Saftey Tips: Things to know!

An example of a chimney fire where the fire department had to make a hole in the house to get to the fire before the fire destroyed the house. Flames were shooting out the side and visible from the street where a passer-by noticed and called 911. Even though this fire did a lot of damage, this family was very lucky to escape un-harmed.

During a chimney fire, the outside surface of the chimney can become hot enough to ignite surrounding walls, floor, joists, rafters, insulation, or roofing materials. Suddenly, you have a structure fire, which can burn down the entire house.

An example of a fire where it did a lot of damage inside the house. There was also extensive damage to the clay liners in the chimney flue. Upon closer examination we found several cracked liners and pyrolized creosote in the firebox, damper and smoke chamber area. Part of the problem in this case was that the mantel and wood framing was up against the front metal damper frame. Don't take a chance on your family's safety, have Stars Chimney Service Inc. do a thorough evaluation of your chimney.

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HOW DOES CREOSOTE OR SMOKE BUILD UP WITHIN A CHIMNEY SYSTEM?

Causes of Smoke & Creosote

Unseasoned or wet wood, slow smoldering fires, and all night fires are very smokey and add to lots of creosote buildup.

Not enough draft or air supply.

Not having enough air causes incomplete combustion which creates a lot of smoke.

Operator Errors

The operator is the main component in eliminating smoke and creosote. This person controls the oxygen supply, the types or dryness of woods, and damper/air adjustments. Sometimes operators fail to clean their flue systems when needed compounding the creosote problem.

Smoke is simply incomplete combustion that did not burn in the fireplace, and creosote is simply smoke that didn't make it out of the chimney.

Examples of Creoste inside your chimney.

Factors Which Affect Creosote Buildup

Smoke density: The smokiest fires produce the greatest creosote accumulation.

Temperature of the flue walls.

Cold chimney walls tend to collect more creosote.

Length of time the smoke is in the flue.

The longer the smoke stays in the flue, the more creosote builds up.

Turbulence of the smoke

Elbows, offsets, and changes in size and shape of the chimney passageways are a common source of turbulence. Turbulence causes cooling of flue gases and smoke build up (creosote) upon contact with internal surfaces.

As you can see, creosote is inevitable, but accumulation and location does vary based on the above points!

Wood stoves, inserts, and wood furnaces emit enormous amounts of creosote. As little as ¼ inch thick creosote at the flue collar or stovepipe area can fuel a chimney fire. Creosote accumulation usually gets heavier at the top section of the chimney because the area is usually cooler.

The best defense is of course a proper cleaning and maintenance of the fireplace, wood stove, and insert system. By using the correct size steel brushes and proper scraping and chipping cleaning equipment, the system is cleaned and then thoroughly inspected so that it is safe to use.

When a chimney fire does occur, rely on Stars Chimney Service Inc. to provide a professional, detailed evaluation and appraisal.

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Ingredients To A Good Fire (you will need three things to start a fire)

Tinder- crumbled up newspaper makes the best tinder. Start with 4-5 full pages of newspaper, rip in half, ball up and install 6-8 half pages under the grate. Another option would be to purchase prepackaged commercial fire starters from Stars Chimney Service Inc.

Kindling- This is the most important ingredient for building a good fire and usually the most overlooked. Put a hand full of kindling on the top grate. The size of the kindling should be the width of your finger or smaller.

Fuel- use only well-seasoned hardwood. If you have to burn softwoods, be certain they are well seasoned. Look for a split, dry wood that has been stacked up for a year. Loose bark and cracks in the ends are signs of seasoned wood.

Easy Tips For Starting Your Fire

Open the damper- this is forgotten more often than most people care to admit. Put a handful of kindling on top of the grate: Then proceed with 4-6 middle size pieces, approximately one to two inches thick. Then light the newspaper under the grate at a couple of places. If smoke starts rolling into the room, roll a newspaper into a tight funnel, light the tip of it, and hold it up to the damper. This should get the smoke going up the flue. Once your kindling gets started and starts the middle sized pieces, add 3-5 more middle size pieces of wood and a
larger split piece of wood to the top. Leave some space between the logs for air to
circulate.

Remember to have small to medium fires, which is 1-2 split pieces of wood. NO LARGE FIRES or BARN BURNERS. These prefabricated or masonry fireplaces are not meant for that.

Warm Up The Flue

For fireplaces, warm up the flue by holding a piece of burning rolled-up newspaper in the opened damper for 10 to 15 seconds. This helps the flue establish a good draft. Then light the tinder. Within a few minutes, you should have a nice, hot fire!!

Important Do's & Don'ts

Do check the manufacturer's guidelines for your wood stove or insert. Do use seasoned wood. Do use commercial fire starters if you like. They eliminate the need for tinder and reduce the amount of kindling required. Don't use charcoal lighter fluid or other flammable liquids. These are extremely dangerous. (gel fire starters are okay). Don't use coal in a wood stove or fireplace unless there are specific written instructions- it will burn, but not safely. Don't burn artificial logs in a wood stove, unless they are specifically designed for wood stove use. Artificial logs can dirty the chimney much faster than regular wood, and can be hazardous in certain situations. Don't burn treated lumber, trash, or anything other than
wood in your fireplace or wood stove.

