A cozy fire in the fireplace sure helps beat the winter chill. But improper installation or operation can turn a fireplace into a definite hazard that can be prevented with proper preparation.

The first and most critical factor in the case of wood burning fireplace is the chimney. The chimney must be clean and free of creosote contaminants. Creosote is the main source of fuel for a chimney fire. Chimney fires can cause extreme damage to your home and should be avoided at all cost. Having your chimney professionally cleaned and inspected is one way to assure you will not have a problem. Commercial chemicals are available for removing creosote from the chimney but nothing will be as complete as brushing the chimney.

If your chimney does not draft properly due to improper installation or improper operation of your appliance, that can also lead to serious problems. Obviously if you are burning wood and your chimney does not draft correctly, you will see and smell smoke. Carbon monoxide, emitted from gas appliances, is odorless and you cannot see it so a carbon monoxide detector should be employed in the home.

Glass fronted fireplace currently have a "screen barrier" which helps prevent children from getting serious burns from touching the glass front. Older fireplaces do no have the screen barrier so other methods should be taken to prevent children from touching the glass front. Folding fireplace screens are a good protection method for older fireplaces.

With a few precautions taken, the fireplace can be a beautiful center place in the home providing many hours of relaxing ambiance and heat.

NORTH BROOKFIELD, Mass. — When David Harris built his 2,000-square-foot hilltop home nine years ago, he wanted to put in natural gas, but the utility wouldn’t run a line to his house. Like many people here, he was stuck using heating oil.

Harris added a wood stove to help cut costs and now uses only about one-third of the oil the house would otherwise need. But that did not stop a deliveryman for Crowley Fuel from handing him a $471.21 bill earlier this month for a refill that should get him to April.

“You just cross your fingers and hope that it doesn’t get too much worse,” Harris said.

Actually, it probably will — for him and the residents of the roughly 8 million other U.S. homes that use heating oil, mostly in a band from Maine to Pennsylvania.

While natural gas prices have plummeted to 10-year lows, heating oil prices have been steadily rising for years and are expected to reach record levels this winter, precipitated by higher costs for crude oil and the shutdown of several crucial refineries in the Northeast and in Europe. The Energy Department projects a price of $3.79 a gallon over the next few months, more than a dollar above the winter average for the last five years. Analysts do not expect much relief in the longer term, either, because global oil prices are expected to stay high amid political instability in the Middle East and rising demand from developing countries.

With electricity prices also down, utilities are trumpeting that bills will drop this season for customers using gas and electric heat.

“The people who have been unable to switch off of heating oil will be increasingly penalized in the coming years,” said Jay Hakes, a former administrator of the Energy Information Administration and now the director of the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum. “There’s going to be a continuing incentive to get off heating oil, because every day the headlines and experts say that over the foreseeable future, we will have natural gas at attractive prices.”

Nationwide, the average household using oil spent $2,298 on heat last year, compared with $724 spent by gas users and $957 spent by electricity users, according to the Energy Department.

This year, heating oil users are expected to spend 3.7 percent more than last year, while natural gas customers are expected to spend 7.3 percent less and electricity users will spend 2.4 percent less, according to the department.

Many oil users — living in places like Alaska, Maine and even affluent parts of Manhattan — do not have the option to switch to natural gas. Some are simply too far from a pipeline. For others, converting to natural gas is unaffordable, with costs that can run to tens of thousands of dollars for each home. As a result, they are trapped in a cycle of spending more and more for heat while those who use natural gas and electricity are generally spending less and less.

That dynamic is at work in households across the economic spectrum, but the cost gap looms as a crisis for the poor, experts warn, since the federal government has cut financing for energy assistance programs.

“We’re concerned about a public health problem if there isn’t additional money found,” said Mark Wolfe, executive director of the National Energy Assistance Directors’ Association. “We’ve really never been in a situation before where we’re going into the winter with very high prices” for heating oil, he said, adding that the highest prices tended to come near the middle or end of the season.

Heating oil could grow more scarce in the Northeast this winter, the Energy Department warned last month. Companies have been closing refineries that produce heating oil because of declining profit margins. Sunoco and ConocoPhillips recently announced the idling of two major refineries in Pennsylvania, and a third refinery owned by Sunoco may close next summer.

Ultimately, heating oil faces a grim future, said Bob LaFlamme, who took over Crowley Fuel in North Brookfield from his wife’s family 23 years ago.

“People are looking for alternatives,” he said, adding, “Even one of my own employees switched over, so that’s telling you something.”

Shop Wood Stoves Here

Chimney liners are installed to help promote better burning processes in your wood burning fireplace or stove. Older homes were often constructed without the used of a clay liner as just used the brick chimney. Not having a liner causes the fireplace chimney to accumulate more ash and build up faster than with a liner. Even if your chimney has a clay liner, it can crack and wear out over time and should be replaced.

