how do you tell if your chimney is blocked

Signs of a blocked chimney and its flue liner include:

• An excessive smell of smoke during a fire
• A white residue on the walls of the flue liner
• Water leakage
• Debris falling towards the base of the fireplace

Full Answer

How do you check the chimney flue on a house?

Inspect the chimney flue from the outside of the building and again from the inside of the fireplace. Open the damper, and shine the flashlight and mirror up the walls.

How do you open a chimney from the outside?

Inspect the chimney flue from the outside of the building and again from the inside of the fireplace. Open the damper, and shine the flashlight and mirror up the walls. Insert a broom handle or long stick through the fireplace opening.

What happens if you don’t clean your chimney?

When the chimney is unused, during summertime, for example, soot from a wood-burning fireplace or rust debris from the metal hood of a gas fireplace can amass. The amount of debris can be excessive if the chimney sits unused for a long time.

How to use a chimney mirror to look up?

Open the chimney’s maintenance door. Typically, it is located outside the house, but check your home’s blueprints for the exact location. Place the mirror through the maintenance door, facing upward. With your other hand, shine the flashlight on the mirror. Adjust the angle to allow you to see up into the chimney. 3.

How do you know if a chimney is blocked?

Signs of a blocked chimney and its flue liner include:An excessive smell of smoke during a fire.A white residue on the walls of the flue liner.Water leakage.Debris falling towards the base of the fireplace.

What are the signs that your chimney needs cleaning?

Here are seven tell-tale signs that indicate your chimney or fireplace needs cleaning:Your fireplace smells like a campfire. ... Fires burn oddly. ... It takes more effort to get a fire going and keep it going. ... Smoke fills the room. ... The fireplace damper is black. ... Fireplace walls have oily marks. ... There's evidence of animals.

How do you know if you have creosote build up?

Signs of Creosote Build-UpReduced drafting in fireplace.Less ash and more wood in fireplace after a fire.Black soot in and around fireplace.Very dark smoke from chimney.You can visibly see more than 1/8 of an inch of soot build-up.

What clogs chimneys?

Birds' nests, tree foliage, trash, and other debris can clog your home chimney, making it dangerous to use. Soot and crumbling bricks are also hazardous; if the chimney's flue is not kept clear, your home is at risk every time the heat kicks on.

How long can you go without cleaning a chimney?

It simply depends on the creosote buildup. However, it is recommended that a chimney is cleaned after ever face cord of word, or every two years.

How often does a chimney need sweeping?

HETAS encourage having your chimney swept at least twice a year when burning wood or bituminous house coal and at least once a year when burning smokeless fuels. The best times to have your chimney swept are just before the start of the heating season and after your stove has not been used over a prolonged period.

Will a hot fire get rid of creosote?

Third degree creosote buildup in a chimney. Hot fires kill creosote. If you have little to no creosote built up in your chimney, keep burning your fires hot! If you keep your chimney temperature above 250º F, you are far less likely to have problematic amounts of creosote accumulate between yearly cleanings.

Does a hot fire clean the chimney?

2:023:05Can You Burn Creosote Out of Chimney? | Ask Russ - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo while that flue tiles of ceramic material and designed to operate at high temperatures. When it'sMoreSo while that flue tiles of ceramic material and designed to operate at high temperatures. When it's heated extremely. Rapidly like that when it goes from normal operating temperatures to the 2100.

What does Stage 1 creosote look like?

Stages of Creosote The first stage looks and feels like dust, ash, or coffee-ground like consistency. It's the easiest out of all the three stages to remove from the chimney. In stage two it looks like burnt cornflakes, a very crunch substance. The final stage is stage three which is candle wax, tar-like substance.

Can you unblock a chimney?

Always, always, always unblock from the bottom. Never unblock a chimney from the top. In cases of nesting material there are corkscrew attachments that can be put onto cleaning rods. They actually hook into the nesting material and lift it out.

How do you clear a chimney?

0:308:02How to Sweep a Chimney - Do it Yourself & Save Money - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou just need to remove the baffle plate to do that just remove the bricks that are lining theMoreYou just need to remove the baffle plate to do that just remove the bricks that are lining the inside of the stove. And then carefully remove the baffle plate which was lining the top of your stove.

Can a blocked chimney cause carbon monoxide poisoning?

When your chimney is blocked, there is no airflow to pull toxic gases out of your home. This causes these gases to leak into your house and can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.

What happens if you don't clean your chimney?

If you don't have your chimney cleaned once a year, creosote builds up in your chimney, which can lead to a chimney fire. Also, a dirty chimney can cause toxic, deadly gases such as carbon monoxide to build up that are harmful to inhale.

How do you test a chimney for creosote?

Use your fireplace poker. Scratch the smoke chamber above your damper to see if there is any creosote. Even if the layer of tar seems very thin, it's time to call a chimney sweep ASAP. If you have more than 1/8 of an inch of buildup, do not use the chimney until it is clean.

How often should a wood stove chimney be cleaned?

Most homeowners opt to have a Chimney Cleaning done every year as well, especially if they use their fireplace on a regular basis. Other venting systems connected to furnaces and stoves should also be cleaned on a regular basis to maintain safer operation.

