Cleaning Stovepipes and Chimneys


With ever-increasing fuel costs, heating with wood has again become very popular with Missourians. But this increased use of wood-heating equipment brings with it the need for constant, careful attention to assure the safe and efficient use of this heat source. One area often ignored is the special care needed for the chimney.

Chimney fires Creosote accumulation is the main reason for cleaning a chimney. If the buildup of creosote on the chimney's inside surface ignites, a chimney fire results. Chimneys need cleaning to prevent this buildup and thus reduce the possibility of a chimney fire.

The extremely high temperatures (up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit) of a chimney fire can damage the chimney. The heat can warp metal chimneys and crack the tile liner on masonry chimneys.

Never use water on an extremely hot chimney fire, since this quick cooling can also crack the tile liner or warp the metal chimney. After the fire has been extinguished, have the chimney checked for warped metal or a cracked tile liner.

If you don't repair cracks or holes in the flue, the next chimney fire could be even more dangerous. Even during normal use, the sparks generated by the fire in the stove could go through the cracks or holes into the attic or the framework surrounding the chimney. This could cause a serious house fire, resulting in loss of property and possibly loss of life.

To avoid this tragedy, you need to establish a cleaning schedule that will free your chimney of creosote buildup. This schedule can range from once every couple of weeks to no less than once a year. How often you clean the chimney depends on the amount you use your stove, the type of wood you burn, the type of wood-burning unit you have and the way you operate the unit.

If, however, a chimney fire occurs, follow these steps to reduce your losses:

• Call your local fire department immediately and give them your name and address.
• If there is a fire in the stove or fireplace box, extinguish it with a multipurpose dry-chemical extinguisher. As some of the chemical travels up the chimney, it may extinguish the chimney fire.

Cleaning the flue You can either clean the chimney yourself or hire a professional chimney sweep. Chimney sweeps who will do a thorough and professional job are available in many communities. Watching a sweep clean your chimney would not only be educational, but would also help you decide whether or not to tackle the job yourself next time.

Before deciding to clean your chimney yourself, consider your physical condition. Cleaning a chimney can be strenuous work. Pulling a chimney brush the height of the chimney can strain the back and other muscles. Make sure you are up to the job before starting.

If you do decide to clean your chimney yourself, make these preparations before beginning the actual cleaning job.

• Gather the basic tools that you will need.
  • Powerful flashlight
  • Drop cloths
  • Wide masking or duct tape
  • Ladder
  • Mirror (helpful for looking up the chimney from the bottom)
  • Bucket
  • Industrial-type shop vacuum (Don't use a household vacuum cleaner because the fine dust can ruin the motor's bearings; also, some of the dust can go through the vacuum cleaner's filter into the room.)
  • Goggles or a face shield
  • Dust mask
  • Old clothes and gloves
• Make sure the chimney is structurally safe. If it is not, it can fall apart when a horizontal load such as a ladder or your weight leans against it.
• If you are cleaning a fireplace chimney, take the damper plate out; it is usually attached to its support by a couple of cotter pins. Be careful — the metal can be brittle because of exposure to extreme heat.
• Using a powerful flashlight, check the openings from the top and bottom for obstructions such as bird's nests. Also, check the extent of creosote buildup. The largest concentration of creosote should be in the upper one-third of the chimney.
• Seal off the fireplace opening by taping a damp sheet over it; otherwise you could end up with quite a mess in the house. On a wood-burning stove, remove the stovepipe from the chimney and cover the opening. On many chimneys, you will have an outside bottom clean-out. Make sure you can open it before you start cleaning.

Now you are ready to start cleaning the chimney. The best time to clean is when the chimney is still warm, since creosote comes off a warm surface easier than a cooler surface. But make sure the fire is completely out.

