Chimfex for chimney fires?

Jokarva · #1 01/05/13, 02:53 PM

http://www.chimfex.us/buy-online/homeowners.html

Anyone had experience with these? We're so far out from the (volunteer) fire dept that I think we're on our own if any fires get started, so I was thinking about getting a few of these - IF they actually work (and for my sister, who in 20+ years of using a woodstove has never had their chimney cleaned).

Alice In TX/MO · #2 01/05/13, 03:23 PM

It would be better to have the chimney cleaned.

Chucknbob · #3 01/05/13, 04:38 PM

How does it work?

**Cabin Fever** · #4 01/05/13, 05:14 PM

I'm not big on gimmicks.

I put my faith in keeping my chimney clean, burning seasoned firewood, and starting each day with a roaring hot fire that burns any creosote than may have been produced over night.

Cabin Fever (who has been burning firewood since the late 1970s).

Sharon · #5 01/05/13, 05:26 PM

We have some, but fortunately have never had to use them. However, we did get them on sale at Wal-mart for $2 a piece at the end of the season--BIG savings.

**Cabin Fever** · #6 01/05/13, 05:30 PM

It is my understanding that a bag of ice cubes thrown into a woodstove during a chimney fire is as effective as anything one can buy at the hardware store.

frankva · #7 01/05/13, 05:53 PM

I like a brush, on the end of a fiberglass rod. Dry wood. Hot start.

My plan is to uncork a dry chemical extinguisher if it ever happens.

Old timer told me a 5lb bag of pickling salt dumped down the stack puts one out. Down. Which means you have to get up there...

Alice In TX/MO · #8 01/05/13, 06:37 PM

And dodge the flames shooting up from the chimney.

Rick · #9 01/05/13, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankva

I like a brush, on the end of a fiberglass rod. Dry wood. Hot start.

My plan is to uncork a dry chemical extinguisher if it ever happens.

Old timer told me a 5lb bag of pickling salt dumped down the stack puts one out. Down. Which means you have to get up there...

And when you remove the rods BE SURE to hold the rod under the top one when you loosen it, so the LOWER one does not get removed.

haypoint · #10 01/05/13, 08:23 PM

I have used them and they saved my house.
My first year with wood heat and I added a heat saver in the stove pipe. The wood boiler efficiently took most of the heat out of the wood and the heat saver cooled the smoke even more. The result was rapid creosote buildup. A fire was started with newspapers and flaming paper was sucked into the chimney.
The chimney became a blast furnace. I had a couple Chimfex and lit them and threw into the firebox. They consume all the oxygen and the chimney fire subsided.
Sadly, the local fire department arrived and, just to be safe, sprayed 50gallons of water down the 36foot chimney, blasting the flue liner to bits.
But Chimfex did a good job. Never had touse them in the new chimney.

salmonslayer · #11 01/05/13, 08:24 PM

If you actually get a chimney fire they are extremely hot and dumping anything down the stack is likely to get you seriously burned and we have measured temps of up to 1500 degrees, often with no visible flame. Chimfex isnt a gimmick and it can work particularly where you can close the flu or doors to a fire place/wood stove but its only an immediate action step and its important that you still call your VFD to come and check it out. We have already gone on 2 flue fires this season and we check in the attic with a thermal imaging camera to ensure there are no hot spots in the attic or the chimney (modern houses often use almost zero clearance flue pipe and old houses are prone to mortar issues or creosote seepage).

Prevention is of course the best course so following all the advice about keeping your flue clean and burning seasoned wood is important. But if you dampen your fire at night like a lot of people you are going to have a certain amount of creosote build up and at least to me, having the ability to take some immediate action while your waiting for the Fire Department is a good precaution.

Jokarva · #12 01/05/13, 09:36 PM

We do have the chimney cleaned every year and burn seasoned wood (can't convince my bil to have his chimney cleaned or his septic pumped, very stubborn guy), but fire is something that really scares me. And since we're firing up the insert every night, I'd feel better having something on hand rather than nothing (besides the regular extinguishers - that I'm afraid would scatter hot coals into the room).

I am going to look around locally though....doubt I'll match that WM $2 price, but our neighbor is the local fire chief, he may know a cheaper source.

Thanks guys, I appreciate the input!

bassmaster17327 · #13 01/05/13, 10:01 PM

Sometimes you can light a road flare an put and put it in the woodstove,close the doors and close the air intake. The flare will sometimes use up the oxygen and put out the fire. If you can get to the top of your chimney easily you can get some dry chem and put it into ziploc bags, drop the bags down the chimney and they melt and the dry chem puts out the fire

frankva · #14 01/06/13, 03:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

And when you remove the rods BE SURE to hold the rod under the top one when you loosen it, so the LOWER one does not get removed.

Story in there.

Want to share?

Don't use a square brush in round pipe. Story in that too.

You can get it back out but you will be very relieved.