How do you know if you have a flue fire?

You may detect:

1. A loud, crackling or popping noise from the chimney flue (imagine the sound of a large bonfire)
2. A lot of dense, thick smoke coming into the fireplace or out of the top of the chimney.
3. Flames or things that are on fire (pieces of flaming creosote) coming from the top of the chimney.

Can a flue catch fire?

Remember a blocked flue can kill and the exclusion of air will put out a fire.

Can a dirty chimney cause a fire?

Dirty chimneys can cause chimney fires, which damage structures, destroy homes and injure or kill people. Chimney fires can burn explosively – noisy and dramatic enough to be detected by neighbors or passersby. Flames or dense smoke may shoot from the top of the chimney.

How do flue fires start?

Chimney fires occur when creosote buildup or other debris catches fire inside the chimney. Conditions that encourage creosote buildup include burning unseasoned wood, restricted air supply (such as failing to open the damper), overloading the firebox, and cooler than normal chimney temperatures.

Does burning salt clean a chimney?

Sodium chloride, also known as table salt, is a simple chemical that is easy to find. Put a little salt in the fire while it is burning. The salt combines with the water in the burning wood to create a weak acid that travels up the chimney and dissolves small amounts of creosote.

How bad is a chimney fire?

Masonry Chimneys – A chimney fire can cause severe damage to the structure of the chimney. The walls may crack and the tile or clay liner pieces may break or even collapse from the high heat. Chimney fires are a dangerous problem to experience first hand, but the good news is that they are also entirely preventable.

How do you slow down a fire in a fireplace?

To help slow down a fire in a fireplace:

1. Close any doors to the room from the rest of the house.
2. Close any external air vents within the room that were opened prior to starting the fire.
3. Close any windows in the room that were opened to help get the fire going.

Will a hot fire remove creosote?

A hot fire will burn out any creosote that may have formed overnight. They either burned the creosote before it could accumulate or kept the chimney temperature above 250ºF so that the smoke escaped without its gases condensing. The burn was controlled by the amount of wood in the stove.

What are the 3 most common dangers of having a fireplace?

According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America, 21,200 of the fires in 2012 were caused by fires in a fireplace, chimney or chimney connector….Fire Hazard

• A low, rumbling sound.
• Loud popping or cracking noise.
• Hot, overpowering smell.

Where do most chimney fires start?

Is it normal for sparks to come out of chimney?

Most chimney fires happen for one simple reason: improper usage and care of wood-burning appliances like fireplaces and woodstoves. Clouds of black smoke and sparks pouring out the top of your chimney are other indications of a chimney fire. If it’s a big fire, flames can leap several feet above the top of the chimney.

How often does a flue burn down a house?

Damaged flues can and do burn down thousands of homes in the US every year. If you have had a chimney fire or haven’t had your annual chimney inspection and cleaning, you should call a certified chimney sweep company to get your chimney checked before building your next fire.

What causes the flue on a chimney to crack?

Events that damage chimney liners come in different forms. Storm damage such as a tree striking a chimney can break flue tiles but the most common damaging event is from chimney fires. Chimneys fires crack flue tiles through thermal stress. Clay flue tiles are designed to contain the products of combustion, not fire.

Can a fireplace be built with a damaged flue?

If your flue is damaged you shouldn’t build a fire in your fireplace until the flue is repaired. There are two ways a chimney liner can get damaged. Damage over time from the elements and damage from an event. Water can degrade chimney mortar over time and cause it to dissolve or crumble.

Why are flue and chimney used for fire protection?

These, in turn, use the flue and chimney to evacuate the heat and smoke safely out of your home. While these appliances are designed specifically for fires, they do have one side-effect: they constrain airflow. Because a fireplace or chimney can prevent adequate airflow, creosote is created and begins building up.