This winter, fires will be ablaze in fireplaces across the country. The holidays are fast approaching and with the holidays comes the family, the friends, and the parties, and man can it get cold. Make sure that your fireplace isn’t going to cause any problems or be a danger to this season by taking a few preventative measures.

You should not light a fire in a hearth with Christmas stockings hanging from the mantle as this is a fire risk.

Have your chimney swept and inspected.

By having a chimney professional come out to sweep the chimney and make sure there are not any problems in the flue system, such as debris, creosote, or cracked flue tiles, which can cause a chimney fire, you are taking a lot of pressure off of yourself. Have a chimney professional come out before you start burning wood for the season. Cracked flue tiles, missing mortar joints, and similar problems can only be detected by a video inspection of the flue system by a professional. When hiring a professional, make sure the service man will be running a video inspection after sweeping the chimney. Your professional will check for any leaks or stains and ensure that the fireplace is in operable condition.

Make sure your cap is properly installed.

Before the roof gets icy, you’re going to want to take a look at the top of the chimney and make sure that everything is sound. A chimney cap that has come loose in a storm or has become damaged will allow cold critters to come and build nests in the warmth of your home. Spending  a few minutes on a day where no ice is present on the roof.

Keep the hearth clear.

When the whole family is over and the room is full to the brim with people and presents, make sure that nothing is too close to the fireplace and that a screen is in place to prevent a stray spark from starting a fire in the room. Keep Christmas trees clear of the fireplace as well. Anything that is too close has the potential to catch on fire due to a stray spark if there is no screen in place.

This spark guard is beautiful and protects the living room from stray sparks. chimney or having your chimney professional inspect the chimney top for you is worth your time.

What not to burn.

Finally, after the holiday festivities have come to an end, do not burn wrapping paper or the Christmas tree in your fireplace. Wrapping paper has so many dyes on it that and Christmas trees are not seasoned so that large amounts of creosote will build up in your fireplace. Only burn seasoned wood, no matter what time of year it is.

In my experience, people are more or less “chimney literate” based on the number of years they have been burning as well as whether or not they have experienced any problems in the past. Those who have experienced problems have more than likely been in contact with a professional who has given them some information and maybe even conducted a repair. This being said, some folks know what a damper is and others have never even heard the term. I recommend top sealing dampers because they maximize efficiency and prevent your conditioned or heated air from exiting the home through the chimney when the fireplace is not in operation. This article discusses the options you have as a homeowner looking into a top sealing damper.

This damper is located in the actual flue system, not at the top, and is older. Note the rust.

Material

In my experience, stainless steel is the best material for any top sealing damper. Stainless steel does not rust and is not extremely expensive. It gives you the most bang for your buck and will offer you the longest lifetime before repair or replacement becomes necessary.

Cap Damper Combos

A top sealing damper with a chimney cap connected is one option. LockTop dampers are one brand of such products for the chimney. The damper is located at the top of the chimney, and a chimney cap which prevents rain and critters from entering the chimney, is attached. Usually, the default position for these dampers is “open,” which means that if there is a problem with the damper’s operation cord, the damper will be stuck open. Although this would allow energy loss until the problem can be resolved, it is better than not being able to vent the smoke from your fire.

This Lock Top damper is stainless steel and also serves the function of a chimney cap.

Chimilator

Chimilator is an interesting product because this gives you the option to have your damper be slightly open, or slightly closed, as opposed to open or closed. These damper systems can be cumbersome because there is a large handle that sticks out into the living room. There is a detachable part to the handle which, of course, runs the risk of getting lost, eaten by the dog, etc.

Dampers to Steer Clear From

The design of the damper is a huge deal. Never install anything on your home which looks like it would allow water to pool. If the damper has a cap connected, be sure that it is not shaped in a way that would allow water to pool, which would increase rust and cause more problems down the line. Similarly, if the damper is made from a metal other than stainless steel it runs the risk of rusting out, breaking, or having other problems far more quickly than a stainless steel damper would.

This picture shows a missing mortar joint before HeatShield repairs are conducted.

Cracks in the flue tiles of a chimney liner can be caused by many occurrences. Chimney fires and the shifting and settling of the house into its foundation are two main causes. Only call out chimney professionals who run a video inspection of your flue system after sweeping. Use of a closed circuit camera system is often the only way to see damage in the flue system. If cracks exist in the flue tiles then the chimney must not be used. A chimney liner with cracks in it should be resurfaced, or in cases of very bad damage, a stainless steel chimney liner pipe should be installed.

