Clean Sweeps of Michigan's Blog

What the Cold Winter Can Do to Your Chimney

As the temperatures outside drop, we use our fireplaces and stoves to heat our homes and keep us and our families warm and comfortable. But while our fireplaces are keeping us cozy inside, the harsh winter weather may be damaging our chimneys outside.

The cold, snow, and ice during winter can create chimney problems, as well as exacerbate any existing issues. Below we’ve listed several ways that winter affects your chimney system along with ways you can prevent them from happening.

Water damage

Although water damage can affect chimneys any time of year, it is often the worst during the winter months. If water is able to enter the chimney, it can damage everything from the bricks and mortar all the way down to the flue and damper. Additionally, finding the source of the leak can be difficult as most chimneys are complex structures.

The most common – and most damaging – source of water entry is through the bricks and mortar of the chimney structure. Even the smallest cracks can allow water to be absorbed into the masonry. As this water freezes it expands, causing the crack to get larger and allowing more water in. This freeze/thaw cycle continues indefinitely, causing significant damage to the chimney structure. In extreme cases, it can even cause the bricks to crumble and fall apart.

The best way to protect against water damage is to prevent it. Regular maintenance and inspections of your chimney will let you know if there is any existing damage; repairing damage quickly prevents it from getting worse.

Animal entry

Just like people tend to stay indoors during the winter, many animals also seek out a warm place to hide as the temperatures drop. This may lead to birds, raccoons, or other small mammals attempting to nest in your chimney structure. This is extremely dangerous for both the animals and homeowners. For animals, once they get in they may not be able to get back out. Chimneys have slick walls that are impossible for most animals to climb; likewise, the dark chimney structure is often difficult to navigate. For homeowners, animals in the chimney leave a fireplace or stove unusable until the animals and their nesting materials have been removed.

Most commonly, animals are able to enter a chimney structure through a chimney with a damaged or missing chimney cap. Having your chimney swept and inspected annually is one way to ensure that there is no damage to your chimney cap – and no way for animals to get in.

The Stack Effect

The Stack Effect is caused by a difference in air pressure inside and outside a home. Warm air from inside your home can rise up your chimney, causing the cold outside air to rush in to replace it. Called a backdraft, it can even negate the heating effects of the fireplace itself if too much cold air is allowed to enter.

The easiest way to prevent backdrafts is to keep your damper closed when the fireplace is not in use. If you notice that cold air still seems to be seeping in, your damper may have lost its seal. Dampers should be professionally installed to ensure a tight seal that will keep hot air in and cold air out.

If you have questions about the health of your chimney system, contact Clean Sweeps of Michigan today!

Wood Stove Ash Removal Safety

Wood stoves make a beautiful addition to any room or home, providing heat, warmth, and comfort during the winter and throughout the year. Unfortunately, the use of this wood burning appliance is accompanied by the difficult and oftentimes dirty chore of removing ashes.

Ashes are a natural byproduct of all wood burning stoves, regardless of their efficiency. Although ashes may seem more like a nuisance than a serious problem, failing to remove them or disposing of them incorrectly can negatively impact the effectiveness of your wood stove and create a safety hazard.

Are ashes dangerous?

Although ashes are not inherently dangerous, improperly disposing of them can create a fire hazard. The primary risk when dealing with ashes is the re-ignition of coals or embers. When surrounded or cushioned by ash, these coals remain dormant. However, if the embers are exposed to oxygen again – such as when the ashes are being moved or their storage container is disturbed – they can reignite, causing anything combustible in the vicinity to also catch fire.

According to forestry officials, “Wood ashes retain enough heat to ignite other combustible materials for several days.” Because of this, even “cold” ashes should be treated with caution.

Improper disposal methods

Some of the most common methods of ash disposal are also the most dangerous. First, even ashes thought to be completely cold should never be placed into a regular trashcan or dumpster. Likewise, they should not be collected or stored in combustible containers such as paper bags or cardboard boxes. Ashes should also never be dumped directly onto the ground, as any embers or coals could ignite nearby leaves, twigs, or branches. If metal ash containers have become rusted, damaged, or weak, they should not be used to store ashes and should be replaced.

While vacuuming cold ashes directly out of the stove may seem like a cleaner, more efficient way to dispose of them, this can actually create a large mess or impact the air quality in the home. When vacuumed, the ash can quickly turn into fine particulate dust, covering interior furnishings and hanging in the air. Even vacuums with HEPA filters cannot prevent ash from becoming airborne, and should also not be used.

How to properly dispose of ashes

The first step in removing ashes is to first make sure there are no remaining hot coals or embers. This can be done by letting a fire natural extinguish itself overnight, moving the ashes while they are in the stove to eliminate any hot spots. It is important that the flue remain open during this process to prevent any backup of smoke or gas into the home.

Once the ashes have been completely cooled, they can be removed from the stove. Using an ash trap, shovel and bucket, or the stoves ash pan, transfer ashes to a designated metal storage container with a tight fitting metal lid. Ash containers should be kept away from any combustible materials, and should not be stored in garages or near homes, sheds, or woodpiles.

Ash can also be used in a number of alternative methods, such as garden fertilizer, natural slug repellant, a way to prevent slipping on icy sidewalks and driveways, and even as an ingredient in soap. If you have questions about how ash affects the effectiveness or efficiency of your wood burning stove, contact Clean Sweeps today!