Effective Burning Techniques

The key is to burn small, hot fires, using hardwood- that will minimize creosote accumulation and maximize heat output. Keep fire burning hot with flames, not smoldering with a lot of smoke. Be careful not to add too much firewood. In a fireplace, keep the top of the flames visible below the fireplace opening. In a wood stove, keep the flames confined to the wood itself. With glass doors, keep the doors wide open with the screen closed. It's better to add small loads more often then to cram in a lot of wood trying to get an all-day burn.

When You Are Ready To Put Out A Fire

Separate the logs by moving them to the side of the fireplace or stand them on end in the back of the fireplace. Close the screen or glass doors tightly, but don't close the damper until you are sure the fire and coals are completely out. Remove coals in a metal container with a lid and put them outside.

Gas Logs

A. Open damper
B. Light match, lay underneath front of grate
C. Turn gas on slowly
D. Once lit, adjust flame
E. Shut screen
F. Open glass doors and enjoy!

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Safety:

Smoke Alarms

Always have a smoke alarm in the room where your fireplace and/or wood stove is located. Also, have an alarm in all bedrooms and hallways. It is good practice to have one electric and one battery with alarms placed on each floor.

Fire Extinguishers

Always have a dry fire extinguisher on hand. Make sure it is multipurpose, and it should have three letters A – B – C on the extinguisher.

A – Wood & Paper B – Liquids & Grease C - Electrical

Carbon Monoxide Detector

We recommend a carbon monoxide detector in every home, because it is virtually impossible to detect carbon monoxide without one.

Escape Ladders

These store easily and install in just seconds, especially when seconds count. Escape Ladders are a must for every multistory home.

Large Fires

Never have large fires. We recommend using split logs and no more than two at a time (depending on the size of the fireplace).

Dura-Flame Logs

Never poke a dura-flame log because it will break apart and become like lava in your fireplace. You only should burn one at a time.

Have Your Chimney Cleaned and Inspected Regularly

A certified chimney sweep should inspect your chimney at least once a year. If it is dirty, get it cleaned.

Check the Outside of Your Chimney

If it needs repaired, get it done before there's further deterioration and more expensive repairs are needed.

Install a Chimney Cap

Caps prevent water damage and keep animals out of the flue. They also reduce the danger of flying sparks and helps prevent downdrafts

Check the Draft Before Lighting a Fire

Make sure the damper is open. Pre-warm the flue by holding a lit rolled up newspaper up near the damper.

Don't Use Protroleum Product to Start or Intensify a Fire

Charcoal starters are for outside only. Never store petroleum products near a wood stove or fireplace; it is a fire hazard.

If You Have a Chimney Fire... 1st Call the Fire Department

Call the fire department and get your family out of the house safely and quickly. Also don't close the damper, if you close it the house may fill up with smoke.

Don't Forget!!!

Always remove ashes to a metal container with a lid on it, and put them outside. Never leave fire unattended.

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Do you offer financing?

90 Days Same as Cash:
This program that we offer is no interest or payments for 90 days. If you choose to pay it off within that time there is no interest charge for the amount financed. You can however, choose to pay zero, or any part of it within the first 90 days, and then make payments based on 12, 24, or 36 months on the amount still owed.

6 Month 0% Interest:
This program that we offer is no interest for 6 months, but monthly payments are required. At the end of 6 months finance the balance with interest for 12, 24, 36 months.

Straight Financing:
Straight financing from 12 to 36 months. Whatever fits your needs can be easily obtained with approved credit through American General Finance.

What causes water in a gas furnace flue?

Today's high-efficiency gas furnaces and hot water heaters extract more heat during the burning process and send much less heat up the flue. For all the benefits these furnaces offer, there's one important side effect that must be dealt with - excessive moisture in the flue. Water is a byproduct of burning natural gas. In fact, when you burn 1 cubic foot of gas, you create 2 cubic feet of water vapor. The result is the deterioration of your chimney. Both the interior and the exterior of your chimney can receive unwanted damage.

Should my dryer vent be cleaned?

Dryers that sit on an inside wall, or where the vent is routed horizontally for an extended length are more prone to lint buildup and should be professionally inspected and/or cleaned. How often really depends on each family and their situation.

Factors that influence the potential for lint build up

How new is your home?
The size of your family?
Do you have any pets?
Where your dryer is located?

Have you ever noticed:

Lint in your utility room?
Wet stains on your ceiling?
Dryer taking longer than 1 cycle?
Bird problem in your dryer vent?

Advantages of dealing with STARS

Ron comes to you- You never have to leave your home for countless hours of shopping. He listens to what you want and makes suggestions. With over 28 years of burning wood stoves in his own home, he will give you extra insight on stove operations and safety accessories. He orders, then installs the stove according to manufacturer's specifications and national standards. He provides service after the sale!

How often should I have my fireplace/ chimney inspected?

Preventative maintenance is always more cost-effective than making repairs that could have been avoided. Annual inspections are critical for regularly used chimneys. Even if used occasionally, a chimney system should be routinely inspected and cleaned, if necessary. The importance of regular chimney maintenance is emphasized by the National Fire Protection Association.

This nonprofit organization, dedicated solely to fire prevention, states: "chimneys, fireplaces and vents shall be inspected at least once a year for soundness, freedom from deposits, and correct clearances. Cleaning, maintenance, and repairs shall be done if necessary."

What routine chimney inspections and maintenance can do for you

Assure chimney integrity for all fuels: oil, gas, or wood.
Catch problems before they cause expensive trouble.
Monitor changes over time -like seeing a dentist on a regular basis.
Provide peace of mind.

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