National Chimney Safety Week Set for Sept. 30 - Oct. 6

PLAINFIELD, Ind., Sept. 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), the nation's only non-profit organization dedicated to the education, training, and certification of chimney and venting technicians, leads efforts to promote the industry's annual awareness week – National Chimney Safety Week.

There are over 22,000 known residential damage causing chimney fires annually (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission). In addition, the CDC states over 500 people die per year due to carbon monoxide poisoning.  The CSIA, along with the dedicated technicians it credentials, are committed to reducing the number of chimney fires and carbon monoxide deaths.

"Chimney fires are preventable," says CSIA and National Chimney Sweep Guild Director of Education, Russ Dimmitt. "Time and again, an annual inspection, as recommended by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), will identify defects and determine preventative chimney sweeping and maintenance needs that will keep homeowners safer as they use their chimney and heating appliances. It is critical to get your system inspected annually."

Residences with a chimney, regardless of what is being vented through it – your wood burning or gas fireplace, gas or oil heating appliance and water heater, or other fuel burning appliances – should be inspected annually. It's more than just wood burning appliances that create risk for your family, a number of external factors, like weather damage, animals residing in the flue, or other risks, play a role in the success of your chimney. If a homeowner is not sure if their home is making use of their chimney, regardless of the presence of a functioning fireplace, a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep® can help them be certain.

CSIA trains technicians on the NFPA's three levels of chimney inspection, as outlined in the NFPA 211 Standard. Often, an inspection is done with a camera system that can examine the inside of the flue from the bottom to the top.

Consider CSIA your go-to source for resources as chimney fires occur in your community this winter.

Since 1983, CSIA has been the industry leader in chimney and venting education. Our nationally recognized credentials include the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep, CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician, and CSIA Master Chimney Sweep. There are nearly 1,800 Certified Chimney Sweeps® credentialed by the CSIA. Homeowners are encouraged to find a certified technician near them at www.csia.org.

SOURCE Chimney Safety Institute of America