Chimney Flue Fire

[weeks001]

My wife and I bought a 30 year old log home to renovate that was built by my father in-law. The house has an Ember Hearth fire place insert that was installed around the late 80’s. Last night I built a nice size fire in the box, and something new happened. It sounded as though a jumbo jet were landing in our living room. I could tell the noise was coming from inside the chimney. I went outside to find flames coming out about 5 feet above the top of the chimney. I immediately closed the bottom damper and shut off all of the air vents. The flames quickly dissipated. The flue is lined with a terracotta stove pipe. My father in-law said this happens about once a year. He said the chimney is self-cleaning, and the process is just burning the residue off. The expirence was very unnerving.

I had the chimney inspected before we bought the house, and everything was good (about a year ago). Has anyone else experienced this? Is there any risk of house fire during this process?

 

[KindredSpiritzz]

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[Fod01]

Hell - I found that interesting!

Gabe

 

[tekguy]

holy crap, once a year since the 80's - 25+ chimney fires
time for a liner

 

[begreen]

One should never have a chimney fire if burning correctly and keeping a clean chimney. Don't burn again in the chimney without a very thorough inspection of both the chimney tiles but also the surrounding wood work.

 

[razerface]

My father in-law said this happens about once a year. He said the chimney is self-cleaning, and the process is just burning the residue off.

i don't know if he was just pulling your leg, sarcastic, or what,,,but just in case you do not know,,,,,the chimney is NOT self-cleaning. You could burn your house down.

 

[blades]

Yes there is a risk. Now that it is uh-hem clean you might want to have it inspected again preferable by a company with a cam they can drop down the flue.

 

[begreen]

It could be time to consider replacing that old insert with a modern, clean burning unit. And be sure you have a good supply of fully seasoned wood a year or two in advance.

 

[weeks001]

Yes there is a risk. Now that it is uh-hem clean you might want to have it inspected again preferable by a company with a cam they can drop down the flue.

Well, this is my first year with an insert, and I know I've made some mistakes. I got on my roof last night after the fire to make sure I had no embers smoldering on my shingles. I looked down the flue and it is VERY FAR from clean. Watching the video above only raises my concerns furhter. Really, bummed out about this. Any recomendations going forward would be greatly appreciated

 

[begreen]

It is not uncommon for a first year burner to make some mistakes. The most common one is totally correctable. Burn drier wood.

What did the build up look like? Brown and fluffy, black and flaky or a black and glassy coating?

 

[weeks001]

It is not uncommon for a first year burner to make some mistakes. The most common one is totally correctable. Burn drier wood.

What did the build up look like? Brown and fluffy, black and flaky or a black and glassy coating?

The build up was brown/black and very fluffy. Is that creosote build-up?

 

[bholler]

That is burnt creosote. You need you have it cleaned and scanned with a camera. And yes your insurance will probably cover the cost of a new liner if there is in fact damage from a chimney fire which I expect there will be.

 

[jatoxico]

There are different types of creosote, the shiny glazed being the worst but they are all potential fuels for a chimney fire. As others have said chimney fires should not be accepted as "normal". Creosote needs to be removed and the system needs to be monitored or better yet, swept routinely as preventive maintenance since each fire can actually bring you closer to touching off framing etc in the house.

You said the insert is installed in a clay liner but you have not said (and may not know) if the insert is mechanically affixed to the liner or just stuffed up the flue, what is referred to here as a slammer. Slammers are bad.

You should have the system swept and inspected. Have the sweep answer for you the "slammer" question.

Once back up and running burn dry wood (<20% moisture). All wood creates creosote but dry wood creates much less and gives more heat. You can burn wetter wood, especially in an older insert but you will have to sweep the flue more often. Sweeping should be a routine part of the inserts operation and depending upon how much wood you are burning, may need to be done a couple times a year or more depending on the quality of the fuel.

So welcome aboard and have the sweep done. Get the system safe and if you follow some basic good practices wood burning is very enjoyable.

 

[Dustin92]

A chimney is most definitely NOT self cleaning. With a properly installed stove, it should be easy enough to do, sometimes it can be done from inside the house. Depending on how dry your wood is, you need to sweep the chimney at least once a year, if your wood is freshly cut, or less than a year old, plan on cleaning it every few weeks. At this point, you need to have it cleaned and inspected before lighting another fire. The chimney fire could have cracked flue tiles, which would allow flames and soot from another chimney fire to come into contact with wooden framing, setting your house on fire.

 

[begreen]

That is burnt creosote. You need you have it cleaned and scanned with a camera. And yes your insurance will probably cover the cost of a new liner if there is in fact damage from a chimney fire which I expect there will be.

