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Expert: - 1/7/2006


Question
I have two questions:

1)I just had my chimney cleaned 2 weeks ago in my recently purchased house. Both the chimney sweep and also the house inspector we hired before we bought the house specifically told my wife and I that the flue was open in one particular position and closed in another position. A day after the cleaning and twice filling the house with smoke by our attempts to light a fire, it became clear that the two individuals were very wrong about which way the flue was open...So since the chimney was just cleaned, how dirty do you think the chimney became after these two very smokey attempts?

2)Being my first house and first fireplace, I know little about the basics other than what I'm finding on the internet. Last night I saw a glowing ember or two fly out of the chimney top outside. With the recent warmer weather and burn bans going on in our area, I just wanted to make sure if that is normal (i.e. what's the likelihood of one of those embers falling lit upon my roof and starting a fire)?

Thanks for your help.

Answer
Hi Matt,

1) Not very.

2) Not very - but anything is possible.  Make sure the chimney top has a spark arrestor/bird guard installed.  Usually that's a sort of mesh or diamond-shaped material integral to the cap.

That was easy, wasn't it?  :-)

I would suggest the next time you hire a chimney sweep you visit www.csia.org to find a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep in your area.  Most of the time, you'll find that these guys are the cream of the crop in that industry adn those mistakes won't be made.  Each CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep has an INDIVIDUAL certification badge - companies aren't certified, individuals are.

Remember, the National Fire Protection Association recommends an annual inspection of chimneys and then cleaning as necessary.

Thanks for using AllExperts.Com and good luck with your new home!

Sincerely,
A. Bart Ogden, President
Home Safe Hearth & Chimney
Wichita, KS
www.homesafeks.com

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Bart Ogden

Expertise

I can answer questions related to chimney and fireplace cleaning, construction and repair as well as questions related to the performance of chimneys and fireplaces. I can also answer questions related to clothes dryer vent cleaning and repair. Additionally, I can field questions related to masonry repair.

Experience


Experience in the area:
28 years experience in the chimney service/installation/repair field
President, Home Safe Hearth & Chimney, Inc. Wichita, Kansas

Professional Organizations:
Member, National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG)
Member, Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA)
Member, Kansas Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps (KGPCS)
Member, Midwest Chimney Safety Council (MCSC)
Member, Kansas Association of Real Estate Inspectors (KAREI)
Past At-Large Director of the National Chimney Sweep Guild
Past At-Large Director of the Chimney Safety Institute of America
Past Secretary, National Chimney Sweep Guild
Past Secretary, Chimney Safety Institute of America
Member, National Chimney Sweep Guild Technical Advisory Council
Member, Chimney Safety Institute of America Certification Committee
Past Chairman, CSIA Chimney Safety Education Brochures Committee
Past Chairman, NCSG Nomination Committee

Publications:
SWEEPING Magazine, The Journal of Chimney & Venting Technoloty, A Publication of the National Chimney Sweep Guild
SNEWS, The Chimney Sweep News
THE KANSAS SWEEP, The Voice of the KS Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps

Education/Credentials:
BA, Wichita State University
C.S.I.A. Certified Chimney Sweep
C.S.I.A. Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician
N.F.I. Woodburning Specialist
N.F.I. Gas Specialist
Chimney Diagnosis & Documentation Seminar
Ahren's Masonry Restoration School Graduate
Advanced Gas Certification
Master Gas Certification
Licensed Mechanical Contractor
Pellet Appliance Specialist
Venting Design Specialist
Dale Carnegie Course Graduate

Awards and Honors:
Superior Dealer Award, Ventinox Chimney Lining Systems

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