The following are some of the more common methods for cleaning chimneys:

• Wire chimney brush
  The best method for cleaning your chimney is scraping it with a wire chimney brush. The brush may seem expensive, but for people who burn a lot of wood and must clean their chimney more than once a year, a brush gives the best results.
  You can buy brushes from most retail outlets that sell wood-burning stoves or fireplace equipment. Brushes are available in different sizes depending upon the shape and size of your flue. Buy a brush designed to fit your flue.
  Some brushes have a rope attached to one end to pull the brush up and down the chimney. For this type of brush, attach a weight of some kind to the other end to pull the brush down the chimney. Wrap cloth around the weight so it doesn't damage the chimney if the weight bounces against the inside surface.
• Other techniques
  There are other techniques you can use with some degree of success, such as scraping the chimney with a burlap bag filled with straw or tire chains, chicken wire rolled into a ball, etc. The main disadvantages of these alternatives is that they are not able to provide enough abrasion to clean all the creosote out of the flue.
• System management
  Another cleaning technique that deserves careful consideration is system management. You can eliminate much of the creosote buildup with correct operation of the system. Burning well-seasoned wood cuts down on creosote buildup.
  If you own one of the new "high efficiency" stoves, you may face special problems. These stoves increase heating efficiency by allowing less heat to escape through the flue. This results in lower metal temperatures in the flue. Since creosote condenses more easily on cooler surfaces than on extremely hot surfaces, this type of stove is particularly prone to creosote buildup. To solve the problem, burn an intense fire in your stove for at least one-half hour daily with the damper open. This should burn off the accumulated creosote in small quantities and reduce the potential for a chimney fire.
  Keep in mind that you also need to clean smoke pipes used with wood-burning furnaces and stoves. Remove the pipe carefully and take it outside where it will be easier to clean. Tape a bag or place a bucket at one end of the pipe to collect the creosote for disposal. A long-handled wire brush will normally clean most of the creosote buildup off the stovepipe.

Clean up time Now that the chimney is clean, it's time to go back inside the house to clean up the soot and creosote that has fallen to the bottom of the chimney. If you are cleaning a fireplace, carefully remove the seal from the fireplace opening and sweep the soot and creosote into containers. Make sure you sweep out the accumulation on the smoke shelf above the damper, too. It is better to use an industrial or shop vacuum cleaner for this job. After this initial cleanup, use a wire brush to scrape off the deposits from the inside of the fireplace and from around the smoke shelf. Tidy up the area, and you're finished.

Remember, chimney fires are very dangerous and are a major cause of wood-burning related house fires. The more you do to keep your chimney in good working condition, the safer and more efficient your wood-burning operation will be.





 

Washington Township Fire Department

Christmas and Winter Fire Safety Tips 

• Never overload electrical circuits with Christmas lighting.
• Never burn candles near decorations or “live/cut” trees and never leave a candle burning unattended.
• Make sure your tree does not block an exit point from your home.
• If you have a “live/cut” tree, make sure it is watered regularly.  If its dry and the needles are brittle, remove the tree from the home.
• Do NOT run extension cords under rugs or carpet.
• Make sure your oven is clean before cooking Christmas dinner and never leave cooking unattended.  Keep pot holders and lids handy, and never throw water on a grease fire.  Cooking fires are still the number one cause of residential fires.
• When hanging stockings or other decorations over a fire place, be sure to keep them far enough away so they do not ignite.
• Make sure lights used outdoors are rated for OUTDOOR use.
• Keep your chimney clean and have it inspected at least annually and make sure your roof gutters are clear of combustibles such as leaves and dead tree branches.
• Make sure you always use a screen in front of wood burning fire places.
• Keep combustibles away from all sources of heat and flame such as the main heater, hot water heater, or other auxiliary heating sources.
• Kerosene heaters, while not as common as in the past, CANNOT be used in multifamily dwellings such Condo’s, Townhouses, and Apartments.  If you still use a Kerosene heater as an alternate heat source in a single family home be sure the area is well ventilated, combustibles are clear, and small children stay clear.
• Have your heating company check your flue and heater every year to make sure its working properly and dangerous Carbon Monoxide is not being emitted into the house.
• If you didn’t change you battery in your smoke detectors when you changed your clock, it’s not too late.  Make sure you have a working smoke detector on every floor of the home and near sleeping areas.  Make sure you have a working Carbon Monoxide (CO) detector as well. 
• Smoke detectors, CO detectors, and home fire extinguishers make great Christmas gifts.
• Please keep fire safety in mind during the holiday season, fires in the home are devastating enough any time of year but are especially tragic during the Christmas Holidays.

