When you burn logs for heating, safety needs to be one of your main considerations. As cozy as wood fireplaces can be, they also require maintenance and vigilance to ensure that you use them correctly. Monitor how you burn carefully to avoid potentially serious problems. A Word About Wood For the safest burning, logs need to cure outdoors for a minimum of six months prior to using them. This process seasons the logs and prepares them for use. You will know when the fuel is ready because it will become darker and cracks will develop on the ends of the pieces. If you knock a seasoned log against another log, it will sound hollow. For best burning, logs should have a moisture content of under 20 percent. To test it, use a moisture meter. Store logs outside, off the ground, and with a covering over the top to keep precipitation off of them. Safe Burning Guidelines Do not incinerate household waste in wood fireplaces. Cardboard, foam, plastic, magazines, boxes, and product wrapping may produce dangerous chemicals when ignited. It's also possible that incinerating these types of refuse could cause damage to a fireplace. Do not burn pressure-treated combustibles or anything with paint or coating on the surfaces to avoid toxic chemicals entering the air. In addition, particleboard and other products with glue can be dangerous to incinerate. Avoid incinerating combustibles that are wet, rotting, or moldy. Keep flammable items such as curtains, furniture, and books away from wood fireplaces. Always start burning with kindling and newspaper, never using kerosene or gasoline to ignite a burn. For best results, build an efficient fire that does not emit excessive smoke, because this is not a safe blaze. Always maintain wood fireplaces to keep them efficient and safe. This includes removing ashes regularly and checking the chimney for blockages. Store an extinguisher nearby for safety. Other Safety Measures Install smoke alarms on every level of your home for optimal protection. Smoke alarms will detect dangerous smoke and gases in the air, which can lead to serious injury and even death in minutes. After installation, test the smoke alarms monthly, and replace the batteries at least twice each year. Carbon monoxide detectors are also important in homes, especially homes that incinerate wood because of the potential for carbon monoxide in the air. Carbon monoxide is invisible and odorless, so it can kill without warning if a carbon monoxide detector is not present. For optimal protection, carbon monoxide detectors should be placed near wood fireplaces so they can detect concentrations of the chemical in the air from the heat. You can reduce your heating bills with a fireplace, but it's imperative that you use it carefully for optimal safety. You might also improve your home heating by increasing insulation and sealing air gaps around windows and doors. The combination of energy efficiency and wood heating can make a winter home more comfortable. New Jersey residents interested in wood fireplaces visit Alber's Fireplaces. Learn more at http://www.albersfireplaces.com/wood-fireplaces.html.
Related Articles -
wood, fireplaces, new, jersey,
|