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31
TROUBLE-SHOOTING
CHIMNEY FIRE
If your stove has been installed
correctly and you have also operated it
correctly and regularly carried out the
recommended routine checks on page
35 then it is unlikely that you will ever
experience a chimney fire, which can be
highly dangerous.
Chimney fires can be detected by an
unusual roaring sound and / or unusual
vibrations coming from the chimney
breast, the stove itself or connecting
flue pipe. The sound is not to be
confused with the gentle ‘rushing’
sound you may normally hear when a
stove has a well performing draught.
You may also see sparks or flames
exiting from the chimney terminal.
• Prevention
If you suspect a chimney fire then
immediately close the Primary and
Secondary air controls, evacuate the
building and call the Fire Brigade.
Never
open the stove door as this will make
the chimney fire worse by providing
additional combustion air. Do not
re-enter the building until you have
been advised by the Fire Brigade that
it is safe.
Do not re-light the stove until the flue
system has been thoroughly inspected
by an approved installer or chimney
sweep and any necessary repairs have
been carried out.
•
Causes: Inadequate cleaning
Chimney fires occur when soot and
creosote have built up to such a level
that they ignite. It is important
therefore that your flue system,
chimney closure (registration) plate
and chimney has as many cleaning
access points as practicable to enable
comprehensive removal of soot,
creosote and other debris from every
point in the system. This will also
minimise the amount of time it takes
for a qualified sweep to clean the
system making the system safer and
its cleaning more cost-effective in the
long run.
•
Causes: Continuous low burning
To discourage the potential for such
soot and creosote build-ups, long
periods of consistent slow or overnight
burning should be avoided or that these
should at least be compensated for by
regular burning on full output for short
periods (eg 30 minutes per day) to help
burn off any likely deposits before they
become problematic.
A good flue temperature thermostat
will indicate the flue gas temperature
which promotes the conditions to
create creosote deposits (around less
than 120Cº) and therefore the
operating temperature to be avoided
and is another good reason why we
strongly recommend the small
investment in this simple to use device.
•
Causes: Poor fuel choice
As
previously mentioned unseasoned or
damp wood or fuel should always be
avoided as these produce excessive soot
and creosote. See page 15