 

What You Must Do if You Think You Are Having a Heart Attack


Call 911 or other emergency services immediately if you have any of the following symptoms of a heart attack:

• You have chest pain that has not improved or that gets worse within 5 minutes after taking 1 dose of nitroglycerin and/or resting. After you call 911, continue to stay on the phone with the emergency operator. He or she will give you further instructions.
  
  
• You have chest pain or discomfort that is crushing or squeezing, feels like pressure on the chest, and gets worse or lasts more than 5 minutes, especially if it occurs with any of the following symptoms:
  
  
   
  • Sweating
  • Shortness of breath
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Pain that spreads from the chest to the neck, the jaw, or one or both shoulders or arms
  • Dizziness or lightheadedness
  • A fast or irregular pulse
  • Signs of Shock
    
    
    

Women, older adults, and people with diabetes are slightly more likely to have other symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea, back pain, or jaw pain.

After you call 911 or other emergency services, you should chew 1 adult-strength aspirin (325 mg) or 2 to 4 low-dose aspirin (81 mg) unless you cannot take aspirin because of allergy or some other reason. By calling 911 and taking an ambulance to the hospital, you may be able to start treatment before you arrive at the hospital. If any complications occur along the way, ambulance personnel are trained to evaluate and treat them.

If an ambulance is not readily available, have someone else drive you to the emergency room. Do not drive yourself to the hospital.

If you witness a person become unconscious, call 911 or other emergency services and start CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). The emergency operator can coach you on how to perform CPR.


Never wait if you have symptoms of a heart attack. Many people are unsure if they are having a heart attack and take a "wait and see" approach. Heart attack symptoms can vary. People often discount their symptoms if they do not fit into the expected "extreme chest pain" scenario. Some people are embarrassed or don't want to bother others by calling for help if they think it may not be a heart attack. Even if you're not sure it's a heart attack, you should still have it checked out. Rapid treatment can save your life.


 

Heat Exhaustion and Heatstroke

What causes heat exhaustion and heatstroke?

Heat-related illnesses, such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke, occur when your body can't keep itself cool. As the air temperature rises, your body stays cool when your sweat evaporates. On hot, humid days, the evaporation of sweat is slowed by the increased moisture in the air. When sweating isn't enough to cool your body, your body temperature rises, and you may become ill.


What is heat exhaustion?

Heat exhaustion happens when your body gets too hot. It can be caused by physical exercise or hot weather. You may experience:

• Heavy sweating
• Feeling weak and/or confused
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Headache
• Fast heartbeat
• Dark-colored urine, which indicates dehydration

What should I do if I think I have heat exhaustion?

If you think you have heat exhaustion, get out of the heat quickly. Rest in a building that has air-conditioning. If you can't get inside, find a cool, shady place. Drink plenty of water or other fluids. Do NOT drink alcohol or caffeinated drinks (such as soda). These can make heat exhaustion worse. Take a cool shower or bath, or apply cool water to your skin. Take off any tight or unnecessary clothing.

If you do not feel better within 30 minutes, you should contact your doctor. If heat exhaustion is not treated, it can progress to heatstroke.

What is heatstroke?

Symptoms of heatstroke

• High fever (104°F or higher)
• Severe headache
• Dizziness and feeling light-headed
• A flushed or red appearance to the skin
• Lack of sweating
• Muscle weakness or cramps
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fast heartbeat
• Fast breathing
• Feeling confused, anxious or disoriented
• Seizures

Heatstroke is when the internal temperature of the body reaches 104°F. It can happen when your body gets too hot during strenuous exercise or when exposed to very hot temperatures, or it can happen after heat exhaustion isn't properly treated. Heatstroke is much more serious than heat exhaustion. Heatstroke can cause damage to your organs and brain. In extreme cases, it can kill you.

What should I do if I think someone has heatstroke?

If you think someone might have heatstroke, call emergency medical personnel immediately. While you are waiting for medical assistance, take the person into an air-conditioned building or a cool, shady place. Remove the person's unnecessary clothing to help cool him or her down. Try to fan air over the person while wetting the skin with water. You can also apply ice packs to the person's armpits, groin, neck and back. These areas contain a lot of blood vessels close the surface of the skin. Cooling them with ice packs can help the person cool down.

