A fireplace in your home can be a fantastic, stylish and functional piece. However, they can also pose some safety and health risks if you don't perform some basic upkeep. The chimney or flue is where your fireplace vents the smoke as well as the harmful carbon monoxide gases that it produces. The only one type that this would not be required for is the electric and ventless fireplaces.
The ventless gas or gel burning fireplace has been designed to vent right back in the room so they do not require a chimney or vented duct. They are attractive to many homeowners because of the fact that they can be placed almost anywhere in the house. The only requirement is a gas fuel source. No fuel source is needed if you're using a gel burning fireplace. The potential is there for them to cause a build up of carbon monoxide gas that could be fatal. The technology continues to get better, so they have solved many of the past problems.
With the more traditional wood burning fireplaces, as well as the pellet and wood burning stoves, keeping the chimney or vented duct clear and clean is essential. The wood that your fireplace burns, leaves behind residues and debris that over the course of time can start to affect the air flow. When they build up to much, or build up to fast, the gases and smoke will have no where to go, so they will be released back into your house.
You can't miss the smoke if it starts to flow back into the room, but you can't see or smell the deadly carbon monoxide gases. Once it has reached the proper ratios in the air, carbon monoxide can cause vomiting, light headedness and even death. So take your routine maintenance very seriously to avoid a possible catastrophe.
When you move into a new house with a fireplace, don't always assume that the venting or chimney is working the way it should be. If for some reason maybe the previous owner had to seal it off due to birds nesting, and / or the birds entering the home via the chimney. If this is the case then you'll most likely have to get a professional over to asses the situation. It's always a good idea anyways to get someone that can give your entire fireplace a checkup to be sure that everything is in proper working order.
The ventless gas or gel burning fireplace has been designed to vent right back in the room so they do not require a chimney or vented duct. They are attractive to many homeowners because of the fact that they can be placed almost anywhere in the house. The only requirement is a gas fuel source. No fuel source is needed if you're using a gel burning fireplace. The potential is there for them to cause a build up of carbon monoxide gas that could be fatal. The technology continues to get better, so they have solved many of the past problems.
With the more traditional wood burning fireplaces, as well as the pellet and wood burning stoves, keeping the chimney or vented duct clear and clean is essential. The wood that your fireplace burns, leaves behind residues and debris that over the course of time can start to affect the air flow. When they build up to much, or build up to fast, the gases and smoke will have no where to go, so they will be released back into your house.
You can't miss the smoke if it starts to flow back into the room, but you can't see or smell the deadly carbon monoxide gases. Once it has reached the proper ratios in the air, carbon monoxide can cause vomiting, light headedness and even death. So take your routine maintenance very seriously to avoid a possible catastrophe.
When you move into a new house with a fireplace, don't always assume that the venting or chimney is working the way it should be. If for some reason maybe the previous owner had to seal it off due to birds nesting, and / or the birds entering the home via the chimney. If this is the case then you'll most likely have to get a professional over to asses the situation. It's always a good idea anyways to get someone that can give your entire fireplace a checkup to be sure that everything is in proper working order.
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