I have a fireplace in the house which I like to use often. The thing is sometimes the fire is going, or at least the embers are burning, for longer than I can to stay away but I am not comfortable with going to sleep or leaving the house unless the fire is completely out. The other day I used a fire extinguisher to put it out ( in the past I just waited ). It was one of those dry white chemical ones and left a mess in my living room. Whats the proper way of doing this? As an aside, do chimneys really need to be cleaned? I've been told no by everyone except the telemarketers.
Question for the firebugs here.
- Thread starter jejton
- Start date
Yes you need to clean your chimney and for safety reasons have your flu pipe inspected to make sure the integrity of the pipe is ok. Embers are fine to leave as they will burn out in time. Not open flame. If I were to use a fire extinguisher in an emergency situation it would be a co2 ext not a dry powder one like you used. The powder gets everywhere and causes a heck of a mess.
- Location
- Montclair, NJ
My father thought the chimney didn't need to be cleaned and found out the hard way that he should have had it done. He had a chimney fire :irked:
that is the pipe that runs from the top of the firebox (fireplace) to the top of the chimney. It is also called a chimney pipe. I have been to quite a few houses in the last 17 years with the fire dept that didn't think they needed to clean the chimney either. They got a very rough one from us and a repair bill after we got done from a chimney sweep. It is worth the money.
copied from US Fire Adminstration
More than one-third of Americans use fireplaces, wood stoves and other fuel-fired appliances as primary heat sources in their homes. Unfortunately, many people are unaware of the fire risks when heating with wood and solid fuels.
Heating fires account for 36% of residential home fires in rural areas every year. Often these fires are due to creosote buildup in chimneys and stovepipes. All home heating systems require regular maintenance to function safely and efficiently.
The United States Fire Administration (USFA) encourages you to practice the following fire safety steps to keep those home fires safely burning. Remember, fire safety is your personal responsibility ...Fire Stops With You!
Keep Fireplaces and Wood Stoves Clean
More than one-third of Americans use fireplaces, wood stoves and other fuel-fired appliances as primary heat sources in their homes. Unfortunately, many people are unaware of the fire risks when heating with wood and solid fuels.
Heating fires account for 36% of residential home fires in rural areas every year. Often these fires are due to creosote buildup in chimneys and stovepipes. All home heating systems require regular maintenance to function safely and efficiently.
The United States Fire Administration (USFA) encourages you to practice the following fire safety steps to keep those home fires safely burning. Remember, fire safety is your personal responsibility ...Fire Stops With You!
Keep Fireplaces and Wood Stoves Clean
- Have your chimney or wood stove inspected and cleaned annually by a certified chimney specialist.
- Clear the area around the hearth of debris, decorations and flammable materials.
- Always use a metal mesh screen with fireplaces. Leave glass doors open while burning a fire.
- Install stovepipe thermometers to help monitor flue temperatures.
- Keep air inlets on wood stoves open, and never restrict air supply to fireplaces. Otherwise you may cause creosote buildup that could lead to a chimney fire.
- Use fire-resistant materials on walls around wood stoves.
- Never use flammable liquids to start a fire.
- Use only seasoned hardwood. Soft, moist wood accelerates creosote buildup.
- Build small fires that burn completely and produce less smoke.
- Never burn cardboard boxes, trash or debris in your fireplace or wood stove.
- When building a fire, place logs at the rear of the fireplace on an adequate supporting grate.
- Never leave a fire in the fireplace unattended. Extinguish the fire before going to bed or leaving the house.
- Soak hot ashes in water and place them in a metal container outside your home.
- Stack firewood outdoors at least 30 feet away from your home.
- Keep the roof clear of leaves, pine needles and other debris.
- Cover the chimney with a mesh screen spark arrester.
- Remove branches hanging above the chimney, flues or vents.
- Install smoke alarms on every level of your home. Test them monthly and change the batteries at least once a year. Consider installing the new long life smoke alarms.
- Provide proper venting systems for all heating equipment.
- Extend all vent pipes at least three feet above the roof.
- Location
- NY
I'm actually shocked beyond belief at the above statement.
I have a pellet burning stove. I burn it 24/7 from about November to April (obviously while not home also). The chimney pipe gets cleaned at the beginning of the heating season or I will NOT burn one single fire in the stove. I've cleaned my own chimneys (when I was physically able) and I've watched the 'tuxedo wearing pro's' do it. The crap that comes out is beyond belief. If you watch it being cleaned you'll never question the need for it to be cleaned again.
Eric, great question to ask publicly. I hope you and anyone else who's had this question have learned from this thread.
Happy and SAFE holiday season to all,
Russ
Killerdrgn
Advanced Reefer
- Location
- Park Ridge, NJ
Maybe he meant it doesn't need to be cleaned because either he does it, or has someone do it for him, on a regular basis.
- Location
- Ossining, NY
Search for my chimney caused house fire thread here on MR and be very cautious. make sure it is thoroughly inspected and cleaned every year
House
House
There are quite a few things that shock me about this landlord. About many things he's great but then there are exceptions. For instance ( I rent a whole home ), I found after my washing machine broke ( it was over 10 years old and came with the place - though I was assured I was getting all new appliances before moving in ) that according to his interpretation of the lease, tenants are responsible for ALL appliance repairs REGARDLESS of whether they caused the damage or not. Friends of mine rent another home from him and the boiler busted. They were told that they have to pay for the repair or replacement by the landlord. When the repair man came over he told them that their electric boiler was so old its not worth repairing and that he rarely sees anyone using these anymore. Then there's the bit about not lighting our very long, shared, driveway ( we're in the woods basically here ) or telling me its standard in LI that tenants pay for extermination. We're considering moving out at the end of the lease but it might not be worth it since we'll have to move anyway when I finish school. I can't wait to own my own home. I know its not all sugar and all but at least it'll be my home that I'm paying for and my decisions as to what to do and not do. At least this will teach me how to be a good landlord.
Killerdrgn
Advanced Reefer
- Location
- Park Ridge, NJ
Let me just ask are you living near stony brook? I lived in a place for like a day because the landlord was so bad. It was only after I moved in and was actually able to talk to the other tenants that I found out how bad the situation was. I had to sue him and move out.
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