Chimney Safety
Polyak Services follows all guidelines and recommendations from the National Fire Protection Association Code #211. The National Fire Protection Association recommends that homeowners have their chimney inspected at least once a year. The National Fire Protection Association reports an annual average of 358,500 home structure fires per year during 2011-2015. As a result of these fires, 2,510 people died, 12,300 people were injured, and total property losses were set at more than $6.7 billion in property damage each year.
How to Avoid Chimney Fires
Creosote is the main cause of chimney fires. A buildup of creosote is highly combustible and can result in a chimney fire. To minimize creosote:
- Burn only seasoned woods.
- Contact your chimney professional to clean your chimney regularly.
- Don't allow the fire to smolder.
- Do not burn trash in a fireplace or woodstove.
What to do if You Have a Chimney Fire
Get everyone out of the house.
Call the Fire Department.
Don't close the damper. If you have a fireplace with glass doors, close the doors and the vents. If you have a woodstove, close the doors and the air inlets.
If flames are visible at the chimney top, hose down the roof, but not the chimney. Spraying water on a hot chimney could damage it.
Call a chimney professional before using it again. Even a small chimney fire can damage the chimney, making it unsafe to use.
Additional Resources
Please see the below websites for additional information on chimney safety.