tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41073884632005546542024-03-09T20:47:16.916-06:00HearthMastersAll about chimneys, fireplaces, wood and gas burning appliances, brick ovens, masonry heaters, and masonry chimneys. Sign up for our email list for notices when new articles are published!Marge Padgitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647210965207710968noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107388463200554654.post-6985789053956336492023-12-21T09:44:00.001-06:002023-12-21T09:44:27.592-06:00Why Santa Uses a Chimney to Enter a House<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_84rf9VJnt1cb_mn_nhNFkwphjxmL9-eZbFUJoaNFVjH_qEGdAGWBpoPYyuLuZMEyRW6rt21YaJGS1Bfp3Se1YEHvMo0EUngaC_m4E2TvTF5atXG_RI7GdtlBXmOw88sSbZbz_9jAFRcGw-NU6RttnSMcSrXyFyO1T8sASlaIHfsNhkGOdBt1TAb6I6G/s1620/AdobeStock_612894537%20(Large).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1620" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_84rf9VJnt1cb_mn_nhNFkwphjxmL9-eZbFUJoaNFVjH_qEGdAGWBpoPYyuLuZMEyRW6rt21YaJGS1Bfp3Se1YEHvMo0EUngaC_m4E2TvTF5atXG_RI7GdtlBXmOw88sSbZbz_9jAFRcGw-NU6RttnSMcSrXyFyO1T8sASlaIHfsNhkGOdBt1TAb6I6G/w533-h355/AdobeStock_612894537%20(Large).jpeg" width="533" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">F</span>or generations, Santa Claus has been celebrated in various
stories from around the world. Whether referred to as Father Christmas or St.
Nicholas, his cheerful tale has always filled children with delight and
provided Christmas with a special atmosphere. Nowadays, Santa Claus is known as
the jolly gift-giver who enters homes through the chimney. To make sure the
chimney is clean
https://www.midtownsweeps.com/residential-services/chimney-sweeping/ and the
cookies are prepared, let us explore the common stories about Santa Claus and
the cozy atmosphere created by a fireplace.<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<h3>The Narrative of St. Nicholas from Washington Irving<o:p></o:p></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal">The inception of the tale of Santa Claus entering the abodes
of children through the chimney is attributed to Washington Irving, author of
"The Legend of Sleepy Hollow". In the early 1800's, Irving published
a book called "Knickerbocker's History of New York" which told the
story of New York during its fifty-year Dutch rule in the 1600's. The book
stated that St. Nicholas was seen "riding jollily among the treetops or
over the roofs of the houses, now and then drawing forth magnificent presents
from his breeches pockets and dropping them down the chimneys of his
favorites." Additionally, Irving mentioned how sometimes, Santa himself
"rattles down the chimneys" to give gifts to children.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Irving's book, with its numerous references to St. Nicholas,
resonated with American readers. This work helped form the holiday customs in
the US -- particularly the fresh concept of a Santa who visits through the
fireplace to distribute presents and sweets.<o:p></o:p></p>
<h3>But Hang On -- There's "Even More"!<o:p></o:p></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMI_SNLmth_WtKc7Aou8JxRuRi0aUjr9PG35P_hrYG-xcGFSxD2GUUbiqSYa9gYZvQdkcEzvjRV4Hkr64sIS0QzTeaWZWDr9VRFWA0pkJD5ZrfUaAkUnoRxTju8qZc7GV7FMEV2o_Lvl7X77ANgiZqSwg6FrmaPCmcKT7RfNzPRTUsy3-SyJAl21lD9luE/s775/cover%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="775" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMI_SNLmth_WtKc7Aou8JxRuRi0aUjr9PG35P_hrYG-xcGFSxD2GUUbiqSYa9gYZvQdkcEzvjRV4Hkr64sIS0QzTeaWZWDr9VRFWA0pkJD5ZrfUaAkUnoRxTju8qZc7GV7FMEV2o_Lvl7X77ANgiZqSwg6FrmaPCmcKT7RfNzPRTUsy3-SyJAl21lD9luE/w570-h219/cover%20(1).jpg" width="570" /></a></div><br />In 1823, Washington Irving wrote a few words about chimneys <a href=" https://midtownsweeps.com">https://midtownsweeps.com</a>/, but it wasn't until Clement Clarke Moore's poem,
"A Visit From St. Nicholas," was published that the image of Santa
with rosy cheeks and a white beard, wearing fur clothes that had been soiled by
the soot from the chimney, was fully realized.<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The poem's narrator hears a commotion on his roof, and then
in a flash, Saint Nicholas appears down the chimney! After filling stockings,
he quickly hops back up the chimney and onto his sleigh. Nowadays, this tale is
more often referred to as "Twas the Night Before Christmas" which
celebrates Father Christmas and the wondrous gifts he has to offer.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Read "Twas The Night Before Christmas" Here: </p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/files/17135/17135-h/17135-h.htm">The Project Gutenberg eBook of Twas The Night Before Christmas, by Clement C. Moore</a></p>
<h3>What is the Reason for the Chimney?<o:p></o:p></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal">Down the centuries, children have been fascinated by St.
Nicholas/Santa's chosen way of entering homes - via the chimney. This has posed
the question: Why not enter through the door or windows? What was it that made
Washington Irving, Clement Clarke Moore and other early authors pick this
particular method of entry?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Since the Middle Ages, people have been captivated by the
idea of magical beings entering into homes. This notion began with the
superstitious belief that witches could pass through walls. To counter this,
Heinrich Kramer and Jacob Sprenger wrote Mallues Maleficarum, published in
1486, proposing that instead witches could get in by way of the chimney.
However, this failed to stop the public from embracing tales of goblins in
Greece, brownie fairies in Scotland, and the Italian bell-ringer of sweets, all
of whom were said to enter through the chimney.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The history and evolution of the Santa chimney story is
complex. It has been shaped by religion, European folklore, and American
authors. Because of these contributions, the present generation of children can
be filled with excitement and delight while anticipating Santa's descent down
the chimney to give them presents and treats on Christmas morning!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The combination of the Internet and the development of new
technologies has resulted in a great deal of progress in communication and
information. Nowadays, individuals have the ability to interact with one
another from all over the world, and access vast amounts of information in mere
seconds. This has been made possible due to the combination of the Internet and
the proliferation of new technologies.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">HearthMasters Blog</div>Marge Padgitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647210965207710968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107388463200554654.post-87009298495287247612023-11-07T15:31:00.006-06:002023-11-29T12:46:52.215-06:00Magical Masonry Heaters for Green Home Heating<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD5CCaX8jQNEmRx8UFK9eKDeN2TlQPt6z8AizW6sYR5dGW93I7Bj1LrOj2M8FIxwu2CY5DEROFGXeDIuN7zkZEh5oLDaeRQ036MUd7_CGc8uP7_2GyyCO5reYgotwPxZ82mKBVdoUqwig4bY0FgfP8ycVQiVZQJOVi6d0Nz154V4V8iMuhuMLbow_6jL7I/s768/Masonry%20Heater%20complete_edited-21%20(Medium).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="432" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD5CCaX8jQNEmRx8UFK9eKDeN2TlQPt6z8AizW6sYR5dGW93I7Bj1LrOj2M8FIxwu2CY5DEROFGXeDIuN7zkZEh5oLDaeRQ036MUd7_CGc8uP7_2GyyCO5reYgotwPxZ82mKBVdoUqwig4bY0FgfP8ycVQiVZQJOVi6d0Nz154V4V8iMuhuMLbow_6jL7I/w225-h400/Masonry%20Heater%20complete_edited-21%20(Medium).jpg" width="225" /></a></span></b></div><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">S</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ometimes old things are better than new, like old houses, historic
buildings, and castles. The latest trend in home heating fits into that
category. Masonry heaters have been around for hundreds of years in Europe, but
are just recently catching on in the U.S. And the great thing about heaters is
that they are GREEN. People needed to heat their homes in an efficient manner
in olden times just as today in order to save their forests. Inefficient open
fireplaces took too much of their valuable resources, so another method had to
be developed. No one knows who the first mason was who came up with the idea of
devising something that would retain heat for long periods of time, then
radiate it into the home while using less wood, but whoever he was, he (or she) was a
genius.<br /><br /></span><p></p>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="mso-cellspacing: 0in; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Masonry heaters have been redesigned and
altered over the years, but heaters all have the same characteristics with
complex channels to slow down and trap heat from flue gasses, and a mass of
masonry to retain that heat, then radiate it to the living space over a
period of up to 20 hours. By the time the products of combustion get to the
exit of the flue, the smoke is white, and the particulate emissions are very
low. One load of wood can usually provide heating for the average size home
for 8-12 hours. Compared to even the best high-efficiency wood–burning stoves
on the market today, gas and oil-fired furnaces, and certainly inefficient
open fireplaces, masonry heaters can’t be beat.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Service should be completed annually by a professional chimney sweep familiar with masonry heaters, which are unlike any other wood-burning appliance. </span></p>
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<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</td>
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</tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To see technical specifications and
testing results, photos of heaters, manufacturers, and a list of heater masons,
contact the Masonry Heater Association of North America through </span><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/u/3/blog/post/edit/6530405101793170361/1345109743722263289"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">www.mha-net.org</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. There is a chat list set up for anyone interested in
masonry heaters at </span><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/u/3/blog/post/edit/6530405101793170361/1345109743722263289"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MasonryHeaters</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">#############</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Marge Padgitt is the author of The Chimney &
Hearth Pro’s Resource Book and Wood-Fired Heating and Cooking. She is the president of HearthMasters, Inc. </span><a href="http://www.hearthmasters.net"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">www.hearthmasters.net</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">HearthMasters Blog</div>Marge Padgitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647210965207710968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107388463200554654.post-11559696907795127872023-10-04T16:05:00.002-06:002023-10-04T16:05:59.743-06:00Chimney Fire in Prairie Village, KS Captured on Camera<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal">A chimney fire occurred in February of 2023 in the 4600 block of
West 82<sup>nd</sup> St, Prairie Village Kansas. The neighbor captured photos
of the fire department putting out the fire and sent them to us. The neighbor
happens to be a client of HearthMasters. Since it is not common to get photos of
chimney fires while they are in progress, we decided to post this event in
order to warn people about the dangers of chimney fires. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76jx7vqeaENX1AE9cHz5cMgy4QYvMyV8sRmmZGVi42pgs6HC_stXNDqLebPcK1vM1LxhoMxEY227OeAV5h5WNpR1MjdOwzR3njU0tSxEzqryHp7GnZ9hO90qlrAn934aKtUfqovxCTlWSp8PzWQ_h2g4CkEWfKFF5EOvRAIP5MAnq3qHHZlHMMSVseA/s1024/7190417417114530151.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76jx7vqeaENX1AE9cHz5cMgy4QYvMyV8sRmmZGVi42pgs6HC_stXNDqLebPcK1vM1LxhoMxEY227OeAV5h5WNpR1MjdOwzR3njU0tSxEzqryHp7GnZ9hO90qlrAn934aKtUfqovxCTlWSp8PzWQ_h2g4CkEWfKFF5EOvRAIP5MAnq3qHHZlHMMSVseA/s320/7190417417114530151.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Chimney fires occur when flammable creosote ignites inside a
smoke chamber or flue due to an errant spark, a fire that is too large, or the
use of paper, which can be pulled upward by draft and ignite the creosote. The
amount of creosote inside the flue, along with draft, will determine how long
the fire keeps going.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Most chimney fires are extinguished by expanding
creosote, and often homeowners are unaware that they occurred. The damage may be
found later by a chimney sweep. The interior and exterior of a chimney may be
severely damaged by expansion and contraction caused by the heat of a chimney
fire, making it unusable, and causing thousands of dollars of damage. Chimney
fire damage is covered by homeowner’s insurance. <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZF9ypoeP7Ft18U0jEUuoVDf4eLBwtGxgpXHeGezCDI6G63A9T71LqCRUMARLHX5D1f2gD03LRU-g0uBTi01JEGiWTjzKNKzvaoMaocpDi4n3hdK9FR0kKZkcyuUjjVFYhHtfo7oU73Tyz1V6xWKCx4Xxm0N74VhbISiV_TW84cRPzgdw21ETfZTzGw/s1024/870946571791580948.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZF9ypoeP7Ft18U0jEUuoVDf4eLBwtGxgpXHeGezCDI6G63A9T71LqCRUMARLHX5D1f2gD03LRU-g0uBTi01JEGiWTjzKNKzvaoMaocpDi4n3hdK9FR0kKZkcyuUjjVFYhHtfo7oU73Tyz1V6xWKCx4Xxm0N74VhbISiV_TW84cRPzgdw21ETfZTzGw/w262-h349/870946571791580948.jpg" width="262" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Some chimney fires are noticed at the time the occur, and
that is when the fire department is called to put it out. Homeowners should
always call the fire department when a fire occurs because it might not be
contained inside the chimney if there are any breechings in the masonry or if
combustible framing is incorrectly installed next to the chimney, which
unfortunately happens too often. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">One of our customers stayed up all night watching his house after a chimney fire occurred, and had to call the fire department back three times because it kept reigniting combustible framing in the wall area. Had he not stayed up the house may have burned completely, </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After a chimney fire has occurred, the chimney should be
inspected by a qualified professional chimney sweep using a chimney camera. If damages are found,
which is very likely, the sweep should document the damages with<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>photos and a written evaluation report for insurance
purposes. Homeowners should not attempt to remove burnt creosote or do an
inspection themselves.<o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7FokXPGJgTHqx-7pnM77oPumFULSQ3Tnrq7YZzdE40LOxZpR7xYFFLxWQyvlWi-3BClVsptuk9UOzFh1YuuqvuHu63616UiPHrTLJivY6R8xihnK3m7NDAegDjw2162su49NZ-M7kIWp3nD--6xiWB3y_5_JoBk-RrsE7EZPyf3cc7CwYzgkb5tclA/s272/7190417417114530151c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="244" data-original-width="272" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7FokXPGJgTHqx-7pnM77oPumFULSQ3Tnrq7YZzdE40LOxZpR7xYFFLxWQyvlWi-3BClVsptuk9UOzFh1YuuqvuHu63616UiPHrTLJivY6R8xihnK3m7NDAegDjw2162su49NZ-M7kIWp3nD--6xiWB3y_5_JoBk-RrsE7EZPyf3cc7CwYzgkb5tclA/w488-h438/7190417417114530151c.jpg" width="488" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close up of firemen on the roof</td></tr></tbody></table>------------------------------<div><br /></div><div>Marge Padgitt is president of HearthMasters, Inc. in Independence, Missouri. She is the author of The Chimney and Hearth Pro's Resource Book and Wood-Fired Heating and Cooking. <a href="https://www.chimkc.com ">www.chimkc.com </a></div><div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">HearthMasters Blog</div>Marge Padgitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647210965207710968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107388463200554654.post-74449099807287979082023-10-04T15:27:00.001-06:002023-10-04T15:27:44.385-06:00The Benefits of Biomass Tax Credit for Wood and Pellet Stoves<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQpP0Rm783s1Lh3SYkMxx2ou3dxqBOIiXK-QTOd4nBCldmgtaiz1crKO7RIrVMMEIK5geoGMGPiZ3FUepxia_YKS2wam3IKrBVAWU_rNdGbsywm7JTGajXCO-MXdlZMWbkaYYwgs4QiTpmN0STOlT0j_De2YF5GLfQcNG_Bu-kKiXqnSUjdOPoPM92zi24/s788/CI1250-1-RGB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="788" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQpP0Rm783s1Lh3SYkMxx2ou3dxqBOIiXK-QTOd4nBCldmgtaiz1crKO7RIrVMMEIK5geoGMGPiZ3FUepxia_YKS2wam3IKrBVAWU_rNdGbsywm7JTGajXCO-MXdlZMWbkaYYwgs4QiTpmN0STOlT0j_De2YF5GLfQcNG_Bu-kKiXqnSUjdOPoPM92zi24/w640-h488/CI1250-1-RGB.