I, Jared Luke Mauer, Concerned Citizen and Chimney Sweep, believe there should be regulations encompassing all aspects of Wood/Gas/Pellet/Coal/Electric Fireplaces and Chimney Systems. In the older Denver and surrounding areas, there are many chimneys that have structural concerns that would only be caught if the homeowner decided to take it upon themselves, as they should, to get their fireplace/chimney inspected. I work on these heavily deteriorating chimneys and feel something needs to be done before even a single life is lost due to neglect. Many of these unsafe chimneys are on the outer wall of the older Denver homes, directly above a shared walkway from the front of the house to the backyard. It would only take one falling brick to cause lifelong damage. Some fire hazards in the firebox and lower portion of the chimney/flue system may be caught during a general home inspection, but this is not always the case. In fact, most of my customers tell me the inspector told them it just needed a cleaning. In one case, I brought a woman to tears on her birthday with the news I delivered of my findings during the inspection. At some point, there had been a chimney fire that cracked all of the flue tiles. With the flue tiles being cracked, the fireplace is unsafe to use. This was most likely caused by neglecting to clean the creosote from the system regularly. Not only is this creosote buildup a fire hazard, but it can also cause cancer if ingested. So, instead of cleaning the fireplace/chimney, I offered her an estimate for a $4,000-$7,000 Wood or Gas burning insert, which she could not afford at the time after dealing with all of the other repairs/headaches that come with being a new home owner. I wanted to get this beautiful fireplace up and running for my customer on her birthday, but instead I had to plug it from the top until she could afford to get it repaired. Unfortunately she had already closed on the home and unknowingly assumed responsibility of the repair. I believe this is a problem. 

I have decided to take it upon myself to at least get the conversation started and spread awareness of the dangers surrounding fireplaces/chimneys. If they regulate other aspects of the home, why not regulate the one that could potentially cost someone their life?