You may be ready to snuggle up in front of a fire as a cold front hits Atlanta, but there's a hidden danger you may be overlooking.
This week in Fayette County, a family found that out the hard way. Firefighters responded to a blaze in Peachtree City that damaged a house's attic, thanks to an animal that had taken up residence inside the chimney. No one was injured.
Chris Cox, a production supervisor with Chimney Solutions in Alpharetta, tells WSB it is not unusual to find animals making a home inside of your home's chimney, particularly one that is uncapped and easy for them to crawl or fly into.
"Squirrels and even raccoons, and most of the time it's just birds that make nests down inside of the chimney inside of that liner, because it's a nice safe place for them," says Cox. "It's natural that they would want to nest in there."
Cox explains that the obstruction helps build high temperatures that can escalate a fire from a small blaze of leaves or natural nesting materials to a full-scale fire that can damage the house itself if the chimney is very dirty. He also adds that the animal waste from the critters living in the chimney can produce airborne bacteria that can make someone sick.
The National Fire Protection Association recommends that homeowners have chimneys inspected at least once a year, and have them cleaned if necessary. He says both wood-burning and gas fireplace owners need regular checks, but the gas log fireplaces can have inspections every other year, instead of annually. Chimney Solutions blocks out 2.5 hours for a thorough inspection and cleaning; it's about an hour for the inspection alone.
Chimney checks can also find gaps in the liner that helps flue gases, like carbon monoxide, seep into the home, which can be dangerous or even deadly.
Cox says it's not just natural materials that can be found in a chimney. In fact, he's seen almost everything stuck in a chimney but Santa Claus.
"Gosh, I've found everything from ping pong balls and beer bottles all the way up to animals," Cox says. "It's new every day."
Cox says Chimney Solutions recommends that homeowners also keep working carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers nearby and easily accessible.
