NEWARK, Del. - These
days, many people are en
joying the warmth and cheer
of a fireplace or wood stove.
Unfortunately, this warmth
and cheer has given rise to
an increasing number of
dangerous chimney fires,
points out Delaware Ex
tension Safety and Energy
Specialist Ronald Jester
Every year in the United
States there are thousands of
such fires resulting in Over
20 million dollars worth of
damage.
Chemical changes occur in
wood when it is burned, says
Jester. As a result, gases
and tiny droplets of tar and
water are released as
smoke
Creosote build-up causes chimney fires
The heat generated by
these burning gases ac
counts for a large per
centage of the wood's total
beat output. However, these
gases will not ignite until the
fire’s temperature has
reached 1100 degrees
Fahrenheit
Because wood combustion
is never perfect, smoke
going up the chimney always
contains some of the un
burned gases and tars If
the chimney’s inner surface
is cooler than the smoke, as
it almost always is, then
some of the unbumed gases
and tars will condense out of
the smoke onto the chim
ney’s surface. This con
densed material is called
creosote
When creosote condenses
on a relatively cool surface,
it will contain a large
amount of water and so will
be fluid. If the surface is 150
degrees or hotter, the
creosote will contain little
water and will be thick and
sticky like tar This tar-hke
build-up will eventually
change to a solid or flaky
form.
- There is no way to com
pletely prevent the for
mation of creosote, notes
Jester But it can be
minimized by avoiding
smoldering fires, by burning
seasoned hardwoods, and by
using interior chimneys.
Air leaks, via cracks in the
chimney or in the clean-out
doors, provide a source of
dilution which lowers the
stack temperature and in
creases the accumulation of
creosote
For safety as well as
maintenance, one should
inspect a chimney
thoroughly to insure that it is
without cracks and that
clean-out doors are air
tight,” Jester says.
“It is important to note
that creosote condenses
from flue gases when the
stack temperature drops
below 250 degrees This
means that chimneys which
are insulated or interior and
allow less heat to escape are
preferred, especially for air-
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 31,1981—83
tight wood stoves ”
Most creosote fires are
associated with poor
chimneys that have low
draft, cold walls, and too low
a rate of burning
How do you know that
creosote has built up in your
chimney or flue 9
The most obvious way is to
inspect the mside of your
chimney or stovepipe, Jester
.explains. You may also
notice back drafting and
smoking as you load your
stove. The connector pipe
will also radiate less heat, as
creosote is an excellent
insulator
If there is more than one
quarter inch of creosote
build-up, or if there are
small raised bumps of
creosote, a cleamng is
needed.
Reports from fire victims
indicate that a chimney fire
is a frightening experience
and a potentially dangerous
situation With proper in
stallation and maintenance,
regular inspection and
cleaning, your chances of a
chimney-related fire are
remote. Prevention is the
best protection.
If for some reason you
have a fire, here are the
signs that you should
recognize immediately so
that you can respond as
quickly as possible. Jester
notes
i a distinct crackling
noise in the chimney or
stovepipe;
“sucking sound’’ of air
being drawn into the stove or
chimney. This may increase
a loud roar;
the stovepipe may
shake (beware that it could
fall apart spilling flaming
creosote);
the stovepipe may glow
red-hot;
Beat
(Continued from Page B 2)
Glenn’s cost and return
figures for 1980 - which
would vary from farm to
farm, of course - you’d need
241 cows at 10,123 pounds; 52
cows at 12,687 pounds; 28
*cows at 15,339 pounds, and
only 18 cows at 19,245
pounds.
There is a lot to be said for
getting good before getting
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PH 687-9198
sparks and flames may
shoot out of the top of the
chimney or stovepipe and
you'll probably get phone
calls from your neighbors.
What can be done in case
of a chimney fire:
—Call the fire department.
(You may not need them, but
If you do, calling later may
be too late).
Gather all occupants of
the building and be ready to
leave if the situation wor
sens.
Cut off air to the fire If
you are using a wood stove,
close all its draft and
damper controls If you have
a fire in the fireplace, cover
the opening with any rigid,
noncombustible material
(but be ward of strong
suction casued by the fire).
Do not close the fireplace
damper as smoke from the
fire in the fireplace will then
come into the room
Use a fire extinguisher.
Best is a flare-like one
designed specifically for
chimney fires Ignite it like a
road flare and place it inside
the stove or fireplace.
Regular CO2 extinguishers
can also be used.
Do not pour or spray
water directly into the
chimney as the rapid con
traction caused by sudden
cooling may break some of
the tiles.
Continue to check outer
surface of the chimney and
any inner walls near the
chimney for excessive heat
even after you think the
fire is out.
Check outside to see if
sparks and embers blown
out the chimney top are
igniting roof or brush.
When the fire’s out,
sweep the chimney and
carefully check for any
damage. Resolve to clean
your chimney more often.
inflation
big,” Shirk observes.
“As we feel the pinch of
rising costs let us not be too
quick to make a desperation
move to get too big too fast.
It might be more profitable,
and more enjoyable, to work
for a more productive herd
and a wider margin of profit
per cow. You’ll be in a better
position to ride the tides of
inflation.”