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">High-efficiency wood-burning insert by Regency</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="-webkit-box-align: revert; -webkit-box-decoration-break: revert; -webkit-box-direction: revert; -webkit-box-flex: revert; -webkit-box-ordinal-group: revert; -webkit-box-orient: revert; -webkit-box-pack: revert; -webkit-box-reflect: revert; -webkit-font-smoothing: revert; -webkit-highlight: revert; -webkit-line-break: revert; -webkit-line-clamp: revert; -webkit-locale: revert; -webkit-mask-box-image: revert; -webkit-mask-composite: revert; -webkit-mask: revert; -webkit-print-color-adjust: revert; -webkit-rtl-ordering: revert; -webkit-ruby-position: revert; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: revert; -webkit-text-combine: revert; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: revert; -webkit-text-fill-color: revert; -webkit-text-orientation: revert; -webkit-text-security: revert; -webkit-text-stroke-color: revert; -webkit-user-drag: revert; -webkit-user-modify: revert; -webkit-writing-mode: revert; accent-color: revert; alignment-baseline: revert; animation-composition: revert; animation: revert; app-region: revert; appearance: revert; aspect-ratio: revert; backdrop-filter: revert; backface-visibility: revert; background-attachment: revert; background-blend-mode: revert; background-clip: revert; background-color: white; background-image: revert; background-origin: revert; background-position: revert; background-repeat: revert; background-size: revert; baseline-shift: revert; baseline-source: revert; block-size: revert; border-block: revert; border-collapse: revert; border-end-end-radius: revert; border-end-start-radius: revert; border-inline: revert; border-radius: revert; border-spacing: revert; border-start-end-radius: revert; border-start-start-radius: revert; border: revert; box-shadow: revert; box-sizing: revert; break-after: revert; break-before: revert; break-inside: revert; buffered-rendering: revert; caption-side: revert; caret-color: revert; clear: revert; clip-path: revert; clip-rule: revert; clip: revert; color-interpolation-filters: revert; color-interpolation: revert; color-rendering: revert; color-scheme: revert; column-fill: revert; column-rule: revert; column-span: revert; columns: revert; contain-intrinsic-block-size: revert; contain-intrinsic-inline-size: revert; contain-intrinsic-size: revert; contain: revert; container: revert; content-visibility: revert; content: revert; counter-increment: revert; counter-reset: revert; counter-set: revert; cursor: revert; cx: revert; cy: revert; d: revert; display: revert; dominant-baseline: revert; empty-cells: revert; fill-opacity: revert; fill-rule: revert; fill: revert; filter: revert; flex-flow: revert; flex: revert; float: revert; flood-color: revert; flood-opacity: revert; font-family: Inter, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: revert; font-kerning: revert; font-optical-sizing: revert; font-palette: revert; font-stretch: revert; font-synthesis: revert; font-variant-alternates: revert; font-variant-east-asian: revert; font-variant-numeric: revert; font-variation-settings: revert; forced-color-adjust: revert; gap: revert; grid-area: revert; grid: revert; height: revert; hyphenate-character: revert; hyphenate-limit-chars: revert; hyphens: revert; image-orientation: revert; image-rendering: revert; initial-letter: revert; inline-size: revert; inset-block: revert; inset-inline: revert; inset: revert; isolation: revert; lighting-color: revert; line-break: revert; line-height: revert; list-style: revert; margin-block: revert; margin-inline: revert; margin: revert; marker: revert; mask-type: revert; mask: revert; math-depth: revert; math-shift: revert; math-style: revert; max-block-size: revert; max-height: revert; max-inline-size: revert; max-width: revert; min-block-size: revert; min-height: revert; min-inline-size: revert; min-width: revert; mix-blend-mode: revert; object-fit: revert; object-position: revert; object-view-box: revert; offset: revert; opacity: revert; order: revert; outline-offset: revert; outline: revert; overflow-anchor: revert; overflow-clip-margin: revert; overflow-wrap: revert; overflow: revert; overscroll-behavior-block: revert; overscroll-behavior-inline: revert; overscroll-behavior: revert; padding-block: revert; padding-inline: revert; padding: revert; page-orientation: revert; page: revert; paint-order: revert; perspective-origin: revert; perspective: revert; place-content: revert; place-items: revert; place-self: revert; pointer-events: revert; position: revert; quotes: revert; r: revert; resize: revert; rotate: revert; ruby-position: revert; rx: revert; ry: revert; scale: revert; scroll-behavior: revert; scroll-margin-block: revert; scroll-margin-inline: revert; scroll-margin: revert; scroll-padding-block: revert; scroll-padding-inline: revert; scroll-padding: revert; scroll-snap-align: revert; scroll-snap-stop: revert; scroll-snap-type: revert; scrollbar-gutter: revert; shape-image-threshold: revert; shape-margin: revert; shape-outside: revert; shape-rendering: revert; size: revert; speak: revert; stop-color: revert; stop-opacity: revert; stroke-dasharray: revert; stroke-dashoffset: revert; stroke-linecap: revert; stroke-linejoin: revert; stroke-miterlimit: revert; stroke-opacity: revert; stroke-width: revert; stroke: revert; tab-size: revert; table-layout: revert; text-align-last: revert; text-anchor: revert; text-combine-upright: revert; text-decoration-line: revert; text-decoration-skip-ink: revert; text-emphasis-position: revert; text-emphasis: revert; text-orientation: revert; text-overflow: revert; text-rendering: revert; text-shadow: revert; text-size-adjust: revert; text-underline-offset: revert; text-underline-position: revert; touch-action: revert; transform-box: revert; transform-origin: revert; transform-style: revert; transform: revert; transition: revert; translate: revert; user-select: revert; vector-effect: revert; vertical-align: revert; view-transition-name: revert; visibility: revert; white-space-collapse: preserve; width: revert; will-change: revert; word-break: revert; writing-mode: revert; x: revert; y: revert; z-index: revert; zoom: revert;"><span style="caret-color: revert; font-size: small; text-decoration-line: revert;">By Marge Padgitt</span></p><p style="-webkit-box-align: revert; -webkit-box-decoration-break: revert; -webkit-box-direction: revert; -webkit-box-flex: revert; -webkit-box-ordinal-group: revert; -webkit-box-orient: revert; -webkit-box-pack: revert; -webkit-box-reflect: revert; -webkit-font-smoothing: revert; -webkit-highlight: revert; -webkit-line-break: revert; -webkit-line-clamp: revert; -webkit-locale: revert; -webkit-mask-box-image: revert; -webkit-mask-composite: revert; -webkit-mask: revert; -webkit-print-color-adjust: revert; -webkit-rtl-ordering: revert; -webkit-ruby-position: revert; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: revert; -webkit-text-combine: revert; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: revert; -webkit-text-fill-color: revert; -webkit-text-orientation: revert; -webkit-text-security: revert; -webkit-text-stroke-color: revert; -webkit-user-drag: revert; -webkit-user-modify: revert; -webkit-writing-mode: revert; accent-color: revert; alignment-baseline: revert; animation-composition: revert; animation: revert; app-region: revert; appearance: revert; aspect-ratio: revert; backdrop-filter: revert; backface-visibility: revert; background-attachment: revert; background-blend-mode: revert; background-clip: revert; background-color: white; background-image: revert; background-origin: revert; background-position: revert; background-repeat: revert; background-size: revert; baseline-shift: revert; baseline-source: revert; block-size: revert; border-block: revert; border-collapse: revert; border-end-end-radius: revert; border-end-start-radius: revert; border-inline: revert; border-radius: revert; border-spacing: revert; border-start-end-radius: revert; border-start-start-radius: revert; border: revert; box-shadow: revert; box-sizing: revert; break-after: revert; break-before: revert; break-inside: revert; buffered-rendering: revert; caption-side: revert; caret-color: revert; clear: revert; clip-path: revert; clip-rule: revert; clip: revert; color-interpolation-filters: revert; color-interpolation: revert; color-rendering: revert; color-scheme: revert; column-fill: revert; column-rule: revert; column-span: revert; columns: revert; contain-intrinsic-block-size: revert; contain-intrinsic-inline-size: revert; contain-intrinsic-size: revert; contain: revert; container: revert; content-visibility: revert; content: revert; counter-increment: revert; counter-reset: revert; counter-set: revert; cursor: revert; cx: revert; cy: revert; d: revert; display: revert; dominant-baseline: revert; empty-cells: revert; fill-opacity: revert; fill-rule: revert; fill: revert; filter: revert; flex-flow: revert; flex: revert; float: revert; flood-color: revert; flood-opacity: revert; font-family: Inter, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: revert; font-kerning: revert; font-optical-sizing: revert; font-palette: revert; font-stretch: revert; font-synthesis: revert; font-variant-alternates: revert; font-variant-east-asian: revert; font-variant-numeric: revert; font-variation-settings: revert; forced-color-adjust: revert; gap: revert; grid-area: revert; grid: revert; height: revert; hyphenate-character: revert; hyphenate-limit-chars: revert; hyphens: revert; image-orientation: revert; image-rendering: revert; initial-letter: revert; inline-size: revert; inset-block: revert; inset-inline: revert; inset: revert; isolation: revert; lighting-color: revert; line-break: revert; line-height: revert; list-style: revert; margin-block: revert; margin-inline: revert; margin: revert; marker: revert; mask-type: revert; mask: revert; math-depth: revert; math-shift: revert; math-style: revert; max-block-size: revert; max-height: revert; max-inline-size: revert; max-width: revert; min-block-size: revert; min-height: revert; min-inline-size: revert; min-width: revert; mix-blend-mode: revert; object-fit: revert; object-position: revert; object-view-box: revert; offset: revert; opacity: revert; order: revert; outline-offset: revert; outline: revert; overflow-anchor: revert; overflow-clip-margin: revert; overflow-wrap: revert; overflow: revert; overscroll-behavior-block: revert; overscroll-behavior-inline: revert; overscroll-behavior: revert; padding-block: revert; padding-inline: revert; padding: revert; page-orientation: revert; page: revert; paint-order: revert; perspective-origin: revert; perspective: revert; place-content: revert; place-items: revert; place-self: revert; pointer-events: revert; position: revert; quotes: revert; r: revert; resize: revert; rotate: revert; ruby-position: revert; rx: revert; ry: revert; scale: revert; scroll-behavior: revert; scroll-margin-block: revert; scroll-margin-inline: revert; scroll-margin: revert; scroll-padding-block: revert; scroll-padding-inline: revert; scroll-padding: revert; scroll-snap-align: revert; scroll-snap-stop: revert; scroll-snap-type: revert; scrollbar-gutter: revert; shape-image-threshold: revert; shape-margin: revert; shape-outside: revert; shape-rendering: revert; size: revert; speak: revert; stop-color: revert; stop-opacity: revert; stroke-dasharray: revert; stroke-dashoffset: revert; stroke-linecap: revert; stroke-linejoin: revert; stroke-miterlimit: revert; stroke-opacity: revert; stroke-width: revert; stroke: revert; tab-size: revert; table-layout: revert; text-align-last: revert; text-anchor: revert; text-combine-upright: revert; text-decoration-line: revert; text-decoration-skip-ink: revert; text-emphasis-position: revert; text-emphasis: revert; text-orientation: revert; text-overflow: revert; text-rendering: revert; text-shadow: revert; text-size-adjust: revert; text-underline-offset: revert; text-underline-position: revert; touch-action: revert; transform-box: revert; transform-origin: revert; transform-style: revert; transform: revert; transition: revert; translate: revert; user-select: revert; vector-effect: revert; vertical-align: revert; view-transition-name: revert; visibility: revert; white-space-collapse: preserve; width: revert; will-change: revert; word-break: revert; writing-mode: revert; x: revert; y: revert; z-index: revert; zoom: revert;">Homeowners planning to install an alternative heating appliance should review the<a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/residential-clean-energy-credit"> Biomass Tax Credit</a> that provides an incentive for homeowners to install highly efficient wood and pellet stoves. This tax credit, which runs from January 1st, 2023, to December 31st, 2032, allows eligible taxpayers to receive a credit of 30% of the purchase and installation costs, up to $2,000 annually. </p><p style="-webkit-box-align: revert; -webkit-box-decoration-break: revert; -webkit-box-direction: revert; -webkit-box-flex: revert; -webkit-box-ordinal-group: revert; -webkit-box-orient: revert; -webkit-box-pack: revert; -webkit-box-reflect: revert; -webkit-font-smoothing: revert; -webkit-highlight: revert; -webkit-line-break: revert; -webkit-line-clamp: revert; -webkit-locale: revert; -webkit-mask-box-image: revert; -webkit-mask-composite: revert; -webkit-mask: revert; -webkit-print-color-adjust: revert; -webkit-rtl-ordering: revert; -webkit-ruby-position: revert; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: revert; -webkit-text-combine: revert; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: revert; -webkit-text-fill-color: revert; -webkit-text-orientation: revert; -webkit-text-security: revert; -webkit-text-stroke-color: revert; -webkit-user-drag: revert; -webkit-user-modify: revert; -webkit-writing-mode: revert; accent-color: revert; alignment-baseline: revert; animation-composition: revert; animation: revert; app-region: revert; appearance: revert; aspect-ratio: revert; backdrop-filter: revert; backface-visibility: revert; background-attachment: revert; background-blend-mode: revert; background-clip: revert; background-color: white; background-image: revert; background-origin: revert; background-position: revert; background-repeat: revert; background-size: revert; baseline-shift: revert; baseline-source: revert; block-size: revert; border-block: revert; border-collapse: revert; border-end-end-radius: revert; border-end-start-radius: revert; border-inline: revert; border-radius: revert; border-spacing: revert; border-start-end-radius: revert; border-start-start-radius: revert; border: revert; box-shadow: revert; box-sizing: revert; break-after: revert; break-before: revert; break-inside: revert; buffered-rendering: revert; caption-side: revert; caret-color: revert; clear: revert; clip-path: revert; clip-rule: revert; clip: revert; color-interpolation-filters: revert; color-interpolation: revert; color-rendering: revert; color-scheme: revert; column-fill: revert; column-rule: revert; column-span: revert; columns: revert; contain-intrinsic-block-size: revert; contain-intrinsic-inline-size: revert; contain-intrinsic-size: revert; contain: revert; container: revert; content-visibility: revert; content: revert; counter-increment: revert; counter-reset: revert; counter-set: revert; cursor: revert; cx: revert; cy: revert; d: revert; display: revert; dominant-baseline: revert; empty-cells: revert; fill-opacity: revert; fill-rule: revert; fill: revert; filter: revert; flex-flow: revert; flex: revert; float: revert; flood-color: revert; flood-opacity: revert; font-family: Inter, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: revert; font-kerning: revert; font-optical-sizing: revert; font-palette: revert; font-stretch: revert; font-synthesis: revert; font-variant-alternates: revert; font-variant-east-asian: revert; font-variant-numeric: revert; font-variation-settings: revert; forced-color-adjust: revert; gap: revert; grid-area: revert; grid: revert; height: revert; hyphenate-character: revert; hyphenate-limit-chars: revert; hyphens: revert; image-orientation: revert; image-rendering: revert; initial-letter: revert; inline-size: revert; inset-block: revert; inset-inline: revert; inset: revert; isolation: revert; lighting-color: revert; line-break: revert; line-height: revert; list-style: revert; margin-block: revert; margin-inline: revert; margin: revert; marker: revert; mask-type: revert; mask: revert; math-depth: revert; math-shift: revert; math-style: revert; max-block-size: revert; max-height: revert; max-inline-size: revert; max-width: revert; min-block-size: revert; min-height: revert; min-inline-size: revert; min-width: revert; mix-blend-mode: revert; object-fit: revert; object-position: revert; object-view-box: revert; offset: revert; opacity: revert; order: revert; outline-offset: revert; outline: revert; overflow-anchor: revert; overflow-clip-margin: revert; overflow-wrap: revert; overflow: revert; overscroll-behavior-block: revert; overscroll-behavior-inline: revert; overscroll-behavior: revert; padding-block: revert; padding-inline: revert; padding: revert; page-orientation: revert; page: revert; paint-order: revert; perspective-origin: revert; perspective: revert; place-content: revert; place-items: revert; place-self: revert; pointer-events: revert; position: revert; quotes: revert; r: revert; resize: revert; rotate: revert; ruby-position: revert; rx: revert; ry: revert; scale: revert; scroll-behavior: revert; scroll-margin-block: revert; scroll-margin-inline: revert; scroll-margin: revert; scroll-padding-block: revert; scroll-padding-inline: revert; scroll-padding: revert; scroll-snap-align: revert; scroll-snap-stop: revert; scroll-snap-type: revert; scrollbar-gutter: revert; shape-image-threshold: revert; shape-margin: revert; shape-outside: revert; shape-rendering: revert; size: revert; speak: revert; stop-color: revert; stop-opacity: revert; stroke-dasharray: revert; stroke-dashoffset: revert; stroke-linecap: revert; stroke-linejoin: revert; stroke-miterlimit: revert; stroke-opacity: revert; stroke-width: revert; stroke: revert; tab-size: revert; table-layout: revert; text-align-last: revert; text-anchor: revert; text-combine-upright: revert; text-decoration-line: revert; text-decoration-skip-ink: revert; text-emphasis-position: revert; text-emphasis: revert; text-orientation: revert; text-overflow: revert; text-rendering: revert; text-shadow: revert; text-size-adjust: revert; text-underline-offset: revert; text-underline-position: revert; touch-action: revert; transform-box: revert; transform-origin: revert; transform-style: revert; transform: revert; transition: revert; translate: revert; user-select: revert; vector-effect: revert; vertical-align: revert; view-transition-name: revert; visibility: revert; white-space-collapse: preserve; width: revert; will-change: revert; word-break: revert; writing-mode: