Chimney Care Company's Blog

Proper Wood Stove Ember and Ash Removal

Whenever you burn a solid fuel (wood, coal or pellets) in your stove, fireplace or insert, you will be left with ashes that need to be removed. These ashes must be removed periodically, as they can affect the performance and durability of your unit. The frequency of the ash removal will depend on the product itself and the type of fuel being burned.

ASHES THROUGHOUT HISTORY
Wood Stove Ash Removal - Cincinnati OH - Chimney Care Company
Ancient man transported fire from one location to another by wrapping hot coals insulated by ashes in animal skins. Once he arrived at the new home site, rekindling the fire was easy. He removed the coal—which was still hot—and placed it on a small pile of leaves and twigs. He then blew on the hot ember and restarted the fire. It’s important to point out that fires are still started this way today, and often, it’s an accidental fire.

THE DANGERS OF IMPROPER ASH REMOVAL

Improper ash removal from fireplaces and wood burning stoves causes thousands of fires in the U.S. every year. According to the NFPA, almost 10,000 fires are caused yearly due to improperly removing and discarding ashes. Hot coals, hidden in a pile of ashes and thus well insulated, can stay hot for up to four days because the ash acts as an insulator that keeps the coals from burning out. All these coals need to flare up again is more oxygen. It’s for this reason that fire departments often return to a scene to spray more water on smoldering timbers and newly flared coals.

ASH CONTAINER 101

Never empty ashes into a paper or plastic bag, cardboard box, or other similar container. The only suitable means for ash storage is a metal container with a tight-fitting lid, as this helps keep air from blowing through and disturbing the ashes, which can leave hot coals exposed and easily reignited. For optimum safety, wet the wood ashes prior to attaching the metal lid to the pail. As a safety precaution, never store your metal ash container on your deck, in your garage, or in any location that may allow heat to transfer from those hot coals to nearby flammable items. Innumerable wooden decks catch fire every year because of this simple oversight. Instead, place the container on a non-combustible surface such as stone, concrete, brick, or slate.

safe_ash_removal_cincinnati_oh_chimney_care_companyWood ash, once completely cooled, can safely be disposed of in your garden because natural firewood ash makes a great soil additive that your plants will enjoy because they are high in potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium, and phosphorous. Just make sure you have removed any mulching materials such as dried leaves and other dried plants first, so there’s nothing to catch fire in your garden. Spray the dispersed ashes with water as an added safety precaution.

For additional information on this and many other topics, contact the Chimney Care Company today. We offer complete chimney and fireplace services to the Cincinnati, southwest Ohio and northern Kentucky area. You can always count on us for friendly service and quality workmanship.

By Jeff Keefer | Tagged with: Tags: , , | 1 Comment

How to Select the Right Firewood

Local Seasoned Firewood - Cincinnati OH - Chimney Care CompanyA burning question for many homeowners with fireplaces is which type of wood they should be using. There is no simple answer to this question, however, as the options available to you are quite numerous. Nevertheless, Chimney Care Company is here to help you make a more informed decision when the time comes. Our long-term customers know we’ll take care of them and you can rest assured that we’ll take care of you as well.

There are two basic types of firewood available to those with a wood-burning fireplace: softwood and hardwood.

QUICKER IGNITING FIRES WITH SOFTWOODS

Softwoods—pines, spruces and firs—start burning easily. Typically, these woods have less potential BTU [British Thermal Unit] energy than their hardwood counterparts. Softwoods also produce a much more significant amount of smoke. The one true advantage softwood has is that it lights very quickly because it’s less dense; this quality makes it an excellent choice for kindling for any fire; using it for anything beyond that is like sending your money straight up the chimney.

LONGER BURNING FIRES WITH HARDWOODS

Hardwoods—oaks, maples and cedars—on the other hand, don’t start burning quite as easily but burn for a long time, which makes them ideal for prolonged burns. Per square inch, when compared to softwoods, they have much more BTU potential than other types of wood and, therefore, burn hotter and more steadily for extended periods.

BETTER BURNING FIRES MARRY THE TWO TYPES OF WOOD

The easiest and best fire is built by using a mixture of both softwoods and hardwoods. A bed of ashes underneath the grate produces steady heat and aids in igniting new fuel as it‘s added. This will ensure that the fire will continue burning as long as small amounts of wood are added at regular intervals. As a matter of fact, more efficient wood burning results from burning small loads of wood with sufficient air than from burning large loads of wood with minimal air.

