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Thursday, 13 November 2008 13:01 |
With the growing trend in restoring to use those fireplaces that have been bricked or boarded up, it is important that these restored fireplaces and chimneys are working efficiently. For wood or coal burning fires to burn well, a good supply of air is required along with a chimney to expel the hot exhaust gases and smoke. Also the fuel should be held in a grate clear of the hearth floor allowing full circulation of the air and waste ash to fall through, so as not to stifle the fire. If the chimney or flue is inadequate or the flow of air insufficient, the fire will not function effectively.
In his thesis on the principles of fireplace design published in1799, Count Rumford emphasized the importance of the size of the flue compared with the size of the fireplace opening. He recommended that the cross-sectional area of the flue should be about a tenth of the size of the opening. However, fireplaces tended to be smaller after the mid nineteenth century. Modern flue liner manufacturers favor a ratio of one to seven, and there are sizing charts published that give details of current standards.
If your fire smokes or wonÂ’t burn properly, see if opening a window improves matters. If it does, you need better ventilation in the room. One solution is to install a window vent, although this may cause a troublesome cross draft. A much more efficient form of ventilation is either a single ducted vent set into the floor in front of the fireplace, or twin ducted vents set into the floor or external walls on each side of the chimney breast.
When wood and coal are burned, flammable gases, tarry substances, acids and dust are given off. However, because domestic stoves are relatively inefficient not all of these substances are consumed. Instead, they rise up the chimney and some of them condense on the inside of the flue. Unburned carbon combines with these tars and acids creating soot; which builds up over a period of time thus reducing the size of the flue. It is important to have regularly used chimneys swept at least twice a year, ideally before, during and at the end of the heating season and the local trade directories contain details of fully qualified and suitably insured sweeps. A soot laden flue is a fire hazard, since the unburned elements of the soot can ignite, causing a chimney fire which can reach high temperatures and damage the chimney.
If a flue is too large, its size can be reduced to improve its efficiency by the fitting of a liner. A variety of methods and materials are used, including flue liners made of flexible stainless steel, ceramic, lightweight concrete sections, or concrete cast in situ. Other ways of reducing the fireplace opening in order to improve fire efficiency is to raise the level of the hearth or to fit a baffle across the top of the opening. If raising the hearth level or adding a baffle are not practical or unsightly then it may be worth asking a fireplace specialist whether fitting a metal smoke hood or canopy in the opening is the best solution.
Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com
Richard Banks is a contractor with many years experience in home remodelling and improvements. For more information on fireplaces visit Fireplace Capital
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Friday, 31 October 2008 22:00 |
This will come as no great surprise, but did you know that the majority of house fires are the result of cooking? In fact, studies show that cooking results in approximately 400,000 fires every year in single family homes and multiple family dwellings. Add to that the number of fires that go unreported and the total is more like 3.5 million residential fires.
Here are some tips from the Orange County (Calif) Fire Authority to help prevent most of these fires:
*Never leave cooking unattended - This is probably the most common cause of kitchen fires. This includes all appliances including toaster ovens, coffee pots and other small appliances. They can overheat and cause a fire if left alone. Be sure to unplug them when not in use.
*Wear close-fitting clothes while cooking - loose, long sleeves can catch fire when dangling near hot burners. Wear close fitting sleeves and avoid storing things over the stove and having to reach over hot burners to retrieve items.
*Avoid overloading outlets - plugging too many appliances into an outlet could result in an electrical fire. Also be aware of cracked or frayed cords.
*Heat oil slowly - Fires can start easily if the setting is too high and the pan is unattended.
*Smother a grease fire - don"t use water on a cooking fire as this will spread the fire and make the it worse. Slide a lid or other non combustible item over the fire and remove the heat source. With oven fires, close the door and turn off the oven.
*Do not allow children to play around the range and other appliances.
*Don"t hesitate to call 911.
These are just some of the common-sense reminders that can help to prevent a fire and send your dream home up in flames. Or, worse, cause severe injury or death. A small amount of caution can make a world of difference. Remember what your mother said: don"t play with fire!
Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com
Eileen Church operates www.firebx.com which is a site devoted to fire, fire safety, fire fighting opportunities and other things related to fire. Please visit www.firebx.com
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Monday, 25 August 2008 06:00 |
Have you ever wondered about the evolution of the stove? This article briefly explains the evolution of fire and the stoves that are now used for cooking fine meals in homes across America every night of the week.
Fire is indeed a very old discovery. It is used for warmth, to heat water for bathing and for cooking meat, vegetable and other food items. It can even be used to make hot drinks. Electric fireplaces are the most recent adaptation of the discovery of fire. When early man first learnt the art of making fire, his life and indeed our lives, changed forever. Early man huddled around the fire to gain warmth and to cook and in many respects fire is not all that different now.
Since this early time, we as a people, have evolved to the point where we now have electric fireplaces and electric stoves meaning that we don"t have to spend hours trying to start and stoke a fire. Rather it is done automatically for us.
The role of fire has changed a lot too. Kitchen stoves have become increasingly popular as they essentially provide the same heating and cooking capabilities as was the case for the cave dwellers all those millions of years ago. Once modern stoves were invented however, the fire became more refined and was split between living room and kitchen, with many abodes having both facilities in their homes.
With the advent of electricity, electric fireplaces and stoves are now at the most advanced they have ever been. For one thing, electric fireplaces don"t require a ventilation system like traditional fireplaces do and stoves have in built ventilation systems and even additional stove top ventilation fans.
Because electric fireplaces and stoves run on electricity, it is easy to be able to control the amount of heat they give off for warming the room or cooking your dinner. All you need to do is just turn the settings up or down according to your needs.
The heat output from electric fireplaces and stoves is much more efficient than wood- burning or gas-burning ones because the output remains constant until such time as you change it or turn it off. With wood burning and gas burning fireplaces and stoves the heat can fluctuate and you have only minimal control. Electric fireplaces and stoves are much easier to maintain and clean as well. You"ll never have to chop up wood or scoop out ash or clear out the chimney. The only thing you"ll have to worry about is wiping out the fireplace at the beginning of each winter or wiping out the stove every couple of weeks to keep it free of spillages.
Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com
Jolissa Smith is the owner of AAA
Stoves which is a
premier source of information about Stoves. For more
information, go to: aaastoves.com
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