This is the mortar joint after it has been repaired using HeatShield.

Slip casting is one way professionals describe the resurfacing of a chimney liner system. If a chimney liner has cracked over time, applying a new surface onto the old flue tiles after they have been cleaned will extend the life of your existing liner. The product is applied in the flue system and a large, foam head is dragged up from the bottom of the chimney to the top, smoothing it over any cracks or missing mortar joints and once again making the flue system safe to contain products of combustion after the application of a “tie coat” or a primer. The product I recommend using is HeatShield, which is a cerfractory material: a mixture of ceramic and high-temperature refractory cement, which combines strength with heat resistance.

This diagram shows how the HeatShield application process works.

HeatShield carries a 20 year warranty when installed by a professional and has been UL tested to withstand temperature up to 2900 degrees Fahrenheit. This material is pushed into open voids and smoothed over completely so that no soot will be prone to get caught on ridge in the system. This resurfacing of the flue is a cheaper alternative to a stainless steel liner and should be discussed with a professional as not all cases should be repaired using HeatShield technology.

After servicing the gas logs, the serviceman will turn the logs on and spray them with this product.

If you have vented gas logs in your home, hopefully you know that you need to have them serviced regularly to ensure maximum efficiency and to prevent any problems from occurring. You may know that gas logs, when working efficiently, are supposed to burn clean, but what then is done to the logs when they are serviced?

The firebox must be brushed down and any loose creosote removed. There will be loose creosote if the firebox was previously used for burning wood. Gently removing debris from the firebox is a necessary step. Each log is carefully removed, cleaned, and placed safely on a tarp outside of the firebox.

There are many technical aspects of gas log service that must be covered by your certified gas appliance technician. The gas piping must be inspected for any damage or leakage using a gas detector. The damper valve is also checked to make sure that it is functioning properly and the damper cannot close on accident while the logs are in operation. The burner pan, where the flames are actually produced, holds sand, which is spread evenly so that the most beautiful flame possible can be created. Sand that clumps in one area makes for a flame that does not spread across the entire gas log set. Remember that although yellow flames are beautiful they are the result of incomplete combustion.

After taking care of technical aspects and ensuring that no leakage is occurring in the gas line, the logs are reassembled and put into operation so that they can be sprayed with a gas log soot remover to remove any lingering soot or debris. Finally, the technician will make any last minute adjustments to flame height and the service is complete.

Gas logs can be beautiful and look as natural and real as a wood fire.

It is important to remember that a gas log set must be vented through an operable chimney. Installing gas logs does not mean that a flue system with damages can be used for venting. Let me repeat, you must have an operable flue system through which to vent a gas appliance, it cannot be damaged. This being said, whatever is venting your gas logs must also be capped with a stainless steel chimney cap to prevent debris and critters from getting in because blockage in the chimney can cause the gases to not be able to exit the home, creating a dangerous or even potentially deadly situation.

This is damage from a lightning strike, a sudden occurrence, which most insurance policies cover.

When a chimney fire occurs or lightning strikes your chimney, damage is incurred.  Most folks’ insurance policies cover such occurrences, and a chimney professional must try to help homeowners to make the insurance process go as smoothly as possible. My number one recommendation when it comes to insurance claims, no matter what kind of insurance, is to document everything at the very beginning of the process. You need to be sure to document the date it occurred, the name of the professional(s) who come out to evaluate the situation, and the date(s) the professional evaluated the situation. Your professional should also be doing some documentation as well.

The service technician must document the damage, the date it was discovered, and how they discovered it. Most chimney fires are discovered by chimney sweeps who come out and observe signs that a chimney fire has occurred when running a video inspection of the flue system. This is a dangerous situation which cannot be ignored; you cannot continue to burn wood regularly in your fireplace without repair. You may notice exterior damage on the chimney caused by a lightning strike, in which case the technician should document that he came out to observe possible lightning strike damage at the request of the owner of the home.

Most insurance policies do not cover normal wear and tear of the chimney, for example, deterioration over many years. Similarly,they do not cover problems such as a clogged flue or spalling brick, which is almost always the result of poor maintenance of the chimney. Instead, documentation for insurance claims are used to file a “sudden occurrence.” It has been my experience that most insurance companies are willing to work with you so long as you provide the documentation and information that they require.

Vertical cracks in flue tiles often indicate a chimney fire has occurred.

