At what temperature does a chimney fire start?

A chimney fire can be exciting and light up the night, but it is NEVER a laughing matter. Here's how it happens and why it can threaten your life and your property. Heated wood releases hydrocarbon gases. When these get hot enough (about 1100 degrees F) they mix with air and catch fire.

What temp does creosote ignite?

The Dangers of Creosote

Creosote is highly combustible and is well known for its fire threat in chimneys of wood-burning fireplaces. Creosote's flash point (the lowest temperature at which vapors will ignite when given an ignition source like a spark or flame) is surprisingly low at 165-degrees Fahrenheit.

What percentage of heat goes up the chimney from an open fire?

Putting a Damper on Your Energy Bills

What's more, between 80 and 90 percent of the heat produced by wood burned in an open fireplace is lost up the chimney. This means that for every $100 you spend on firewood, you get only $10 to $20 worth of heat. The rest goes up the chimney.

Can a chimney fire burn your house down?

In the most severe cases, chimney fires can destroy houses and put lives at risk. These tragedies are often preventable: Failure to regularly inspect, repair, and clean a chimney can cause it to malfunction or collect dangerous build-up that puts your family at risk.

At what temperature does creosote condense?

The creosote will condense at any point in the pipe or chimney where the temperature drops below 250oF. Between 150o and 250oF, this condensed creosote deposit is quite fluid.

Does burning a hot fire remove creosote?

One method to loosen crusty or tarry creosote so it flakes off and falls down into the firebox or fireplace is to burn aluminum cans in a very hot fire. While this method works, it does not clean the chimney of creosote completely, and chimney brush cleaning is still necessary.

Does burning potato skins clean chimneys?

Burning the potato peels will not eliminate all soot or creosote buildup, but they will reduce it. A normal and regular chimney cleaning is still needed to keep the fireplace working properly and safely.

What are the first signs of a chimney fire?

Can you have a chimney fire and not know it?

Over 20,000 chimney fires happen on average every year. Despite this, many homeowners don't even realize it until they have a chimney inspection. You may have had one in your home without realizing it.

How do I stop warm air from going up my chimney?

First up is getting a draught excluder: a handy device fitted inside the chimney or around the fireplace, to stop the warm air going up and the cold draughts coming in.

Does an open chimney lose heat?

Open fireplaces will be losing you heat; they help to cool your home. In the past when chimneys were used with fires, the chimney stack would create a draw which naturally caused warm flue gases to flow up the chimney, out through the pots and away.

Do chimneys let cold air in?

A fireplace is a huge source of drafts from the cold outdoors. A chimney can act as a wind tunnel even when the damper is closed, sucking cold air down into your home through the fireplace opening.

How do you keep creosote from building up the chimney?

What dissolves creosote?

Vinegar is a natural acid that will break down the creosote over time. All you have to do is pour vinegar onto the creosote and then wait for it to dissolve. If you want to take a more natural approach, try dissolving the creosote using salt water instead of vinegar or chemical cleaners.

Are chimney fires common?

There are over 25,000 reported chimney fires a year in the U.S. While some sound like a low-flying jet and include flames shooting out the top of the chimney, others are slow-burning and go undetected until a chimney inspection uncovers damage. Chimney fires are dangerous, but they are preventable.

Does burning salt clean a chimney?

Sodium chloride, also known as table salt, is a simple chemical that is easy to find. Put a little salt in the fire while it is burning. The salt combines with the water in the burning wood to create a weak acid that travels up the chimney and dissolves small amounts of creosote.

Where does a chimney fire start?

Where Do Most Chimney Fires Start? Most chimney fires start inside the flue where there's either creosote buildup or a flue blockage of some kind. As heat from the fire reaches these flammable materials, the creosote or blockage ignites, starting a chimney fire.

Can a chimney fire reignite?

Can I relight the fire once the chimney fire is extinguished? You MUST Have the chimney swept before relighting the fire! If you have any concerns that the chimney or flue is damaged ensure that it is inspected by either a qualified chimney sweep, builder or engineer before the fire is relit.

What temperature does a wood burning stove reach?

Not only will you literally burn through your fuel way too fast, but a lot of the heat will escape straight up the chimney. To get the most heat from your wood burning stove, the temperature should be between 260 and 460°C. Any lower than this, your fire will be burning too slow to generate a good amount of heat.

What do you do after a chimney fire?

The first thing you should do after a chimney fire is call a certified chimney sweep. A certified sweep is best equipped to evaluate the damage caused by a chimney fire as well as recommend the necessary repairs that may need to be made.

Do creosote sweeping logs really work?

Many homeowners wonder if the chimney sweep logs or creosote sweeping logs really work to clean out fireplace flues and get rid of creosote residue so that the fireplaces are safe to use. The short answer is no, they don't work.

How do you know if creosote is building?

How do you know if your chimney needs cleaned?

Does burning aluminum cans help with creosote?

Heating the cans causes an increase in heat in a chimney which can help prevent creosote from building up on a clean chimney. However, aluminum oxides are very stable and do not react to high temperature. This means that there will not be much of an impact on built-up creosote.