Preventing Chimney Fires During Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving and the upcoming holidays, ensure your home is safe from disaster. What kind of disaster? Chimney Fires. With that in mind, here is a guide to preventing chimney fires during Thanksgiving and the holidays.

Have Your Chimney Inspected and Cleaned

Before Thanksgiving arrives, especially if you will be entertaining and using your chimney a lot, you should have your chimney inspected and cleaned for a few reasons.

Creosote Buildup in Your Chimney

The leading cause of chimney fires is creosote, a stubborn sticky substance that is highly flammable and clings to the interior of your chimney. Creosote is produced every time you burn logs in your fireplace. If you used your chimney a lot last winter, it probably needs to be cleaned. A qualified chimney sweep service will use brushes and solutions specially designed to scrub creosote from your chimney and lower the chance of a chimney fire happening over the holiday season.

Damaged Chimney Liners

Chimney liners protect your home from excessive heat and toxic gases. It runs the length of your flue, and it becomes damaged; there is a possibility the high temperatures could cause a fire on your roof or inside your attic. When chimney sweeps inspect your chimney, they take video of the chimney’s interior and will find if there is damage to the chimney liner, then replace it with a new, stronger one.

Safety First

In addition to staying current with your fire inspections and cleanings there are factors to take into account. Make sure that all your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are functioning properly as a safety measure for your house.

Make sure there are no furniture or objects within three feet of your fireplace especially if you’re planning to host Thanksgiving dinner this year.

Regularly remove any ash and debris to enhance your fires cleanliness and enjoyment during burning sessions.

You might want to think about adding a fire screen or fireplace doors if you don’t already have them in place as they can help prevent sparks and reduce the chances of getting burned.

Remember to never leave your fireplace unattended and always ensure the fire is completely extinguished before you walk away from it.
As you prepare for your Thanksgiving celebrations and gatherings, with loved ones this year remember to add checking your fireplace to your to do list. If you’re due for an inspection or cleaning it’s an idea to schedule an appointment promptly to secure a spot before the holiday rush kicks in.

Candles

Candles bring the atmosphere of Thanksgiving to life but are also a fire hazard. Never leave lit candles unattended on mantles, tables, or anywhere in your home.

Ensure that candles are not placed next to curtains or furniture that could catch fire. Candles are a nice touch, but remember to be smart with them.

Chimney Sweeps Inc Can Get Your Chimney Ready for the Holidays

If you are in the San Diego area, let us prepare your chimney for the holidays by inspecting and cleaning it. We will remove creosote buildup from inside your chimney and inspect it for any damage to the liner. If we find any other damage, we will put it in a written report and provide you with a quote for the repair costs. So, if you want a happy holiday season this year, be sure to have your chimney inspected and cleaned right away.