Don’t play with fire - National Post

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What happens, is if there’s not enough airflow into the fire, it won’t quite burn completely. The oils in the wood won’t entirely burn, so they off-gas and travel up through the smoke. That smoke will condense in your chimney leaving that creosote residue.

Over time, that creosote can build up — and it’s extremely flammable, so if it ignites, you’re looking at a much hotter fire than you bargained for. Luckily, with regular cleanings, you can clean away and excess creosote before it builds up to dangerous levels.

Depending on usage, you will probably want to have the chimney cleaned yearly or so to keep it clear and burning cleanly.

You can help prevent creosote buildup by only using dry wood. This allows it to burn more completely as opposed to damp wood that’s been left outdoors — or any leftover gift wrap. Anything but dry wood in your fireplace is a hazard. No matter how careful you are, you will build up some creosote in your chimney no matter what — that’s why it’s so important to have regular cleanings and inspections performed.

For those of you with gas units — they need to be inspected yearly by a licensed professional. When that unit isn’t functioning as it should, it’s a leading cause for carbon monoxide poisoning.

Know the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning

Carbon monoxide poisoning is a leading cause of accidental poisoning — and your gas fireplace, if not properly maintained, could be a culprit. Minor cases of carbon monoxide poisoning presents itself with similar symptoms to a flu, without the vomiting. If you start feeling that way, but the symptoms dissipate when you go outdoors, that’s a sign that you may have a carbon monoxide leak in the home.

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2020-12-09 03:35:46Z
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