Skip to main content

Disaster Restoration Services

Serving New England since 1990

   24 Hour Emergency Services

(603) 641-6555

24 Hour Emergency Services

(603) 641-6555

Chimney Fire Prevention

Written by Casey Shearns on . Posted in , , , .

During New England winters, it is ideal to be cuddled up by your fireplace during a cold night. Though without proper precaution and maintenance, your cozy warm night can turn into a disaster. According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America, an average of 17,600 chimney fires happen annually in the United States.

Follow along as the fire and soot restoration experts at Soil-Away go over chimney fire prevention tips so you can feel safe and secure with your family around the fire this winter season. 

Leading Causes of Chimney Fires

Almost all chimney fires are preventable. 

  • Infrequent sweeping: The number one cause of chimney fires is failure to sweep your chimney correctly. Without sweeping your chimney regularly, debris that builds up can end up catching fire. Though this is the most common cause, other variables can contribute to a chimney fire. 
  • Wet or unseasoned wood: When you burn damp or unseasoned wood, it is likely to bubble because the wood does not have cracks and the bark is still attached. Because of the level of moisture fresh wood has, it causes much more smoke as it burns. 
  • Prolonged burning: You should never leave your fire smoldering at a low temperature, even if you are present. When burning slowly, the smoke, soot, and gasses are not able to escape quickly, causing tar to build up. 

Signs of a Chimney Fire

Chimney fires are not predictable. It is essential to know the signs of a chimney fire so you can take the proper precautions to get out of your home and call for help. 

  • Loud roaring, popping, cracking, or rumbling noises coming from your chimney
  • Embers coming back down your chimney
  • Flames, smoke, or sparks coming out of the top of your chimney
  • The walls of the chimney and around the chimney are hot to touch

Chimney Fire Prevention

Now that you know the causes and signs of a chimney fire, the most important thing is knowing how to prevent them before they happen. 

  • Regularly sweep your chimney; the amount of times needed is based on use and type of fuel
  • Do not use wood with over a 17% moisture content
  • Never overload your fireplace
  • Check chimney exterior for cracks and mold
  • Ensure the fire is completely extinguished before leaving the room
  • Do not interrupt or block air supply

Contact Soil-Away Today

For more information regarding chimney fire clean-up in your home, be sure to call the fire and soot restoration experts at Soil-Away today! 

Search for:

Contact Us Now

For more information or an estimate:

Call today!

(603) 945-8473

Contact Us
Jay Korsen
00:51 04 Aug 22
All I have to say is WOW and FANTASTIC. I just got done building out my new professional office with Soil-Away’s construction division and they went ABOVE and BEYOND. Scott and Mike, the carpenters are skilled artisans. The project got done on time and the project came in on budget! The finished results have been blowing people away. Much better than I could have anticipated. Anyone is welcome to come to our office, Bright Light Chiropractic in Hooksett to check out the fine work they did. Simply can’t sing enough praises for them. Sorry that the picture doesn’t do the job justice. Thank you Jack and your team. -Dr. Jay
Asian Breeze
04:28 15 Jul 22
Since day one, I’ve known the owner, Jack, to be a hard-working and selfless leader. Through the efforts of him and his team, he was able to restore my flooded restaurant to tip-top shape. I was amazed with Jack’s orderliness throughout the entire process. Jack has proven to me that he is trustworthy, as both a friend and an individual in the work environment.
Breton Langendorfer
21:17 07 Jul 22
Highly recommend Soil-Away. A pipe in our upstairs bathroom gave and sent water down through a wall for at least a day before we noticed water dripping through our kitchen ceiling. Our insurance put us in touch with Soil-Away and they were at our house the next morning to assess the damage and dry things out. Joe, Ray and Tom were phenomenal to work with. They explained every part of the process to us and were very professional and friendly. If you have to deal with similar issues call Soil-Away, you won’t regret it.
Maureen Cidzik
13:49 15 May 22
Superior service from start to finish. Highly responsive. The entire team is dedicated to quality and customer care and it shows in everything they do – from first call, to estimate, to job completion.
Sarah Grugnale
16:02 14 Jan 22
Joe and Tommy were amazing to deal with, they kept us updated every step of the process. They were punctual and hard working, answering all of our questions that we had. Everything was done as promised and even above and beyond. A great experience from start to finish.