revert; x: revert; y: revert; z-index: revert; zoom: revert;">The Biomass Tax Credit, enacted as part of the Inflation Reduction Act, was implemented to promote the adoption of more sustainable and efficient heating options in residential properties. This tax credit is applicable to wood and pellet stoves that meet specific criteria. To qualify for the credit, the stoves<b> must have a thermal efficiency of at least 75% </b>per the higher heating value (HHV) of the fuel, and be listed as an approved appliance. The tax credit is available for purchases and installations completed between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2032. </p><p style="accent-color: revert; alignment-baseline: revert; animation-composition: revert; animation: revert; app-region: revert; appearance: revert; aspect-ratio: revert; backdrop-filter: revert; backface-visibility: revert; background-attachment: revert; background-blend-mode: revert; background-clip: revert; background-color: white; background-image: revert; background-origin: revert; background-position: revert; background-repeat: revert; background-size: revert; baseline-shift: revert; baseline-source: revert; block-size: revert; border-block: revert; border-collapse: revert; border-end-end-radius: revert; border-end-start-radius: revert; border-inline: revert; border-radius: revert; border-spacing: revert; border-start-end-radius: revert; border-start-start-radius: revert; border: revert; box-shadow: revert; box-sizing: revert; break-after: revert; break-before: revert; break-inside: revert; buffered-rendering: revert; caption-side: revert; caret-color: revert; clear: revert; clip-path: revert; clip-rule: revert; clip: revert; color-interpolation-filters: revert; color-interpolation: revert; color-rendering: revert; color-scheme: revert; column-fill: revert; column-rule: revert; column-span: revert; columns: revert; contain-intrinsic-block-size: revert; contain-intrinsic-inline-size: revert; contain-intrinsic-size: revert; contain: revert; container: revert; content-visibility: revert; content: revert; counter-increment: revert; counter-reset: revert; counter-set: revert; cursor: revert; cx: revert; cy: revert; d: revert; display: revert; dominant-baseline: revert; empty-cells: revert; fill-opacity: revert; fill-rule: revert; fill: revert; filter: revert; flex-flow: revert; flex: revert; float: revert; flood-color: revert; flood-opacity: revert; font-family: Inter, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: revert; font-kerning: revert; font-optical-sizing: revert; font-palette: revert; font-size: revert; font-stretch: revert; font-synthesis: revert; font-variant-alternates: revert; font-variant-east-asian: revert; font-variant-numeric: revert; font-variation-settings: revert; font-weight: revert; forced-color-adjust: revert; gap: revert; grid-area: revert; grid: revert; height: revert; hyphenate-character: revert; hyphenate-limit-chars: revert; hyphens: revert; image-orientation: revert; image-rendering: revert; initial-letter: revert; inline-size: revert; inset-block: revert; inset-inline: revert; inset: revert; isolation: revert; lighting-color: revert; line-break: revert; line-height: revert; list-style: revert; margin-block: revert; margin-inline: revert; margin: revert; marker: revert; mask-type: revert; mask: revert; math-depth: revert; math-shift: revert; math-style: revert; max-block-size: revert; max-height: revert; max-inline-size: revert; max-width: revert; min-block-size: revert; min-height: revert; min-inline-size: revert; min-width: revert; mix-blend-mode: revert; object-fit: revert; object-position: revert; object-view-box: revert; offset: revert; opacity: revert; order: revert; outline-offset: revert; outline: revert; overflow-anchor: revert; overflow-clip-margin: revert; overflow-wrap: revert; overflow: revert; overscroll-behavior-block: revert; overscroll-behavior-inline: revert; overscroll-behavior: revert; padding-block: revert; padding-inline: revert; padding: revert; page-orientation: revert; page: revert; paint-order: revert; perspective-origin: revert; perspective: revert; place-content: revert; place-items: revert; place-self: revert; pointer-events: revert; position: revert; quotes: revert; r: revert; resize: revert; rotate: revert; ruby-position: revert; rx: revert; ry: revert; scale: revert; scroll-behavior: revert; scroll-margin-block: revert; scroll-margin-inline: revert; scroll-margin: revert; scroll-padding-block: revert; scroll-padding-inline: revert; scroll-padding: revert; scroll-snap-align: revert; scroll-snap-stop: revert; scroll-snap-type: revert; scrollbar-gutter: revert; shape-image-threshold: revert; shape-margin: revert; shape-outside: revert; shape-rendering: revert; size: revert; speak: revert; stop-color: revert; stop-opacity: revert; stroke-dasharray: revert; stroke-dashoffset: revert; stroke-linecap: revert; stroke-linejoin: revert; stroke-miterlimit: revert; stroke-opacity: revert; stroke-width: revert; stroke: revert; tab-size: revert; table-layout: revert; text-align-last: revert; text-align: left; text-anchor: revert; text-combine-upright: revert; text-decoration-line: revert; text-decoration-skip-ink: revert; text-emphasis-position: revert; text-emphasis: revert; text-orientation: revert; text-overflow: revert; text-rendering: revert; text-shadow: revert; text-size-adjust: revert; text-underline-offset: revert; text-underline-position: revert; touch-action: revert; transform-box: revert; transform-origin: revert; transform-style: revert; transform: revert; transition: revert; translate: revert; user-select: revert; vector-effect: revert; vertical-align: revert; view-transition-name: revert; visibility: revert; white-space-collapse: preserve; width: revert; will-change: revert; word-break: revert; writing-mode: revert; x: revert; y: revert; z-index: revert; zoom: revert;"><span style="caret-color: revert; text-decoration-line: revert;">In recent years, wood-burning appliance manufacturers have improved efficiency over their older models. Biomass fuel, which includes wood and wood-derived pellets, offers several advantages over traditional heating methods. One of the key benefits is its lower carbon footprint compared to fossil fuels. Biomass fuel is considered renewable as it is derived from organic materials, such as wood waste and agricultural crops. When burned in high-efficiency stoves, biomass fuel emits minimal greenhouse gases, contributing to reduced environmental impact. Additionally, biomass fuel is often sourced locally, supporting local economies and reducing dependence on foreign energy sources.</span></p><h2 style="-webkit-box-align: revert; -webkit-box-decoration-break: revert; -webkit-box-direction: revert; -webkit-box-flex: revert; -webkit-box-ordinal-group: revert; -webkit-box-orient: revert; -webkit-box-pack: revert; -webkit-box-reflect: revert; -webkit-font-smoothing: revert; -webkit-highlight: revert; -webkit-line-break: revert; -webkit-line-clamp: revert; -webkit-locale: revert; -webkit-mask-box-image: revert; -webkit-mask-composite: revert; -webkit-mask: revert; -webkit-print-color-adjust: revert; -webkit-rtl-ordering: revert; -webkit-ruby-position: revert; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: revert; -webkit-text-combine: revert; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: revert; -webkit-text-fill-color: revert; -webkit-text-orientation: revert; -webkit-text-security: revert; -webkit-text-stroke-color: revert; -webkit-user-drag: revert; -webkit-user-modify: revert; -webkit-writing-mode: revert; accent-color: revert; alignment-baseline: revert; animation-composition: revert; animation: revert; app-region: revert; appearance: revert; aspect-ratio: revert; backdrop-filter: revert; backface-visibility: revert; background-attachment: revert; background-blend-mode: revert; background-clip: revert; background-color: white; background-image: revert; background-origin: revert; background-position: revert; background-repeat: revert; background-size: revert; baseline-shift: revert; baseline-source: revert; block-size: revert; border-block: revert; border-collapse: revert; border-end-end-radius: revert; border-end-start-radius: revert; border-inline: revert; border-radius: revert; border-spacing: revert; border-start-end-radius: revert; border-start-start-radius: revert; border: revert; box-shadow: revert; box-sizing: revert; break-after: revert; break-before: revert; break-inside: revert; buffered-rendering: revert; caption-side: revert; caret-color: revert; clear: revert; clip-path: revert; clip-rule: revert; clip: revert; color-interpolation-filters: revert; color-interpolation: revert; color-rendering: revert; color-scheme: revert; column-fill: revert; column-rule: revert; column-span: revert; columns: revert; contain-intrinsic-block-size: revert; contain-intrinsic-inline-size: revert; contain-intrinsic-size: revert; contain: revert; container: revert; content-visibility: revert; content: revert; counter-increment: revert; counter-reset: revert; counter-set: revert; cursor: revert; cx: revert; cy: revert; d: revert; display: revert; dominant-baseline: revert; empty-cells: revert; fill-opacity: revert; fill-rule: revert; fill: revert; filter: revert; flex-flow: revert; flex: revert; float: revert; flood-color: revert; flood-opacity: revert; font-feature-settings: revert; font-kerning: revert; font-optical-sizing: revert; font-palette: revert; font-stretch: revert; font-synthesis: revert; font-variant-alternates: revert; font-variant-east-asian: revert; font-variant-numeric: revert; font-variation-settings: revert; forced-color-adjust: revert; gap: revert; grid-area: revert; grid: revert; height: revert; hyphenate-character: revert; hyphenate-limit-chars: revert; hyphens: revert; image-orientation: revert; image-rendering: revert; initial-letter: revert; inline-size: revert; inset-block: revert; inset-inline: revert; inset: revert; isolation: revert; lighting-color: revert; line-break: revert; line-height: revert; list-style: revert; margin-block: revert; margin-inline: revert; margin: revert; marker: revert; mask-type: revert; mask: revert; math-depth: revert; math-shift: revert; math-style: revert; max-block-size: revert; max-height: revert; max-inline-size: revert; max-width: revert; min-block-size: revert; min-height: revert; min-inline-size: revert; min-width: revert; mix-blend-mode: revert; object-fit: revert; object-position: revert; object-view-box: revert; offset: revert; opacity: revert; order: revert; outline-offset: revert; outline: revert; overflow-anchor: revert; overflow-clip-margin: revert; overflow-wrap: revert; overflow: revert; overscroll-behavior-block: revert; overscroll-behavior-inline: revert; overscroll-behavior: revert; padding-block: revert; padding-inline: revert; padding: revert; page-orientation: revert; page: revert; paint-order: revert; perspective-origin: revert; perspective: revert; place-content: revert; place-items: revert; place-self: revert; pointer-events: revert; position: revert; quotes: revert; r: revert; resize: revert; rotate: revert; ruby-position: revert; rx: revert; ry: revert; scale: revert; scroll-behavior: revert; scroll-margin-block: revert; scroll-margin-inline: revert; scroll-margin: revert; scroll-padding-block: revert; scroll-padding-inline: revert; scroll-padding: revert; scroll-snap-align: revert; scroll-snap-stop: revert; scroll-snap-type: revert; scrollbar-gutter: revert; shape-image-threshold: revert; shape-margin: revert; shape-outside: revert; shape-rendering: revert; size: revert; speak: revert; stop-color: revert; stop-opacity: revert; stroke-dasharray: revert; stroke-dashoffset: revert; stroke-linecap: revert; stroke-linejoin: revert; stroke-miterlimit: revert; stroke-opacity: revert; stroke-width: revert; stroke: revert; tab-size: revert; table-layout: revert; text-align-last: revert; text-anchor: revert; text-combine-upright: revert; text-decoration-skip-ink: revert; text-emphasis-position: revert; text-emphasis: revert; text-orientation: revert; text-overflow: revert; text-rendering: revert; text-shadow: revert; text-size-adjust: revert; text-underline-offset: revert; text-underline-position: revert; touch-action: revert; transform-box: revert; transform-origin: revert; transform-style: revert; transform: revert; transition: revert; translate: revert; user-select: revert; vector-effect: revert; vertical-align: revert; view-transition-name: revert; visibility: revert; width: revert; will-change: revert; word-break: revert; writing-mode: revert; x: revert; y: revert; z-index: revert; zoom: revert;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="caret-color: revert;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Inter, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It is important to choose a stove that meets the thermal efficiency requirements to be eligible for the tax credit. Not all stoves meet these standards. There are stoves available at large box stores that do not meet the requirements, so choose a </span><span style="font-weight: 400; white-space-collapse: preserve;">reputable</span><span style="font-weight: normal; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> hearth retailer or chimney service company to get a quality appliance. To identify qualifying products, individuals can refer to the Environmental Protection Agency's certified wood heater database, which lists stoves with efficiencies of at least 75%. Ask your hearth retailer or chimney sweep about the stoves they carry that qualify for the tax credit. </span></span></span></span></p></h2><p style="accent-color: revert; alignment-baseline: revert; animation-composition: revert; animation: revert; app-region: revert; appearance: revert; aspect-ratio: revert; backdrop-filter: revert; backface-visibility: revert; background-attachment: revert; background-blend-mode: revert; background-clip: revert; background-color: white; background-image: revert; background-origin: revert; background-position: revert; background-repeat: revert; background-size: revert; baseline-shift: revert; baseline-source: revert; block-size: revert; border-block: revert; border-collapse: revert; border-end-end-radius: revert; border-end-start-radius: revert; border-inline: revert; border-radius: revert; border-spacing: revert; border-start-end-radius: revert; border-start-start-radius: revert; border: revert; box-shadow: revert; box-sizing: revert; break-after: revert; break-before: revert; break-inside: revert; buffered-rendering: revert; caption-side: revert; caret-color: revert; clear: revert; clip-path: revert; clip-rule: revert; clip: revert; color-interpolation-filters: revert; color-interpolation: revert; color-rendering: revert; color-scheme: revert; column-fill: revert; column-rule: revert; column-span: revert; columns: revert; contain-intrinsic-block-size: revert; contain-intrinsic-inline-size: revert; contain-intrinsic-size: revert; contain: revert; container: revert; content-visibility: revert; content: revert; counter-increment: revert; counter-reset: revert; counter-set: revert; cursor: revert; cx: revert; cy: revert; d: revert; display: revert; dominant-baseline: revert; empty-cells: revert; fill-opacity: revert; fill-rule: revert; fill: revert; filter: revert; flex-flow: revert; flex: revert; float: revert; flood-color: revert; flood-opacity: revert; font-family: Inter, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: revert; font-kerning: revert; font-optical-sizing: revert; font-palette: revert; font-size: revert; font-stretch: revert; font-synthesis: revert; font-variant-alternates: revert; font-variant-east-asian: revert; font-variant-numeric: revert; font-variation-settings: revert; forced-color-adjust: revert; gap: revert; grid-area: revert; grid: revert; height: revert; hyphenate-character: revert; hyphenate-limit-chars: revert; hyphens: revert; image-orientation: revert; image-rendering: revert; initial-letter: revert; inline-size: revert; inset-block: revert; inset-inline: revert; inset: revert; isolation: revert; lighting-color: revert; line-break: revert; line-height: revert; list-style: revert; margin-block: revert; margin-inline: revert; margin: revert; marker: revert; mask-type: revert; mask: revert; math-depth: revert; math-shift: revert; math-style: revert; max-block-size: revert; max-height: revert; max-inline-size: revert; max-width: revert; min-block-size: revert; min-height: revert; min-inline-size: revert; min-width: revert; mix-blend-mode: revert; object-fit: revert; object-position: revert; object-view-box: revert; offset: revert; opacity: revert; order: revert; outline-offset: revert; outline: revert; overflow-anchor: revert; overflow-clip-margin: revert; overflow-wrap: revert; overflow: revert; overscroll-behavior-block: revert; overscroll-behavior-inline: revert; overscroll-behavior: revert; padding-block: revert; padding-inline: revert; padding: revert; page-orientation: revert; page: revert; paint-order: revert; perspective-origin: revert; perspective: revert; place-content: revert; place-items: revert; place-self: revert; pointer-events: revert; position: revert; quotes: revert; r: revert; resize: revert; rotate: revert; ruby-position: revert; rx: revert; ry: revert; scale: revert; scroll-behavior: revert; scroll-margin-block: revert; scroll-margin-inline: revert; scroll-margin: revert; scroll-padding-block: revert; scroll-padding-inline: revert; scroll-padding: revert; scroll-snap-align: revert; scroll-snap-stop: revert; scroll-snap-type: revert; scrollbar-gutter: revert; shape-image-threshold: revert; shape-margin: revert; shape-outside: revert; shape-rendering: revert; size: revert; speak: revert; stop-color: revert; stop-opacity: revert; stroke-dasharray: revert; stroke-dashoffset: revert; stroke-linecap: revert; stroke-linejoin: revert; stroke-miterlimit: revert; stroke-opacity: revert; stroke-width: revert; stroke: revert; tab-size: revert; table-layout: