming, this is an important post for home owners to read that are considering installing one of these!  Great choice for a reblog.

Nov 02, 2009 09:44 AM
Dan Quinn
The Eric Steart Group of Long & Foster Real Estate - Silver Spring, MD
Dan Quinn

Judi -  Thanks.  Michael got me thinking about how important this is.  I have burned many a fire in my fireplace and I'm the kind of guy who can wear out a chimney flue if you know what I mean.  Let's keep our homes safe this winter!

Nov 02, 2009 09:58 AM
Mario Blautzik
TBA - Rockville, MD

Thanks for the reminder. Our chimney is due for an inspection.

Nov 02, 2009 01:39 PM
Dan Quinn
The Eric Steart Group of Long & Foster Real Estate - Silver Spring, MD
Dan Quinn

Mario -  Right on, get it inspected for safety.  We don't want santa to show up and find a brick chimney standing and no house left do we?

Nov 02, 2009 11:56 PM