This article discusses if a lined chimney can catch fire. Lining your chimney has many benefits because it improves the safety of your property and your family. On the other hand, a lot of people are wondering if a lined chimney can still catch fire. We will answer this question below.
Can a lined chimney catch fire? A lined chimney can still catch fire, but there is a lower risk that this can happen. A chimney liner that is properly installed can significantly increase the performance and safety of your fireplace and chimney. As a result, fire risk is minimized and there is also lower production of creosote.
If you are worried about the risk of fire that can come from your chimney or fireplace, it is recommended that you install a chimney liner. Nowadays, you can find a wide array of chimney liners available on the market. If you are not sure which one to choose, you can always ask for advice from professionals to help you find and install the best liner for your chimney.
Why is it Important that Chimneys have a Liner?
Chimneys must have a liner because it improves the efficiency of the chimney and increases the safety of the property and the people living there. Without a chimney liner, your property is at high risk for a chimney fire. Aside from that, various health issues can come from unlined chimney liners. When lit a fire, the combustion process produced toxic byproducts.
The toxic byproducts such as carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and other irritant gases can leak through the chimney and into your home. Moreover, creosote can also permeate saturate the joints of the chimney which can cause a fire. To prevent the risk of fire, and health issues, and to prolong the life of the chimney, you should install a liner.
What to Know About Chimney Fires?
The two types of fires that can occur in your chimney are free-burning and slow-burning fires. Moreover, chimney fires can reach a temperature of about two thousand degrees Fahrenheit. Hence, even pre-fabricated chimneys that are made to endure high temperatures can still be affected and damaged by the fire.
Free Burning Fires
This type of fire is easy to detect because of obvious signs. You will hear a roar that resembles the sound of a train which is then followed by smoke and flames spewing out of your chimney. This is also a dangerous type of fire that can happen.
Slow Burning Fires
This type of chimney fire is more dangerous and destructive. It does not produce any sound and the fire will burn quietly at high temperatures for a long time. The high temperature that is produced by a slow-burning fire can create serious damage to your chimney and your property.
What is the Common Cause of a Chimney Fire?
Creosote buildup is one of the common causes of a chimney fire. Creosote is highly flammable. Creosote can stick into the walls inside the chimney so you must have your chimney cleaned regularly to avoid buildup. Bear in mind that creosote buildup makes it easier for the chimney to catch fire. Moreover, creosote buildup can ignite if exposed to certain levels of oxygen and temperature inside the chimney. The good thing is that a fire will not burn quickly if there is less creosote buildup on the chimney. Still, it is best to have your chimney inspected and cleaned regularly. Schedule an inspection with a professional chimney sweep.
How Do You Prevent a Chimney Fire?
To effectively prevent a chimney fire, there are different ways that you can do which include getting your chimney cleaned, preventing creosote buildup, covering the fireplace, and safely disposing of the ashes. Find out more about these ways below.
Clean Your Chimney
If you have a clean chimney, there is less chance for a fire to occur. Talk to your local chimney sweep and create a schedule for the inspection and cleaning of your chimney.
Avoid Creosote Buildup
Creosote buildup is a common cause of chimney fire and should be avoided. When you burn fuel in the fireplace, it creates byproducts like smoke, gases, hydrocarbon, tar fog, and other minerals. If there is condensation inside the walls of your chimney, it can lead to a sticky residue which is creosote. Make sure to clean your chimney to avoid creosote buildup.
Cover the Fireplace
A chimney fire can also start from the fireplace. If you have a wood-burning fireplace, make sure to cover it when it is in use to prevent sparks from jumping out and landing on the carpet or other combustible materials. Many fireplace covers are sold on the market.
Do not Leave Fireplace Unattended
Make sure to put out the fire before you leave the room. Some people would leave the fire overnight to maintain a comfortable temperature inside the house. On the other hand, this is dangerous and can cause a chimney fire. We have also shared this article titled, how much heat is lost through a chimney? You can check out the article for more tips and information.
Clean the Ashes Properly
Do not let the ash accumulate inside the fireplace. Clean it regularly. Keep the ashes in a metal container that has a lid and place it away from the fireplace. Dispose of the ashes properly.
✅ Video – How to Reduce the Risk of a Chimney Fire
Deco Bliss shared the video below on YouTube. It discusses how to reduce the risk-off a chimney fire. Chimney fires are dangerous that is why you need to follow measures to prevent them. Watch the video below for more tips and information.
How a Fire Can Cause Damage to Different Types of Chimneys?
The amount of damage that a fire can cause to a chimney will have to depend on the size of the fire and the type of chimney. Let us find out more about this below.
Prefabricated Metal Chimneys
Prefabricated metal chimneys are usually made to provide ventilation for wood-burning stoves as well as prefab metal fireplaces. Before they are installed into a house, they need to pass various tests to prove their safety and efficiency. They can handle temperatures of up to two thousand one hundred degrees Fahrenheit. On the other hand, they can still get damaged in a chimney fire. The downside is that when they are damaged, they need to be replaced completely.
Woodstoves
Woodstoves are specifically built to enclose hot fires. On the other hand, there is still a risk in using them because the pipes that connect the stove to the chimney are vulnerable to fire. The pipes will twist, buckle, and separate from the appliance and the chimney when exposed to high temperatures in case a chimney fire happens. If the pipe separates, the fire can transfer to other areas of the house.
Masonry Chimneys
Masonry chimneys are vulnerable to chimney fires. Exposure to high temperatures of fire can cause damage to the mortar, and tiles, of the chimney and eventually cause liners to collapse. This can damage the outer masonry material of the chimney. When the chimney is damaged, the flames can travel and reach other combustible parts of the home and can cause the fire to spread faster. You can also read this article that discusses why some chimneys are so tall. We have shared helpful information that you can refer to.
A Chimney Fire Starts at What Temperature?
Most chimney fire starts from the ignition of creosote. Creosote can ignite at around four hundred fifty-one degrees Fahrenheit. Take note that the fires in fireplaces can reach temperatures of more than four hundred fifty degrees Fahrenheit. The fire can reach the creosote on the chimney and make it burn. Moreover, a chimney fire can burn up to two thousand degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature can break clay flue tiles as well as melt metal flue liners. This is the reason why a chimney fire is very dangerous and can consume a house in a little time.
Why are Chimney Fires so Dangerous?
Chimney fires are dangerous for many reasons. It can damage the structure of the chimney and can result in the fire spreading into your home. If you have a chimney that is made from masonry, it cannot withstand high levels of heat so mortar and brickwork will easily get damaged. As a result, flames, smoke, and dangerous fumes can enter your home. You can also check out this article that discusses what modern chimneys are made of. We have shared an in-depth discussion about the topic.
Conclusion
You have reached the end of this article that discusses if a lined chimney can catch fire. We have found out that lining your chimney will help prevent fire. Moreover, we have discussed above the common causes of a chimney fire and how they can be prevented. Make sure that you properly use your fireplace to prevent a chimney fire. Thank you for reading!