revert; text-align-last: revert; text-align: left; text-anchor: revert; text-combine-upright: revert; text-decoration-line: revert; text-decoration-skip-ink: revert; text-emphasis-position: revert; text-emphasis: revert; text-orientation: revert; text-overflow: revert; text-rendering: revert; text-shadow: revert; text-size-adjust: revert; text-underline-offset: revert; text-underline-position: revert; touch-action: revert; transform-box: revert; transform-origin: revert; transform-style: revert; transform: revert; transition: revert; translate: revert; user-select: revert; vector-effect: revert; vertical-align: revert; view-transition-name: revert; visibility: revert; white-space-collapse: preserve; width: revert; will-change: revert; word-break: revert; writing-mode: revert; x: revert; y: revert; z-index: revert; zoom: revert;"><span style="caret-color: revert; font-weight: normal; text-decoration-line: revert;">To claim the Biomass Tax Credit, homeowners must keep receipts for the purchase and installation, and the manufacturer's tax credit certificate. The manufacturer's certificate can typically be found on the manufacturer's website and should include information such as the manufacturer's name and address, the stove's make and model, proof of eligibility, and the manufacturer's signature. When filing taxes, individuals should complete Form 5695, available from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and include the necessary information, or give the information to your accountant. The credit offsets tax you owe, and it is not refunded to you. </span></p><p style="accent-color: revert; alignment-baseline: revert; animation-composition: revert; animation: revert; app-region: revert; appearance: revert; aspect-ratio: revert; backdrop-filter: revert; backface-visibility: revert; background-attachment: revert; background-blend-mode: revert; background-clip: revert; background-color: white; background-image: revert; background-origin: revert; background-position: revert; background-repeat: revert; background-size: revert; baseline-shift: revert; baseline-source: revert; block-size: revert; border-block: revert; border-collapse: revert; border-end-end-radius: revert; border-end-start-radius: revert; border-inline: revert; border-radius: revert; border-spacing: revert; border-start-end-radius: revert; border-start-start-radius: revert; border: revert; box-shadow: revert; box-sizing: revert; break-after: revert; break-before: revert; break-inside: revert; buffered-rendering: revert; caption-side: revert; caret-color: revert; clear: revert; clip-path: revert; clip-rule: revert; clip: revert; color-interpolation-filters: revert; color-interpolation: revert; color-rendering: revert; color-scheme: revert; column-fill: revert; column-rule: revert; column-span: revert; columns: revert; contain-intrinsic-block-size: revert; contain-intrinsic-inline-size: revert; contain-intrinsic-size: revert; contain: revert; container: revert; content-visibility: revert; content: revert; counter-increment: revert; counter-reset: revert; counter-set: revert; cursor: revert; cx: revert; cy: revert; d: revert; display: revert; dominant-baseline: revert; empty-cells: revert; fill-opacity: revert; fill-rule: revert; fill: revert; filter: revert; flex-flow: revert; flex: revert; float: revert; flood-color: revert; flood-opacity: revert; font-family: Inter, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: revert; font-kerning: revert; font-optical-sizing: revert; font-palette: revert; font-size: revert; font-stretch: revert; font-synthesis: revert; font-variant-alternates: revert; font-variant-east-asian: revert; font-variant-numeric: revert; font-variation-settings: revert; forced-color-adjust: revert; gap: revert; grid-area: revert; grid: revert; height: revert; hyphenate-character: revert; hyphenate-limit-chars: revert; hyphens: revert; image-orientation: revert; image-rendering: revert; initial-letter: revert; inline-size: revert; inset-block: revert; inset-inline: revert; inset: revert; isolation: revert; lighting-color: revert; line-break: revert; line-height: revert; list-style: revert; margin-block: revert; margin-inline: revert; margin: revert; marker: revert; mask-type: revert; mask: revert; math-depth: revert; math-shift: revert; math-style: revert; max-block-size: revert; max-height: revert; max-inline-size: revert; max-width: revert; min-block-size: revert; min-height: revert; min-inline-size: revert; min-width: revert; mix-blend-mode: revert; object-fit: revert; object-position: revert; object-view-box: revert; offset: revert; opacity: revert; order: revert; outline-offset: revert; outline: revert; overflow-anchor: revert; overflow-clip-margin: revert; overflow-wrap: revert; overflow: revert; overscroll-behavior-block: revert; overscroll-behavior-inline: revert; overscroll-behavior: revert; padding-block: revert; padding-inline: revert; padding: revert; page-orientation: revert; page: revert; paint-order: revert; perspective-origin: revert; perspective: revert; place-content: revert; place-items: revert; place-self: revert; pointer-events: revert; position: revert; quotes: revert; r: revert; resize: revert; rotate: revert; ruby-position: revert; rx: revert; ry: revert; scale: revert; scroll-behavior: revert; scroll-margin-block: revert; scroll-margin-inline: revert; scroll-margin: revert; scroll-padding-block: revert; scroll-padding-inline: revert; scroll-padding: revert; scroll-snap-align: revert; scroll-snap-stop: revert; scroll-snap-type: revert; scrollbar-gutter: revert; shape-image-threshold: revert; shape-margin: revert; shape-outside: revert; shape-rendering: revert; size: revert; speak: revert; stop-color: revert; stop-opacity: revert; stroke-dasharray: revert; stroke-dashoffset: revert; stroke-linecap: revert; stroke-linejoin: revert; stroke-miterlimit: revert; stroke-opacity: revert; stroke-width: revert; stroke: revert; tab-size: revert; table-layout: revert; text-align-last: revert; text-align: left; text-anchor: revert; text-combine-upright: revert; text-decoration-line: revert; text-decoration-skip-ink: revert; text-emphasis-position: revert; text-emphasis: revert; text-orientation: revert; text-overflow: revert; text-rendering: revert; text-shadow: revert; text-size-adjust: revert; text-underline-offset: revert; text-underline-position: revert; touch-action: revert; transform-box: revert; transform-origin: revert; transform-style: revert; transform: revert; transition: revert; translate: revert; user-select: revert; vector-effect: revert; vertical-align: revert; view-transition-name: revert; visibility: revert; white-space-collapse: preserve; width: revert; will-change: revert; word-break: revert; writing-mode: revert; x: revert; y: revert; z-index: revert; zoom: revert;"><span style="caret-color: revert; font-weight: normal; text-decoration-line: revert;">Several manufacturers sell wood and pellet stoves that qualify for the Biomass Tax Credit. These include Regency, Quadra-Fire, Harman, Hearthstone, and Vermont Castings. </span></p><p style="-webkit-box-align: revert; -webkit-box-decoration-break: revert; -webkit-box-direction: revert; -webkit-box-flex: revert; -webkit-box-ordinal-group: revert; -webkit-box-orient: revert; -webkit-box-pack: revert; -webkit-box-reflect: revert; -webkit-font-smoothing: revert; -webkit-highlight: revert; -webkit-line-break: revert; -webkit-line-clamp: revert; -webkit-locale: revert; -webkit-mask-box-image: revert; -webkit-mask-composite: revert; -webkit-mask: revert; -webkit-print-color-adjust: revert; -webkit-rtl-ordering: revert; -webkit-ruby-position: revert; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: revert; -webkit-text-combine: revert; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: revert; -webkit-text-fill-color: revert; -webkit-text-orientation: revert; -webkit-text-security: revert; -webkit-text-stroke-color: revert; -webkit-user-drag: revert; -webkit-user-modify: revert; -webkit-writing-mode: revert; accent-color: revert; alignment-baseline: revert; animation-composition: revert; animation: revert; app-region: revert; appearance: revert; aspect-ratio: revert; backdrop-filter: revert; backface-visibility: revert; background-attachment: revert; background-blend-mode: revert; background-clip: revert; background-color: white; background-image: revert; background-origin: revert; background-position: revert; background-repeat: revert; background-size: revert; baseline-shift: revert; baseline-source: revert; block-size: revert; border-block: revert; border-collapse: revert; border-end-end-radius: revert; border-end-start-radius: revert; border-inline: revert; border-radius: revert; border-spacing: revert; border-start-end-radius: revert; border-start-start-radius: revert; border: revert; box-shadow: revert; box-sizing: revert; break-after: revert; break-before: revert; break-inside: revert; buffered-rendering: revert; caption-side: revert; caret-color: revert; clear: revert; clip-path: revert; clip-rule: revert; clip: revert; color-interpolation-filters: revert; color-interpolation: revert; color-rendering: revert; color-scheme: revert; column-fill: revert; column-rule: revert; column-span: revert; columns: revert; contain-intrinsic-block-size: revert; contain-intrinsic-inline-size: revert; contain-intrinsic-size: revert; contain: revert; container: revert; content-visibility: revert; content: revert; counter-increment: revert; counter-reset: revert; counter-set: revert; cursor: revert; cx: revert; cy: revert; d: revert; display: revert; dominant-baseline: revert; empty-cells: revert; fill-opacity: revert; fill-rule: revert; fill: revert; filter: revert; flex-flow: revert; flex: revert; float: revert; flood-color: revert; flood-opacity: revert; font-feature-settings: revert; font-kerning: revert; font-optical-sizing: revert; font-palette: revert; font-stretch: revert; font-synthesis: revert; font-variant-alternates: revert; font-variant-east-asian: revert; font-variant-numeric: revert; font-variation-settings: revert; forced-color-adjust: revert; gap: revert; grid-area: revert; grid: revert; height: revert; hyphenate-character: revert; hyphenate-limit-chars: revert; hyphens: revert; image-orientation: revert; image-rendering: revert; initial-letter: revert; inline-size: revert; inset-block: revert; inset-inline: revert; inset: revert; isolation: revert; lighting-color: revert; line-break: revert; line-height: revert; list-style: revert; margin-block: revert; margin-inline: revert; margin: revert; marker: revert; mask-type: revert; mask: revert; math-depth: revert; math-shift: revert; math-style: revert; max-block-size: revert; max-height: revert; max-inline-size: revert; max-width: revert; min-block-size: revert; min-height: revert; min-inline-size: revert; min-width: revert; mix-blend-mode: revert; object-fit: revert; object-position: revert; object-view-box: revert; offset: revert; opacity: revert; order: revert; outline-offset: revert; outline: revert; overflow-anchor: revert; overflow-clip-margin: revert; overflow-wrap: revert; overflow: revert; overscroll-behavior-block: revert; overscroll-behavior-inline: revert; overscroll-behavior: revert; padding-block: revert; padding-inline: revert; padding: revert; page-orientation: revert; page: revert; paint-order: revert; perspective-origin: revert; perspective: revert; place-content: revert; place-items: revert; place-self: revert; pointer-events: revert; position: revert; quotes: revert; r: revert; resize: revert; rotate: revert; ruby-position: revert; rx: revert; ry: revert; scale: revert; scroll-behavior: revert; scroll-margin-block: revert; scroll-margin-inline: revert; scroll-margin: revert; scroll-padding-block: revert; scroll-padding-inline: revert; scroll-padding: revert; scroll-snap-align: revert; scroll-snap-stop: revert; scroll-snap-type: revert; scrollbar-gutter: revert; shape-image-threshold: revert; shape-margin: revert; shape-outside: revert; shape-rendering: revert; size: revert; speak: revert; stop-color: revert; stop-opacity: revert; stroke-dasharray: revert; stroke-dashoffset: revert; stroke-linecap: revert; stroke-linejoin: revert; stroke-miterlimit: revert; stroke-opacity: revert; stroke-width: revert; stroke: revert; tab-size: revert; table-layout: revert; text-align-last: revert; text-anchor: revert; text-combine-upright: revert; text-decoration-skip-ink: revert; text-emphasis-position: revert; text-emphasis: revert; text-orientation: revert; text-overflow: revert; text-rendering: revert; text-shadow: revert; text-size-adjust: revert; text-underline-offset: revert; text-underline-position: revert; touch-action: revert; transform-box: revert; transform-origin: revert; transform-style: revert; transform: revert; transition: revert; translate: revert; user-select: revert; vector-effect: revert; vertical-align: revert; view-transition-name: revert; visibility: revert; width: revert; will-change: revert; word-break: revert; writing-mode: revert; x: revert; y: revert; z-index: revert; zoom: revert;"><span style="caret-color: revert;"><span style="font-family: Inter, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">Like any heating system, biomass stoves require regular maintenance to ensure optimal performance and safety. Contact a professional chimney sweep for this service. Stoves should be swept annually, or bi-annually if used for continual heating purposes to remove flammable creosote. Only burn cordwood in the appliance and never burn treated wood, hedge, paper, or railroad ties. It is critical to follow the manufacturer's guidelines for cleaning, inspection, and maintenance. </span></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-box-align: revert; -webkit-box-decoration-break: revert; -webkit-box-direction: revert; -webkit-box-flex: revert; -webkit-box-ordinal-group: revert; -webkit-box-orient: revert; -webkit-box-pack: revert; -webkit-box-reflect: revert; -webkit-font-smoothing: revert; -webkit-highlight: revert; -webkit-line-break: revert; -webkit-line-clamp: revert; -webkit-locale: revert; -webkit-mask-box-image: revert; -webkit-mask-composite: revert; -webkit-mask: revert; -webkit-print-color-adjust: revert; -webkit-rtl-ordering: revert; -webkit-ruby-position: revert; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: revert; -webkit-text-combine: revert; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: revert; -webkit-text-fill-color: revert; -webkit-text-orientation: revert; -webkit-text-security: revert; -webkit-text-stroke-color: revert; -webkit-user-drag: revert; -webkit-user-modify: revert; -webkit-writing-mode: revert; accent-color: revert; alignment-baseline: revert; animation-composition: revert; animation: revert; app-region: revert; appearance: revert; aspect-ratio: revert; backdrop-filter: revert; backface-visibility: revert; background-attachment: revert; background-blend-mode: revert; background-clip: revert; background-color: white; background-image: revert; background-origin: revert; background-position: revert; background-repeat: revert; background-size: revert; baseline-shift: revert; baseline-source: revert; block-size: revert; border-block: revert; border-collapse: revert; border-end-end-radius: revert; border-end-start-radius: revert; border-inline: revert; border-radius: revert; border-spacing: revert; border-start-end-radius: revert; border-start-start-radius: revert; border: revert; box-shadow: revert; box-sizing: revert; break-after: revert; break-before: revert; break-inside: revert; buffered-rendering: revert; caption-side: revert; caret-color: revert; clear: revert; clip-path: revert; clip-rule: revert; clip: revert; color-interpolation-filters: revert; color-interpolation: revert; color-rendering: revert; color-scheme: revert; column-fill: revert; column-rule: revert; column-span: revert; columns: revert; contain-intrinsic-block-size: revert; contain-intrinsic-inline-size: revert; contain-intrinsic-size: revert; contain: revert; container: revert; content-visibility: revert; content: revert; counter-increment: revert; counter-reset: revert; counter-set: revert; cursor: revert; cx: revert; cy: revert; d: revert; display: revert; dominant-baseline: revert; empty-cells: revert; fill-opacity: revert; fill-rule: revert; fill: revert; filter: revert; flex-flow: revert; flex: revert; float: revert; flood-color: revert; flood-opacity: revert; font-family: Inter, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: revert; font-kerning: revert; font-optical-sizing: revert; font-palette: revert; font-stretch: revert; font-synthesis: revert; font-variant-alternates: revert; font-variant-east-asian: revert; font-variant-numeric: revert; font-variation-settings: revert; forced-color-adjust: revert; gap: revert; grid-area: revert; grid: revert; height: revert; hyphenate-character: revert; hyphenate-limit-chars: revert; hyphens: revert; image-orientation: revert; image-rendering: revert; initial-letter: revert; inline-size: revert; inset-block: revert; inset-inline: revert; inset: revert; isolation: revert; lighting-color: revert; line-break: revert; line-height: revert; list-style: revert; margin-block: revert; margin-inline: revert; margin: revert; marker: revert; mask-type: revert; mask: revert; math-depth: revert; math-shift: revert; math-style: revert; max-block-size: revert; max-height: revert; max-inline-size: revert; max-width: revert; min-block-size: revert; min-height: revert; min-inline-size: revert; min-width: revert; mix-blend-mode: revert; object-fit: revert; object-position: revert; object-view-box: revert; offset: revert; opacity: revert; order: revert; outline-offset: revert; outline: revert; overflow-anchor: revert; overflow-clip-margin: revert; overflow-wrap: revert; overflow: revert; overscroll-behavior-block: revert; overscroll-behavior-inline: revert; overscroll-behavior: revert; padding-block: revert; padding-inline: revert; padding: revert; page-orientation: revert; page: