Wood Burning Stove And Fireplace Safety

Wood burning stoves and fireplaces are found in a great many homes. As a working home inspector in the Pacific Northwest, where we have lots of available firewood, I can honestly say that, more often than not, there is some glaring problem that makes these devices unsafe and in need of professional service.
The issues range from heavy deposits of creosote (in the flue, the stove or the fireplace) to broken firebricks, bad gaskets at doors, cracks, insufficient clearances to combustibles such as walls, or a hearth that is too short. A hearth should extend out 18" from the door opening. At many units I inspect, probably at least half of them, the hearth is short. It might go out 9" and then there is a flammable carpet or a wood floor. I can tell you, from experience, that those surfaces are often charred from prior close calls and glowing embers. The client can buy a fireproof mat to put down, or extend the hearth out farther.
When safety issues are found with these devices, a home inspector should defer the system to a professional chimney sweep or other professional. In fact, the National Fire Protection Association has stated that a Level 2 chimney inspection should be part of every sale or transfer of property. A Level 2 inspection is an in-depth inspection by a specially trained and licensed chimney professional. Any fireplace or stove and the flue, and all associated components, are carefully analyzed for safety and performance.
As an inspector, who sees lots of these devices, I think that this is sound advice. Fire safety is too important to ignore!
Steven L. Smith, owner of King of the House, Inc home inspection is a licensed structural pest inspector and a certified home inspector in Bellingham WA. Smith is the program coordinator for the college level home inspection training program at Bellingham Technical College.
www.kingofthehouse.com
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