Without seeing it this is somewhat speculative, no? Have it cleaned and see what the sweep says.

 

[Ram 1500 with an axe...]

My re commendation is to start over and be thankfull your still here to talk about it, learn about it and still get to enjoy what wood burning is all about. If you can't afford a brand new insert, the minimum I would do is have a professional company come out, rip out your old liner, if you even have one, clean the chimney fully and insert as well, then install a brand new liner for the insert, I'm sorry to say you inherited a neglected system that is a ticking time bomb if you decide to do nothing about it..... Good luck

 

[bholler]

No it is not speculative fluffy brown?black stuff in a chimney is burnt creosote and if he had flames shooting 5 feet out of the top of the chimney I would be surprised to find no damage. I absolutely agree that he needs to have it cleaned and scanned that is why I said that also.

 

[Ram 1500 with an axe...]

I was watching Alaskas railroad tv show today, a guy ran out of wood, he cut down a wet fir, bucked, split and loaded his stove, the next shot was of his chimney cap, black and all fatty covered, barely any space for any smoke to escape..

The point being, there are just some people that don't know any better or care for that matter.....
And I think that's the situation that you find yourself in now.....

 

[weeks001]

Thanks everone for the helpful comments. Luckily, living in Alabama I can easily shut down the insert for the season. I've started lookig for chimney sweeps in the area and will have everything inspected before I light another fire.
I have little doubt that this was caused by burning wet wood. But I already have a nice little stockpile of wood started for next year. Hopefully, thigs will go smoother next season.
Again, thanks for the help everyone.This is a great site!

 

[firefighterjake]

Self cleaning woodstove . . . happens once a year . . . hehheh . . . no offense, but don't listen to your father in law . . . at least on the topic of safely burning and maintaining a woodstove. Trust me . . . trust us . . . on this.

P.S. We have one of your country "men" . . . well women folks . . . up this way. Married a big ol' Yankee . . . we kind of forget Allyson's from down south until she gets mad or excited and then we start to hear the y'alls and other southern dialect come out. Probably shouldn't mention this . . . but she is a rabid football fan . . . Auburn I think . . . War Eagle War?

 

[weeks001]

Self cleaning woodstove . . . happens once a year . . . hehheh . . . no offense, but don't listen to your father in law . . . at least on the topic of safely burning and maintaining a woodstove. Trust me . . . trust us . . . on this.

P.S. We have one of your country "men" . . . well women folks . . . up this way. Married a big ol' Yankee . . . we kind of forget Allyson's from down south until she gets mad or excited and then we start to hear the y'alls and other southern dialect come out. Probably shouldn't mention this . . . but she is a rabid football fan . . . Auburn I think . . . War Eagle War?

Guidance above is well taken and apprciatd.

Now let's talk football. Plese send mycondolences to your wife, the Aubie. Yikes, ths yeat tell her to pull for the good team in Alabama. you know, the one with 15 natonal championships, the University of Alabama!!
Roll Tide Roll

 

[Woodman37]

Don't think there is such a thing as a self cleaning chimney. I would purchase the correct brush for your chimney size put a rope on it and get up there and clean that thing a few times a year or whenever you feel necessary after visual inspection. You are lucky no embers got on the roof and yes you could've very well burnt your house down had you not acted quickly. Good luck stay safe!

 

[Bobbin]

I'm a "nervous Nellie" about safety things; if you can stack the odds in your favor by doing "routine" things in accordance with a prescribed safety protocol I'm all for it. Basically, I've aged into a full fledged "chicken--hit" in spite of (because of?) all the stupid things I did (continue to do?) in my misspent youth.

But the thing that really stuck with me was a comment the good man once made with respect to our Fireview 201. It was really cold and the stove had been in use for weeks on end. And he commented that having a quality stove, a proper chimney, and taking good care of both made him comfortable leaving a "contained 1000 degree" fire" in our home. I've never forgotten that because I'd never really considered that what was going on inside the firebox was a good deal more intense than the reading on the stovetop thermometer.

The stove was properly installed and vented to an interior, "to code", lined chimney (cleaned regularly). We burned clean, seasoned firewood and any ashes were removed and put into a metal container that was properly set up to receive "coals". We "followed the directions" and "paid attention to details". Too many don't and it's sad when bad things happen to them.

 

[firefighterjake]

Guidance above is well taken and apprciatd.

Now let's talk football. Plese send mycondolences to your wife, the Aubie. Yikes, ths yeat tell her to pull for the good team in Alabama. you know, the one with 15 natonal championships, the University of Alabama!!
Roll Tide Roll

HehHeh . . . I can pass that on . . . but she's actually the wife of a friend.

 

[ailanthus]

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Wow - imagine THAT x 30 feet of chimney!