revert; paint-order: revert; perspective-origin: revert; perspective: revert; place-content: revert; place-items: revert; place-self: revert; pointer-events: revert; position: revert; quotes: revert; r: revert; resize: revert; rotate: revert; ruby-position: revert; rx: revert; ry: revert; scale: revert; scroll-behavior: revert; scroll-margin-block: revert; scroll-margin-inline: revert; scroll-margin: revert; scroll-padding-block: revert; scroll-padding-inline: revert; scroll-padding: revert; scroll-snap-align: revert; scroll-snap-stop: revert; scroll-snap-type: revert; scrollbar-gutter: revert; shape-image-threshold: revert; shape-margin: revert; shape-outside: revert; shape-rendering: revert; size: revert; speak: revert; stop-color: revert; stop-opacity: revert; stroke-dasharray: revert; stroke-dashoffset: revert; stroke-linecap: revert; stroke-linejoin: revert; stroke-miterlimit: revert; stroke-opacity: revert; stroke-width: revert; stroke: revert; tab-size: revert; table-layout: revert; text-align-last: revert; text-anchor: revert; text-combine-upright: revert; text-decoration-line: revert; text-decoration-skip-ink: revert; text-emphasis-position: revert; text-emphasis: revert; text-orientation: revert; text-overflow: revert; text-rendering: revert; text-shadow: revert; text-size-adjust: revert; text-underline-offset: revert; text-underline-position: revert; touch-action: revert; transform-box: revert; transform-origin: revert; transform-style: revert; transform: revert; transition: revert; translate: revert; user-select: revert; vector-effect: revert; vertical-align: revert; view-transition-name: revert; visibility: revert; white-space-collapse: preserve; width: revert; will-change: revert; word-break: revert; writing-mode: revert; x: revert; y: revert; z-index: revert; zoom: revert;">-----------------------------------------------------------------------</p><p style="-webkit-box-align: revert; -webkit-box-decoration-break: revert; -webkit-box-direction: revert; -webkit-box-flex: revert; -webkit-box-ordinal-group: revert; -webkit-box-orient: revert; -webkit-box-pack: revert; -webkit-box-reflect: revert; -webkit-font-smoothing: revert; -webkit-highlight: revert; -webkit-line-break: revert; -webkit-line-clamp: revert; -webkit-locale: revert; -webkit-mask-box-image: revert; -webkit-mask-composite: revert; -webkit-mask: revert; -webkit-print-color-adjust: revert; -webkit-rtl-ordering: revert; -webkit-ruby-position: revert; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: revert; -webkit-text-combine: revert; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: revert; -webkit-text-fill-color: revert; -webkit-text-orientation: revert; -webkit-text-security: revert; -webkit-text-stroke-color: revert; -webkit-user-drag: revert; -webkit-user-modify: revert; -webkit-writing-mode: revert; accent-color: revert; alignment-baseline: revert; animation-composition: revert; animation: revert; app-region: revert; appearance: revert; aspect-ratio: revert; backdrop-filter: revert; backface-visibility: revert; background-attachment: revert; background-blend-mode: revert; background-clip: revert; background-color: white; background-image: revert; background-origin: revert; background-position: revert; background-repeat: revert; background-size: revert; baseline-shift: revert; baseline-source: revert; block-size: revert; border-block: revert; border-collapse: revert; border-end-end-radius: revert; border-end-start-radius: revert; border-inline: revert; border-radius: revert; border-spacing: revert; border-start-end-radius: revert; border-start-start-radius: revert; border: revert; box-shadow: revert; box-sizing: revert; break-after: revert; break-before: revert; break-inside: revert; buffered-rendering: revert; caption-side: revert; caret-color: revert; clear: revert; clip-path: revert; clip-rule: revert; clip: revert; color-interpolation-filters: revert; color-interpolation: revert; color-rendering: revert; color-scheme: revert; column-fill: revert; column-rule: revert; column-span: revert; columns: revert; contain-intrinsic-block-size: revert; contain-intrinsic-inline-size: revert; contain-intrinsic-size: revert; contain: revert; container: revert; content-visibility: revert; content: revert; counter-increment: revert; counter-reset: revert; counter-set: revert; cursor: revert; cx: revert; cy: revert; d: revert; display: revert; dominant-baseline: revert; empty-cells: revert; fill-opacity: revert; fill-rule: revert; fill: revert; filter: revert; flex-flow: revert; flex: revert; float: revert; flood-color: revert; flood-opacity: revert; font-family: Inter, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: revert; font-kerning: revert; font-optical-sizing: revert; font-palette: revert; font-stretch: revert; font-synthesis: revert; font-variant-alternates: revert; font-variant-east-asian: revert; font-variant-numeric: revert; font-variation-settings: revert; forced-color-adjust: revert; gap: revert; grid-area: revert; grid: revert; height: revert; hyphenate-character: revert; hyphenate-limit-chars: revert; hyphens: revert; image-orientation: revert; image-rendering: revert; initial-letter: revert; inline-size: revert; inset-block: revert; inset-inline: revert; inset: revert; isolation: revert; lighting-color: revert; line-break: revert; line-height: revert; list-style: revert; margin-block: revert; margin-inline: revert; margin: revert; marker: revert; mask-type: revert; mask: revert; math-depth: revert; math-shift: revert; math-style: revert; max-block-size: revert; max-height: revert; max-inline-size: revert; max-width: revert; min-block-size: revert; min-height: revert; min-inline-size: revert; min-width: revert; mix-blend-mode: revert; object-fit: revert; object-position: revert; object-view-box: revert; offset: revert; opacity: revert; order: revert; outline-offset: revert; outline: revert; overflow-anchor: revert; overflow-clip-margin: revert; overflow-wrap: revert; overflow: revert; overscroll-behavior-block: revert; overscroll-behavior-inline: revert; overscroll-behavior: revert; padding-block: revert; padding-inline: revert; padding: revert; page-orientation: revert; page: revert; paint-order: revert; perspective-origin: revert; perspective: revert; place-content: revert; place-items: revert; place-self: revert; pointer-events: revert; position: revert; quotes: revert; r: revert; resize: revert; rotate: revert; ruby-position: revert; rx: revert; ry: revert; scale: revert; scroll-behavior: revert; scroll-margin-block: revert; scroll-margin-inline: revert; scroll-margin: revert; scroll-padding-block: revert; scroll-padding-inline: revert; scroll-padding: revert; scroll-snap-align: revert; scroll-snap-stop: revert; scroll-snap-type: revert; scrollbar-gutter: revert; shape-image-threshold: revert; shape-margin: revert; shape-outside: revert; shape-rendering: revert; size: revert; speak: revert; stop-color: revert; stop-opacity: revert; stroke-dasharray: revert; stroke-dashoffset: revert; stroke-linecap: revert; stroke-linejoin: revert; stroke-miterlimit: revert; stroke-opacity: revert; stroke-width: revert; stroke: revert; tab-size: revert; table-layout: revert; text-align-last: revert; text-anchor: revert; text-combine-upright: revert; text-decoration-line: revert; text-decoration-skip-ink: revert; text-emphasis-position: revert; text-emphasis: revert; text-orientation: revert; text-overflow: revert; text-rendering: revert; text-shadow: revert; text-size-adjust: revert; text-underline-offset: revert; text-underline-position: revert; touch-action: revert; transform-box: revert; transform-origin: revert; transform-style: revert; transform: revert; transition: revert; translate: revert; user-select: revert; vector-effect: revert; vertical-align: revert; view-transition-name: revert; visibility: revert; white-space-collapse: preserve; width: revert; will-change: revert; word-break: revert; writing-mode: revert; x: revert; y: revert; z-index: revert; zoom: revert;">Marge Padgitt is the president of <a href="http://www.chimkc.com">HearthMasters, Inc.</a> in Independence, Missouri. She is the author of Wood-Fired Heating and Cooking and The Chimney and Hearth Pro's Resource Book. www.chimkc.com </p><div class="blogger-post-footer">HearthMasters Blog</div>Marge Padgitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647210965207710968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107388463200554654.post-25235500853213558092022-12-11T16:16:00.004-06:002022-12-11T16:17:24.511-06:00Masonry Heaters are the Best Design for Heating with Wood<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman";">By Marge Padgitt</span></p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.chimkc.com/">HearthMasters, Inc.</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times New Roman; font-size: small;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><div align="LEFT"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>S</strong></span>ometimes old things are better than new, like old houses, historic buildings, and castles. The latest trend in home heating fits into that category. Masonry heaters have been around for hundreds (actually going back to Roman times) of years in Europe, but are just recently catching on in the U.S. And the great thing about heaters is that they are GREEN. People needed to heat their homes in an efficient manner in olden times just as today in order to save their forests. Inefficient open fireplaces took too much of their valuable resources, so another method had to be developed. No one knows who the first mason was who came up with the idea of devising something that would retain heat for long periods of time, then radiate it into the home while using less wood, but whoever he was he was a genius.</div><br /><div align="LEFT">Masonry heaters have been redesigned and altered over the years by different masons in Finland, Russia, Germany, Austria, and the United States. But heaters all have the same characteristics with complex channels to slow down and trap heat from flue gasses, and a mass of masonry to retain that heat, then radiate it to the living space over a period of up to 20 hours. By the time the products of combustion get to the exit of the flue, the smoke is white, and the particulate emissions are very low. One load of wood can usually provide heating for the average size home for 8-12 hours. Compared to even the best high-efficiency wood–burning stoves on the market today, gas and oil-fired furnaces, and certainly inefficient open fireplaces, masonry heaters can’t be beat.</div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSJeKz8vvt_UCoYF-z6lQ9Pt74-jUFgUWHwj2nDRPajjrT_wgZhBRQsDL9IGyct4w1qqegq2POl-pDtMBk9dhVkI5v3iqfx3woNeKEomgxbQZCqTN6dy-b_a_VIgQ2x4O8j_PJJtB8Q0S/s1600/MVC-006S2.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSJeKz8vvt_UCoYF-z6lQ9Pt74-jUFgUWHwj2nDRPajjrT_wgZhBRQsDL9IGyct4w1qqegq2POl-pDtMBk9dhVkI5v3iqfx3woNeKEomgxbQZCqTN6dy-b_a_VIgQ2x4O8j_PJJtB8Q0S/s320/MVC-006S2.jpg" width="260" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Custom granite masonry heater<br />Courtesy of HearthMasters, Inc.</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="LEFT">Another benefit masonry heaters offer is that they don’t require electricity, gas, or ductwork to distribute the heat. In a properly designed home with an open floor plan and the heater in the center of the home, the heat will radiate evenly throughout. Ideally, heaters are built in new home construction, but they can be added to existing homes if the layout is right. Heaters require a suitable foundation to support the massive masonry, which weighs three to six tons by the time all of the firebrick, block, cast iron doors, dampers, and exterior masonry facing is installed.</div><br /><div align="LEFT">Heaters can be enhanced with heated benches to sit on, mantels, wood storage bins, and even bake ovens. Pizza and bread from a wood-fired bake oven has an incredible and unique taste that is not to be missed, and entire meals can be cooked in the oven if desired. An experienced heater mason can not only design and build the right size and type of heater for a home but make it beautiful to look at as well. An exterior finish of soapstone, tile, sandstone, or brick can make a dramatic statement. Heater masons will work with the homeowner to come up with a custom design that suits the home or use one of many masonry heater kits that are available from several manufacturers (usually incorporating soapstone) in a variety of designs.</div><br />Use of natural non-toxic materials and the renewable resource of wood make masonry heaters the perfect solution for a green home.<br /><span style="font-size: small;"><div align="LEFT">The trade is very specialized, with only a few heater masons scattered across the U.S. Fortunately, most of these masons will travel to do installations. Some have even traveled to Japan, China, and South America to build heaters. Often several heater masons will help each other out since these are big projects. In days of old, the heater masons kept their trade secret, even to the point of not leaving the room until the heater was completely finished so no one else could see how the interior was built. At that time, the livelihood of the masons was dependent on this secrecy. The trade is so skilled that the only way to learn is to do hands-on assistance with an experienced heater mason, and that is part of the reason the Masonry Heater Association was formed. The older masons do not want this to become a lost art, so they help train others. The Certified Heater Mason program was developed by the experienced MHA members in order to assure that the knowledge is not lost.</div><br /><div align="LEFT">In the U.S. many people are not yet aware of masonry heaters, so it is a challenge for a heater mason to make a living out of just building heaters. Most heater masons also build other types of projects such as fireplaces, chimneys, outdoor bake ovens. Some are timber frame or log home builders or own brickyards. Most are very aware of the green building trend and are interested in sustainable living. Many heater masons will travel to build a heater because they love doing it and love the satisfaction they get out of building something that is very specialized.</div><br /><div align="LEFT">Pricing for heaters is what most would consider being on the high end, and a long-term investment. The average cost a homeowner may expect to pay is from $15,000 to $30,000, with price depending on the complexity of the heater, material costs, and labor. The expected time to get a return on your money is approximately 10 years. The time to build a completed heater may be up to four weeks or more, depending on how many skilled craftspeople are working. Many homeowners will elect to be an assistant on the job in order to lower their costs. In some cases, if a heater mason is traveling the homeowner will put him up at their house or a local hotel. When traveling the masons usually work long hours in order to get the project done sooner.</div><br /><div align="LEFT">Mark Twain discovered masonry heaters while traveling through Europe and wrote about them: "<em>All day long and until past midnight all parts of the room will be delightfully warm and comfortable … Its surface is not hot: you can put your hand on it anywhere and not get burnt. Consider these things. One firing is enough for the day: the cost is next to nothing: the heat produced is the same all day, instead of too hot and too cold by turns… America could adopt this stove, but does America do it? No, she sticks placidly to her own fearful and wonderful inventions in the stove line. The American wood stove, of whatever breed, is a terror. It requires more attention that a baby. It has to be fed every little while, it has to be watched all the time: and for all reward you are roasted half your time and frozen the other half... and when your wood bill comes in you think you have been supporting a volcano. It is certainly strange that useful customs and devices do not spread from country to country with more facility and promptness than they do."</em></div><br />Find out more about masonry heaters, including technical specifications and testing results, photos of heaters, manufacturers, and a list of heater masons, contact the Masonry <span style="font-size: small;">Heater Association of North America through <u><a href="http://www.mha-net.org/">www.mha-net.org</a></u><a href="http://www.mha-net.org/"></a>. There is a chat list set up for anyone interested in masonry heaters at <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MasonryHeaters">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MasonryHeaters</a>.</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><br />--------------------------</span></span></span><div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Marge Padgitt is a past board member for the MHA. She is president of HearthMasters, Inc. in Kansas City, Missouri. Her husband, Gene Padgitt, is one of only 32 Certified Heater Masons.