Is Your Chimney Making You Sick?

Your fireplace likely brings great joy to your household — especially in the colder, winter months. However, too much of a good thing with little maintenance can potentially lead to some adverse affects. How might this be possible? Read on to learn about the potential causes and what signs to look out for when it’s really bad. 

What is the culprit?

Having fires at home with regular maintenance and precautions should be a safe and comforting activity. The issues occur when maintenance stops or lessens. The dangerous by-product of fires is called creosote. This is a highly flammable and toxic substance and accumulates the more you have fires. Creosote is unhealthy to breathe in in high contents, and if touched directly. It has a tar like consistency and requires special care to remove — likely from an experienced chimney professional. 

Why can’t I just clean my own chimney?

Unfortunately, due to the risks associated with direct exposure to creosote, it’s not something many professionals suggest homeowners do on their own. Rather, it’s best to hire professionals who have the correct equipment and safety procedures to handle the cleaning. If you attempt cleaning yourself, you may put more pollutants into the air or directly touch the build-up.

If you do encounter creosote in limited quantities, you may experience inflammation of your nose, mouth, or throat, rashes, or other minor symptoms. However, long term or extensive exposure could lead to serious illnesses such as cancer. 

What serious symptoms should you be looking out for?

As creosote and build up gets more extreme, it may cause symptoms that are more concerning than if you experienced a brief interaction with it. For example, if homes have neglected creosote build-up for years, the collection of creosote will just continue to build. If this is the case, you may be putting your home at risk of a fire. 

As more fires burn dirty air and toxic fumes, it could risk carbon monoxide poisoning to the home owners and their family. Don’t neglect signs as it is often referred to as the “silent killer.”

The top signs to look out for are:

• Confusion
• Nausea
• Dizziness or loss of consciousness  
• Dull headache
• Blurred vision
• Weakness
• Shortness of breath
• Vomiting

If you or your family members experience some or all these symptoms, do not wait to get care — especially if you suspect it’s creosote-related, because it could be due to carbon monoxide. Call your local chimney professionals today to get started on developing a regular maintenance and cleaning plan. Doing this could potentially alleviate any unwelcomed symptoms. 

Do You Suspect Your Chimney Is Making You Sick? Call Fire N’ Stone

Fire N’ Stone has been the go-to chimney and fireplace contractor in the central New Hampshire area since 1999. Our experienced team offers a full range of services, including inspections, maintenance and chimney sweeping, rebuilding, repairs, custom stonework, and more. We are always more than happy to assist you with any questions pertaining to your fireplace.

Call us today at 603-293-4040 to get started!