Should I leave my fireplace doors open or closed?

The doors should always be fully open or fully closed. Glass doors should be fully open when starting a fire and when the fire is burning strongly. The glass doors should be closed as the fire dies down to minimize the amount of room air going up the fireplace chimney.

Why It Happens

Blocked chimneys occur for a number of reasons including birds or other animals that enter your chimney. They often enter to nest, so they bring with them nesting materials and place them inside the flue. A hefty buildup of creosote – a natural byproduct of the burning process – can also accumulate and fill the flue.

Warning Signs of a Blocked Chimney

A blocked chimney may be hard to diagnose on your own but there are some telltale signs to watch for. These warning signs include:

How to Fix It

Clearing a blocked chimney is a job best left for a professional. We have the tools necessary to reach and remove the debris clogging the flue. How quickly and easily the chimney is cleared will depend on how compact the blockage is. To prevent clogs in the future, an annual chimney cleaning inspection is recommended.

The Danger of a Blocked Chimney

The purpose of your chimney is to rid your heating appliances or fireplace of harmful byproducts of burned fuel. If a chimney is blocked and unable to perform that duty, danger ensues. A blocked chimney is a threat to your safety because it can cause harmful gases to be pushed back into your home. It can lead to chimney fires as well.

What Can Cause an Obstruction

Obstructions within the flue can be caused by many different things. There are blockages caused by external influences like an animal’s nest, sticks and debris caused by neighboring trees and construction debris (yup, we’ve found it).

What happens when a fireplace is unused?

Feel the heat. When the fireplace is operating, heat and moisture will back up into the home. When the chimney is unused, during summertime, for example, soot from a wood-burning fireplace or rust debris from the metal hood of a gas fireplace can amass. The amount of debris can be excessive if the chimney sits unused for a long time.

Is it hard to see through a chimney?

Chimneys that are not built straight up may be harder or impossible to see through.

Is it dangerous to use a chimney?

Birds’ nests, tree foliage, trash and other debris can clog your home’s chimney, making it dangerous to use. Soot and crumbling bricks are also hazardous; if the chimney’s flue is not kept clean, your home is at risk every time you kindle the fireplace. Your home's structure and age may also play a part in the overall health of its chimney. Determine if there is a blockage in your chimney by looking at it yourself or hiring a professional maintenance company.

What Can Cause Obstruction?

There can be a variety of reasons why your chimney may be blocked ranging from fallen debris, tree limbs, accumulated leaves, animal nests, etc. It could also be due to the formation of soot and creosote inside or the deterioration of the chimney bricks due to lack of maintenance and tuckpointing.

Why You Should Call a Professional for Chimney Concerns

When it comes to fireplace remodel, repair or replacement, it is imperative that you enlist the professional services of a person or company, such as Best Masonry Inc.This is because a contractor is not only capable of performing the work, but also is able to thoroughly inspect and determine exactly what is wrong with your fireplace or masonry and subsequent solutions.

About Chimney Blockage

To identify the causes of chimney clogs, you also need to know the signs to look out for.

i. Causes of Chimney Blockage

For a chimney to be blocked there’ll be one of the following; the collapse of the internal chimney bricks or structure; a significant accumulation of soot and creosote; and the presence of small animals that find your chimney attractive.

ii. Signs of a Blocked Chimney

When a chimney becomes blocked, it begins to malfunction. Now, you may have difficulty pointing what the problem unless you have an understanding of the common signs associated with blocked chimneys.

What causes a chimney to block?

There are three main causes of chimney blockages: An excessive build-up of soot or creosote (tar) Birds, squirrels, or other small animals nesting in the chimney. The collapse of the internal chimney bricks/tiles.

What causes a blockage in a chimney?

What Can Cause an Obstruction? 1 There are three main causes of chimney blockages: 2 An excessive build-up of soot or creosote (tar) 3 Birds, squirrels, or other small animals nesting in the chimney 4 The collapse of the internal chimney bricks/tiles

Why do chimneys shut down?

The purpose of the chimney is to carry the flue gasses and exhaust up and out, so it doesn’t vent into the living spaces. As a safety feature, when the boiler or water heater can’t do that, it shuts down. A chimney is designed to safely and effectively remove dangerous byproducts of burned fuel. When it becomes clogged, it can’t properly perform ...

Why is it important to have a chimney?

A chimney is designed to safely and effectively remove dangerous byproducts of burned fuel. When it becomes clogged, it can’t properly perform this important role. Birds’ nests, tree foliage, trash, and other debris can clog your home chimney, making it dangerous to use.

Is a chimney flue dangerous?

Soot and crumbling bricks are also hazardous; if the chimney’s flue is not kept clear, your home is at risk every time the heat kicks on. Your home’s structure and age may also play a part in the overall health of its chimney. You might think to call the plumber or the heating company, but please read here to know the warning signs ...

How Do You Unblock A Blocked Chimney

A blocked chimney is a disaster and it uses something which is not in your control. It happens due to external factors and debris and which can also easily catch fire. So, you need to unblock it as soon as possible by yourself or by using chimney cleaning services.

What Are The Types Of Blockages?

Small birds and animals hide in the chimney to hibernate for the winter season.