</span></span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">HearthMasters Blog</div>Marge Padgitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647210965207710968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107388463200554654.post-66817983339182800872022-12-09T14:27:00.008-06:002022-12-09T14:34:05.107-06:00HearthMasters Celebrates 40 Years in Business<p> </p><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="galileo-ap-layout-editor" style="background-color: #fefefd; border-collapse: collapse; color: black; min-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td align="" class="editor-col OneColumnMobile" valign="top" width="100%"><div class="gl-contains-text"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td align="left" class="editor-text editor-text" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; display: block; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.2; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 10px 20px;" valign="top"><div class="text-container galileo-ap-content-editor"><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: 22px; font-weight: bold;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6EisD-IG2FgGUK1me4lBYmUgXQErd811_MzKowcBQQhSXejMIt0pzMiESqRWMigV7InBOYciRdh8YsG7kyTRd1XSm_KpfTI6CoInAsP4ElRoqiFyXELyDUMErT3paH0Ja_OyE4oTxipeQ0Xy07Q0kdqkx1SjAX_btrF8aJclPKJM5b0iNoFwfRhbHfQ/s1043/AdobeStock_188267477%20small%20anniversary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1012" data-original-width="1043" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6EisD-IG2FgGUK1me4lBYmUgXQErd811_MzKowcBQQhSXejMIt0pzMiESqRWMigV7InBOYciRdh8YsG7kyTRd1XSm_KpfTI6CoInAsP4ElRoqiFyXELyDUMErT3paH0Ja_OyE4oTxipeQ0Xy07Q0kdqkx1SjAX_btrF8aJclPKJM5b0iNoFwfRhbHfQ/s320/AdobeStock_188267477%20small%20anniversary.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Local Chimney Company Celebrates Forty Years in Business</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 16px;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: 16px;">HearthMasters, Inc. is celebrating forty years in business. Gene Padgitt started the company in 1982 as a one-man chimney sweeping operation, which has grown to become a chimney and fireplace restoration business with multiple employees.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 16px;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Independence, Missouri, December 9, 2022</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 16px;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Gene Padgitt was laid off from Safeway Foods in the summer of 1982 and was looking for work when he ran across an ad in Mother Earth News Magazine which looked appealing. The ad said a person could earn as much as $49 to sweep a chimney after purchasing $1,600 in equipment, which included a huge vacuum system by August West. Gene consulted with his future brother-in-law, Frank Kithcart, who worked as a chimney sweep in Seattle, and Frank encouraged him to make the plunge.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: 16px;">In his first season as a chimney sweep Gene made $10,000 after placing a single ad. It was then that he knew he was onto something that could turn into a full-time profitable business, however, Gene also realized that he didn’t know as much as he needed to, and there was more to it that just sweeping chimneys. In 1986 Marge Padgitt joined the company and took over writing reports and estimates, and marketing. They both attended educational seminars and training by the National Chimney Sweep Guild and other industry organizations and got certified by the Chimney Safety Institute. Together, Gene and Marge built the company with additional employees and services which include diagnosis of performance problems, restoration and building of masonry chimneys, fireplaces, brick ovens, masonry heaters, and more. They do residential, commercial, and government work.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Gene is one of only a 32 Certified Heater Masons in the world and has won over a dozen awards for his masonry work. He also specializes in historic chimney restoration, which is quite different than modern chimney restoration. Gene obtained a degree in Heating, Ventilation, and Cooling in 1986, and is an NFI Certified Gas Specialist. He began doing fire investigations in 1996 for a local fire marshal and obtained his State Certified Private Fire Investigator License shortly after. He is the only PFI who specializes in structural fires related to chimneys, fireplaces, and heating appliances in Missouri, Kansas, and other neighboring states, so is in big demand by insurance companies and forensic companies.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Marge Padgitt is a Missouri licensed Private Investigator. She is very active in the chimney industry and served on the board of directors for the Midwest Chimney Safety Council for 25 years; and on the board of directors for the National Chimney Sweep Guild; the Midwest Hearth, Patio, and Barbecue Association; and the Masonry Heater Association of North America. Marge published the MCSC Magazine and her own Wood-Fired Magazine. She is the author of over 250 articles which appeared in magazines and online newspapers nationwide. She has presented free chimney safety seminars to local homeowner groups and associations for many years.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Marge wrote “The Chimney and Hearth Pro’s Resource Book,” and “Wood-Fired Heating and Cooking,” which Gene consulted on. She has more books in the works and will bring a new show to her YouTube Channel in January 2023 called “The Chimney Lady.” The show will focus on chimney, fireplace, and heating appliance safety, maintenance, and use.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: 16px;">The Padgitts have maintained an office in Independence, Missouri since 1987. Long-term lead employees include Maria McKenzie, Tony Gross, and Ron Schmidt. HearthMasters, Inc. is the only chimney restoration company that holds a Master Mechanical License, which is required in most cities in the greater Kansas City area to do relining of chimneys or installation of hearth appliances.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 16px;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Contact: Marge Padgitt</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Email:</span><span style="color: #294b93; font-size: 16px;"> </span><a href="mailto:office@chimkc.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: #294b93; font-size: 16px;" target="_blank">office@chimkc.com</a></div><div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Cell: 816-365-9492</span><span style="font-size: 19px;"> </span></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="galileo-ap-layout-editor" style="background-color: #fefefd; border-collapse: collapse; color: black; min-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td align="" class="editor-col OneColumnMobile" valign="top" width="100%"><div class="gl-contains-divider"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="editor-divider" style="border-collapse: collapse; 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min-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td align="right" style="padding: 10px 20px 10px 10px;" valign="top"><div class="publish-container"><img alt="" border="0" hspace="0" src="https://files.constantcontact.com/719676e6be/6229b843-a0e1-400f-b8fe-aed0a54fa1ca.jpg" style="display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" vspace="0" width="280" /></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="gl-contains-text"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td align="left" class="editor-text two-column-text" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; display: block; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.2; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 10px 20px 10px 10px;" valign="top"><div></div><div class="text-container galileo-ap-content-editor">Gene showing a customer what the inside of his chimney looks like by using a chimney camera system.</div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="galileo-ap-layout-editor" style="background-color: #fefefd; border-collapse: collapse; color: black; min-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td align="" class="editor-col OneColumnMobile" valign="top" width="100%"><div class="gl-contains-text"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td align="left" class="editor-text two-column-text" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; display: block; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.2; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 10px 20px;" valign="top"><div></div><div class="text-container galileo-ap-content-editor">Marge and Gene Padgitt</div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="galileo-ap-layout-editor" style="background-color: #fefefd; border-collapse: collapse; color: black; min-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td align="left" bgcolor="#fefefd" class="split-layout-margin" style="padding: 0px 15px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="feature-split-container" style="border-collapse: collapse; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#fefefd" class="mobile-hidden layout-container" style="height: 5px; line-height: 1px; padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="5"><img alt="" border="0" height="5" hspace="0" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/letters/images/sys/S.gif" style="display: block; height: 5px; width: 5px;" vspace="0" width="5" /></td><td align="left" class="split split-border editor-col OneColumnMobile" style="border-collapse: separate; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255);" valign="top" width="60%"><div><div class="column-resize-bar"><span class="line"></span><span class="grabber"></span></div></div><div class="gl-contains-image"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="editor-image content-image editor-image-hspace-on" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0px 20px;" valign="top"><div class="publish-container"><img alt="" border="0" hspace="0" src="https://files.constantcontact.com/719676e6be/6cd3fb6d-238c-4e7e-854c-67859c700617.jpg" style="display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" vspace="0" width="306" /></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="gl-contains-text"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td align="left" class="editor-text content-text" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; display: block; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.2; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 10px 20px;" valign="top"><div></div><div class="text-container galileo-ap-content-editor">Gene Padgitt in his tuxedo with his Karmann Ghia in the 1984 Raytown parade</div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></td><td align="center" bgcolor="#fefefd" class="mobile-hidden layout-container" style="height: 10px; line-height: 1px; padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="5"><img alt="" border="0" height="10" hspace="0" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/letters/images/sys/S.gif" style="display: block; height: 10px; width: 5px;" vspace="0" width="5" /></td><td align="center" bgcolor="#fefefd" class="mobile-hidden layout-container" style="height: 5px; line-height: 1px; padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="5"><img alt="" border="0" height="5" hspace="0" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/letters/images/sys/S.gif" style="display: block; height: 5px; width: 5px;" vspace="0" width="5" /></td><td align="left" class="split split-border editor-col OneColumnMobile" style="border-collapse: separate; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255);" valign="top" width="40%"><div class="gl-contains-image"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="editor-image content-image editor-image-hspace-on" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td align="right" style="padding: 0px 20px;" valign="top"><div class="publish-container"><img alt="" border="0" hspace="0" src="https://files.constantcontact.com/719676e6be/6caf7c21-501a-4126-bc93-812273f92e81.jpg" style="display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" vspace="0" width="190" /></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="gl-contains-text"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td align="left" class="editor-text content-text" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; display: block; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.2; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 10px 20px;" valign="top"><div></div><div class="text-container galileo-ap-content-editor">Gene working on an historical chimney in Northeast Kansas City</div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></td><td align="center" bgcolor="#fefefd" class="mobile-hidden layout-container" style="height: 10px; line-height: 1px; padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="5"><img alt="" border="0" height="10" hspace="0" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/letters/images/sys/S.gif" style="display: block; height: 10px; width: 5px;" vspace="0" width="5" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="galileo-ap-layout-editor" style="background-color: #fefefd; border-collapse: collapse; color: black; min-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td align="" class="editor-col OneColumnMobile" valign="top" width="100%"><div class="gl-contains-divider"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="editor-divider" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" valign="top"><table class="galileo-ap-content-editor" style="border-collapse: collapse; cursor: default; min-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" class="divider-base divider-solid" style="padding: 9px 0px;" valign="top" width="100%"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; height: 1px; min-width: 93%; table-layout: fixed; width: 585.891px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#1a1619" height="1" style="background-color: #1a1619; border-bottom-style: none; height: 1px; line-height: 1px; padding-bottom: 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" hspace="0" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/letters/images/1101116784221/S.gif" style="display: block; height: 1px; width: 5px;" vspace="0" width="5" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="galileo-ap-layout-editor" style="background-color: #fefefd; border-collapse: collapse; color: black; min-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td align="left" bgcolor="#fefefd" class="split-layout-margin" style="padding: 0px 15px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="feature-split-container" style="border-collapse: collapse; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#fefefd" class="mobile-hidden layout-container" style="height: 5px; line-height: 1px; padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="5"><img alt="" border="0" height="5" hspace="0" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/letters/images/sys/S.gif" style="display: block; height: 5px; width: 5px;" vspace="0" width="5" /></td><td align="left" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" class="split evenly-padded feature editor-col OneColumnMobile" style="background-color: white;" valign="top" width="55%"><div><div class="column-resize-bar"><span class="line"></span><span class="grabber"></span></div></div><div class="gl-contains-image"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="editor-image content-image editor-image-hspace-on" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0px 20px;" valign="top"><div class="publish-container"><img alt="" border="0" hspace="0" src="https://files.constantcontact.com/719676e6be/e36873be-ce88-4811-8b77-5dc6b11a707c.jpg" style="display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" vspace="0" width="279" /></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="gl-contains-text"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td align="left" class="editor-text feature-text" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; display: block; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.2; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 10px 20px;" valign="top"><div></div><div class="text-container galileo-ap-content-editor">Historical chimney restoration project on a Queen Anne Victorian home in NE Kansas City</div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></td><td align="center" bgcolor="#fefefd" class="mobile-hidden layout-container" style="height: 10px; line-height: 1px; padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="5"><img alt="" border="0" height="10" hspace="0" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/letters/images/sys/S.gif" style="display: block; height: 10px; width: 5px;" vspace="0" width="5" /></td><td align="center" bgcolor="#fefefd" class="mobile-hidden layout-container" style="height: 5px; line-height: 1px; padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="5"><img alt="" border="0" height="5" hspace="0" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/letters/images/sys/S.gif" style="display: block; height: 5px; width: 5px;" vspace="0" width="5" /></td><td align="left" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" class="split evenly-padded feature editor-col OneColumnMobile" style="background-color: white;" valign="top" width="45%"><div class="gl-contains-image"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="editor-image content-image editor-image-hspace-on" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td align="right" style="padding: 0px 20px;" valign="top"><div class="publish-container"><img alt="" border="0" hspace="0" src="https://files.constantcontact.com/719676e6be/220f5627-e8c2-4050-91ea-051320763067.jpg" style="display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" vspace="0" width="221" /></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="gl-contains-text"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td align="left" class="editor-text feature-text" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; display: block; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.2; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 10px 20px;" valign="top"><div></div><div class="text-container galileo-ap-content-editor"><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">Custom built stone masonry heater built by Gene Padgitt</div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></td><td