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August 30, 2011, Plainfield, IN – Though the immediate threat of Hurricane Irene is past, millions of homeowners in the Northeast will deal with water and wind damage for weeks, if not months, to come. The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) offers these simple steps to help ensure safer home heating after the storm:Recognize Fireplaces and Furnaces as Major Appliances: Floors can become weakened, insulation can become sodden and metal rusts when water soaks a home. Consider replacement of your furnace and fireplace when replacing your kitchen appliances. Given that autumn’s cooler weather is still a few weeks away, you likely will not need to replace your home heating appliances immediately. However, prior to using your fireplace, woodstove or furnace for the first time this home heating season, CSIA recommends a professional chimney inspection by a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep to ensure that your furnace and fireplace have not suffered water damage which would prevent the safe and efficient use of these home heating appliances.Replace Gas Logs: Fireplaces that are fitted to burn gas logs pose one of the most dangerous problems because small pieces of debris and/or damage to the gas control valve might not be obvious until the risk of blockage and rapid deterioration of the components become an issue.Replace Damaged Appliances: Any electrical wiring or fans associated with your fireplace or furnace’s operation must also be replaced if they have become water-logged. Just like your kitchen’s refrigerator and stove, your home heating appliances need to be inspected and potentially replaced, depending on the level of water damage.Chimney inspections and preventative chimney maintenance is best left to a qualified chimney professional, like a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep. Find a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep and learn more about caring for your chimney and home heating system online at www.CSIA.org.CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps have earned the chimney and venting industry's most respected credential by passing an intensive examination based on fire codes, clearances and standards for the construction and maintenance of chimney and venting systems. They are also well versed in the characteristics of fuels available for home heating such as wood, gas and oil. This knowledge allows them to expertly diagnose and solve chimney and venting problems. # # #The Chimney Safety Institute of America is a non-profit, educational organization dedicated to chimney and venting system safety. CSIA is committed to the elimination of residential chimney fires, carbon monoxide intrusion and other chimney-related hazards that result in the loss of lives and property. To achieve these goals, CSIA devotes its resources to educating the public, chimney and venting professionals and other fire prevention specialists about the prevention and correction of chimney and venting system hazards.
# # #The Chimney Safety Institute of America is a non-profit, educational organization dedicated to chimney and venting system safety. CSIA is committed to the elimination of residential chimney fires, carbon monoxide intrusion and other chimney-related hazards that result in the loss of lives and property. To achieve these goals, CSIA devotes its resources to educating the public, chimney and venting professionals and other fire prevention specialists about the prevention and correction of chimney and venting system hazards.