Selecting from Different Brands of Chimney Liners to Find a Compatible Model

When selecting from different brands of chimney liners you will want to find one which is compatible with your current style of fireplace or stove. When re-lining you may be required to connect part of the chimney to the exhaust area on your wood burning stove or fireplace which must fit correctly. When you require assistance in selecting the right type of liner, like those on our website, here at Copperfield Chimney Supply, do not hesitate to contact us directly.

When you purchase an existing home you may find the home comes with a fireplace. However, you might have no idea what type of fireplace is installed. One way to distinguish gas from wood burning fireplaces is whether there is a chimney which goes out through the roof. Another thing to look for is a direct vent. A direct vent fireplace is a gas fireplace and the vent will be along the exterior wall of the home and will not have a chimney.

Difference between Models of Direct Vent Fireplace Units

There are differences between models of direct vent fireplace units on the market today, like those available on our website, here at Copperfield Chimney Supply. Some styles will be all self-contained with the direct vent hidden from normal view. Other types will have a short chimney-like structure which will go up from the fireplace and out of the side exterior wall and are in plain sight.

Previously published at highschimney.com

An annual chimney inspection is important to ensure proper safety. While these inspections will highlight your biggest problems areas, damage and fire hazards can show up throughout the year. It's a good idea to keep an eye on these important problem areas throughout the year. If any signs of damage appear, contact your chimney professional for a midyear inspection.

Masonry

The masonry should be free of excessive cracks and should look sturdy. Cracks and improper sealing can allow for water and ice damage, which will ruin the structural integrity of your chimney.

Flue

Poured-in-place or clay tile flues should be free of cracks, chips and improper sealing. A metal liner should be free of rust spots. Even small cracks or patches of rust should be looked at by a professional. These problems can allow combustive gases and sparks into your home.

Creosote and soot deposits should be monitored, as an accumulation of these can lead to chimney fires. Additionally, if you have an old home, inspect how such things as your dryer are vented. If dryers are vented into the bottom of the flue, it is easy for the vent to be blocked by falling debris. Blocked vents are a huge fire hazard.

Hardware

Missing or damaged chimney caps will need replaced or repaired by a licensed professional. Chimney caps protect your flue from water damage while preventing sparks from landing on your roof or yard. A missing chimney cap is a significant fire hazard.

Metal flashing around your chimney should not be loose or covered in excessive tar or caulking. Loose flashing allows for water damage, whereas an excessive amount of tar or caulking could be a sign of previous water damage. If you notice either of these problems midyear, but haven't talked to your chimney inspector about it, give them a call and see if they investigated it during their annual inspection. Water damage to your chimney is costly, and can be a fire hazard.

Ensure that cleanout doors are present and working properly. They should easily open and close. Missing or malfunctioning cleanout doors need replaced. Dampers should be free of rust damage, and easily moved.
Vents from previously used equipment such as wood stoves should be securely blocked off if no longer in use.

Draft

While looking over your chimney, there are some aspects that will be difficult for you to fully gauge. One of the most important aspects of a properly functioning chimney is the draft. With a weak draft, the combustible gases, creosote, soot and smoke do not leave the chimney easily. Sometimes, these fire byproducts are pushed back into the home. When your chimney is full of smoke and creosote, this might be unpleasant, but if you have an accumulation of carbon monoxide in your home, this problem could be deadly.

If smoke downdrafts into your home, ensure your chimney and fireplace have no missing pieces and that the chimney is not blocked by debris or creosote. If no cause of the downdraft can be found, contact a professional to inspect your chimney's draft. If problems are present, they will be able to suggest ways to increase the draft.

This basic overview of problem areas in your chimney is meant to help you maintain a safe fireplace and chimney in between annual inspections. It is not exhaustive enough to cover all the potential problems that could occur throughout the year. If you find any of the above problems, or come across something not mentioned here, please contact a trusted professional to ensure your home is a safe, healthy place for you and your family.

Update from HPBA (Hearth, Patio and Barbeque Association)

On December 17, 2010, President Obama signed a bill that extended many of the consumer tax credits into 2011 to help boost the slowly recovering economy. The tax credit for the purchase of a biomass-burning stove was extended, but with additional restrictions. The tax credit for 2011 is structured as follows: 1) a 10% tax credit, capped at $300, for a 75% efficient biomass stove; 2) the lower heating value (LHV) efficiency measure was removed; 3) the credit applies to purchase price only, not installation; and 4) tax credit is for 2011 only. HPBA encourages all members to check with their tax advisors for further clarity.

HPBA continues to work with the new Congress on this credit and other important issues.