align="center" bgcolor="#fefefd" class="mobile-hidden layout-container" style="height: 10px; line-height: 1px; padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="5"><img alt="" border="0" height="10" hspace="0" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/letters/images/sys/S.gif" style="display: block; height: 10px; width: 5px;" vspace="0" width="5" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="galileo-ap-layout-editor" style="background-color: #fefefd; border-collapse: collapse; color: black; min-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td align="" class="editor-col OneColumnMobile" valign="top" width="100%"><div class="gl-contains-divider"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="editor-divider" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" valign="top"><table class="galileo-ap-content-editor" style="border-collapse: collapse; cursor: default; min-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" class="divider-base divider-solid" style="padding: 9px 0px;" valign="top" width="100%"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; height: 1px; min-width: 93%; table-layout: fixed; width: 585.891px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#1a1619" height="1" style="background-color: #1a1619; border-bottom-style: none; height: 1px; line-height: 1px; padding-bottom: 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" hspace="0" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/letters/images/1101116784221/S.gif" style="display: block; height: 1px; width: 5px;" vspace="0" width="5" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="galileo-ap-layout-editor" style="background-color: #fefefd; border-collapse: collapse; color: black; min-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td align="" class="editor-col OneColumnMobile" valign="top" width="100%"><div class="gl-contains-text"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td align="left" class="editor-text editor-text" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; display: block; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 10px 20px;" valign="top"><div style="font-size: 14px;"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="editor-image OneColumnMobile" style="border-collapse: collapse; table-layout: fixed;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" class="image-cell" style="padding: 0px;" valign="top"><div class="publish-container"><img alt="" border="0" hspace="0" src="https://files.constantcontact.com/719676e6be/c16a1cfc-63e3-4e5c-aee9-572a3b7229fb.jpg" style="display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" vspace="0" width="196" /></div></td><td align="center" class="mobile-hidden" height="1" style="height: 1px; line-height: 1px; padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="15"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" hspace="0" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/letters/images/sys/S.gif" style="display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" vspace="0" width="15" /></td></tr><tr><td align="center" class="mobile-hidden" height="5" style="height: 5px; line-height: 1px; padding: 0px;" valign="top"><img alt="" border="0" height="5" hspace="0" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/letters/images/sys/S.gif" style="display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" vspace="0" width="1" /></td><td align="center" class="mobile-hidden" height="5" style="height: 1px; line-height: 1px; padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="5"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" hspace="0" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/letters/images/sys/S.gif" style="display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" vspace="0" width="5" /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="text-container galileo-ap-content-editor"><div style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #387b37; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold;">Everything you need to know about Wood-Fired appliances</span></div><div style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 12px;">Wood-Fired Heating & Cooking is a guide for homeowners, preppers, and homesteaders who are planning to install a wood-fired heating appliance, improve their existing masonry fireplace, or install a wood-fired cooking appliance. Industry veterans Gene and Marge Padgitt explain how each type of appliance works and how to properly locate, operate, and maintain them. Heating appliances covered in this book are masonry fireplaces, Rumford fireplaces, circulating fireplaces, furnaces, wood-burning fireplace inserts, freestanding stoves, masonry heaters, and rocket mass heaters. Wood selection and preparation is included. Cooking appliances discussed are wood-burning indoor cook stoves, indoor and outdoor brick ovens and oven kits, Tandoori ovens, grills, and campfires along with cooking tools and utensils.</span></div><div style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 12px;">More info:</span><a href="http://%20www.woodfiredpub.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: #4285ff; font-size: 12px;" target="_blank"> www.woodfiredpub.com</a><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 12px;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">$15 each or two for $28.00. Available in our office by appointment or order online.</span></div><div align="center" style="font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="center" style="font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">_____________________________________________________</div><div align="center" style="font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="center" style="font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">Contact: Marge Padgitt <br /><a href="mailto:office@chimkc.com">office@chimkc.com</a><br />816-365-9492 cell</div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="blogger-post-footer">HearthMasters Blog</div>Marge Padgitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647210965207710968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107388463200554654.post-41115304584071595672022-12-02T16:53:00.003-06:002022-12-02T17:30:22.679-06:00Holiday Decor Ideas for Fireplaces 2022<p>During the holidays, people usually place decor on mantels and around the focal point of the house - the fireplace. Here are some inspiring ideas. Remember to keep stockings away from the front of the fireplace as they can be a fire hazard, and never burn a Christmas tree in the fireplace because they burn too hot and too fast and can cause a house fire. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGhAOFGROrLmsEgxcc8ATh2JEYLr3bF6IE3-yweE0jFk5p1p3nM7pwYFMPRww-CEc3RaRbYTIsIyIMaxdn8AXE90SDVy6UB9bcotabi5oq0McmH6VzkcMub_IkLBcg_-bw-GHGYVfG1s4aWGMSg--tb7rspTEF012KHpJxccbPcU9hIzFAMJzAJnghlA/s3500/AdobeStock_128010617.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2337" data-original-width="3500" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGhAOFGROrLmsEgxcc8ATh2JEYLr3bF6IE3-yweE0jFk5p1p3nM7pwYFMPRww-CEc3RaRbYTIsIyIMaxdn8AXE90SDVy6UB9bcotabi5oq0McmH6VzkcMub_IkLBcg_-bw-GHGYVfG1s4aWGMSg--tb7rspTEF012KHpJxccbPcU9hIzFAMJzAJnghlA/w448-h300/AdobeStock_128010617.jpeg" width="448" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Fireplace not working? No problem - use candles for a welcoming atmosphere. <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZUgrJAN5lOpyGUGXbtpCPNmtA7iLSU61NLKhwuVS0ofg7qNtt6Zr4XdLoyopkQRGioJsIPzfOzvjWZXxI-RbIAm3WRGayb_qj5W5wJvohE4Uts4DtbEBTVOFv3G6K-8T_K5RZRGzT00U0an-pIvTlwUzN5vrG04XDCPCxz0Mb2GeOBjbZHaaejCml3w/s5760/AdobeStock_237651671.jpeg" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="5760" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZUgrJAN5lOpyGUGXbtpCPNmtA7iLSU61NLKhwuVS0ofg7qNtt6Zr4XdLoyopkQRGioJsIPzfOzvjWZXxI-RbIAm3WRGayb_qj5W5wJvohE4Uts4DtbEBTVOFv3G6K-8T_K5RZRGzT00U0an-pIvTlwUzN5vrG04XDCPCxz0Mb2GeOBjbZHaaejCml3w/w547-h363/AdobeStock_237651671.jpeg" width="547" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_tMCi1WgKBqjRWzUjN-ziE0-Uvsue9s1hgr9KIAAmQFOcguzpPFIVEEEzZnF5X0vZxXBFcghHZHpPZCI3JZevFuYWVjuQlbzD_Qv6IQA60k-XnA7eacRYP5IFWkr3IDFCvnwam-gWaaR2cflfYdDTnthtIH92vUOynK8UCbC41m13jhVbdPlsncHmfg/s5760/AdobeStock_237651779.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="5760" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_tMCi1WgKBqjRWzUjN-ziE0-Uvsue9s1hgr9KIAAmQFOcguzpPFIVEEEzZnF5X0vZxXBFcghHZHpPZCI3JZevFuYWVjuQlbzD_Qv6IQA60k-XnA7eacRYP5IFWkr3IDFCvnwam-gWaaR2cflfYdDTnthtIH92vUOynK8UCbC41m13jhVbdPlsncHmfg/w464-h308/AdobeStock_237651779.jpeg" width="464" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Above and left: These faux fireplaces work great for focal points for your holiday decorations. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhCu-JhakcCM0Ehdpgx-f5FFk0ZOPHpMzG5GIF6eBUdTh0UESGhGF5ReynwejveOdM_T8uoQ7pPHZr8R-ehO_Bk-0KmvI8nEqKFvMJ8N3uKid4no1eW6unHudP7DOBIpxNCCfEo8o3eXmMQXor-9Hfe5gUSrDItO5LxmCm90kGJLAp9mQWI_aNhdP6YQ/s2700/AdobeStock_543894693.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2700" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhCu-JhakcCM0Ehdpgx-f5FFk0ZOPHpMzG5GIF6eBUdTh0UESGhGF5ReynwejveOdM_T8uoQ7pPHZr8R-ehO_Bk-0KmvI8nEqKFvMJ8N3uKid4no1eW6unHudP7DOBIpxNCCfEo8o3eXmMQXor-9Hfe5gUSrDItO5LxmCm90kGJLAp9mQWI_aNhdP6YQ/w457-h304/AdobeStock_543894693.jpeg" width="457" /></a></div><div><br /></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Real fireplace - real fire - and nice decor without any stockings hanging down in front of the fireplace. We give this one an A+!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnC5MHIYCxbkRhuFbd0rvfDT3_7CjACYgMQ5VJnRP6KL79omwS39MN9BtzToGptDB7qgkmK3cvCuNtY_MMKWUvm7PAsMB8z4YEWXWbKhL3u_GZBxDfX41zRT9tm0zEazmBUEVjBBdi1q5RnuaqKmHiBgc4IqlURVlkedT14W_eRgEP8MFMwRUP2E3zoA/s704/gertrudda-Fotolia.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="704" data-original-width="682" height="401" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnC5MHIYCxbkRhuFbd0rvfDT3_7CjACYgMQ5VJnRP6KL79omwS39MN9BtzToGptDB7qgkmK3cvCuNtY_MMKWUvm7PAsMB8z4YEWXWbKhL3u_GZBxDfX41zRT9tm0zEazmBUEVjBBdi1q5RnuaqKmHiBgc4IqlURVlkedT14W_eRgEP8MFMwRUP2E3zoA/w388-h401/gertrudda-Fotolia.com.jpg" width="388" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Whoops! Looks nice, but do you see the problem? <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjid72PlIaIcqLPYc6NLSWnR5r7z6u1NdHDb3sSHU80u5HudNhvqXE1NUN5ZHEskHjAOWy1HJng5EKJsNsciXXfbO1NGPivVaZPbIEGZfuBklOFEMTbsVqAFC_UP1Pg7CA8DEWwzImV5ZmfFclibXZdHTuKREaOGCu5HdxNRJO4R1XwWvUq27JYpW16zw/s1620/Fotolia_45897921_L%20(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1620" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjid72PlIaIcqLPYc6NLSWnR5r7z6u1NdHDb3sSHU80u5HudNhvqXE1NUN5ZHEskHjAOWy1HJng5EKJsNsciXXfbO1NGPivVaZPbIEGZfuBklOFEMTbsVqAFC_UP1Pg7CA8DEWwzImV5ZmfFclibXZdHTuKREaOGCu5HdxNRJO4R1XwWvUq27JYpW16zw/w661-h440/Fotolia_45897921_L%20(Large).jpg" width="661" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">A stunning historical fireplace that is nicely done</p><p>-----------------------------------------------------------</p><p>Marge Padgitt is the president of HearthMasters, Inc. and author of Wood-Fired Heating and Cooking. <a href="http://www.woodfiredpub.com">www.woodfiredpub.com</a> or <a href="http://www.chimkc.com">www.chimkc.com</a>. Sign up for blog notices so you don't miss an article!</p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">HearthMasters Blog</div>Marge Padgitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647210965207710968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107388463200554654.post-52635987552109385002022-11-22T09:42:00.005-06:002023-11-29T13:04:02.840-06:00How to avoid chimney fires<p><span face="Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefd; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVuRdgmAOPdRv6nhbWle4ql5hco_OqoDOGXhFb85fLikwGkp5VIJqR-BSTyggyJM6faakQjelwKvj2j7svhEayfEu4BYPQ4M1ubAjKdGej0zTKkRJQwgbMXFNc_vGqqB9Z5_RKD1RuB2VJeZW25Chb_J1hiVmwMZXaDo55q1rH8DM7r4MOnRcVnmebw/s710/710px-Chimney_Fire,Marlboro_Vt.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="710" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVuRdgmAOPdRv6nhbWle4ql5hco_OqoDOGXhFb85fLikwGkp5VIJqR-BSTyggyJM6faakQjelwKvj2j7svhEayfEu4BYPQ4M1ubAjKdGej0zTKkRJQwgbMXFNc_vGqqB9Z5_RKD1RuB2VJeZW25Chb_J1hiVmwMZXaDo55q1rH8DM7r4MOnRcVnmebw/s320/710px-Chimney_Fire,Marlboro_Vt.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Chimney fires occur during cold weather months when people use their chimneys. A chimney fire occurs when accumulated creosote in a flue or smoke chamber ignites from a spark.<p></p><div style="background-color: #fefefd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">All wood creates creosote - even dry hardwoods- so it is imperative that flues serving fireplaces or wood-burning stoves, or fireplace inserts are swept regularly to remove this flammable substance. The NFPA recommends sweeping once per year for fireplaces, and at least twice during the season for heating appliances (wood stoves or inserts). A house fire can occur if the fire in the chimney escapes the flue liner or if burning embers fly out of the top of the chimney onto the roof. (Asphalt roofs can catch fire as well as wood shingle roofs). </div><div style="background-color: #fefefd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: #fefefd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Most chimney fires are of short duration and go unnoticed by the homeowner - with damages usually found later during an inspection by a chimney sweep. </span></div><div style="background-color: #fefefd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div><div style="background-color: #fefefd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Signs of a chimney fire</span>:</div><div style="background-color: #fefefd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li> Loud whooshing or roaring or freight train like sound</li><li> Flames shooting out the top of the chimney</li><li> Red glowing stove pipe</li><li> Backup of smoke into the house </li><li> Sudden poor draft</li></ul></div><div style="background-color: #fefefd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: #fefefd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is a good idea to keep a chimney fire extinguisher near your fireplace or wood stove and use it if you notice a chimney fire, then get out of the house and call the fire department immediately. Fire can spread to nearby combustibles and cause a house fire. Be sure to keep an eye out for smoke smell or flames even after the fire department is gone because interior wood framing could smolder for hours afterwards and ignite if it gets enough oxygen. </div><div style="background-color: #fefefd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div><div style="background-color: #fefefd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKlifXAGM2MLqXpCCTGDTYWZCjEoCwYkaCl_B5-eBHZwOXxEuMIfblq1qZEqScP2u6dTlJjeeCox0p6CfDImhMYQWFlPxSeD3wuIk9f06HXOlIf_ye59MbgxgP9Rm65SaFnCBp-JkjyDPWZhTtoxK9JxWsf0EY6Ani9xt-FYRBXM-j8IDW3yl4hpa-A/s640/largegap2.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKlifXAGM2MLqXpCCTGDTYWZCjEoCwYkaCl_B5-eBHZwOXxEuMIfblq1qZEqScP2u6dTlJjeeCox0p6CfDImhMYQWFlPxSeD3wuIk9f06HXOlIf_ye59MbgxgP9Rm65SaFnCBp-JkjyDPWZhTtoxK9JxWsf0EY6Ani9xt-FYRBXM-j8IDW3yl4hpa-A/s320/largegap2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blown out section of tile liner</td></tr></tbody></table><br />After the fire: </span>Call your local professional chimney sweep to have a thorough inspection and any needed repairs completed before using the appliance again. Most chimneys are severely damaged on the interior during a chimney fire and should not be used until inspected by a qualified professional. Any breaks or blown out sections in flue tiles or warped or buckled seams in steel liners or chimneys can be a fire and Carbon Monoxide hazard.</div><div style="background-color: #fefefd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: #fefefd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">For more information about Carbon Monoxide, visit <a href="http://COHeadquarters.com">COHeadquarters.com</a>.</div><div style="background-color: #fefefd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: #fefefd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">___________________________
