RE: Still think all chimney fires are no big deal?
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Install the stove according to specs (paying close attention to clearances and hearth protection).
Operate the stove according to specs and best practices (i.e. correct temps, burning seasoned wood, etc.).
Maintain the stove and chimney (i.e. annual check, frequent inspections and cleanings of the chimney.)
Dispose of ashes properly (i.e. outside in covered metal pail).
Finally, develop good burning habits early on so that you don't wander off while the side door is left ajar or leave the house and then remember two miles down the road that you left the air control all the way open.
Follow this advice . . . and there is a pretty good chance you will never meet me or any of my brother or sister firefighters . . . unless you're stopping by the fire station to visit and drop off some cookies. For the record, I like molasses cookies.
Well...I should have cleaned the chimney last week and I didn't due to the blistering cold. Once this breaks I will let the stove go cold and check it out. I don't have great wood but things have been going much better than when I started. My biggest concern is I have not had a professional inspection because I can't find anyone here to do it. Seems to be working well at this point but I'd be more comfortable if I could find a professional installer who knew this business to take a look. That's looking like a job for spring at this point which is hopefully right around the corner.
eclecticcottage
Minister of Fire
For the record, I like molasses cookies.
Too bad you're not closer. Got my great grandmas recipe for broken arm cookies (cuz my grandpa would smack your arm with his cane if you tried to get some, lol)-molasses raisin. DH loves them. I do not. So we "have" to share when he makes a batch!
There are allot of ny sweeps look on the csia website of the ny sweeps guild site i am sure there is at least one that covers your area. And you want a sweep not an installer Allot of guys do both but not everyone.
I did not even know of that website. Thanks! I will get on the phone. The insurance company told me 'a professional installer' that's the language they used. I'm kinda on pins and needles about this one because having my house burn down sucks but having the insurance company bail is a whole other thing!
I had a chimney fire once. Scared the life out of me. I had my chimney inspected when we bought the house a couple of years ago. They strongly suggested we had the chimney relined. 3300 dollars later we were all sorted. Too bad my burning practices were poor though!! We had pretty wet wood, I had no idea at the time I was new to it all. Wet wood, very very inefficient stove and a new wood burner - bad combination. After about a month and a half of burning on one very cold morning..... I left the door slightly ajar to get the fire going faster.... you all know where this is going. Literally 10-15 minutes later.... I was always so careful before but this one time I forgot to shut the door after five minutes. I hear this rumbling and the house is vibrating. Sounds like a train is driving through my house... Oh crap the stove! I ran down, smoke filled basement. Can see fire in the joints of the stovepipe. I shut all doors to the stove and all the air off. Luckily the stove seals up very tight. The chimney fire died within 20 seconds. Opened up the basement to clear out the smoke. I looked outside and there was smoke everywhere. Looked like we were covered in fog or just had a forest fire. I don't want to imagine what would have happened if we didn't have our chimney relined.
100% of the fault was mine, burning poor quality wet wood. Leaving the door open. Not checking my chimney after my first months burning. In a way I'm glad it happened because it scared the crap about of me and showed me I had a lot to learn to burn wood safely. Chimney fires are definitely a big deal and people really should learn how to mange a stove properly and burn properly seasoned wood.
100% of the fault was mine, burning poor quality wet wood. Leaving the door open. Not checking my chimney after my first months burning. In a way I'm glad it happened because it scared the crap about of me and showed me I had a lot to learn to burn wood safely. Chimney fires are definitely a big deal and people really should learn how to mange a stove properly and burn properly seasoned wood.
kennyp2339
Minister of Fire
I was at a scene of a chimney fire last Friday, froze my gahuna's off (windy & 10 deg F). The setup was free stander in the basement, masonry chimney on the outside, the chimney had a stainless i liner, insulated with vermiculite and cement. nice weather cap (sealed on the chimney) about 4" of liner out the top of the chimney then the cap. It was a very smokey fire, you could see the black soot ashes on top of the roof (snow covered) We set ladder truck up, I climbed up to the cap, I went to remove the cap but there were stainless straps holding it down, I got screw driver and loosened the straps, went to pull the cap off again but it was frozen on the liner by thick liquid creosote that dried, I tried to be gentle but I ended up ripping a section of liner, about 8" inside the chimney. I'm telling you this because a simple little maintenance sweep would have save the homeowner tons of money, in order to get there stove back up and running they will need to rip out the old liner, bust out the old insulation (or demo the chimney) install a new insulated line, cap, weather plate, or a new class 1 chimney. Certainly the half hour it would have took for a sweeping, even if it cost's $150.00 is worth it considering now they will have to take time off for contactors, insurance adjusters, and inspectors from the township.
What's the going recommendation for sweeping/inspection intervals? Once a year off season or add another mid season or per volume of wood burned?
saskwoodburner
Feeling the Heat
I think it all depends on your stove/chimney set up, burning practices, and quality of wood. In my case, I have a short chimney, I burn some marginal wood, but have easy access to my roof. I can go up every 4-6 weeks to sweep no problem. As I'm getting better at burning, I can't say I need to go up that often, but I sleep good at night doing so.
Now maybe you have great wood, a tall stack with awesome draft, and incredible wood burning practices. You would need to have a look considerably less. If you can move a baffle and look up, or remove a cap and look down, you'll know how she's been burning.
Most of our customers do fine with once a year some of them do a mid season cleaning them selves and we have a few we clean a few times a year. But it really depends on burning practices and volume of wood burned
Mellery
Member
"Not saying that all chimney fires lead to total destruction ... "
Sadly, one in our area did lead to total destruction 2 nights ago. Don't know the chimney/install details since the news didn't give them but did have a CalFire rep say something I will never forget. Creosote in your chimney is unburnt fuel. Wow, there's an aha moment. Also said chimney cleaning brushes and instructions and help if needed are available to anyone for the asking (well, that would be in our area but very kind of them)
Sadly, one in our area did lead to total destruction 2 nights ago. Don't know the chimney/install details since the news didn't give them but did have a CalFire rep say something I will never forget. Creosote in your chimney is unburnt fuel. Wow, there's an aha moment. Also said chimney cleaning brushes and instructions and help if needed are available to anyone for the asking (well, that would be in our area but very kind of them)
I go over the top with a monthly inspection and cleaning . . . mainly because it is so easy and quick for me to do with the outside chimney and T connection.
In general I think most folks here would recommend a sweep at the start of the season and perhaps in middle of the burning season . . . except for new burners who would perhaps benefit with a quick visual inspection a few weeks after starting the burn season to see how they are doing.
Dieselhead
Minister of Fire
Are people scared to get their stoves hot once per day to keep everything clean? A prescription of AT LEAST ONE 20-30 MIN. BURN OFF PER DAY (& burning dry wood) will solve a whole lot of problems. Sweep at the beginning, middle, and end of the season if it gives you security but it IS NOT necessary if a person knows how to run a wood stove.
It is totally necessary if factors deem it to be. Not everyone has a straight-up, interior chimney. Not everyone has perfect wood to burn. The chimney should be swept as often as necessary for that given circumstance. Quit dissing people's skill level just because something has worked out well for your situation. There is a lot of diversity in installations and fuel supply.
And neither is the BS that a hot fire once a day does anything for keeping a chimney clean. It is an old wives tale.
And yeah, I know a couple of things about running a wood stove.
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