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Show Chimney Swoop Last year in the United States there were over fires. 60,000 chimney These fires amounted to more than $36 million in property damage. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, thats a loss of $36 million that could have been prevented if every owner of a coal or wood burning fireplace, furnace, or stove had only understood the importance of keeping the chimney clean. There were a number of g fires involving wood-burnin- stoves and their in Duchesne chimneys County last year. Of those fires, 74 percent were caused by improper installation, 25 percent from maintenance, improper and one percent from product failure. to profesAccording sional chimney Cleaning up milimeter of cresote can reduce a stoves efficiency up to 15 percent. These carbon deposits are extremely flammable and burn with an intense flame that can melt flue lining mortar. Flaming balls of debris may be lifted out of your chimney onto the roof, or even your next door neighbors roof and cause damage. Another of concern creosote building up in the chimney is that of smoke damage in the home. Smoke may back up into the home, causing considerable damage. Drafting problems and smoke puffing into the room when stove doors are opened are late signs of creosote buildup. How do you know when needs chimney cleaning? Wood manustove your sweeper facturers estimate that stoves should be cleaned and inspected annually. To inspect your own chimney use a powerful light and a mirror and look up the flue from the bottom. If the bricks are black or kind of looking, furry they recommend it is time for a Scott Barrik, dean sweep, Roosevelt, a dirty chimney is a potential fire hazard. He explained that dustlike carbon deposits called creosote, collect on the inside of a chimney flue impairing the draft. Wood stove manufacturers estimate that as little as one sweeping. ' At this point the stove owner has the choice of the chimney having flpanad by a professional or doing it himself. If you decide to clean your chimney, make sure the damper is closed and that any other openings in your fireplace or wood stove are most definitely closed. In the case of a that would fireplace, involve carefully masking the entire front with an old wet sheet or similar blocking device. The only way to clean a chimney thoroughly is to scrub the inside of the flue. Hard! It is reported that the job is both tiring and filthy. The next step is that of getting rid of the soot that will collect on top of the damper from the brushing. This can be done with a small shovel and bucket at the Btoves' door. is If a professional hired, an inspection will be given and a price set before they start Most importantly, find out what kind of equipment is used and how the chimney will be cleaned. If it's using something like chains, it could damage the flue. If they pull up with nothing lLadlesi ' and Calendars 10 SnOSlBP $8.99 and $12.99 Velour Brm in tils id Mi I9t $1.00 on por yard Friday and Saturday Only Stitch 'll Sen 109 So. Main Roosevelt Gri Christmas Kits Robe Velour $4.99 - 722-497- 4 that have various sizes to fit different sized flues and to insure cleanliness, a high is vacuum powered necessary. The purpose of the vacuum is to control the soot by creating a vacuum in the fireplace. This guarantees that dirt wont move beyond the mouth of the fireplace, thereby maintaining a clean house. Barrick also talked about fire safety in the home. He suggested that smoke detectors be installed on every level and for each set of bedrooms in the home. He explained that there are two kinds of detectors, one powered by batteries and the other connected to the electrical system of the home. He suggests the use of both in case of power failure during a fire. To practice fire drills in the home is another way of preventing the loss of life in a home fire. It is suggested that bedroom Continued on page 7 Scott Barrick vacuums up the mess after sweeping a chimney. THE LAST STEP! throughout the storol Make your own bendover pants a Color Selection! sweeps companies brushes of Sola prices sen Ssave $1.00 per yard on the Stretch Trigger. Chimney recommend Pro Holiday sale Selling Beady For Christmas nith me Help of Stitch ' but a big vacuum truck, it probably wont do the job either. Oil |