How do I know if my wood burning fireplace is safe to use?

5 Easy Steps to Make Sure Your Fireplace Is Safe

1. #1 Examine the Firebox. Look for any cracks, gaps, or signs of wear in the lining of the firebox (the interior of the fireplace).
2. #2 Look for Telltale Smoke Stains.
3. #3 Make Sure Your Grate Is the Right Size.
4. #4 Check the Chimney.
5. #5 Double-Check Your Fire Extinguisher.

Can a wood burning fireplace make you sick?

Burning wood in your fireplace all winter may feel cozy and keep you warm, but smoke from those fires can also cause health problems. Wood fires release tiny particles that get into the lungs and can harm people with underlying health conditions. This can affect the lungs and the heart as well.

Can you get carbon monoxide poisoning from a wood fireplace?

CO is one of several products from the combustion process. It’s also the most dangerous and deadly. The direct answer to the question above is: yes. Your gas, pellet or wood burning stove, insert or fireplace will produce carbon monoxide.

How do you know if your chimney is blocked?

Signs of a blocked chimney and its flue liner include:

1. An excessive smell of smoke during a fire.
2. A white residue on the walls of the flue liner.
3. Water leakage.
4. Debris falling towards the base of the fireplace.

How do I know if my chimney needs cleaning?

Here are our top 9 Signs that Your Chimney Needs to Be Cleaned:

1. Oily Spots on the Walls of Your Fireplace.
2. Poorly Burning Fires.
3. Odors Coming from the Fireplace.
4. Animals are Inside Your Chimney.
5. Smoke Doesn’t Rise Up the Chimney.
6. Fires are Difficult to Get Started.
7. Chimney Soot is Falling from the Chimney.

Do you need carbon monoxide detector for wood burning fireplace?

Carbon monoxide is a concern with any appliance where combustion is present especially wood burning stoves so installing carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home is highly recommended.

Is wood-burning toxic?

Although the image of a log fire is often associated with the holidays, romance and cozy nights inside shielded from plummeting temperatures, experts say wood-burning appliances are a threat to lung and heart health. They emit harmful air pollutants and fine particles that can enter the lungs and bloodstream.

Is Breathing fireplace smoke bad?

Over a long period, inhaling wood smoke can cause chronic lung disease and cancer. Over a short period, it can cause headaches and irritations in your eyes, sinuses, lungs, and throat. It can also generate reduced lung function, more severe symptoms of existing lung diseases, and increase the risk of a heart attack.

Should you open a window when you have a fire in the fireplace?

Open a window when using the fireplace to prevent the room from becoming smoky. The window needs to be open only a few inches. You can check to make sure the smoke will go up the chimney properly by lighting a match, quickly blowing it out and watching the smoke to see whether it’s going up and out.

Can fireplace smoke be harmful?

“Exposure to wood-burning smoke can cause asthma attacks and bronchitis and also can aggravate heart and lung disease.” In addition to the fireplace smoke that can be released inside the home, research has shown that up to 70\% of smoke released via the chimney re-enters your home.