Chimney & Masonry Services

Often homeowners appreciate the benefits of a fire in the winter months, but fail to appreciate the importance of regular chimney cleanings. This neglect can be extremely dangerous, allowing soot to accumulate, leading to potentially hazardous chimney fires.

As fires burn, smoke goes up the chimney. Some of that smoke condenses in creosote on the flue -- the inner surface of the chimney. Creosote, a hard tar-like substance, builds up over time. When a thick coat of creosote catches fire, you get a chimney fire -- a powerful and frightening inferno that can be as loud as a low flying jet.Chimney fires are often so hot that nearby walls and rafters burst into flame. The fire spreads so fast that firefighters often arrive too late to save any of the home.Not all chimney fires are loud roaring events, but quiet ones can be just as dangerous. The extremely high temperatures associated with chimney fires cause cracks to form in the flue and chimney.

Carbon monoxide is generated anywhere fuel is burned, including your fireplace, woodstove or furnace. Normally, these deadly fumes vent safely up the chimney. But if the chimney starts to leak, the fumes may be drawn back into the home.

Carbon Monoxide: Carbon monoxide is a sneaky poison. The odorless colorless gas can be lethal. The human body treats it as if it were oxygen. Quickly distributed throughout the body, the poison has the biggest effect on the brain. Children can sustain brain damage with low levels of exposure. Symptoms mimic the common cold, so most people are unaware they are being poisoned. More extensive exposure leads to vomiting, nausea and, eventually, death.