MORE EFFICIENT FIRES WITH SEASONED WOOD

It’s also important to season your firewood, whether it’s hard or soft, as all of it contains moisture. Seasoning takes place when the moisture content in the wood reaches equilibrium with that of the surrounding air. A common method of seasoning wood is simply stacking it outdoors in a spot that allows for good air circulation and is dry, sunny and open for approximately six months out of the year. Seasoning in this manner will produce wood that is dry enough to support efficient combustion and has a higher heating value than unseasoned wood.

For the most part, it is far more important that your firewood is dry and seasoned; the particular type of wood you’re burning is merely a secondary concern. Having both softwood and hardwood on hand is a good idea. You can use the softer woods for kindling and for fires during cooler months when only a small amount of heat output is desired and save the harder woods for the coldest months. Keeping these things in mind will make you a much happier homeowner and will make the cold months of the year much more enjoyable for you and your family.

Call Chimney Care Company today to have our professional chimney technicians take care of your fireplace.

Take Care of Your Gas Fireplace and It Will Take Care of You

Gas Fireplace Maintenance - Cincinnati OH - Chimney Care CoMany homes have a gas fireplace. Unfortunately, homeowners generally don’t think about servicing them until something goes wrong, which is usually at the most inopportune time. Whether you take a few moments to check out some of the more obvious things yourself or schedule an appointment with a trusted fireplace service technician, both can save you a lot of frustration down the line.

Guidelines for Gas Fireplace Service 

As you may or may not know, there are several different types of gas fireplaces, and the guidelines for servicing each is somewhat different. If a model has what is known as a standing pilot—the pilot light stays on all the time—the most important regular service item is the pilot assembly. Some units have a pilot light that’s only on when the unit is in use, while others use electronic ignition to light the burner directly without using a pilot system at all; both of these won’t need servicing quite as often.

For the last few decades, all unvented gas fireplaces and inserts as well as gas log sets have been manufactured with an Oxygen Depletion Sensor (ODS) to ensure safe operation of the appliance; these sensors should be cleaned every year to keep the system from becoming more sensitive and/or causing nuisance shutdowns. If you are particularly handy—one capable of changing you own oil or the spark plugs in your car without breaking something—you should be able to handle this task; however, if you are the slightest bit apprehensive about handling anything dealing with gas, it’s best to leave this to a trained, experienced professional.

The goal is to clear out the accumulation of sediment in the tiny pilot opening. A can of compressed air can be used with the included straw to direct air toward the opening to clean it out. If you opt to do this yourself, remember to make sure the pilot is OFF. If the pilot assembly is at least five years old or if you live close to salt water, this method might not be as effective as it once was, leaving you needing to seek professional assistance anyway!

Gas Fireplace Cleaning Needs 

Unvented logs are designed to burn very cleanly; as such, if you notice any black sooty deposits on your logs, it is best to stop using them immediately to make sure your logs and/or burner are set up correctly. If you aren’t absolutely sure that everything is correct, please refrain from using your fireplace until you can have a professional technician evaluate the situation for you.

Other fireplace options and gas log sets need cleaning, too, but perhaps not as often depending on the frequency of their use. Vented gas logs should be cleaned regularly if there is any sooty buildup present; there are commercially available sprays on the market to assist with this task if you are comfortable doing so. If at any point you are unsure or the least bit apprehensive, it is best to err on the side of caution and contact a professional to handle the work on your behalf.

Direct vent gas fireplaces have fixed glass panels that will likely need annual cleaning to stay clear. If the glass is collecting a black residue (soot), the fireplace should be adjusted to remedy this issue. If the glass has a gray or white film, however, there is no need to worry; there are chemical compounds in the gas itself that produce the residue (this is completely normal). The use glass cleaners containing ammonia is a huge no-no. Water and a soft cloth will usually suffice as long as you make this is part of your regular cleaning routine; adding a little vinegar to the water may save you a little elbow grease. Tougher deposits may require special fireplace glass cleaner to ensure that the job is done properly. Don’t forget to dry your glass completely and check for streaks and fingerprints before re-installing the glass!

Here at Chimney Care Company, your family’s sense of security and safety is important to us—which is why we’ve spent the last 25 years installing, repairing, cleaning and maintaining the chimneys, fireplaces and dryer vents of our neighbors in Cincinnati, southwest Ohio and northern Kentucky. To schedule an appointment, please give us a call at 513-248-9600 or click here. We appreciate your business and look forward to helping you keep your family safe and warm for years to come!

