Fireplaces and Chimneys

<It only takes a spark...- This homeowner "remodeled the house themselves"! (scary thought). They trimmed the fireplace out with real teak wood, (shown above in light brown). What's not to like about this?

Answer- The teak wood is too close (even overlaping into the firebox area) and they trimmed the INSIDE of the firebox with wood also along the sides (the section between the marble tile and the firebrick) that they painted black (the white marks are tile grout residue). Just one roaring fire, and the "nice woodwork" becomes nice kindling for a much bigger fire. A minimum of 12" clearance from the outward facing edges of the firebox is needed, not inside the firebox opening!

<It's for the Birds- The builder made some nice clearance between the wood and the metal furnace flue, but a bird built a nest around the flue (maybe to stay warm). Single wall flues require 3" clearance to all combustible materials and double walled (B-type) vents require 1" clearance.  This would be considered a fire concern.

<Copper supply pipe- The supply pipe is copper, which is a softer metal than iron or steel and has a lower melt point.  This might be okay in a gas log fireplace, but as you can see, this fireplace is for wood logs that can (and have) burned up against the copper pipe.  Could lead to a big unpleasant surprise some romantic evening.

<Too close for comfort- This free standing fireplace flue is too close to the wood siding and roof shingles of the home.  A distance of ten feet in diameter is required from the top of the chimney.  This also would be considered a fire concern.

<But Daddy, how's Santa supposed to get in?!- This is a photo of a gas burning fireplace damper and flue.  The gas was on to the fireplace.  All someone needed to do was turn it on, light the gas and wha-la.  Considered a fire hazard as combustible materials (duct tape) are not permitted inside the fireplace flue.

Home Check's Creosote buildup levels:

Level 1- a dusting of black or grey soot, but is still useable.

<Level 2- (pictured) a moderate caking up of the soot with some glazing. Cleaning is strongly recommended before use.

V Level 3- heavy caking up of creosote, a fireplace with level three should not be used until cleaned & reinspected. Photo left notice the gap along the bottom of the picture.  The back of the firebox had become bowed from the heat and combustible materials were exposed.  Parts of this firebox will need to be replaced. Photo right shows heavy buildup in the back of the chimney throat, or smoke ledge.  Considered an fire hazard.

<No Stop Sign-  Here's one that some inspectors might miss.  This chimney does not have a fire stop (not fireblocked).  This chase can be a chimney of it's own.  Materials could fall against the chimney (and often do over time), or the chimney could move out of place (because it is not supported) and touch a combustible material.

<Umm, Cozy! 

This nice wood burning stove is inches from wood framing and drywall.  The homeowner put glue-on faux brick to dress it up (probably thinking that the fake brick would shield the heat), but you probably know better than that.  Without a proper heat shield (which this is not!)clearance of FOUR feet is required between the stove and any combustible materials. When I asked the homeowner why he put up the brick behind the stove, he said "because the wall was getting brown and gross".  (gee, the think?)

<Rain cap/Spark screen needed- It is common for the chimney cap to crack and deteriorate as this one is starting to do.  The lack of chimney spark screens and rain cap could allow for sparks to rise up the chimney and onto a the roof.  Rain can also deteriorate the base of a chimney, causing it to become unstable.  Rain can also enter the furnace and water heater this way and rust out components.

V The Left photo shows a wood burning fireplace chimney that has a spark screen (although improper because debris could land on it or creosote could clog up the screen holes), but no rain cap.  As a result the right photo shows a rusted out damper and deteriorated firebrick, not to mention a damaged smoke ledge (chimney throat) out of view.

<Cap it off- This rusted fireplace flue damper is the result of not having a rain cap on top of the chimney.  We have found brick chimneys with deteriorate bases and also chimney's that have sunk more than a inch because water has come down the chimney and deteriorated the brick at the bottom of the chimney.  Rain caps with spark screens are recommended for every kind of fireplace.  Rain caps also keep out animals.  We have found groups of bats, squirels and birds inside fireplace flues up against the damper.

>I've got a crush- The chimney tile has collapsed inside the chimney, which is why the flue pipe was abandoned.  Falling debris can cause obstructions in furnace and fireplace flues.  Part of this chimney may need to be rebuilt.

All of the concerns above are repairable. Although it may not have effected the buying decision, all our clients really appreciated just knowing about these concerns.  We realize you have a choice in home inspectors, we hope you make a wise choice in hiring Home Check America.  Because your peace of mind matters.