Chimney and fireplace service for Neptune Beach homes from local experts

Carbon monoxide is the reason any fireplace is treated as an appliance that has to vent properly, and alarms are the backstop. A fireplace or gas unit makes carbon monoxide when fuel burns without enough air, and it reaches the room when the exhaust cannot leave, such as with a blocked flue, a closed damper under a vented gas log set, a flue that is spilling because of house pressure, or a gas insert whose liner has come loose from its collar.

Florida Statutes section 553.885 requires an operational carbon monoxide alarm no farther than 10 feet from each sleeping room in buildings permitted for new construction on or after July 1, 2008 that have a fireplace, a fossil-fuel appliance or an attached garage. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission advises alarms on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas, and the federal fire agency advises testing them monthly.

If an alarm sounds, or several people in the house feel headachy, dizzy or sick at once, get everyone out to fresh air and call 911 before anything else. We are the call after that. On a visit, we check that the flue is clear and the damper opens fully, and for a gas appliance we look at the vent connection and check for spillage at startup.

The estimate says what we found and whether anything needs fixing before the next use. If we notice that the bedrooms have no alarm nearby, we mention it before we leave. Alarms have a limited life set by their maker, so check the date marked on each alarm and replace it when the maker says.

The statute also accepts combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Carbon monoxide alarms are not the same as smoke alarms, and a smoke alarm does not warn you about carbon monoxide unless it is a combination unit. Our inspection pros make these checks in any home in Neptune Beach with a fire, gas or wood. Book your free inspection in Neptune Beach at (904) 920-5495, or send the short form.