Transcript
Press-Republican—Saturday, October 2,1982
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How to inspect for creosote Inspect the stovepipe and chimney each week when you first start to burn wood. Creosote appears in the form of liquid, flakes, and glaze. It ranges from dark brown to black and often has an of-^ fensive ordor. Creosote formation in stovepipes can be detected several ways. An obvious indication is creosote dripping from pipe joints. The best method is to take the stovepipV apart and clean it on a regular schedule. Sound deadening also occures when creosote coats the inside of a stovepine. Tapping a stovepipe with a metarobject gives a rough indication of creosote, formation. A clean stovepipe-produces a sharp ping; the sound dulls as the creosote coating thickens, By tapping the pipe, pieces of creosote may dislodge and fall down the pipe. However, do not assume that all the creosote will dislodge in fhlsfmanner. While tapping the pipe, be,
careful not to separate the sections. Inspecting chimneys for creosote is more difficult. First, close dampers and shut off air supplies to the stove. If you insect the chimney from the topjbe sure you can do it safely. Either lower a trouble fight or use a mirror to reflect sunlight into the chininey to aid inspection. A metal cleanout door at the base of the chimney will aid inspection from the botton. Hold a mirror inside the cleanout and look for light at the top of the chimney flue. Use a flashlight with a mirror to insepct the chimney sides after allowing time for your eyes to adjust to the light. Soot and creosote will usually drift from the cleanoutrso protect your eyes, nose and mouth, Chimney cleaning The old rule of thumb that chimneys should be cleaned once a year no longer applies. Airtight' stoves require cchimney ancT stovepipe cleaning whenever
Facts about fireplaces and wood stoves Fireplaces and wood stoves have been popular decorative home ac"cessories. Now,* with the advent of the energy crisis, people are seeking ways to reduce fuel bills. ,Ri^tatfW.flBtf..i.nms*w,^#«tiflirysoome of the importance they held decades ago when they were the main source of heat in a home. Unless properly installed and us* ed, fireplaces and stoves waste as much heat as rr or more than — they produce and may prpresent serious fire, hazards. As a rule, a wood stove is approximately four times more efficient than a fireplace. Fireplace maintenance If you regularly use a fireplace, , an annual fall check-up is necessary. Hot gases that-escape through cracks in a fireplace can be a.hazard to health and can cause a -houserfirei
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Check the chimney for loose bricks and mortar and the flue lining (the passaage in the chimney through which air and gasses .'travel) for cracks. Make repairs . before"you use your fireplace. L3
Accumulated soot and creosote should be cleaned, from the flue each year; To do this, pull a weighted sack of straw up and down the flue.Seal the front of the fireplace before ji\w .t>»||iir itlw jirtl' if |jK
itK.itiMritt-iirttKfc; knowledgeable in its operation. • Allow only adults to tend the Buy from a reputable dealer and!9 fire. arrange to. see a similar stove in • Keep fireplace screens and operation-before you make a pur- stove doors-closed "while the fire is chase. Follow the manufacturer's buring. maintenance instructions. • Clean the fireplace or stove Installation of wood stoves regularly. Leave no more than I to 2 A wood stove must be set on a inches of ashed in the grate. foundation of stove board, slate, .Wood selection Exclusive Dealer For brick, or other fireproof material. Fireplace arid stove wood should Vipco Vinyl Siding If you use a prefabricated be dried as much as possible before chimney, make sure it is insulated burning. Dry wood burns more effiFree Estimates— Fully Insulated and carries a U.S. (Underwriters' ciently and is not a&Jikely to proNo Down Payment —Bank Financing Laboratories) "All Fuel" label. Do duce soot and creosote problems. To not use a chimney labeled "Verit." . make the most efficient use of wood, Senior Citizen Discount Any. smoke pipe that must go cut it to size and store it under cover 8 through a wood frame ceiling or at least six months before you use it. 1187 Margaret St. Plattsburgh, N.Y. wall should have a properly sized Consult the chart for the burning U.L. "All Fuel" thimble. The bpenj- charaet* VINYLSIDING VIPCOVINYLSIDING ing in the waflhor ceiling should De"" 1." larger than the thimble and should be lined with' asbestos. A smoke pipe must be at least 18 inches from an unprotected wall. It is safest to have a wood stove installed by a competent dealer. Safety practices Safety Tfrecaustions must be taken whenever wood is burned to prevent damage from sparks, soot, and chimney-fires and to prevent personal injuries. To start a fire: open the damper, then build the fire slowly With kindling and wadded newspaper. Add pieces of firewood sparingly. Main-' . tain a quiet, cozy-fire; avoid a roaring blaze; Don't close the damper entirely until the fire is completely put. This may take several hours after the fire burns down. The next:day,.rake through the ashes before you l remove them. K\ Consider using a combination screen-tempered" glass unit with your fireplace: .the screen is used while the fire is burning; the glass doors are closed when the fire is reduced to embers. Insist that all members of a
Wood stoves and heaters are be- • A double walled ventilated ing installed as a result of increased metal thimble is used where the home Heating .'costs. To protect your stove pipe goes.through an interior family and property, this equipment wall... must be. properly installed and . • The stove pipe does not pass operated. Use this checklist before through a Root, closet, concealed Starting the first fire in your stove to space or enter the chimney in the.atbe sure it is safely installed. tic. • The stove 'does not have broken • A UL approved ALL FUEL parts or large cracks that make it'. metal chimney, is used where a unsafe to operate. .-. masonry chimriey is not available • A layer of sand or brick has been or practical,
