Fire Safety Tips: Fireplace Safety in the Home
May 19, 2012 | As wood burns it releases smoke,
water vapor, gases, unburned wood particles, hydrocarbon volatile, tar fog and assorted minerals that lead to this dangerous build up. Without proper cleaning and maintenance this build up can lead to dangerous... According to the U. S. Fire Administration, “More than one-third of Americans use
fireplaces, wood stoves and other fuel-fired appliances as primary heat sources in their homes. Chimney flue's are designed to expel the gas and heat. Through use, creosote buildup in chimneys and stovepipes often pose a risk for fire. Despite their beauty and ambiance, fireplaces pose a real safety risk when not proactively maintained and watched. however, when the interior walls of a chimney catch fire due to creosote buildup, they can burn at high temperatures and melt mortar, crack tiles, cause liners to collapse and damage the outer masonry material. Similarly, fireplaces require the same attention. All home heating systems require regular maintenance to function safely and efficiently.
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Jul 27, 2011 | It was then that he discovered small bones and clothing at the base of the fireplace. The majority of the body appeared to have gotten stuck just above the fireplace in the narrow flue. The interior of the fireplace at Abbeville Bank where Schexnider's
Jul 30, 2011 | DURING chimney fire safety week, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service is urging home owners to book a registered chimney sweep to ensure their fireplace is safe to use later in the year. There are approximately 6000 chimney fires a year in England.
Jul 20, 2011 | The record does not include a copy of the alleged agreement between the homeowner and Bost or the alleged agreement between Bost and Flue Sentinel. Flue Sentinel was the manufacturer of a "gas fireplace product" (the fireplace product) that was
May 19, 7049 | They replaced, for example, a wood-burning fireplace with a colorfully decorated flue that rises from the hearth to the 20-foot ceiling — in the middle of the stark, white-walled space between the living room and the dining room, Mr. Maltz said.
Jul 28, 2011 | “I'm going to turn this knob and open the flue. Whatever is in there will probably drop down into the fireplace when I do that. I closed the doors to the fireplace and slowly turned the knob. Scratch. Scratch. Scratch. Scratch. Plunk!
Should I leave our fireplace flue open or closed?
Apr 20, 2007 by sundown858
We have a gas fireplace with fake logs. We want to get more of the heat from the fire coming into the livingroom, but is it dangerous to have the flue closed?
Gas logs may be fueled by either natural or propane gas. There are two basic types of gas logs currently on the market, the "vented" and the "vent-free".
VENTED vs. VENT-FREE
Vented gas logs best mimic real wood fires. They require a flue or venting pipe (hence the term the "vented") and produce a brilliant fire that offers a permanent, ashless experience. You can install these in an existing brick or stone fireplace, or install them in a pre-fabricated or "factory-built" firebox suitable for use with vented gas logs.
Vent-free (aka Unvented) gas logs offer the look and feel of fire, along with a good to large amount of heat for the room or space they are located in, and do not require the venting of a fireplace flue or vent-pipe. Because they must burn their gas supply completely, the flame of a vent-free log is typically not as active, large or brilliant. They are designed, engineered, tested and certified to literally burn all of the gas they consume. (The vent free standard is in excess of 99% efficiency to ensure a safe and clean burn.) After the initial "burn-in" or break in period the logs should offer a clean, reliable heat supply as long as you perform periodic maintenance. All vent free products are equipped with oxygen depletion sensors. This true for any vent free appliance, regardless of manufacturer or price range and should not be considered a selling point or bonus feature.
Some vent-free gas logs are "dual-listed" meaning they can operate with an open or closed fireplace flue or vent. However, for the maximum amount of effective heat, you would want to have the vent closed. This is your choice.
Fireplace flue in summer?
May 19, 2269 by CricketsBGone
Hi. We have a gas fireplace we don't use. I know you're supposed to close the flue during the winter so your heated air doesn't get sucked out through the chimney, so is it good to leave it wide open in the summer so warm air will get pulled out of the house?
Thanks.
Doesn't work that way. Leaving glass doors open, or damper open allows down drafts that smell like fire permeate the house. A fan on exhaust will pull that odor through the house. And the drafts will counter the effect of air conditioning the house. Just shut the damper and buy glass doors to close off the hearth when not in use.