Chimney Fire Prevention in Minnesota

This spring, a St. Cloud family went to bed after an evening in front of a warm fire in their fireplace. While they were sleeping, a chimney fire started in their chimney in the wee hours of the morning. It damaged the chimney and started a fire in the home’s attic. A local policeman, going home after getting off duty, happened to notice the fire emerging from the home’s roof and wakened the family so they could safely evacuate. The home, however, was severely damaged and will cost plenty to restore.

It’s easy to imagine what might have happened if that police officer hadn’t come by and noticed the fire. If you have a fireplace in your home, you could be vulnerable to a similar catastrophe. Chimney fires destroy thousands of homes each year in the united states. Every one of them could have been prevented with professional chimney cleaning done on a regular basis. Without that regular cleaning, every fireplace chimney is a disaster just waiting to happen. Here are the questions every Twin Cities homeowner should ask and the answers that could save your home and family from disaster:

What Causes Chimney Fires? – Any time you burn wood in a home fireplace, the process creates soot and an oily substance called creosote. Over time, the two build up on the inside of your chimney, creating a flammable coating. Eventually, that coating builds up to a dangerous thickness. A spark flying up the chimney can ignite the soot and creosote, starting a chimney fire.
Why Are Chimney Fires So Dangerous? – Once a chimney fire starts, the upward draft in the chimney supplies oxygen to the fire, which quickly grows. The larger the fire grows, the more air flows in. A chimney fire can quickly grow into a roaring inferno, sending sparks high into the air.
How Does A Chimney Fire Set Fire to A Home? – Sparks emerging from the chimney can set the roof on fire. Also, as happened in the St. Cloud home, the intense heat of the fire can damage the chimney, allowing flames and heat to emerge into the home’s attic. The result is disastrous.
How Can I Prevent Chimney Fires? – There is only one sure way: Have your fireplace chimney professionally cleaned after every 50 fires or so. In a typical home, that means once a year. Springtime is an ideal time for chimney cleaning, since the chore is often forgotten during the summer months and may be neglected before the fall burning season begins.
Who Should Clean My Chimney? – You should only hire a professional chimney cleaner, like Twin Cities Duct Cleaning, to handle this chore. Professionals have the proper brushes and powerful vacuums needed to safely remove all soot and creosote where it collects in your fireplace and chimney. It’s not a job for amateurs. Proper training and equipment is a must.

Let Twin Cities Duct Cleaning Make your Fireplace Chimney Safe

If you have a wood-burning fireplace, call Twin Cities Duct Cleaning for a chimney inspection and cleaning. Our well-trained technicians have the expertise needed to do the job right. Our special brushes and powerful van-mounted vacuum allow the technician to do a complete job and give you the peace of mind you deserve. Combine a fireplace cleaning with any of our duct cleaning services, and take advantage of special pricing, too. Don’t let a chimney that’s clogged with soot and creosote cause a disastrous chimney.