Nests, debris or blockages of any kind in and around your chimney or flue are dangerous.

It is not uncommon to also find birds' nests inside the metal decorative surrounds that cover the chimney pipes, which come through the roof. These blockages can keep your system from working properly and can cause smoking problems, chimney fires and even carbon monoxide poisoning.

A common misconception by homeowners is that fireplaces, chimneys or flues need to be inspected and cleaned only if they are wood burning.  This is however untrue. Because the chimney is part of a home's ventilation system, it needs to be able to effectively remove the gases produced by a home's heating systems.

One of the gases of utmost concern is carbon monoxide, which is produced by gas hot water heaters, gas and oil furnaces, fireplaces, and wood stoves. With chimneys, fireplaces and furnaces, most carbon monoxide problems occur because of the improper exhausting of fumes. As well as an inspection, cleaning and repair of these home-heating systems, a homeowner should also consider installing a carbon monoxide detector.

Another potential hazard and one of the main culprits of chimney fires is the accum-ulation of creosote. This tar-like substance can build-up in a chimney and ignite, causing a fire. Excessive creosote build-up can be caused by restricted air supply, the burning of unseasoned wood, or a partially closed damper. The longer it takes for smoke to move up the flue, the more likely creosote will form. Just a quarter-inch of creosote build-up can be a fire hazard. Since these systems are not designed to handle the extremely high temperatures generated by chimney fires, they can actually warp metal chimneys and crack the fire clay liner in masonry chimneys.

If a crack or hole in the flue isn't repaired or goes unnoticed, sparks generated by a fire could go through the openings and into an attic or wood framework surrounding the chimney and cause a house fire.

Homeowners should consider making the inspection of their fireplace, chimney and flue a part of their annual, fall home improvement and safety regime, so that this heating system is ready to function safely and properly for the upcoming winter.

It is important to remember that gas fire-places also need an annual maintenance and safety inspection which should include checking for carbon-dioxide leaks, ensuring proper log position, replacing ember bed material and touching up the interior firebox paint.  The glass, firebox, heat exchanger and air intake areas should be cleaned, and all settings and connections should be checked and verified.

It is important to choose a qualified professional for the job and to ensure that the person is credible. You may wish to confirm that they have no unresolved claims with the local BBB and that they carry a valid business liability insurance policy to protect your home and furnishings against accidents.

Condominium owners should consult their by-laws to determine what maintenance and repairs are their responsibility and which, are the responsibility of the Corporation. Check with your Board of Directors, as often times as a cost saving measure, corporations will schedule fireplace and chimney inspections for the Corporation as a whole, even though the individual cost for each unit is borne by the unit owner. In some instances, insurance companies may require this maintenance item to be undertaken for the security of the Corporation as a whole, as well as for the safety of all of it's owners and residents.  CL