Fire is only supposed to be contained within the firebox of your chimney. When the fire escapes this area, it often causes vertical cracks in the flue tiles of a chimney, can warp a stainless steel liner, and cause other damage to the chimney and home in general. Documenting your claim on a large, roaring chimney fire is easy, seeing that the fire department must be called. What about slow burning chimney fires, which most home owners are not even aware occurred until a chimney sweep comes out and tells them. Chimney professionals are almost always willing to come out, meet with an insurance agent or a homeowner, and do whatever work is necessary in cases regarding sudden occurrence insurance claims. My policy is to never get ahead of the insurance agency and follow their lead when it comes to the claim, providing what documentation and service they require. Remember, it is not the chimney professional’s job to defend the home owner’s claim, but review observable facts and provide documentation that a person other than a trained professional could not do. Call out one or more professionals if you suspect a sudden occurrence has taken place; they can almost always make the insurance claim process less of a hassle.

Part of the reason why a chimney professional may not properly fix your chimney’s drafting problem with the first repair is because there are so many potential causes of poor chimney draft or chimney draft problems. I always recommend the least expensive repair first when it comes to diagnosing a chimney draft problem; avoid the chimney contractor who recommends a $3,000 dollar repair or chimney rebuild as the first option for correcting a chimney draft issue.

Air Tight Home

One of the most common issues that I have seen which results in a drafting issue is an air tight home. Whether you have a new home constructed with energy efficient doors and windows or an old home which has recently been made more air tight, a major cause of chimney draft problems (including smoking fireplaces) is that there is not enough fresh air being allowed to enter the home to provide sufficient supply for combustion. If there is not enough air in the home, the fire will draw air from down the chimney’s flue, causing smoke to flow into the room.

Unseasoned Firewood

Burning unseasoned firewood can create excessive smoke which can create the illusion of a chimney draft issue and also cause creosote buildup. Make sure you are burning seasoned hardwood in your fireplace. Visit my articles on what wood to burn for information and specifications on what hard wood is.

This chimney is too short and can potentially cause drafting issues and is a fire hazard.

Chimney is Too Short

If a chimney’s flue is too short, it may not be conducive to a strong, properly drafting chimney. The chimney must project at least 3′ above any point on the roof or building which it is within 10′ of. Chimneys may need to be taller to overcome a powerful downdraft or combat a particularly tall nearby building. There are flue extending chimney caps available and courses of brick can be added to the top of a chimney to make it taller as well.

Flue System is Too Small for the Firebox

Similarly, if the chimney flue’s diameter is not in proportion to the size of the firebox, there will be problems as well. Decreasing the size of the firebox by installing a SmokeGuard can help to solve this problem. A SmokeGuard is easily installed to the top of the front of the fireplace to decrease its overall dimensions. By decreasing the size of the firebox, smoke may more easily vent through the chimney, preventing poor draft from occurring.

This fireplace was stained by smoke pouring out over the front of the hearth as a result of poor draft.

Flue Too Cold

If the flue is very cold to start out with, the products of combustion may not be inclined to vent up, causing a smoking problem at the beginning of each fire. Lighting newspaper on fire and holding it up in the flue system for a few seconds warms up the flue and creates a strong draft from the very beginning. If you are experiencing a draft problem which involves smoke pouring into the living room you may want to consider warming the flue up first. If you have a buildup of creosote sticking the newspaper up into the flue to warm it could potentially cause a chimney fire.

When it comes to fitting gas logs in your existing masonry fireplace or a prefabricated firebox, one of the most important aspects is air space. Different gas log sets have a minimum clearance from the side walls of your firebox, and if your gas log sets have a safety pilot (most modern sets do) this clearance is even greater. Safety pilots require increased air space between the logs and the fireplace because more is needed to prevent the valve from melting and overheating.

These gas logs fit nicely in this masonry firebox.

I recommend purchasing gas logs with a safety pilot because although you cannot install as big of a unit into your fireplace, you have the benefit of the  added safety feature. When installing gas logs without a safety pilot you have more freedom. Basically, you can install the largest gas log set that comfortably fits in your fireplace, of course paying attention to the manufacturer’s clearance specifications. You will be able to install a much larger unit which will look better aesthetically and put off more heat than a smaller unit.

