Chimney Safety Warning During Arctic Blast

The Midwest Chimney Safety Council warns homeowners to safely operate wood and gas heating appliances during periods of bitter cold in order to avoid fire or carbon monoxide poisoning.

December 29, 2017
Kansas City, Missouri

The National Fire Protection Association statistics indicate that there are 245,000 house fires annually caused by heating equipment such as wood-burning stoves and fireplaces. The Midwest Chimney Safety Council believes that this number is only a fraction of the actual statistics based on findings by chimney sweeps who service chimneys.

The NFPA states that there are 72,000 deaths caused by Carbon Monoxide exposure annually.  

During periods of very cold weather more accidental fires and CO poisoning occur. The Midwest Chimney Safety Council recommends that homeowners take measures to assure the safety of their family by following these recommended guidelines:

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C.Scott Dorret - Fotolia.com

Do not use an open fireplace for heating purposes. Fireplaces are decorative appliances to be used for ambience only. Over use of an open fireplace can cause hidden combustibles in the walls or framing around the fireplace to ignite and cause a house fire. This applies to manufactured fireplaces and masonry fireplaces.

•      Do not leave a wood-burning stove or fireplace unattended.
•      Do not burn hedge, dry pine, or a Christmas tree in a fireplace or stove. These woods burn very hot and fast, and can cause a chimney fire.
•      Do not burn treated wood or colored paper in a fireplace or stove. These items create toxic fumes which can cause illness or death.
•      Don’t burn anything other than dry cordwood or pallet wood in a fireplace or stove.
•      Have a fireplace inspected and swept annually by a professional CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep. Sweeping removes flammable creosote from the smoke chamber and flue liner. Have a wood-burning stove or insert swept twice per year.
•      Keep the accumulation of flammable creosote down by using a product like Anti-Creosote Spray each time a fire is burned.
•      Place ashes in an ash bucket and take outside to cool off with the lid on the bucket on a non-combustible surface before disposing of them or putting them in the garden. Ashes and embers can smolder for up to two weeks.
•      Have furnace, boiler, or water heater flues inspected annually by a professional chimney sweep to assure that the flue is not clogged by nests or debris, is sized correctly, and does not have cracks or voids which can cause Carbon Monoxide backup into the home. Even low levels of CO not detectable by a CO detector can cause illness and permanent brain damage.
•      Do not ignore a CO detector alarm- CO is colorless, odorless, and tasteless so there is no way a human can detect CO.
•      Be sure to install new batteries and assure proper operation of smoke detectors. Install at least one smoke detector on each level of the house, including in the attic near the chimney.
•      In case of a chimney fire or CO alarm, get out of the house and call the fire department immediately.

The Midwest Chimney Safety Council is a 13-state regional association which provides educational classes and workshops to chimney and hearth industry professionals and the public.  

Contact Marge Padgitt at mcsc@mcsc-net.org or 816-461-3665 or contact one of our members listed on the website for more information. 

Heating Safety Tips

By Marge Padgitt
Padgitt Chimney & Fireplace, Independence, MO
816-461-3665 www.chimkc.com

GAS FURNACE HEATING: Every year, many people become ill or die due to a back up of Carbon Monoxide gasses from the furnace or hot water heater flue or connecting pipes. This can be avoided with regular maintenance of the chimney. Have the furnace flue checked annually by a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep (www.csia.org) to be sure it is not clogged or damaged, and that there is no Carbon Monoxide backup into the home. Make sure the flue is sized correctly to the appliances so it will draft well. Flues that are too large cause excessive condensation and damage the flue walls and mortar joints. Keep trash and storage containers at least 3’ away from the heating system. Have a heavy duty stainless steel chimney cover installed to keep damaging rain, animals, and debris out of the chimney. Have the furnace checked annually by a qualified HVAC technician to be sure everything in the furnace is clean and in good working order. Only have a trained technician do needed repairs.

