Fire Safety

Now that spring is here and you are thinking about “spring cleaning”, it’s time to include the vents in your home as well. There are several you should think about cleaning; your air vents and your dryer vent. Let’s take a look at each one of these and see why it’s important to consider these as just a part of your spring routine.

Every year at this time pollen becomes an issue for many people, especially the very young and elderly. If we are one of the ones most affected we go out and purchase filters to filter the air we breathe because we understand that eliminating as must pollen, dust and particles from the air just helps us breathe better. What we forget is the air ducts themselves have dips and groves that essentially “trap” dirt and debris and cause additional problems for those filters.

Cleaning the ducts themselves will get these particles out of the system al together so the filters will only have to deal with what is currently going through the system and not the buildup that has been gathering since the last time they were cleaned; if ever they were. This allows for more clean air to circulate and should cause the filters to last longer depending on where you live.

As for the dryer vents, they need cleaning for several reasons. First the dust that makes it out of the vents can be so fine that you can’t see it. However, you are breathing it as it blows around. Secondly, the lint in a dryer is one of the most flammable materials in your home. The boy scouts even recommend it to carry as a great fire starter when camping so that should tell you something about how east it will catch on fire.

Because homes these days have more dryers than fireplaces, fires from clogged dryer vents are more common than from fireplaces. But how in the world can you get a clogged dryer vent when you empty it every time you use the dryer? It’s simple. The lint gathers in the vent hose between the dryer and the outside vent. Eventually, the lint particles cling to the wall and then to each other until you have a blockage. This keeps the heat from venting out to the atmosphere and the lint eventually gets so hot it catches on fire and spreads extremely quickly throughout the length of the vent hose.

If you don’t know if t your dryer might be having a problem here is a couple of things to look for; is your dryer having a hard time drying clothes or taking several cycles to get your clothes dry or; does it seem that your lint trap is not as full after every load of clothes. Both of these things could mean you have a blockage somewhere and should be inspected and cleaned sooner than later.

If you just make this a part of your spring cleaning then you will never forget to have it done every year. It is always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to the safety of your family. Don’t you agree?

An old friend had a son that lived in a duplex with his family. The other side of the duplex had another family and the wall the separated them had a fireplace on either side. The son was diligent about getting his fireplace and chimney cleaned and inspected each year for the safety of his family and just assumed that everyone was as concerned about a chimney fire as he was since he had lived in areas that used fireplaces for heat all of his life. However, on one cold January evening, he found out that everyone does not think like he does.

He was lucky. The entire family including the dog made it out safely. Their belongings did not. But what disturbed him the most was that the other family “thought” they had had a fire the night before but couldn’t confirm it so they just ignored it. What they should have done was to call a certified chimney company to inspect to see if they might have actually had a contained chimney fire, which was confirmed by firefighters the following week.

Here is what the chimney technician would have looked for:

• Puffed Creosote – lightweight, fragile ashes are usually present after a fire.
• Scorched Areas –the high heat produces clean patches that may appear in the flue.
• Cracked Flue Tiles – fires can burn at over 2000 degrees F. and that can cause thermal shock, which can crack the flue.
• Metal Components Warped – dampers or chimney caps may be discolored or damaged.
• Large Creosote Pieces – expanded creosote may appear on the roof, gutter or yard near the chimney.

As promised here are the three things to do to prevent chimney fires:

• Schedule yearly inspections with a professional certified chimney contractor.
• Make sure they provide a video camera inspection of the entire chimney structure top to bottom.
• Consider installing a stainless steel chimney liner.

Remember, it is not uncommon for occupants to be unaware that a fire has even occurred. If you even think it may be happening at your house, duplex, condo or apartment it is imperative that you contact your local fire department or chimney company to come out as quickly as possible and inspect the chimney for signs of a fire. Chimney sweeps find numerous cases of undetected fires every year so the most important thing is to make sure your fireplace and chimneys are getting that yearly inspection. It just might save more lives than you might think.

We spend quite a bit of time educating our customers about the need for dryer vent cleaning. The reason we spend so much time on this is because we have seen up close the damage a house fire can do. A fire that starts in the dryer vent is one of the leading causes of house fire in the United States. This is due in large part to the fact that many people simply don’t understand the extreme flammability of lint. However, if you were ever a Boy Scout, you likely are quite familiar with this fact.

