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The Difference Between Exterior and Interior Spark Arrestors

stimsbury chimney cap installation Enjoying your fireplace shouldn’t pose a threat to your home. Unfortunately, it can if your fireplace system does not have the necessary safety components that it should. Interior and exterior spark arrestors are essential safety components that prevent a house fire.   

All it takes to spark a house fire is for a stray ember to ignite a nearby piece of furniture or shingle on the roof. Spark arrestors prevent this from happening.

Spark arrestors are barriers made from stainless steel or galvanized steel that catch sparks. They are durable enough to withstand the hot temperatures of the fire and hot embers. They are available in many shapes and sizes to fit every type of fireplace and chimney. Every home with a fireplace should have both types of spark arrestors.

Interior Spark Arrestors

An interior spark arrestor plays an important role in protecting children and pets from stray sparks as well as your furniture and home. The main type of interior spark arrestor is a hearth screen. Hearth screens can be metal curtains that are a part of the fireplace, or stand-alone screens. Glass fireplace doors can also act as a hearth screen. Since interior spark arrestors are a part of the fireplace display, they are designed to be attractive and functional. There are many different styles and designs to choose from. No matter what type of interior spark arrestor you have, correct fit and proper installation are key to ensure it properly protects your home and loved ones.

Exterior Spark Arrestors

chimney spark arrestor in new britain ctAn exterior spark arrestor is installed at the top of the chimney to prevent stray sparks from igniting the roof or nearby trees. Along with preventing a house fire, it also prevents animals from entering and nesting in the flue. Since it is out of sight, it is not designed to be decorative. Usually, it is attached to the bottom of a chimney cap or rain cover.

Whether you have a wood burning fireplace or gas fireplace, it is important to have spark arrestors. If you notice that your home lacks either one, you need to have it installed as soon as possible. We can take care of it for you if you live in Central Connecticut. Northeastern Chimney, Inc. serves homeowners in Farmington, Newington, Avon, West Hartford, Simsbury, Bloomfield, Windsor and the surrounding area. We earned the Super Service Award from Angie’s List for our consistently high level of customer service. You can trust that we will help you find the right spark arrestor for your home and install it expertly.

If you already have spark arrestors, make sure they are cleaned regularly. Just as creosote (a highly flammable combustion byproduct) builds up along the chimney’s flue walls, it also builds up on spark arrestors. Over time, if enough creosote has built up, a stray spark could ignite the creosote deposits on the spark arrestor. After every burning season, you should clean the interior spark arrestors. The exterior spark arrestors should be cleaned around the same time by a professional chimney sweep during your annual chimney cleaning and inspection. You can set up an appointment with our CSIA certified chimney sweeps if you need a cleaning!

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