by A. Smith

Created on: December 07, 2011   Last Updated: December 12, 2011

Chimney problems can interfere with normal chimney function for both wood-burning stoves and fireplaces and for gas or oil furnaces. Some chimney drafting problems are easy to identify in a fireplace or wood stove because the fire won't light easily and the wood won't burn well. Chimney problems which affect your furnace may go unnoticed until your house fills with deadly carbon monoxide. Regular maintenance will prevent most chimney problems.

Spring

Have your fireplace, wood stove, furnace and chimney professionally inspected once a year. The best time is shortly after or shortly before the heating season. Identify any problems and have them fixed.

Every house which has a chimney or uses heating elements of any kind should have a working carbon monoxide detector. Check it in the spring when you turn your clocks ahead, at the same time as you check your smoke detectors.

Summer

Check your flue caps and replace them if necessary. Galvanized steel flue caps are only designed to last for 3-5 years before rusting. In ocean and urban environments, they can rust more quickly. Copper or stainless steel flue caps come with lifetime warranties against weather deterioration, but can still be blown off by a strong storm.

If you are moving into a new house, check the height and design of the chimney. All chimneys should extend at least 2 feet above the highest roofline within 10 feet. It doesn't have to be higher than the peak of your roof, only higher than anything within 10 feet. Anything less than this will cut back on air circulation. Install a flue extension as necessary, and enclose it in a chase if required by city bylaws.

Fall

Have your chimney swept once a year in the fall to remove soot and creosote buildup and any other physical obstacles. A professional company will send one person up on the roof to sweep the chimney from above. If necessary, another person will take apart stove pipes inside the house. The person on top of your roof should also check the flue caps to make sure they are still secure.

Trim back any branches which have grown too close to the chimney. Branches should not be closer than 15 feet to the chimney. Remove any dangerous roof overhanging branches at the same time.

Check your carbon monoxide detector again, at the same time as you check your smoke detectors. Time it for when you turn your clocks back in the fall.

Winter

Remove all rooftop snow when snow depth is more than a few inches. Also remove rooftop snow if your flues are not above the snowline. This will also ease the strain on flat roofs which may not be designed to take heavy snow loads.

Chimneys which are showing signs of blockage which is not due to snow may need to be swept again during the heating season. This is usually due to poor chimney design or burning poor quality wood.

General

Use only properly seasoned hardwood in your wood stove or fireplace. Pines and other softwoods are heavy in creosote, which is a leading cause of chimney fires. Wet, green, or rotten firewood also causes heavy soot buildup inside the chimney. Using properly seasoned firewood will avoid dangerous soot buildup.

Learn more about this author, A. Smith.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.