2007-12-10 17:49:30 · 8 answers · asked by lorena p 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
Soot is essentially carbon.
Carbon burns - think of coal - that just a larger versions of the same material. If too much soot builds up in chimney, there is an increased likelihood of at best a fire, at worst suffocation, when a flame is lit within the chimney system.
The danger to you can be determined by either very bravely/madly looking up the chimney (wear goggles, of course) to determine how thick the soot lies within the chimney or putting a brush up there and seeing how much soot you displace. Be aware that soot is a real job to control - hence, its a good idea to use sheeting to cover all furniture in a room.
This is ONLY a suggestion - for real peace of mind, get a qualified sweep to assess your needs and possibly, clean your chimney.
2007-12-10 18:13:58 · answer #1 · answered by cornflake#1 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Creosote build up in chimney is the perfect way to start and chimney fire.
Creosote is black tar-like and flaky residue that needs to be cleaned one a year. It's a dirty job, but someone has to do it.
You can hire a Chimney Sweep and they will clean it out with a long handle with brush and I think a weight on the end.
If you should have a chimney fire, use a fire extinguisher and use it from the bottom up and this should do it. However, the best way is prevention by getting the chimney cleaned out.
2007-12-10 19:25:15 · answer #2 · answered by Eagles Fly 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A chimney fire is the combustion of residue deposits referred to as creosote, on the inner surfaces of chimney tiles, flue liners, stove pipes, etc. The process begins with the incomplete combustion (burning) of fuel in the attached appliance, usually a wood or coal stove. The unburned volatiles are heated to the vapor state but not consumed due to a lack of adequate heat and oxygen within the appliance.
Click on the link below to read the rest of the article.
2007-12-10 18:00:09 · answer #3 · answered by skurka 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
A dirty chimney with a lot of creosote buildup. Caused by burning wet wood, or operating the wood stove improperly. It's OK to burn soft woods like pine in a modern EPA approved wood stove, as long as you always have enough air so that you don't get any smoke. One should have their chimney checked by a pro every year.
2007-12-10 18:01:25 · answer #4 · answered by robertdr60 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I go to my local lumber yard and get scrap wood. The wood used in construction is kiln dried and starts easily. I prefer 1” x 4” wood, which I then easily split using a small hatchet. Also, consider getting a $15 propane torch (from a hardware store) for starting your fires. It’s cheap and easy and a cylinder lasts for a couple of years. They will light anything! I depend on my stove to heat my house – in temperatures down to -30°F, so fires are important around here. Also, I put in a link to a great article about making fires.
2016-05-22 23:51:23 · answer #5 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Having a fire thats too hot in the fire place and not having it cleaned every year. People tend to start alot of fires after Christmas by burning their trees too.
2007-12-10 17:57:42 · answer #6 · answered by columind99 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Dry pine needles and pine cones are excellent if you have them. If not, you'll need a lot of newspaper.
Also if the wood has a lot of bark, be sure to use a screen, as you will get a lot of 'pops' (those little hot pieces that pop out of the fireplace - not sure what the correct terminology is). I made a few (small) holes in my grandmother's carpet because I failed to use the screen one time.
2007-12-12 11:41:25 · answer #7 · answered by James Bond 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A build up of soot and creosote. Burning other than hard woods will cause this.
2007-12-10 19:52:26 · answer #8 · answered by Sandyspacecase 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