Heating Safety

The following are some general safety tips when using home heating systems, chimneys, stoves and other heating appliances.

1. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for installing and maintaining your chimney or appliance. If you do not have instructions, call the manufacturer. For masonry chimneys, call the builder. 
2. Inspect and clean your chimney regularly. The Ontario Fire Code requires homeowners to maintain the safety of their chimneys and inspect them at least once a year. 
3. Check stovepipes and connections. Ensure screws are located at every joint. Look for leaching (dark staining or white powder) at every joint as this could be a sign of chimney trouble. 
4. Check chimney and flue pipes often for creosote, a chemical by-product produced when wood or coal burns incompletely. Creosote can form quickly and is a major cause of chimney fires. Never let creosote or soot build up. 
5. Check walls for excessive heat. If a wall is very hot, it could be a sign of improper installation of the chimney or stove pipe. 
6. Install a rain cap on top of all metal and masonry chimneys. If you have a spark screen around the chimney cap, inspect it regularly for blockage.
7. Watch for smoke coming into the room. Smoke could indicate a blockage in the chimney or a faulty damper control mechanism.
8. Protect floors and walls from heat and sparks. Keep combustibles safely away from appliances. Always use a properly fitting screen for your fireplace.
9. Regularly check your heating appliance, flue pipes and chimney for problems. Look for corrosion or rust stains on the outer shell of a metal chimney and check for bulges or corrosion in its liner. Loose bricks, crumbling mortar, broken liners, dark stains or white powder indicate problems with masonry chimneys. These should be fixed immediately by a qualified mason.

If you suspect your chimney or stovepipe has a problem, consult a Wood Energy Technical Training (WETT) certified chimney sweep.