As far as figuring out how often a dryer vent should be cleaned, a few factors will need to be considered. For instance, how long is your vent. Longer vents don’t exhaust as well, and thus build up more lint. Vents with a lot of twists and turns also have a tendency to have lint build up more quickly – in fact, each 90 degree elbow effectively adds 5 feet of distance to the venting system. On the other hand, a very short vent will often need very little cleaning. Also, older dryers tend to dry less efficiently, so you will want their vents checked more often.

The U.S. Consumer Protection Agency has laid out several guidelines regarding dryer vent cleaning. One of their biggest recommendations is cleaning the lint tray after each use. Besides drying your clothes faster, it will reduce the buildup of lint at the source of the heat. They also strongly suggest replacing older duct material that is flexible with the newer types of rigid or semi-rigid duct. The older duct material’s flexibility is more prone to kinks, which leads to restricted airflow and lint buildup and vinyl is not an approved material for dryer exhaust components.

Just remember: you don’t have to worry about all of this yourself. We are here to help. Contact us today, and schedule an appointment with us today. We make sure your dryer vent clean is clean and safe!

Children often think of the darnedest things to get themselves into. It could be to see what happens when they put a fork in the electrical outlet. It could even be to see how fast they can light every match in a matchbook. Regardless of what they get themselves into, they are not going to know how to stay safe unless we teach them the necessary facts about fire safety.

I heard a story from a friend who, as a 7 year old, became rather curious about the flammability of a single piece of facial tissue. Much to his surprise, and horror, the tissue was very flammable. So much so, in fact, that upon dropping the quickly burning piece of tissue paper, a hole was burned into the carpet of his bedroom. He was not found out until nearly two years later, because he had covered the affected area with a garbage can. Luckily, no serious harm was caused, but you can see how it could have been so much worse.

Sometimes, kids will take to exploring the garage, and they can come across flammable liquids. In situations like these, your children or the children in your life need to know how to conduct themselves safely. This isn’t just to give them a set of rules to follow. Teaching children the right way to behave around fire and flammable substances will save not only their own life, but also the lives of everyone around them. Spend some time with your kids teaching them proper fire techniques.

Finally, make it a fun thing. If there is anything adults should know, there is nothing so rebellion inducing as orders from an adult. Rather than dictating to them, help them to understand why fire safety is important to them personally and to those people and things they hold dear.

Abide by these steps when selecting your camp fire site to prevent  wildfire and promote responsible wellbeing:

DO NOT generate a camp fire in a hazardous place. You should never build a campfire in a restricted area of the campground. Most campgrounds have designated locations for a fire and the other areas marked or not prohibit campfires.

Find out before you go if the campground has existing campfire areas in each camping space. Preplanning when you want to have an open fire is best because you won’t have any surprises and will get a space that not only allows for this type of fire but is set up for safety. That simply means there won’t be trees or shrubs close to the fire and that stones or fire bricks are already laid to keep the fire in its place.

If you are camping with children, make sure they abide by safety rules around the camp fire. While roasting marshmallows are part of the camping experience, placing hot tipped sticks in the brush or getting to close to the fire can turn a great day into a bad experience. Supervising all children around open fires is a must for their safety and the health of our campgrounds and forests.

If you are creating a campfire make sure you dig a fire pit at least 6 to 8 inches in the ground and clear and grass, brush or debris away from it on all sides. Pay strict attention to the direction of the wind and set up a wind barrier to keep the wind from blowing embers into timber around your camp site. If you are in a draught area, think twice before creating a campfire; you could be starting something that will be extremely hard to put out.  At the very least, take away any grass, kindling or leaves that might fuel a larger fire and place it well out of range. Be diligent about tending to the fire and make sure it is completely put out before you retire for the night.

Making sure any open fire is properly created, maintained and extinguished is everyone’s job when camping on any State or Federal land. Let’s make sure we all keep safe when enjoying a wonderful, open, roaring fire.

Are you prepared in the event of a house fire or other emergency at your home? It is surprising how many people have never developed an emergency plan for their safety and the safety of their loved ones. To be specific, the American Red Cross estimates that only 26% of all families have taken the time to develop and practice a home fire escape plan. Another startling statistic released by the Red Cross is that 80% of Americans do not realize that fire is the most common disaster in the country.