A mistake that some people make when measuring for gas logs is taking measurements other than the usable area. For example, prefabricated fireplace units may have mesh curtains which take up a few inches. Measuring only the usable space will provide you with the best information for purchasing a gas log set. Similarly, remember that almost all fireboxes are wider in the front than they are in the back. You must take the measurements of the back wall of the firebox and the front opening into the room, as they will differ greatly from one another.

Making sure your gas log set is going to fit is not a particularly complicated task as long as you know what you are looking for when you measure. If  you have doubts you may want to consult a professional to come out and take their own measurements and give their own recommendations based on your particular firebox.

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Not only is it required, it is also beneficial to you as a homeowner with bills to pay. There are spiders, dust, cobwebs, and countless other small particles floating about your home, in your carpet, etc. which can enter the orifices of your gas log set and cause it to burn inefficiently. As a safety note, the gaskets in a gas log set have the potential to wear over time, which, left unchecked, could cause a very dangerous carbon monoxide situation in your home. A certified gas log technician will come out to check these things and clean the logs. The peace of mind combined with keeping your warranty is certainly worth the fee.

When a technician comes out to your home he will essentially make sure that the gas logs are working properly, are able to burn at maximum efficiency (which saves you money), and ensure that all of the parts are functioning properly and appear safe. He will clean the logs and the burner and clean all the orifices in the set after vacuuming the entire firebox. He will check to make sure all of the safety features are working properly and the switches are checked. He also assembles the logs back together according to manufacturer specifications. Gas logs function best when positioned exactly as the manufacturer recommends.

After a cleaning of the control area as well, the technician will light the gas logs and monitor it for a period of time to check flame height, color, and generally make sure that the lit gas logs are behaving in an safe and appropriate manner. If any adjustments in flame height are needed he will make them. Your technician may instruct you to spray gas log cleaner on your logs as needed. Having your gas logs serviced is a necessary part of burning gas logs and is the responsible thing to do, especially due to potential health risks that can be caused by inefficient or malfunctioning gas log sets.

Dear AsktheChimneySweep,

My name is Rick and I’m from Illinois. After having my yearly chimney sweeping and inspection, the serviceman said that the chase cover had “rusted out” and needs to be replaced. I didn’t get a chance to ask him what this meant, he just left the invoice in the door with the recommended repair listed. I don’t even know what chimney chase covers are, is this is crucial fix? Money is short right now.

Rick

Rick,

You wouldn’t know it but in the profession we see a lot of rusted out chase covers. My guys write estimates for replacing a chimney chase cover a few times a week. What the serviceman wrote on your invoice means that the chase cover, also known as the chase top, which actually covers the entire top of your chimney to keep out the elements and critters. It fits over the top of the chimney like a lid almost, and the chimney flue pipe extends up through the middle. What has likely happened in your situation is that the chimney chase cover, which is more often than not made of galvanized steel which is prone to rust, was allowing water to pool and as a result became rusted. This isn’t necessarily a pressing repair, but should be taken care of in a timely manner because the rust damage will continue to worsen until holes form and water penetrates the chimney’s flue.

Water damages almost all kinds of chimney covers including chimney caps and the chimney crowns. When it comes to caps or chase covers, I always recommend stainless steel. The extra cost of installing a stainless steel cap or chase cover over galvanized steel is completely worth the extended lifetime of the cap and additional reliability that you also receive. Rick, when you do decide to replace your chimney’s chase cover, elect for a stainless steel version. Although rust stain removal is not usually extremely difficult, the metal has already been weakened so replacement is definitely the best option.

Other times, rust problems are worsened by a poorly designed chimney chase. The chimney chase should be designed such that it sheds water from the chimney and does not allow it to pool. As a rule, if water is allowed to pool anywhere, whether it be on top of a chimney crown or on top of brick or anywhere else, a water problem will ensue. The chase should actually be constructed so that there is a little bit of a slope from the middle, where the chimney’s flue will stick out, down to the sides. This will allow water to run off of the top of the chimney and prevent premature rust problems.

Chimney chase covers come in different designs based on how many flue systems are being vented through your chimney. There are chase covers available with two or three holes for multiple flues and chases where the hole is off center for specially designed chimneys. There are many custom chase cover manufacturers who will design your chase cover to your exact dimensions. You want to make sure that you are taking accurate flue diameter measurements during this process as well.

Rick, as I said before, I would definitely not let this problem go for too long because rust stains are more than just unsightly, once water is able to enter the chimney you experience more problems will surely begin to occur. Make sure you are choosing a quality material and that the chase cover is sloped downward to prevent water from pooling.

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