Local Seasoned Firewood: The Best Fuel for Your Fire

local_firewood_chimney_care_co_cincinnati_ohIf you want your wood-burning fireplace to burn cleaner and more efficiently, choosing local seasoned firewood ranks high in importance. If you are not familiar with what this type of wood is, the term “seasoned” simply means dried. According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), using seasoned firewood can actually improve the performance of your fireplace and chimney. Building a fire with freshly-cut, wet wood can create smoke and odor problems and promote the rapid accumulation of large creosote deposits, which are the main cause of chimney fires. Shopping for seasoned firewood can be tricky because you do not always get sufficiently dry wood. Our staff at Chimney Care Co. often suggests to our customers to find a trustworthy local firewood cutter to be sure the wood you buy has been dried or to cut their own firewood and season it themselves through proper storage. We have some tips on drying firewood we would like to share with you to help you properly dry and store your fuel.

  • Cut each piece of wood to the same length. A uniform length makes the firewood easier to store. Consider the size of your firebox when determining the right length. In general, firewood should be about three inches shorter than the width or length of the firebox.
  • Before you stack, split the wood. Splitting the wood in advance of stacking it improves the drying process by exposing more of the wood to the air.
  • Check the moisture content. You will want to note the amount of moisture in the wood before drying it. You want the wood to reach a moisture content of 20% to be sure it is properly seasoned. To measure the exact water content in wood, you can use a moisture meter, which can be found for around $25 at a hardware store.
  • Stack the wood in alternate directions. Using this stacking pattern creates better air circulation, allowing for faster drying.
  • Store your firewood off the ground. To keep the bottom of your wood pile from getting wet and absorbing moisture, build a storage shed or other structure that can keep the wood at least six inches away from the ground.
  • Cover the top of the pile, but leave the sides open. When building your storage shed, be sure to include a roof. A simple lean-to structure with a roof and a floor is all you will need. You can also cover your wood pile with a tarp, however, leave the sides of the pile uncovered as the tarp can trap moisture inside. You can remove the tarp when it is warm and sunny, which will speed up the drying process.
  • Store your wood for at least six months to a year.[bold] The best way of knowing your wood is properly seasoned and dry enough to burn effectively is to wait at least six months before using it as firewood.

If you have any questions about local seasoned firewood, contact Chimney Care Co. today. We are happy to tell you more about the best fuel for your fire.

All About Carbon Monoxide

More and more each day we hear reports in the news about people dying from carbon monoxide poisoning. Of course these tragedies occur less frequently during the summer months but are all too common during the winter, especially when people first fire up their stoves or fireplaces in the fall. This is why Chimney Care Co. recommends performing any needed chimney maintenance in the summer before your chimney sweep’s schedule gets jam-packed.

Your home is an investment, and those of us at Chimney Care Company want to help you protect that investment. Do your part to protect your home and family from the devastation of fire and structural compromise by keeping up with your annual maintenance services.

Your home is an investment, and those of us at Chimney Care Company want to help you protect that investment. Do your part to protect your home and family from the devastation of fire and structural compromise by keeping up with your annual maintenance services.

If you’re not familiar with carbon monoxide beyond the rudimentary schooling you got when you learned about the periodic table in high school, you’ve come to the right place. In fact if you have a chimney, fireplace, and/or stove that you use even periodically, it’s even more important that you fully understand what carbon monoxide is and how to prevent it from venting into your living space. Awareness is the first step toward preventing what could be tremendous and irreversible tragedy.

“Not a day goes by that I don’t think of how easily their deaths could have been prevented,” says the relative of a family of four who died from carbon monoxide poisoning as the result of a blocked chimney flue.

About Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Carbon monoxide is called the “silent killer” because it is odorless, tasteless, and colorless; breathing it can kill you or cause the sudden onset of flu-like illness. Its familiar symptoms make it difficult to diagnose, and in fact people sometimes die in their sleep from CO2 poisoning without any forewarning.

CO2 poisoning happens rapidly because the human body mistakenly will begin to replace the oxygen in the body with the CO in the air, effectively blocking additional oxygen from getting in. Those who don’t die from CO2 exposure may suffer permanent brain or tissue damage.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 400 Americans die from unintentional CO poisoning each year, more than 20,000 visit the ER, and more than 4,000 are hospitalized. Americans 65 and older are most likely to die from CO2 poisoning; infants are also more susceptible.

CO2 is created by combustion, which means that owners of fireplaces and stoves—both gas- and wood-burning—should be especially careful to ensure that their heating appliance is connected properly and venting correctly and that their chimney flu is not blocked by nests, debris, or the buildup of creosote.

How to Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

A chimney inspection conducted by a certified sweep should reveal any areas of concern. We also strongly recommend installation of a carbon monoxide detector. And, finally, awareness itself can be incredibly powerful.

If you live in southwestern Ohio or northern Kentucky and want to put your mind to rest about how safe your chimney or heating appliance is, contact Chimney Care Co. to schedule an appointment today.

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