 

Get medical help right away if you have these warning signs:

• Skin that feels hot and dry, but not sweaty
• Confusion or loss of consciousness
• Frequent vomiting
• Shortness of breath or trouble breathing

Do medicines affect heatstroke?

The following are some medicines that can put you in danger of heatstroke because they affect the way your body reacts to heat:

• Allergy medicines (antihistamines)
• Some blood pressure and heart medicines (beta-blockers and vasoconstrictors)
  
• Diet pills and illegal drugs such as cocaine (amphetamines)
• Laxatives
• Some medicines that treat mental health conditions (antidepressants and antipsychotics)
• Seizure medicines (anticonvulsants)
• Water pills (diuretics)
  

Tell your doctor what medicines you are taking. He or she can tell you if your medicine puts you in danger of heatstroke.

What does the "heat index" mean?

The heat index tells you how hot it feels outside in the shade. It is not the same as the outside temperature. The heat index is a measurement of how hot it feels when relative humidity is combined with the effects of the air temperature. When you are standing in full sunshine, the heat index value is even higher. A heat index of 90°F or higher is dangerous.

How can I prevent heat illness?

When the heat index is high, stay indoors in air-conditioned areas when possible. If you must go outside, take the following precautions:

• Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
• Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a hat or using an umbrella.
• Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or more.
• Drink plenty of water before starting an outdoor activity. Drink extra water all day. Keep in mind that heat-related illnesses are not only caused by high temperatures and a loss of fluids, but also a lack of salt in the body. Some sports drinks can help replenish the salt in your body lost through sweating.
• Drink fewer beverages that contain caffeine (such as tea, coffee and soda) or alcohol.
• Schedule vigorous outdoor activities for cooler times of the day -- before 10:00 a.m. and after 6:00 p.m.
• During an outdoor activity, take frequent breaks. Drink water or other fluids every 15 to 20 minutes, even if you don't feel thirsty. If you have clear, pale urine, you are probably drinking enough fluids. Dark-colored urine is an indication that you're dehydrated.

If you have a chronic medical problem, ask your doctor about how to deal with the heat, about drinking extra fluids and about your medicines.

What should I do after having heat exhaustion or heatstroke?

Having heat exhaustion or heatstroke makes you more sensitive to hot conditions for about a week afterwards. Be especially careful not to exercise too hard, and avoid hot weather. Your doctor can tell you when it is safe to return to your normal activities.

 

Texting while Driving at the same time...
23 Times more likely to find yourself in an Accident


The reason why texting and riving at the same time is so bad is because it results in the driver being distracted. The driver will find it extremely difficult to focus on the road , as they try to construct text and figuring out if what they have wrote on their cellphone actually makes sense.

Essentially, the driver while he is texting is trying to accomplish two activities at one time. No matter how good they think they are, they will fail to do both things in the way they should be accomplished, which means their attention is not on the road as it should be.

As a result of this, they will miss important road signs and they will not be able to react real time like they are supposed to. The result of this kind of behavior is extremely devastating, as people lose their loved ones in situations that could have been prevented.

Next time you are on the road, think before you grab your cellphone. Your actions could take a life.

Here are the statistics that you should know :

> A person who is texting and driving at the same time is 23 times more likely to find himself or herself in an accident. Studies that have been conducted have concluded that texting while one is driving is even more dangerous than someone who drives a car while under the influence of alcohol. Now that is scary.

> 5,870 people lost their lives due to car accidents in 2008, while a total of 515 000 were injured in car crashes. 28% of those car crashes were as a result of people texting and driving.

>In recent study that was done in 2010, it has been revealed that 47% of the adults do text as hey drive, and only 34% of the teenagers follow the same practice. Despite the assumption that teenagers were the ones who were busy on the phone while driving, it has been revealed than adults are more the culprits.

The good news is that people are really starting to take notice. Some states even have a no text while driving law, to drive and drive the seriousness of this issue.

A lot of lives are being lost due to this issue, do not turn a blind eye. Do not ignore this, do your part.