ABOUT CARBON MONOXIDE: CO is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas that is the natural by-product of combustion. It is called the “Silent Killer,” because the victims may not know they are being poisoned. Your body absorbs CO more easily than Oxygen, and mistakes it for Oxygen, causing illness and sometimes death. Even low levels of CO have been shown to cause irreversible brain damage. Some Symptoms of CO poisoning are: Dizziness, headaches Unexplained Flu-like symptoms Fainting, nausea Death Get to a hospital as soon as exposure to CO is known so proper treatment can be administered.
Source: The Midwest Chimney Safety Council www.midwestcsc.org


TIPS FOR USING WOOD-BURNING STOVES, FIREPLACES, & FURNACES:

Most fires in wood stoves, fireplaces, and chimneys occur because of a lack of regular cleaning to remove creosote, which is the residue left behind by unburned fuel (ALL fuel burns incompletely). The National Fire Protection Association recommends annual inspection and cleaning as necessary by a Certified Chimney Sweep. Don’t burn treated wood, railroad ties, trash, or colored paper since they emit toxic fumes. Don’t burn pine trees or railroad ties since they create excessive amounts of flammable creosote and may overheat and warp your steel or cast iron appliance.
Burning Hedge is also discouraged since it burns very hot. The best wood to burn is oak. It is very dense and burns slowly. However, soft woods may also be used – you’ll just have to load the stove more often. Burn your stove hot (400-700 degrees) to assure complete combustion, which is how the stove is designed to be used, and it is cleaner and better for the environment. After establishing the fire, you should see white or clear smoke coming out of the chimney. If the smoke is grey or black, something is wrong with the wood, your burning methods, or with the system. 

Have the chimney checked annually (every 2 months during the heating season if used for the primary source of heat) and cleaned as necessary by a professional CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep (www.csia.org). The sweep will remove flammable creosote, bird nests, and dead animals, and look for holes and gaps between the flue liner sections, cracked flue tiles, unparged or damaged smoke chamber, correct construction of the chimney, clearances to combustibles, and more that most homeowners do not have the training to indentify. Follow operating instructions by the manufacturer (if applicable) to assure safe and efficient heating.

Keep combustible materials (including furniture) at least 3’ away from the appliance. A screen should be placed in front of open fireplaces to keep embers and sparks from popping out. Place a child guard screen around stoves to keep children from getting burned. Never use flammable liquids to start a fire—the fumes can ignite and explode. Use an approved gel, fatwood, or firestarter. Remove flammable materials such as stockings from the mantel before starting a fire. Use a metal container to transport ashes to the exterior of the home. Do not build large fires or long-burning fires in open fireplaces. Fireplaces are designed for small, ambient fires only, and are not heating devices.

If you want to make your fireplace energy efficient and a heating source, have a wood or gas fireplace insert installed by a professional. Have a heavy duty stainless steel chimney cover installed to keep damaging rain, animals, and debris out of the chimney. If you suddenly notice that draft stops while burning a stove, a chimney fire may have occurred which makes creosote expand to many times its size and chokes off the flue. If a chimney fire occurs, close the damper (if possible, get out of the house, and call the fire department. DO NOT use the chimney until it has been inspected by a Certified Chimney Sweep.

HOW TO FIND A QUALIFIED CHIMNEY SWEEP

Like any other type of contractor, there are good and bad chimney sweeps. You can greatly improve your chances of finding a qualified sweep if you follow these simple guidelines: Look for a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep at www.csia.org. A Certified Sweep has taken classes and testing on the methods and tools necessary to do the job correctly and knows the codes and clearances to combustibles. He/she also has training in inspecting fireplaces and chimneys and will likely have the equipment necessary to do the job right. Check your local Better Business Bureau for any complaints or unresolved issues the company may have.  If having repair work done, as for references and samples of the company’s work to review.

Ask to see certificates of insurance for Worker’s Comp and Liability. If the sweep is not insured, don’t allow them on your property because you could be liable for any damages to your home or injuries to the sweep. Be sure to check out the company’s website – there is likely a lot of information there for you to review. If anything about the company makes you wary, don’t do business with them. Other sites to visit are the Midwest Chimney Safety Council at www.mcsc-net.org and the National Fireplace Institute at www.nficertified.org.

OTHER TIPS: Install a digital CO detector on each level of your home. Install a hard-wired fire alarm system with an alarm on each floor and in the attic next to the chimney. Do not leave open fires unattended.

Bad utility flues can cause carbon monoxide poisoning

By Marge Padgitt

Utility flues serving furnaces, water heaters, and boilers are often forgotten and ignored, yet can pose serious hazards for the occupants of the home. Most problems lie with older masonry chimneys with clay tile flue liners, or chimneys without liners. Homeowners are generally not aware that these flues need to be inspected annually as recommended by the National Fire Protection Association 211 Standards, and that professional chimney sweeps maintain these flues. HVAC contractors do not sweep or inspect flues, or install replacement flue liners.

