Fire Safety

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.

‘Tis the season for holiday decorations and Christmas lights. Santa will soon be coming down the chimney to deliver presents for the young children in your home. If you are hanging stockings from your working fireplace, be sure to take the utmost care when doing so.

Most Christmas stockings are made from highly flammable materials, so if you are hanging them from your working fireplace, you are risking a fire in your home. If you have a large mantle, it is wise to consider hanging the stockings higher than normal, so they are far away from any flames or sparks that may arise. In general, keep flammable stockings as far away from a fire as possible. As always, use a crate or cage to protect Christmas decorations, rugs, and other flammable materials from sparks or sputtering fires. Christmas is a time of year prone to more home fires because of holiday lights and the abundance of decorations, so be sure to use the utmost caution and care when decorating your home, especially when decorating your mantle!

Did you know that fires in dryer exhaust systems exceed those in chimneys in number, property loss and loss of life?  The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warns that fires can occur when lint builds up in the dryer or in the exhaust duct. Lint can block the flow of air, cause excessive heat build-up, and result in a fire in some dryers.  Just last year Consumer Reports stated that more than 13,000 fires a year start in laundry rooms in the United States, resulting in 10 deaths and $97 million in property damage. Nearly 4,000 of these fires arise from lint buildup that occurs when people fail to clean their dryer vents.  Have your dryer exhaust system service regularly by a CSIA Certified Technician.

To help prevent fires:

• Clean the lint screen/filter before or after drying each load of clothes. If clothing is still damp at the end of a typical drying cycle or drying requires longer times than normal, this may be a sign that the lint screen or the exhaust duct is blocked.
• Clean the dryer vent and exhaust duct periodically. Check the outside dryer vent while the dryer is operating to make sure exhaust air is escaping. If it is not, the vent or the exhaust duct may be blocked. To remove a blockage in the exhaust path, it may be necessary to disconnect the exhaust duct from the dryer. Remember to reconnect the ducting to the dryer and outside vent before using the dryer again.
• Clean behind the dryer, where lint can build up. Have a qualified service person clean the interior of the dryer chassis periodically to minimize the amount of lint accumulation. Keep the area around the dryer clean and free of clutter.
• Replace plastic or foil, accordion-type ducting material with rigid or corrugated semi-rigid metal duct. Most manufacturers specify the use of a rigid or corrugated semi-rigid metal duct, which provides maximum airflow. The flexible plastic or foil type duct can more easily trap lint and is more susceptible to kinks or crushing, which can greatly reduce the airflow.
• Take special care when drying clothes that have been soiled with volatile chemicals such as gasoline, cooking oils, cleaning agents, or finishing oils and stains. If possible, wash the clothing more than once to minimize the amount of volatile chemicals on the clothes and, preferably, hang the clothes to dry. If using a dryer, use the lowest heat setting and a drying cycle that has a cool-down period at the end of the cycle. To prevent clothes from igniting after drying, do not leave the dried clothes in the dryer or piled in a laundry basket.