Carbon Monoxide:  Often times, acid laden moisture from furnaces and hot water heaters break down the chimney interior and cause leaks or blockages that can send carbon monoxide into your home.  Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas that is very toxic. Exposure to CO can cause symptoms such as headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, or loss of muscle control. There could be many other causes for these symptoms and that is why carbon monoxide poisoning is so difficult to diagnose. Prolonged exposure to high concentrations of CO can lead to unconsciousness, brain damage, or death. Nearly 10,000 cases of carbon monoxide related injuries are diagnosed each year; included in this number are over 200 deaths. Gas and oil burning appliances generally do not emit smoke, nor can the standard smoke alarm alert you when the flue has become blocked. It is important to install a chimney cap to deter debris from blocking the flue and allowing chimney deterioration. Also, as a precaution, it is strongly recommended that all homeowners have more than one carbon monoxide detector installed in their home according to the manufacturers installation instructions. Finally, according to the NFPA, it is essential that you have your chimney flue inspected or swept on an annual basis to make sure it is not blocked and to help reduce the risk of CO backup.

View the CSIA “Carbon Monoxide” article

Creosote:  Fireplaces, furnaces and stoves are designed to safely contain products of combustion, while providing heat for a home. The chimneys that serve these appliances have the job of expelling the byproducts of this combustion to the outside atmosphere. These byproducts include smoke, water vapor, gases, unburned particles, hydrocarbon volatile, tar fog, and assorted minerals. As these substances exit the appliance, and flow up into the relatively cooler chimney, condensation occurs. The resulting residue that sticks to the inner walls of your chimney is called creosote. The buildup of creosote in your chimney is unavoidable. Creosote forms a black or brown powdery, flaky or glazed coating on the inside of your chimney. This buildup is a potential fire hazard; it’s the primary fuel in most chimney fires! During a chimney fire, the outside surface of the chimney can become hot enough to ignite surrounding walls, floor joists, rafters, insulation or roofing materials. Suddenly you have a structure fire, which can burn the entire house down. Even without a chimney fire, creosote reduces the draft and diminishes the efficiency of your heating system. Certain conditions encourage the buildup of creosote. Restricted air supplies, unseasoned wood, and cooler than normal chimney temperatures are all factors that can accelerate the buildup of creosote on chimney flue walls. It is imperative that all homeowners have their chimneys swept and inspected on an annual basis by a Certified Chimney Professional in order to reduce the risk of creosote related problems.

View the CSIA “Creosote & Chimney Fires” article

Please visit the CSIA for more important information.

• Have your chimney swept and inspected by a CSIA certified technician at least once a year. If it’s dirty, get it cleaned!
• Check the outside of your chimney regularly. If it needs repair, get it done before there is further deterioration and more expensive repairs down the road.
• Install a chimney cap. Caps prevent water damage and keep animals out of the flue. They also reduce the danger of flying sparks.
• Burn seasoned wood. Seasoned wood burns cleaner that green wood. Only burn wood with a moisture content of less than 20%.
• Check draft before lighting a fire and make sure the damper is open. Opening a window on the windward side of your home may help improve draft.