Masonry chimneys deteriorate over time, starting from the interior, due to exposure to rain and acidic flue gasses, which damage mortar and clay tile liners. Over a period of years, this mortar falls and accumulates at the bottom of the flue, sometimes causing large restrictions that can cause carbon monoxide backup. Flue liners have been required by code since 1927, yet many homes built prior to 1950 do not have liners. Flue liners are installed to provide a complete sealed exit for toxic flue gases. They have mortar joints between each two-foot section of tile. But mortar joints that are deteriorated, have holes, or are missing can allow gases to escape the flue liner and enter the living space via a neighboring flue liner serving a fireplace, or through the masonry chimney.

Masonry chimneys are designed to last for many years as long as they are maintained. However, lack of homeowner education usually results in improperly maintained chimneys and flues, which can be a health hazard to the occupants and cause appliances to work inefficiently. Flue liner size is very important – and must be correct in order for draft to occur. A flue liner that is too large for the appliance may cause backup of gases. This is common in homes where newer, mid-efficiency appliances have been installed which need a smaller liner, and in cases where a high-efficiency furnace is installed and vented through the side of the house, leaving an “abandoned” hot water heater to vent on its own in a flue that is very over sized.

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, tasteless, colorless gas that is the by-product of incomplete combustion. The current standard for CO alarms is 9 ppm, however, recent testing proves that even very low levels of CO exposure over a long period of time can cause irreversible brain and organ damage. The Environmental Protection Agency states that CO detectors are to be used as a backup and are not a replacement for maintenance of appliances and flues. Even so, the EPA recommends the use of CO detectors placed strategically throughout the house.

Dr. David Penney, author of Carbon Monoxide Toxicity and Professor of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine has devoted years of research to this topic and posts his findings on his website at www.coheadquarters.com. Penney suggests that SIDS may be due to low level CO exposure and that children, the elderly, and pets are more susceptible to its effects.

According to the Center for Disease Control, 15,000 people visit emergency rooms and 500 people die every year due to CO poisoning. Symptoms of CO poisoning may include flu-like symptoms that go away or lessen after leaving the house, unexplained headaches, nausea, and dizziness; fainting, muscle weakness, inability to wake up, and death. If more than one family member has the same symptoms the EPA recommends visiting a doctor or hospital and mentioning that you suspect CO exposure.

Spalling flue liner with missing mortar joints

Utility flue safety tips:

• Have the flue checked annually by a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep who will look for clogs caused by bird nests, leaves, debris, dead animals, and mortar or bricks, cracked flue tiles, missing tiles, and missing mortar joints.
• Have a heavy duty stainless steel chimney cover installed to keep damaging rain and animals out of the flue.
• Make sure the flue is sized correctly to the appliances
• Never connect another appliance (water heater excepted) to the same flue as a furnace or boiler
• Have the flue examined when changing appliances

According to a chimney sweep in Kansas City, Missouri, he has encountered numerous utility flue problems over the years, citing that it is a common issue. “People don't think about the inside of their chimney and it is usually ignored until a chimney sweep finds a problem or someone gets ill,” stated the sweep. In one example, another chimney sweep broke out flue tiles and left them in the flue, clogging it completely, which made the homeowners very ill for weeks. In another example, over five feet of debris was removed from a boiler flue that had not been maintained for years and had blocked the flue by 90 percent. The clog caused an entire church congregation to become very ill.

Resources:

Midwest Chimney Safety Council

Chimney Safety Institute of America

National Fire Protection Association

CO Headquarters

Environmental Protection Agency

Marge Padgitt, Education Director for the Midwest Chimney Safety Council, is available to speak to groups about chimney safety issues, appliance installation and maintenance, choosing a wood-burning appliance, chimney construction, and codes. Contact her at margepadgitt@comcast.net.

Get your chimney ready for fall and winter now

By Marge Padgitt

The Midwest Chimney Safety Council recommends annual inspection of all flues and chimneys serving furnaces, hot water heaters, boilers, fireplaces, wood stoves, and wood stove inserts by a professional CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep in Spring or Summer before the Fall rush.

