Repair of Chimneys Called for

Santa Claus is not the only one worrying about the insides of chimneys.

Ian Donnelly’s worry, he said, is that at least 70 million chimneys in the United States and Canada need repair or alteration to prevent fires and carbon monoxide.

And a couple of Eastern natural gas utilities are doing their bit to call attention to educate customers about possible hazards connected with defective fireplaces.

Donnelly’s concern is not entirely altruistic. He is president of Z-Flex Inc. of Manchester, N.H., which produces chimney liners that modify and upgrade flues.

He said major problems affecting chimneys are cracks in masonry lining, buildup of flammable creosote and deterioration caused by condensation of low-temperature gases into corrosive substances.

He said that the current chimney fix-up volume “is only 10% of what consumers and businesses need to lay out to protect property and lives.”

Brooklyn Union Gas, N.Y., Public Service Co. of North Carolina and Niagara Mohawk Power Corp., N.Y., have launched public education campaigns urging well-maintained chimneys.