![]() ![]() ![]() Thus, a clean chimney is also a safer, more efficient chimney. Deposits of flammable substances such as creosote also have the potential to cause chimney fires. Without this continuous supply of air, the fire would burn itself out. This can be explained by the fact that a well-functioning chimney is necessary not only to allow potentially harmful gases to escape from the room, but also to ensure that the fire burns efficiently.Īs hot air ascends in the chimney, the fire sucks in more air from the room through the grate, in order to fill the space that has been left. Such an obstruction can lead to an inefficient, and potentially unsafe, fireplace. Over time, these deposits can begin to obstruct - and eventually completely block – the chimney. This includes a flammable substance called creosote. As these substances pass through the chimney, a substance commonly referred to as soot begins to accumulate on the walls. These gases then escape up the chimney and are released into the atmosphere. As the fire burns, it releases numerous gases which rise, as they are lighter than the surrounding air. How a fireplace worksĪs a fire burns in a fireplace, the air from the room goes through the grate and fuels the fire. The National Association of Chimney Sweeps defines the primary role of the modern chimney sweep as "to aid in the prevention of chimney fires and reduce the risk of dangerous fume emissions from blocked heating appliances, flueways and chimneys." This article seeks to address some frequently asked questions, and to explain how a chimney sweep could help you to maintain a safer, more efficient fireplace. However, the benefits of having a real coal or wood fire in your home must be balanced by dedicating a little time and money to ensuring that your fireplace functions both safely and efficiently. Old-fashioned fireplaces are becoming increasingly coveted, and for good reason: a well restored fireplace can add great character to a room, and, if it is well-maintained, can be an excellent source of heat during the cold winter months. If you are one of the growing number of people who have a functioning coal or wood fire in your home, it might well be in your interests to acquaint yourself with a modern day chimney sweep. This would, however, be a false assumption: chimney sweeps are not the anachronisms most people presume them to be, but thoroughly modern professional tradesmen. However, in a world in which modern conveniences such as central heating have largely replaced the once ubiquitous coal and wood fires used to heat homes, one could easily assume that chimney sweeps no longer exist. Records of people earning their living by clean chimneys go back as far as the 16th century. Chimney sweeping is an ancient profession. When most people think of chimney sweeps, they conjure an image of a soot-covered child in the midst of the Industrial Revolution. ![]()
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