Chimney Safety

Avoiding fires is probably the main cause behind chimney safety, but carbon monoxide poisoning is a very real danger, especially in a chimney that is not clean and allowing the safe passage of smoke from the fire to the outside.

Smoke entering a room and causing increased carbon monoxide levels is extremely dangerous. Chimney safety would require that the chimney is in good repair and is not blocked in anyway. If the flue lining is damaged it my fall into the chimney, impeding the upward flow of smoke, causing it to enter the room making it both unpleasant and dangerous.

Blockages in the chimney are usually flammable. A chimney fire can reach incredibly high temperatures, especially of the creosote and soot built up within the chimney start to burn.

A fire in the chimney can cause structural damage to the building in the immediate vicinity of the fire because of the heat.
The temepratures that a chimney fire generate can cause the surrounding area to be catch alight, and spread quickly.

To read more about cleaning chimneys please read our chimney cleaning page.

Be very careful about the ceiling material around your chimney. We have seen fires started from wooden ceiling boards around chimneys! Also beware of the proximity of wooden rafters and wooden purlins in your roof structure to the chimney. We have also seen these catch alight!

This page was last updated on 19 April 2023.