For
expert advice on hearth and chimney issues contact:
John Frankel, OHPBA President: NW Natural Appliance Center,
Portland (503) 220-2362 j4@nwnatural.com
Larry
McCandless, Past President OHPBA; Owner, Hearth & Heating
Specialties, McMinnville, Ore. (503) 472-1065
larry.mccandless@hearthandheating.org
Other resources:
Woodstoves and fireplaces visit:
www.hpba.org;
Information about Heating with Wood:
www.woodheat.org
National Chimney Sweep Guild:
www.ncsg.org
Chimney Safety Institute of America:
www.csia.org
Heating Green:
www.heatgreen.org
Sept. 20, 2007
Take Fireplace
Safety Precautions As Fall Approaches
SALEM, OR – Oregonians will be turning to their woodstoves or
fireplaces to keep warm now that cold weather is upon us.
However, state and local fire safety officials urge you to take
the necessary safety precautions. The Oregon Hearth, Patio and
Barbecue Association urges people to follow these steps for a
safe heating season:
Maintain your smoke alarm
Smoke alarm maintenance is one of the simple precautions that
can prevent not only extensive property damage but the loss of
lives as well. Change smoke alarm batteries twice a year and
replace any older than ten years. Vacuum and test smoke alarms
to ensure they are working properly.
Clean and inspect the chimney
Fireplace inspection is perhaps the most essential precaution.
Every year firefighters respond to chimney and flue fires that
could have been easily prevented had the homeowner taken the
time to clean and inspect their fireplace system. The most
important step is to clean the stovepipe or chimney before
lighting the first fire in the fall. A chimney fire can occur in
a dirty chimney if you do not clean the flue. You can clean it
yourself but fire officials recommend hiring a professional
chimney sweep.
The cleaning process involves special tools to clear away
creosote, the sooty buildup made of tiny unburned particles of
wood fuel. Creosote is very flammable. Flue fires start because
accumulated creosote heats up until it turns bright red and
ignites. As air rushes in to oxygenate the ignited creosote,
temperatures inside the chimney can surpass 2000º Fahrenheit.
The rushing air may sound like loud roaring inside the stovepipe
and may shake loose sections of pipe, emitting burning particles
and flames into the house. These intense fires can cause
extensive damage, igniting the house inside and out, and create
enough smoke to be fatal to indoor occupants. Should you
experience a flue fire, shut off the air supply to the
woodstove, get everyone out of the house and call 911.
Dispose of ashes properly
Another precaution includes disposing of ashes properly in a
covered metal container. Keep the metal container outdoors and
at least three feet from anything flammable.
Keep combustibles away from heat sources
Combustible materials such as furniture, drapes, and decorations
should be kept away from the fireplace or woodstove itself.
Using a fireplace screen can also help prevent sparks and ashes
from escaping the fire and landing on surrounding furniture and
carpet.
Do your part to preserve air quality
In Oregon, thousands of homes rely on outdated woodstoves or
fireplace inserts installed during the energy crisis of the late
1970's. Many of these have not been installed or maintained
properly. In addition, these old stoves produce far more smoke
and burn less efficiently than modern emission certified
woodstoves, pellet stoves or non-woodburning systems like
natural gas.
Certified woodstoves have a certification label on the back of
the stove from the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) or
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). If you own a
woodstove that does not have this label on it, it is most likely
an uncertified and high-polluting stove. Oregon law allows the
use of uncertified woodstoves only if they were installed
according to the building code prior to September 1992. Resale
or reinstallation of an uncertified stove is prohibited.
Homeowners who upgrade their woodstove should request that the
installer recycle their old stove.
For information about chimney sweeping and a list of
professional chimney sweeps, check out www.ocsa.com. For more
information on woodstoves and other fireplace products, call the
Oregon Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association at 503-585-8254, or
check out our website: www.oregonfireplaces.com or www.hpba.org.
For information on wood smoke pollution, contact the Oregon DEQ
at 503-229-5359 or www.deq.state.or.us.
X X X X
|
