It might seem that a chimney fire taking place is highly unlikely knowing that most chimneys are properly insulated and seem very detached from the entire house. The truth is a chimney fire can easily be caught, sometimes with little or no warning at all. And the worst that could happen is having your house burned down by an indoor fire gone wild. This is a very dangerous situation that might take place into your very homes just because of the presence of indoor fireplaces.

It’s a good thing though, that with just a little amount of work, a chimney fire can be prevented, putting your house and the surrounding area safe. But in order to prevent such an indoor fireplace mishap, one must understand first what actually causes it. Every time wood is burned, it produces smoke, which rises up to the chimney and leaves the house into the outside air . Yet, though smoke is gaseous, it sometimes doesn’t remain in that form for long, because it cools quickly and condenses to the chimney interior and then mix with indoor air. As it condenses, the particles in the smoke bond together to form a flaky or gummy substance on the inside of the chimney. It is this substance, creosote, which causes a chimney fire.

Creosote can be pretty flammable. A single spark in the wrong conditions may start a chimney fire immediately. Especially during high-wind situations where an updraft is formed, sparks can be pulled up through the chimney, and if they ignite the creosote, it can be very difficult to put out the resulting fire. It is in keeping creosote levels low that accidents cased by operating indoor fireplaces are avoided, and thankfully it is relatively easy to keep the inside of your chimney clean which you can do from the inside of your indoor fireplace opening.

Green or unseasoned firewood is the main cause of creosote build-up so the most immediate means to reduce the possibilities of a chimney fire is to make sure to use well-cured woods. Green Wood burns much cooler than seasoned wood, and as a result the smoke is more likely to condense on the inside of the chimney which can cause indoor air hazards and creosote buildup. If you buy wood, always make sure to buy seasoned firewood, even if green wood is a bit cheaper. If you cut your own wood, make sure to do so with plenty of time to let it properly season before you need to use it to fuel your indoor fireplaces.

Building the hottest fires can also help reduce creosote buildup thus the chances of chimney fire as well. Some level of creosote buildup is inevitable, and there are two huge things you can do to further reduce the risk of a chimney fire. The first is to never burn anything that can easily catch on fire and then be pulled up from indoor fireplaces hearth then out to the chimney on a hot air current while on fire. Tissues and wrapping paper are two good examples of dangerous items to put in indoor fireplaces, as they can act as an easy transport vehicle for the flame into the chimney. The second, and perhaps most important step you can take is to have your chimney regularly cleaned by a chimney sweep, especially before the winter season when the use of indoor fireplaces is most significant.

A professional chimney sweep can virtually take away all of the creosote buildup in the chimney and could give you advises in how to keep you chimneys clean and thus your indoor fireplace operation efficient.