By BARRY BELYEU
Special to The Citizen

As the evenings become crisper, most of us begin to think of building a good fire.

A lovely fire makes a romantic backdrop, the kids love to roast marshmallows over them, and they're a reliable source of heat for some families. The atmosphere simply feels better on a fall evening if there's a fire burning in the fireplace. However, there are some points to consider before you build your first fire this year.

A chimney is one of the most taken-for-granted parts of a home. It tends to receive neither the attention nor concern usually accorded other household service systems. The fact that a chimney may do the job reasonably well, even when abused or neglected, contributes to the atmosphere of indifference.

Chimneys are far from the passive black holes that most people assume them to be. They perform several vital functions; their simple appearance belies their complex construction and performance requirements.

The build-up of creosote in your fireplace, woodstove and chimney is unavoidable. Creosote is a natural by-product of the wood burning process. It forms a black and powdery, flaky or glazed coating on the inside of your chimney. Creosote is a potential fire hazard; it's the primary fuel in most chimney fires.

During a chimney fire, the outside surface of the chimney can become hot enough to ignite surrounding walls, floor joists, rafters, insulation or roofing materials. Suddenly, you have a structure fire that can burn the entire house down. Even without a chimney fire, creosote and soot reduce draft and diminish the efficiency of your heating system.

A masonry chimney is constructed of a variety of masonry and metal materials, including brick, mortar, concrete, concrete block stone, stone, flue tile, steel and cast iron. All masonry chimneys contain combinations of, or possibly all, of these materials, most of which are adversely affected by direct contact with water or water penetration.

Chimney caps, also called rain covers, are probably the most inexpensive preventive measure homeowners can employ to prevent water penetration and damage to the chimney. Caps have long been recognized as an important chimney safety and damage prevention component. Underwriters Laboratories specifies that any chimney lining system that is to be listed to their test standards must include a chimney cap.

To eliminate creosote build-up, reduce fire hazards and keep your heating system and fireplace in good condition, your chimney should be inspected at least once per year, and cleaned if needed. A qualified professional, a Chimney Safety Institute of America Certified Chimney Sweep™, should perform this inspection.

As cool weather becomes more regular, business for chimney sweeps increases, so this is an opportune time to make the appointment for an inspection. To find a CSIA-Certified Chimney Sweep™ in your area, contact the National Chimney Sweep Association, or check them out on line at homeownersinformation@office@csia.org.

Barry Belyeu is the owner of Chimney Chasers (a division of Southside Services), and is a CSIA-Certified Chimney Sweep. The firm is a member of the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce and both the National and Georgia chimney sweeps associations. For information phone Belyeu at 770-463-9794.