Burn Your Fire Cleaner and More Economically Follow these five simple and practical steps to improve your woodstove’s fuel efficiency and reduce hazardous air pollution emissions. Step 1. Burn the right fuel Use fuel that burns efficiently and cleanly. Pellets burn far more cleanly than wood logs. If using firewood however, use properly seasoned wood […]
If you notice fireplace odors while you are using the fireplace, then you almost certainly have a smoking problem. See the article “Smoking Fireplaces” for details on identifying and correcting fireplace smoking problems. As a general rule, in any case of fireplace odors, a chimney cleaning is in order if you haven’t had it done recently (and certainly, if
An introduction to wood stoves begins at the beginning: The wood stove industry has made huge technological strides in recent years. EPA emission standards have resulted in new designs for cleaner, safer, more efficient wood burning. But we aren’t quite there yet. There are thousands of old, inefficient systems still in operation, and there is
Creosote is a product of incomplete combustion: deposits of unburned, flammable tar vapors from wood smoke. Sometimes it is crusty or flaky in texture, but often sticky or hard, like slag. Creosote deposits are often hard to remove from chimneys, and pose a serious fire hazard. One of the great misunderstandings in the world of
Chemical chimney cleaners are advertised and you’ve seen advertisements for products touted to “clean your chimney.” Are they effective? Are such products a replacement for the services of live, trained, professional chimney sweeps? Chemical chimney cleaning products intended to treat creosote deposits are available in numerous forms, including chemically-impregnated sawdust/wax firelogs, powders intended to be
Why You Should Call A Chimney Sweep Why should you call a chimney sweep? What is the purpose of getting your chimney swept, really? Norman Lenz, with over sixty years experience as a chimney sweep in Canada and Germany, has the answer: “To prevent fires, to save energy and to help prevent pollution.” “
Masonry chimneys are more complicated than most people think. And even more so when there is a fireplace to consider! The structure is carefully designed to conform to proportions and standard building practices per the NFPA 211 Standards and International Residential Code. If a chimney isn’t built or maintained correctly, it may not work properly,
Chimney fires in Maine are frighteningly common! Homeowners should consider a twice-per-season cleaning, say firefighters, to minimize the likelihood of a chimney fire. Fire departments in Franklin, Kennebec and Somerset counties have responded to more than 40 chimney fires recently. It might sound like a startlingly high number of fires, but it isn’t, officials said.
The wood-burning season is almost over and many homeowners wonder what they should do with their woodstove or fireplace when they are finished using them for the season. This is an important issue that can mean less worry and headaches for the homeowner if the appliance is taken care of properly. Fireplace cleaning and woodstove