MCSC Educational Director, Marge Padgitt, says that many people are unaware of the condition of their chimney, which can be a serious problem for homeowners. “Carbon Monoxide backup or leakage can cause the occupants to become ill or die,” says Padgitt. This can be caused by a faulty flue that has missing mortar joints, missing flue liner, cracks in the liner, or flues that are clogged with debris such as mortar, bricks, twigs, and bird nests. CO problems usually arise when a gas appliance such as a furnace or hot water heater is not venting correctly. HVAC Technicians do not inspect or maintain chimneys or flues, but professional chimney sweeps do.
Another issue is creosote accumulation from wood-burning, which is a fire hazard. All wood produces creosote, even dry hardwoods, so an annual inspection is necessary to see if sweeping is needed and to check the chimney for cracks, holes, flammable nests, and construction issues. Sweeping is usually done annually for flues serving fireplaces, and annually or bi-annually for flues serving wood stoves used for heating purposes.
Chimney fires are caused by a spark, or heat above 1,000 degrees, which is the temperature that can ignite creosote. Padgitt says that most chimney fires go unnoticed by the homeowner and are only found later by a chimney sweep. However, if there is sufficient creosote in the flue and air for combustion, a large chimney fire can result which can lead to a house fire. Chimney fires almost always cause damages to the flue liner and smoke chamber, and these need to be repaired before further use of the chimney. “It is more dangerous after a chimney fire to use a damaged chimney, because creosote has more places to go between cracked flue liners and blown out mortar joints, and the next fire may be worse,” said Marge.
Padgitt says that inspecting a fireplace flue properly usually requires the use of an internal video inspection camera in order to see the entire flue. She suggests that homeowners do some research to make sure their chimney sweep uses a camera system for inspections and is Certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America.
Visit the MCSC website at www.mcsc-net.org for more free consumer information.
Marge is the President of HearthMasters, Inc. in Kansas City. Contact her at ympadgitt@yahoo.com or 816-461-3665 

Midwest Chimney Safety Council Warns about CO Poisoning and Chimney Fires

A faulty furnace or fireplace flue may cause CO backup or a chimney fire, which can be deadly. The MCSC urges homeowners to have an annual inspection of their furnace, boiler, fireplace, wood stove or water heater flue by a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep.

Carbon Monoxide is the natural by-product of combustion of fuels. CO is produced when gas, propane, kerosene, or wood is burned. It is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that is sometimes called “The Silent Killer.” Symptoms of CO poisoning include nausea, dizziness, disorientation, fainting, and death. Long-term exposure to even low levels of CO can cause irreversible brain damage, motor function impairment, and cognitive impairment.
“The most often overlooked maintenance item in the home is the furnace flue,” says Marge Padgitt, Educational Director for the MCSC. Furnace flues clogged with debris, bird nests, fallen mortar and bricks, etc. can cause CO backup, and cracked flue tiles or missing mortar joints can cause CO leakage into the living space, which may go unnoticed by the homeowner. It is critical that flues are in good working order and are sized correctly for the appliance in order for proper draft to occur. It is worth mentioning that most HVAC contractors do not inspect or maintain furnace flues, and that this is normally done by a chimney sweep.
“The second most overlooked flue is the one serving a wood-burning appliance such as a wood stove or fireplace,” says Padgitt. Many people don’t realize that creosote is flammable and needs to be removed periodically, usually once per year for a fireplace and twice per season for a wood stove. Build up of creosote can result in a chimney fire that can spread to the rest of the house. A little-known fact is that most chimney fires go unnoticed by the homeowner and are only identified when a chimney sweep sees the flue. Damaged flues are a fire hazard and must be relined before they are used again.

Tips:

• All flues should be inspected annually and cleaned as necessary by a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep, who is certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America.
• Wood burning stove and fireplace stove insert flues may need to be swept twice per season to remove flammable creosote.
• ALL wood produces creosote—even dry hardwoods.
• Only burn seasoned hard or soft wood (except soft pine) in a fireplace, wood stove, or wood-burning furnace.
• Never burn trash, railroad ties, or treated wood in a fireplace or stove. Toxic fumes can result.
• Never burn Christmas trees—they burn so fast and hot that a chimney fire will likely result.
• Furnace/hot water heater flues should be inspected annually for clogs by debris or nests, or breaks or gaps in the flue liner that could pose a Carbon Monoxide hazard.

Visit the MCSC website at http://www.mcsc-net.org for more free consumer information.
Contact Marge Padgitt, Vice-President and Educational Director, Midwest Chimney Safety Council at 816-461-3665 or e-mail margepadgitt@comcast.net for more information.