These are some of their recommended home preparedness tips:

• Make sure a smoke alarm is installed on every level of the house. Also, make sure there is one outside each sleeping area.
• Test your smoke alarm batteries at least once a month.
• Get your family together, and practice your fire escape plan at least twice a year.
• Make sure your family knows 2 different ways to get out of the house. This will help if you were to get separated.
• Teach your children how to use 911, but make sure they understand it is for emergencies only.
• Teach everyone in your family the stop, drop and roll routine. Make sure they understand how to stop, drop to the ground and roll around if there clothes caught fire.
• Designate a meeting spot outside your home in the event of a fire.
• Do not open doors that are hot to the touch. If you are unable to get out through your emergency exits, drop to the floor and call the fire department to alert them to your location in the house.

Your family’s safety is up to you. It is a big responsibility, and people need to take the bull by the horns. If you ever have any questions, call your local Red Cross or Fire Department. You can also call us, and we will be happy to help you understand the facts about home fires.

It is summertime, and many of us are going to be enjoying our weekends outside in front of the grill. These are great times to be spent with family and friends. However, there are some things you need to keep in mind before you fire up the grill. Here are some tips to remember:

• Only use propane or charcoal grills outdoors. Never use them indoors because of the threat of carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Keep children away from any flammable liquids. They don’t always understand the dangers they may face.
• Keep the grill away from overhangs and deck railings. Also keep it away from heavy foot traffic.
• Keep children and pets away from the grill.
• Clean the grill before and after use. You don’t want any excess fat or grease to ignite while you are grilling.
• Use long-handled tools. This will keep your body a safe distance from the flame.
• Never leave the grill unattended.

Follow these simple guidelines, and you will insure that you, your family and your friends will be safe throughout the summer season.

I was reminded once again about how important the job we do really is when I read this local story about a family of 8 escaping their house fire. It was fortunate that all the family was able to get out of the house even though two of them had to be hospitalized for smoke inhalation. The cause of the fire according to firefighters; “the fire started in the clothes dryer vent”.

Many people don’t realize how dangerous the lint that gets trapped in your clothes dryer can be. It’s one of the most flammable materials in your home and it doesn’t take much to ignite it. Once lit, fire can easily and quickly spread throughout your home causing a great deal of damage. The real kicker is that cleaning the vent for your dryer normally take less than a couple of hours and costs less than a fun night out on the town. Had this family spent a few dollars every year to make sure the dryer vents were clear of debris and cleaned, they would still be in their home today and would not be facing an estimated $21,000 in repairs.

One reason that people don’t get this cleaning done is lack of knowledge. Please help us spread the word about the dangers of not cleaning your dryer vent every year as well as how easy and cost effective it can be done. We would love for you to choose American Chimney & Masonry to do the job; however, the important thing is to get this done today. Don’t wait. Pick up the phone and call a company that can clean your dryer vents as soon as possible. You will be glad you did and will be keeping your family safe from a potential fire.

Just about everyone is ready once spring arrives to break out and get outdoors. Most are either looking forward to some recreation and fun or to start the cleaning process for projects such as gardening and other home hobbies and activities. These are all wonderful things to look forward to as long as you remember that, as you go, there are some things you will want to think about.

If your activity has any type of fire or burning activity, there are precautions you will want to take to protect yourself as well as the surrounding natural environments. Many are surprised at how little it takes to start a raging fire that can damage acres of land and millions of dollars in property. It’s always good to review fire safety and prevention guidelines and adhere to them.

Being careless around a campfire, vegetation burn or in your home are the number one reason for wildfires each year. By taking the time to learn how to prevent a fire spreading during a controlled burn or fireproofing just might stop this trend from spreading.

We can do a lot to help you buy keeping your chimneys clean and safe as well as making sure your dryer vents are free from debris but we can’t be there for everything. Please take a minute and read about fire prevention and help us keep Oregon and the entire Northeast safe in 2011 and beyond.

If you have additional information that you would like for us to share with your neighbors, please send it to me through our contact form. We are your neighbors and live in your community and together we can do more than we can alone.

The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) has been giving homeowners and chimney professionals alike up to date information regarding chimney safety for a long time. They have created a solid network that puts CSIA certified chimney sweeps and customers together. Their website is a great educational source for homeowners who would like to stay current on best practices for their chimney.

There is plenty of information that a home owner with a chimney should be knowledgeable about. On the CSIA website, you will find loads of information on the best way to maintain your chimney, and you’ll even find instructional videos that detail the chimney sweeping and inspection process. This valuable information could save the life of you and your family one day.

The mission of the CSIA is to help the American home owner avoid preventable fires that are caused by poor chimney maintenance. If your chimney has not been inspected in awhile, contact American Chimney today. We’ll make sure your chimney is safe to use for as long as you own your home.