As the evenings

become crisper, most of us begin to think of

building a good fire.

A lovely fire makes

a romantic backdrop, the kids love to roast

marshmallows over them, and they're a reliable

source of heat for some families. The atmosphere

simply feels better on a fall evening if there's

a fire burning in the fireplace. However, there

are some points to consider before you build your

first fire this year.

A chimney is one of

the most taken-for-granted parts of a home. It

tends to receive neither the attention nor

concern usually accorded other household service

systems. The fact that a chimney may do the job

reasonably well, even when abused or neglected,

contributes to the atmosphere of indifference.

Chimneys are far

from the passive black holes that most people

assume them to be. They perform several vital

functions; their simple appearance belies their

complex construction and performance

requirements.

The build-up of

creosote in your fireplace, woodstove and chimney

is unavoidable. Creosote is a natural by-product

of the wood burning process. It forms a black and

powdery, flaky or glazed coating on the inside of

your chimney. Creosote is a potential fire

hazard; it's the primary fuel in most chimney

fires.

During a chimney

fire, the outside surface of the chimney can

become hot enough to ignite surrounding walls,

floor joists, rafters, insulation or roofing

materials. Suddenly, you have a structure fire

that can burn the entire house down. Even without

a chimney fire, creosote and soot reduce draft

and diminish the efficiency of your heating

system.

A masonry chimney

is constructed of a variety of masonry and metal

materials, including brick, mortar, concrete,

concrete block stone, stone, flue tile, steel and

cast iron. All masonry chimneys contain

combinations of, or possibly all, of these

materials, most of which are adversely affected

penetration.

Chimney caps, also

called rain covers, are probably the most

inexpensive preventive measure homeowners can

employ to prevent water penetration and damage to

the chimney. Caps have long been recognized as an

important chimney safety and damage prevention

component. Underwriters Laboratories specifies

that any chimney lining system that is to be

listed to their test standards must include a

chimney cap.

To eliminate

creosote build-up, reduce fire hazards and keep

your heating system and fireplace in good

condition, your chimney should be inspected at

least once per year, and cleaned if needed. A

qualified professional, a Chimney Safety

Institute of America Certified Chimney

Sweep™, should perform this inspection.

As cool weather

becomes more regular, business for chimney sweeps

increases, so this is an opportune time to make

the appointment for an inspection. To find a

CSIA-Certified Chimney Sweep™ in your area,

contact the National Chimney Sweep Association,

or check them out on line at homeownersinformation@[email protected] .

Barry Belyeu is

the owner of Chimney Chasers (a division of

Southside Services), and is a CSIA-Certified

Chimney Sweep. The firm is a member of the

Fayette County Chamber of Commerce and both the

National and Georgia chimney sweeps associations.

For information phone Belyeu at 770-463-9794.