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Posted on April 1, 2006 by Deon Melchior | Posted under Home Improvement
Maintenance First in Wood Burning Stoves and Fireplaces
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Fireplaces give you advantages today. Most fireplaces sold today you can install without hiring a certified technician. Still, a qualified technician should install some of the wood burning fireplaces. Before you sit down and read maintenance instructions take a moment to think about your product. If you have EPA, fire official recommended unit then you is off to a good start. Woodstoves, vents, chimney, etc should all be inspected annually to insure that you are safe. You will need to learn proper cleaning to keep your unit working safely also. You can learn more about installation, chimney care, and other details by visiting the Safety Chimney Institution of America. The site will offer you list of practiced chimney sweeping tactics. Putting first thing first in safety you want to install a Firemen Approved smoke and carbon alarm in your home. Follow proper installation procedures to insure your safety. After you have your fire and carbon alarms installed, check your manual to make sure that your unit is correctly installed. Take measures to keep your home safe. Review the area where you have installed your wood burning stove or fireplace to make sure that nothing is in the way that could catch fire. For example, is your area clear of books, paper, furniture, drapes, or other items that could cause a fire? If you said no, you have taken time to uphold your safety. Do you take time to fire up your stove, using fresh, sanitary newspaper? Do you use dry firewood if applicable to start your stove? If you said yes, then you have safety in its place. DO you use gas, kerosene, propane torches, or charcoal starts to light your wood burning stove? If you said yes, you need to reconsider your fire burning habits, since this is a big fat, no, no. You want to avoid burning green unseasoned longs or wet logs. In addition, you want to avoid using logs that have sawdust or waxy substances. Manufactured kindling should have a 100% sawdust compression seal. Take time to monitor your fire. If you build smoldering fires often, you are putting your home and self at risk, only build diminutive, scorching fires. Never open your stove door, unless you are adding logs, or else raking the coal to get the fire going. When you are not using your stove, clean the ashes, using metal containers that have a lid. Do not store the ashes in the container outside around wood. Instead, sit it on hard objects, such as cement. Always keep your fire extinguisher on hand. Tip: A firefighter informed me that a small fire misplaced is just as dangerous as a blazing fire out of control. Fire hides. If you notice misplaced fire around your area, do not take care of it yourself, rather call the fire department immediately and use your extinguisher to keep the fire under control. Proper smoke and CO (Carbon) alarms will protect your home. You should install new batteries as recommended by the manufacturer. Every year hundreds of people die from carbon poison. The poisons are produced from woodstoves, or other combustible appliances. Carbon is a silent predator, since it does not produce odors or colors to alert you of danger. About The Author: Deon Melchior is the Editor and Publisher of Article Click. For more FREE articles for your ezine and websites visit - www.articleclick.com |
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