John R. Yannaccone, P.E., Principal Mechanical Engineer

As summer days become shorter and the fall season approaches, this is the time to start thinking about home maintenance in preparation for colder weather.

Fireplaces and Chimneys

Approximately 25,000 chimney fires occur each year in the United States and are responsible for over $100 million in property damage annually, ranging from minor chimney damage to complete loss of the home.  In many cases, chimney fires occur due to improper maintenance.  A professional chimney inspection and cleaning is a good way to reduce the risk of experiencing a problem when you begin to use your fireplace or wood stove for the first time after being dormant.

A good first step is to make sure no animals have built a home inside or other debris hasn’t accumulated in the chimney.  Cleaning the flue is also important to remove flammable materials such as creosote buildup, which is a leading contributor to chimney fires.

Gutters and Downspouts

Just like chimneys, gutters need a good inspection and cleaning as the weather turns cooler.  To keep water flowing off and away from your house, gutters and downspouts should be firmly attached to the exterior of your home and free of leaves, sticks, and other debris.

If you are going to clean your own gutters, be sure to inspect your ladder and consult the owner’s manual or manufacturer’s website for information and instructions on proper use.  Falls from ladders result in approximately 15,000 injuries and about 400 to 500 deaths each year.  Contributing factors are commonly the result of inadequate maintenance or improper use.  For additional tips, read Investigating Ladder Falls: Equipment Failure or User Error? 

Yard Maintenance and Outdoor Equipment

While you are cleaning leaves from the gutter, clean up leaves that have collected around the yard and outside of the house, especially in areas near exhausts located close to the ground from home appliances like water heaters or dryers.  Piles of dry leaves can serve as fuel to feed a fire from a carelessly discarded cigarette or an electric spark.

If you plan to use a leaf blower or vacuum to gather those leaves, make sure to inspect the equipment before use to ensure that there are no missing parts and all are in good condition.  Check if the model has been recalled since the time of purchase, as discussed in the Recalled Leaf Blower case study.

Fall is also an appropriate time to service other outdoor equipment.  Making sure the snow blower is ready to go, for example, can save some headaches when the first winter storm arrives.  Fill the snow blower with fresh, clean fuel and oil and replace the sparkplug to help ensure it will be easier to start when needed.  Check if safety features, such as the auger and drive controls, are functioning properly.  Refer to the owner’s manual or manufacturer’s website for the steps to service and inspect your snow blower and take note of the intervals for future inspections and maintenance.

Before storing your lawn mower for the winter, consider having it serviced to clean debris from above and below the mower deck, sharpen the blade, and drain remaining fuel or add fuel stabilizer.  Taking these steps may help to avoid problems when trying to start the engine next spring.  As with the snow blower, now is a good time to confirm if the safety systems are operating properly and check the owner’s manual or manufacturer’s website for instructions to inspect or service your lawn mower.

John R. Yannaccone, P.E., Principal Mechanical Engineer with DJS Associates, Inc., can be reached via email at experts@forensicDJS.com or via phone at 215-659-2010.

Categories: Education | Engineering | Environmental

Tags: Chimney | Gutters | Lawn Mower | Leaf Blower | Owner's Manual | Snow Blower | Water Heater