Heartland The Artisan Safety Practices, What To Do If You Have a Chimney Fire

can give you good advice on the suitability of an existing chimney.

Masonry chimneys should be checked for deterioration including damaged bricks, crumbling and missing mortar, cracks in the drip cap at the top of the chimney, and loose flashings at the roof line. The liner should be checked for cracks and mis-alignment. It must be at least 6" in size.

An existing factory-built metal chimney needs a careful inspection. Your new cookstove should be connected only to factory-built chimneys approved to ULC Standard S629 in Canada and UL 103HT in the U.S. Possible problems with an older metal chimney can include a warped or buckled liner caused by the heat of a chimney fire, corrosion of the outer shell, a loose flashing, and a lack of proper support. Any discolouration of the metal shell near a joint indicates that the insulation has settled. A damaged metal chimney should be replaced with a new approved chimney which will be safer and will perform better.

Safety Practices

What To Do If You Have a Chimney Fire

1)Close all the combustion air dampers on the appliance.

2)Call the fire department immediately.

3)Be prepared to get everyone out of the house in case the fire spreads

4)Go outside and check to see that hot ashes do not ignite shingles.

5)Watch anything near the chimney that could catch fire and burn.

6)After the fire has run its course and the chimney has cooled, have the chimney thoroughly inspected to determine if it sustained any damage.

7)Resolve to inspect and clean the chimney more often to prevent another chimney fire.

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