What Does Santa Want for Christmas This Year? A Clean Chimney – Mansion Global

Want to get off Santas naughty list? Clean your chimney.

A sooty flue or a dead raccoon can turn Jolly Old Saint Nick into Mr. Grinch. Regular inspections by a chimney sweep can ensure that a fireplace produces ample heat and vents properly. But more important, proper maintenance reduces the risk of fire and carbon-monoxide poisoning.

This is the busy season for chimney sweeps, especially in North Pole, Alaska. "Theres always a big flurry of calls two weeks before Christmas," says Charlie Whitaker of A Chimney Sweep, a business that serves Fairbanks and North Pole. "All of a sudden people are putting up trees, talking about Santa and they realize, I havent cleaned my chimney. "

Mr. Whitaker, who has been in the business for almost 40 years, expects to service over 100 fireplaces between late September and the end of the year.

Much of the work entails using wire and nylon brushes to clean creosote out of chimneys. The byproduct from burning wood, creosote is highly flammable and creates a high risk of fire. Raccoons in chimneys arent a problem in Alaska, Mr. Whitaker says, but squirrels, birds and other pests are if measures arent taken to cap or cover the chimney. Recently, he was called to a home where a bat entered through an uncapped chimney and became trapped in a sealed gas fireplace.

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One potential hazard commonly overlooked by homeowners is pyrolysis. That is when drywall, wood framing, paneling, cork ceiling tiles and other organic materials located too close to a fireplace break down after prolonged exposure to heat. As a result, the material can ignite, even when there is no flame present.

A dark stain on the wall or ceiling near the chimney is one sign of possible pyrolysis, but many times there is no visible change in appearance. A chimney sweep can identify pyrolysis, as well as faulty flues, dampers, stovepipe and fireboxes.

A lot of chimney sweeps service gas fireplaces as well. These dont get dirty with creosote, but they still require regular maintenance to make sure they are vented with the proper pipe and clear of any obstructions, says Russ Dimmitt, director of education with the Chimney Safety Institute of America, a Plainfield, Ind.-based trade group that represents chimney sweeps.

In addition to the fireplace and flue, an inspection will reveal any issues with brickwork, mortar or other masonry, which can absorb water and deteriorateespecially in areas with freezing temperatures, Mr. Dimmitt says. Acidic deposits eat away at mortar and brick, causing performance issues as well as leaks, mold and staining. As the chimney worsens, fallen pieces can create blockages and cause carbon monoxide problems.

Each year, an average of 19,800 residential fires in the U.S. are blamed on fireplaces, chimneys and chimney connectors, according to an analysis of structural fires by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Those fires cause $127.7 million in property loss, on average, each year, according to the CPSCs examination of residential fires between 2014 and 2016, the latest data available.

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Fewer homes with fireplaces are being built these days. In 1990, 66% of newly constructed homes had one or more fireplaces, according to the Census Bureau. Last year, 44% of new homes had at least one fireplace. A number of factors are fueling the fall, including the extra expense, concerns over energy efficiency and pollution, and local ordinances that ban the use of wood-burning stoves and fireplaces.

Mr. Dimmitt, of the Chimney Safety Institute of America, says newer models of fireplaces and fireplace inserts, which burn wood, natural gas, gel, oil and other fuels, are typically more energy efficient and cleaner burning than older models.

Even though fewer homes include fireplaces, the feature still increases home values. Based on an analysis of all listings since 2017, homes with a fireplace sold for 1.8% more and eight days faster than homes without a fireplace, according to real-estate website Zillow. In all, an estimated 36 million homes in the U.S.or about 29.3%have a fireplace, the Zillow research found.

That keeps chimney sweeps busy during the peak season. "Santa is great for business," says Mr. Whitaker, the chimney sweep in Alaska. Mr. Dimmitt says some chimney sweeps dispatched to a home with small children will, after finishing a job, show a swatch of red fabric to children, saying, "Look what I found in your chimney!"

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What Does Santa Want for Christmas This Year? A Clean Chimney - Mansion Global