Here you can see that on the back wall of this fireplace there was a decent amount of creosote built up, which could be potentially dangerous because mass amounts of creosote are flammable and I would recommend cleaning by a certified chimney sweep is needed.
What I learned from the image I choose was that if a flue connector pipe is near any combustible materials it should be marked as a defect because the heat coming off of it can ignite and burn the house down.
Wood stove hearth on this inspection was 18 inches from the face of the stove to the front edge of the Hearth. Proper distance of it inches or more is needed so hot coals do not fall onto combustible materials.
My essay;
The topic I will be writing on is about chimney flashing.I it is important to inspect the flashing around the entire chimney if possible to make sure the step flashing is properly counter flashed. Counter flashing is sandwiched between the mortar joints and brick and bent over the step flashing.
Creosote build up in a wood burning chimney is a serious, potential dangerous fire hazard. Recommend having your fireplace chimney cleaned, serviced and inspected once a year by a qualified chimney cleaning, servicing company in your area, if the fireplace will be used. Recommend further evaluation of the fireplace flue also because older fireplace flue may, should have stainless steel liners installed. Fireplace chimney crowns needs to be properly sloped and not concrete damaged. Also the chimney cap should have a screen and cap installed to help prevent any small animals and or birds from falling into.
Chimney connectors are important to inspect for proper installation into their wall connections. It is also important that the fireplace distances from an combustible materials is noted and corrected if need to help prevent fire hazard issues. I always recommend any fireplace that I inspect be cleaned, serviced and further inspected by a professional chimney cleaning, serving company in your area prior to the first use by the new homeowner.
the photo i chose was of a rusted out chimney cap, the causing concern due to possible roof leaks and hot ash getting past the ash screen. the cap should either be replace or properly repaired and inspected by a professional chimney sweep.
i chose 10 ways to save energy and money on your home, cooling your home is easier when using ceiling fans to help move air around the roof and moving air feels cooler then non moving air. also when heating a home turning the heater down some and putting clothes on can help save money as well.
The fire extinguisher we are provided within our work trucks are of the class “B” type. I’m so preoccupied with work that I never gave it a thought to check its integrity or to even provide one for our home. I have learned very much as to the significance given to these items of importance and how valuable they can be.
Seen in the picture above is a firebox rear wall from an installed manufactured fireplace. Several cracks were found in this wall panel. The cracks clearly display a loss of material and the panels should be replaced before further use. Cracks through fire box walls can allow super heated gases to escape the firebox and can pose a fire hazard.
This is a photo of a fixed glass, direct vent, gas fireplace. It draws fresh air from outdoors into the combustion chamber and is intended to expel 100% of the combustion exhaust protecting indoor air quality. The pilot light was lit. It was not operated. The control thermostat, gas shut off, and a CO2 detecter were located in same room. It is recommended that a smoke detecter be installed in the same room as the fireplace.
In reading, “What is a Green Home Inspection,” I learned that providing an energy audit as an ancillary service does not require fancy tools and a lot more of the inspectors time. The energy audit is simply confirming the claims of the seller that energy efficient systems are installed at the property.
With over 400,000 fires per year and almost 3000 deaths, the importance of fire safety in a home should not be underestimated. Fire safety can include many different aspects of a home, including the electrical and furnace units. The fireplace and chimney system in a home, if present, needs to be inspected properly and thoroughly before use to insure a safe and comfortable experience for the home owner.
Pictured is a double sided pre-manufactured ventless gas fireplace. All components look to be in good condition. This fireplace is adequate size for the living space it’s in, however not recommended to be on and burning for more than 4 hours at a time. Also recommend to have the burner cleaned and checked annually or more often.
In the article “Chimney Inspection: Preventing Collapse”, I learned how very important it is to make sure a good inspection on a chimney. With a chimney being one of the heaviest structures of a home, its important that any defects in the chimney are noted. If inspecting a home in a seismic region its especially important to do as thorough of an inspection as possible to make sure that the future home owners safety is first.
This chimney had been closed off because it was not being used. The crown had numerous cracks which need to be repaired. We informed the buyer that before using the chimney that it should be cleaned and repaired by a licensed chimney Mason
Fireplace Fuel
Fireplaces and wood stoves are designed to burn only one type of fuel which is wood.The wood should dried and cut to the correct size you should never burn wood that has been pressure treated,painted or has had any kind of chemical applied to the wood. The purpose of these units is not meant to be an incinerator.Wood is the only approved type of fuel
This is a multipurpose fire dry chemical fire extinguisher available for purchase. It is suitable for class A, B, and C. It can be used against most common fires started by trash, wood, common liquids and electrical fires. It has instructions on how to use it and what fires it can be used for on the label.
According to the article entitled “Fire Extinguisher Maintenance and Inspection” by Nick Gromicko and Kenton Shepard Carbon Dioxide fire extinguishers will not leave a toxic or harmful residue and they are more environmentally safe. According to the NFPA, fire extinguishers should be texted every 5 to 12 years.