</div><div style="background-color: #fefefd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Chimney Lady, Marge Padgitt, is a veteran chimney professional, trainer, and author. She is the co-owner of<a href="https://www.chimkc.com"> HearthMasters</a> chimney and fireplace service in Kansas City, Missouri. Contact her at office@chimkc.com. </div><div class="blogger-post-footer">HearthMasters Blog</div>Marge Padgitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647210965207710968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107388463200554654.post-13245073939581713232022-11-22T09:18:00.003-06:002022-11-22T09:30:36.435-06:00Utility flue problems can cause carbon monoxide poisoning<p><span face="Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefd; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Utility flues serving furnaces, water heaters, and boilers are often forgotten and ignored, yet can pose serious hazards for the occupants of the home. Most problems lie with older masonry chimneys with clay tile flue liners, or chimneys without liners. Homeowners are generally not aware that these flues need to be inspected annually as recommended by the </span><a href="http://www.nfpa.org%20/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">National Fire Protection Association 211 Standard</a><span style="background-color: #fefefd;"><span face="Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and that professional chimney sweeps maintain these flues. HVAC contractors do not sweep or inspect flues or install replacement flue liners. </span></span></span></p><div style="background-color: #fefefd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADGNgWFDpD7QsB9KefWo1Qkb-BM7KqRhc-PB0v6Lc-V9XIrNK0rTGHeHVz_4hfrX6CrilnezWORFJQtg_ErvUROQIy_g783S6lxf3-EySZ09RhzYI_0AGP-qLd4S_oY1sMFQHKIo6pRIxwfAJGn4278gbydgIE79_yt1ZWP65zsmREQ34ad2OCNyOeA/s3072/Friederichs%20006.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2304" data-original-width="3072" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADGNgWFDpD7QsB9KefWo1Qkb-BM7KqRhc-PB0v6Lc-V9XIrNK0rTGHeHVz_4hfrX6CrilnezWORFJQtg_ErvUROQIy_g783S6lxf3-EySZ09RhzYI_0AGP-qLd4S_oY1sMFQHKIo6pRIxwfAJGn4278gbydgIE79_yt1ZWP65zsmREQ34ad2OCNyOeA/s320/Friederichs%20006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Masonry chimneys deteriorate over time, starting from the interior, due to exposure to rain and acidic flue gasses, which damage mortar and clay tile liners. Over a period of years, this mortar falls and accumulates at the bottom of the flue, sometimes causing large restrictions that can cause carbon monoxide backup. Flue liners have been required by code since 1927, yet many homes built prior to 1950 do not have liners. Flue liners are installed to provide a complete sealed exit for toxic flue gases. They have mortar joints between each two-foot section of tile. But mortar joints that are deteriorated, have holes, or are missing can allow gases to escape the flue liner and enter the living space via a neighboring flue liner serving a fireplace, or through the masonry chimney. </div><div style="background-color: #fefefd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: #fefefd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Masonry chimneys are designed to last for many years as long as they are maintained. However, lack of homeowner education usually results in improperly maintained chimneys and flues, which can be a health hazard to the occupants and cause appliances to work inefficiently. Flue liner size is very important – and must be correct in order for draft to occur. A flue liner that is too large for the appliance may cause backup of gases. This is common in homes where newer, mid-efficiency appliances have been installed which need a smaller liner, and in cases where a high-efficiency furnace is installed and vented through the side of the house, leaving an “abandoned” hot water heater to vent on its own in a flue that is very oversized. </div><div style="background-color: #fefefd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: #fefefd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNYZWp6xymOovayrIPBFIQb6D4YvGMoLAonah6BxuWGvS7-ZYOZfOPWa7ZSKrPFq7SuT6bzLxcmPjlwc14gX--Qhjxc14HogBNamvrR4cFplzF9Szflzs00QE8zUosFlHV2f6hemTynm5hLFUGTjUsHJ-ZaC4FBfAcwIBsvScGtSe9gRH_9nUIqR5fw/s1378/Fotolia_85515243_Subscription_Monthly_M.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1378" data-original-width="1378" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNYZWp6xymOovayrIPBFIQb6D4YvGMoLAonah6BxuWGvS7-ZYOZfOPWa7ZSKrPFq7SuT6bzLxcmPjlwc14gX--Qhjxc14HogBNamvrR4cFplzF9Szflzs00QE8zUosFlHV2f6hemTynm5hLFUGTjUsHJ-ZaC4FBfAcwIBsvScGtSe9gRH_9nUIqR5fw/s320/Fotolia_85515243_Subscription_Monthly_M.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Carbon monoxide is an odorless, tasteless, colorless gas that is the by-product of incomplete combustion. The current standard for CO alarms is 9 ppm, however, recent testing proves that even very low levels of CO exposure over a long period of time can cause irreversible brain and organ damage. The <a href="http://www.epa.gov/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Environmental Protection Agency</a> states that CO detectors are to be used as a backup and are not a replacement for maintenance of appliances and flues. Even so, the EPA recommends the use of CO detectors placed strategically throughout the house.</div><div style="background-color: #fefefd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: #fefefd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dr. David Penney, author of <span style="font-style: italic;">Carbon Monoxide Toxicity</span> and Professor of Physiology at Wayne State University School of Medicine has devoted years of research to this topic and posts his findings on his website at <a href="http://www.coheatquarters.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">www.coheadquarters.com</a>. Penney suggests that SIDS may be due to low level CO exposure and that children, the elderly, and pets are more susceptible to its effects. </div><div style="background-color: #fefefd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: #fefefd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">According to the <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Center for Disease Control</a>, 15,000 people visit emergency rooms and 500 people die every year due to CO poisoning. Symptoms of CO poisoning may include flu-like symptoms that go away or lessen after leaving the house, unexplained headaches, nausea, and dizziness; fainting, muscle weakness, inability to wake up, and death. If more than one family member has the same symptoms the EPA recommends visiting a doctor or hospital and mentioning that you suspect CO exposure.</div><div style="background-color: #fefefd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: #fefefd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Utility flue safety tips:</span></div><div style="background-color: #fefefd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: #fefefd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">•<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 9px;"> </span>Have the flue checked annually by a <a href="http://www.csia.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Certified Chimney Sweep</a> who will look for clogs caused by bird nests, leaves, debris, dead animals, and mortar or bricks, cracked flue tiles, missing tiles, and missing mortar joints.</div><div style="background-color: #fefefd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">•<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 9px;"> </span>Have a heavy-duty stainless-steel chimney cover installed to keep damaging rain and animals out of the flue.</div><div style="background-color: #fefefd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">•<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 9px;"> </span>Make sure the flue is sized correctly to the appliances</div><div style="background-color: #fefefd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">•<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 9px;"> </span>Never connect another appliance (water heater excepted) to the same flue as a furnace or boiler</div><div style="background-color: #fefefd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">•<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 9px;"> </span>Have the flue examined when changing appliances</div><div style="background-color: #fefefd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: #fefefd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgviICI5FndfOTVqvmOCnYiQzGGYOD160w0sfZgelDnvvvXy7eM-4HdQd8j8HeTiIGbYPuNAstLqrKgtdwDgSpjfUiucJibClTEdmjnRrpuR1kXfkBAOJOFwNAbtsUuAlwKQy5sAmPwwGu4qGU8rRCjKbnlwXYkEql6OBBFid-YsSbPplmcAieW_33JBA/s1871/Fotolia_83565572_Subscription_Monthly_M.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1015" data-original-width="1871" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgviICI5FndfOTVqvmOCnYiQzGGYOD160w0sfZgelDnvvvXy7eM-4HdQd8j8HeTiIGbYPuNAstLqrKgtdwDgSpjfUiucJibClTEdmjnRrpuR1kXfkBAOJOFwNAbtsUuAlwKQy5sAmPwwGu4qGU8rRCjKbnlwXYkEql6OBBFid-YsSbPplmcAieW_33JBA/s320/Fotolia_83565572_Subscription_Monthly_M.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />According to Gene Padgitt, owner of HearthMasters, Inc. in Kansas City, Missouri, he has encountered numerous utility flue problems over the years, citing that it is a common issue. “People don't think about the inside of their chimney, and it is usually ignored until a chimney sweep finds a problem or someone gets ill,” said Gene. In one example, another chimney sweep broke out flue tiles and left them in the flue, clogging it completely, which made the homeowners very ill for weeks. In another example, over five feet of debris was removed from a boiler flue that had not been maintained for years and had blocked the flue by 90 percent. The clog caused an entire church congregation to become very ill. </div><div style="background-color: #fefefd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: #fefefd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Resources:</span></div><div style="background-color: #fefefd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.mcsc-net.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Midwest Chimney Safety Council</a></div><div style="background-color: #fefefd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.csia.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Chimney Safety Institute of America</a></div><div style="background-color: #fefefd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.nfpa.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">National Fire Protection Association</a></div><div style="background-color: #fefefd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.coheadquarters.com%20/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">CO Headquarters</a></div><div style="background-color: #fefefd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.epa.gov/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Environmental Protection Agency</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">HearthMasters Blog</div>Marge Padgitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647210965207710968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107388463200554654.post-10849671599254719952022-10-17T17:08:00.003-06:002022-10-17T17:08:53.817-06:00Some Halloween Decor Ideas for your Hearth and Home<p><span style="font-size: large;">Check out these cool ideas to decorate your fireplace and home for Halloween: </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBFJxpEBdGKgRoSq9oydYhnOZbGGVcanvuus8OS1WcYTBXNd9VHDbDlLXfelp6mi1sPhTnggeqwu9CF27fy6lw5RJsKtqwena7j3NVQbV66rucnYP-_aKtXsb7b7AtX4bbAMqM1ArWd4uPwxmE4gu0PjyggRguaaO66iW6MMYps3BP1l8lwiVNji72yA/s1152/AdobeStock_90771350%20(Medium).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBFJxpEBdGKgRoSq9oydYhnOZbGGVcanvuus8OS1WcYTBXNd9VHDbDlLXfelp6mi1sPhTnggeqwu9CF27fy6lw5RJsKtqwena7j3NVQbV66rucnYP-_aKtXsb7b7AtX4bbAMqM1ArWd4uPwxmE4gu0PjyggRguaaO66iW6MMYps3BP1l8lwiVNji72yA/s1152/AdobeStock_90771350%20(Medium).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigD6gxQbzrUhloS3y_qGz_mRcntaG3gDQ7fS4n_t-rN3q7hgb4-qCqriyq_TykeknMyZNGBehSnF-7Pr54oLxVFr4wZXkFdOmYUyd6S-su5pqcSuBuGnpf2z3wg-RorHm6Z-VZCXsaTuB_r0e7M2I-qqmaPHIu_Gm3IA3wJCtnm4BKPBQfPmI2M4i1nw/s1920/AdobeStock_375386215%20(Large).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="946" data-original-width="1920" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigD6gxQbzrUhloS3y_qGz_mRcntaG3gDQ7fS4n_t-rN3q7hgb4-qCqriyq_TykeknMyZNGBehSnF-7Pr54oLxVFr4wZXkFdOmYUyd6S-su5pqcSuBuGnpf2z3wg-RorHm6Z-VZCXsaTuB_r0e7M2I-qqmaPHIu_Gm3IA3wJCtnm4BKPBQfPmI2M4i1nw/w541-h267/AdobeStock_375386215%20(Large).jpeg" width="541" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There's nothing like a scary pumpkin on your front porch! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1152" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBFJxpEBdGKgRoSq9oydYhnOZbGGVcanvuus8OS1WcYTBXNd9VHDbDlLXfelp6mi1sPhTnggeqwu9CF27fy6lw5RJsKtqwena7j3NVQbV66rucnYP-_aKtXsb7b7AtX4bbAMqM1ArWd4uPwxmE4gu0PjyggRguaaO66iW6MMYps3BP1l8lwiVNji72yA/w439-h292/AdobeStock_90771350%20(Medium).jpeg" width="439" /></div><div> Looks like these guys could use a glass of water!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHzAaANWe2pBQiVzLvH_zg7cBw4T7JRlpSbNu1UUzWeI6JXbF9pREY3uLzmwi8HMCUMznVts8p0fO2MoHTY7JpbNgcEqkF-w5v2iAoe9GO5sJVTvRwfyKSwrQpIdW_eNN1UmuhjHJaSgOFdYl-1SnWIctxKmv27HtmNbkITf0KywqPQ8_cUxsCFf1yKg/s1024/AdobeStock_242369415%20(1)%20(Medium).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHzAaANWe2pBQiVzLvH_zg7cBw4T7JRlpSbNu1UUzWeI6JXbF9pREY3uLzmwi8HMCUMznVts8p0fO2MoHTY7JpbNgcEqkF-w5v2iAoe9GO5sJVTvRwfyKSwrQpIdW_eNN1UmuhjHJaSgOFdYl-1SnWIctxKmv27HtmNbkITf0KywqPQ8_cUxsCFf1yKg/w463-h347/AdobeStock_242369415%20(1)%20(Medium).jpeg" width="463" /></a></div> A graveyard is not complete without skeletons<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwPZs8i4YsF1pZfils19njg1X42mMnD0XiSyM8uHxGC45co8fQrCqzG_V_7UGE7MtKxYeBJv24gi9oVaRvTqyUjB7ZoVmjO5ESe4cWoBxAqmkt1Nj9kENEDFLNNihOVGbXWgm-Cd49TvPNtJsTVhDZNTxe_y3jQ5Gt4qYsz15UBeGq0qu9GNUNE3nkA/s768/AdobeStock_378445153%20(Medium).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="511" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwPZs8i4YsF1pZfils19njg1X42mMnD0XiSyM8uHxGC45co8fQrCqzG_V_7UGE7MtKxYeBJv24gi9oVaRvTqyUjB7ZoVmjO5ESe4cWoBxAqmkt1Nj9kENEDFLNNihOVGbXWgm-Cd49TvPNtJsTVhDZNTxe_y3jQ5Gt4qYsz15UBeGq0qu9GNUNE3nkA/w312-h468/AdobeStock_378445153%20(Medium).jpeg" width="312" /></a></div><div> Don't forget the fireplace!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQb4ufDqQsRKPjjIFEo2ZRpaaunI3p4zvUxcWtUeP7rvKMi7F6REqDyGtt18SlUFjf6H8Oy_LMJlogAaKhtEvsr9Yh_ehGav8ufTuD9vnK_I6XpaqB0VqSUWl1sxwUCUbr95qSW0aBG-u7mxvACBV5nARUjMSJqTgqFkJz6_unORg4lxQSmb4A0ufd-w/s1344/AdobeStock_521884259%20(Medium).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1344" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQb4ufDqQsRKPjjIFEo2ZRpaaunI3p4zvUxcWtUeP7rvKMi7F6REqDyGtt18SlUFjf6H8Oy_LMJlogAaKhtEvsr9Yh_ehGav8ufTuD9vnK_I6XpaqB0VqSUWl1sxwUCUbr95qSW0aBG-u7mxvACBV5nARUjMSJqTgqFkJz6_unORg4lxQSmb4A0ufd-w/w581-h332/AdobeStock_521884259%20(Medium).jpeg" width="581" /></a></div><div> These two lovely ladies are just out for a midnight stroll...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFrFZgIvOfJGqcW1cQa5CZtvL6n1rFh_kZ0SVZQ0qGqI78zzpd52IfQXlPavon2VL0lnrnPElmWW7sWcKjEnM8HozGJCb18DQIVLx0kLuhJk2lFYzqQb9GQXmQs3XWKMuu4dZ2UXfMqBrTzzxMR5dAdvGUweZdjvj0iZCDcIn3JzFWUhjYmhW9fgUZLg/s688/Picture1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="688" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFrFZgIvOfJGqcW1cQa5CZtvL6n1rFh_kZ0SVZQ0qGqI78zzpd52IfQXlPavon2VL0lnrnPElmWW7sWcKjEnM8HozGJCb18DQIVLx0kLuhJk2lFYzqQb9GQXmQs3XWKMuu4dZ2UXfMqBrTzzxMR5dAdvGUweZdjvj0iZCDcIn3JzFWUhjYmhW9fgUZLg/w208-h185/Picture1.png" width="208" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3urlBi0JeVTlCoZjEMZlYhOHlDZ-ToIZYYUJQFW_1_TflHNcy9Sdku1AEBHxlf6t9U8l6DLPlxG6AIXJGu-Mv3rtQ69CDi5V6GSNsByah1MOsgf9gWfyYeDEKHC3bUteXg17KpdCwpkcCwrFWIq3sRby7-BxtdiuD11O-Bvh6Xtt0nuKwMQGUaXGjg/s768/Africa%20Studio%20(Medium).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="512" height="401" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3urlBi0JeVTlCoZjEMZlYhOHlDZ-ToIZYYUJQFW_1_TflHNcy9Sdku1AEBHxlf6t9U8l6DLPlxG6AIXJGu-Mv3rtQ69CDi5V6GSNsByah1MOsgf9gWfyYeDEKHC3bUteXg17KpdCwpkcCwrFWIq3sRby7-BxtdiuD11O-Bvh6Xtt0nuKwMQGUaXGjg/w267-h401/Africa%20Studio%20(Medium).jpg" width="267" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZNAcK6EoiQhHAybzW11n4_J7PqbgYLN62Pb3orNF4hNSMXUMm_pI4155uHXnAzHI59f7FBBwIAuxLqpqbDL9BiWkcRVjHpf0FOH_qaWq0pZd5NuIC0V-SzyFv4DsTx-eDWNYgp7NvsVu2yJyHZDr_YsX-SCONmIsz0WKndg4JNJRtiLypKcbB5e9u3A/s1080/JZhuk%20(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZNAcK6EoiQhHAybzW11n4_J7PqbgYLN62Pb3orNF4hNSMXUMm_pI4155uHXnAzHI59f7FBBwIAuxLqpqbDL9BiWkcRVjHpf0FOH_qaWq0pZd5NuIC0V-SzyFv4DsTx-eDWNYgp7NvsVu2yJyHZDr_YsX-SCONmIsz0WKndg4JNJRtiLypKcbB5e9u3A/w320-h427/JZhuk%20(Large).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKi3X5HlshRHitlkV0WP-zshfwq1GYtEXV-Oc_y8DaSVXPVV4dGvDr8vTANjenK5r6bZVPrxWufiuRcpearRfPVQykw1aSENoXtFcTVhIuYJ3C2_wj3sRr0v8z7hipi_91d0A_yHoCICMz6u4Za3_eqX68rEq62ZQ6KYoFL5Pqn7NGLHV3j4qelHvPJw/s768/Africa%20Studiohalloween%20(Medium).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="512" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKi3X5HlshRHitlkV0WP-zshfwq1GYtEXV-Oc_y8DaSVXPVV4dGvDr8vTANjenK5r6bZVPrxWufiuRcpearRfPVQykw1aSENoXtFcTVhIuYJ3C2_wj3sRr0v8z7hipi_91d0A_yHoCICMz6u4Za3_eqX68rEq62ZQ6KYoFL5Pqn7NGLHV3j4qelHvPJw/w285-h427/Africa%20Studiohalloween%20(Medium).jpg" width="285" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKXGEWCnkEGoobY2QzkTlPh4793xAvJ8F2fitCnh1kloXpd1yWfzEwdFFIcZCa8V8maRGz_AkdQtwZOFhr6H_XrZI5GiHXQOS7pSOyuqWyuF41S_E_W6CyHVD8GrlfeBe7M41Q10puMgCNosK2iEQRGWycg56gjGumDM4YlCJ8YlNKGgpVkzVj3jryw/s730/tavrox%20fotolia%20(Small).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="730" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKXGEWCnkEGoobY2QzkTlPh4793xAvJ8F2fitCnh1kloXpd1yWfzEwdFFIcZCa8V8maRGz_AkdQtwZOFhr6H_XrZI5GiHXQOS7pSOyuqWyuF41S_E_W6CyHVD8GrlfeBe7M41Q10puMgCNosK2iEQRGWycg56gjGumDM4YlCJ8YlNKGgpVkzVj3jryw/w566-h372/tavrox%20fotolia%20(Small).jpg" width="566" /></a></div><br /><p>_____________________________________________________________________________</p><p>Marge Padgitt is the president of HearthMasters, Inc. in Independence, MO. She loves Halloween. </p><div class="blogger-post-footer">HearthMasters Blog</div>Marge Padgitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647210965207710968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107388463200554654.post-74671757569480178352022-10-17T16:50:00.003-06:002022-11-22T09:54:27.987-06:00Gas Appliance Annual Maintenence Required<p><span face="Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefd; font-size: 14px;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimdumaL0_ic_pIlU8jAn073tfAcYtz4w2mjgatigGeI5r_8u6tP1Y8dYPqp3aYQ9v6WAntT-JCWi__80dcEUZWqO8VtXmeSxCBJgB548S4DwIAjrUNu7KBQPe81mrNQ9NmFZorp3mx0AmcKE3BAZPsAvCY_E7ppjrfIxam-9TL7beKp0Bt-c02Xxyi1g/s290/Killington.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="290" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimdumaL0_ic_pIlU8jAn073tfAcYtz4w2mjgatigGeI5r_8u6tP1Y8dYPqp3aYQ9v6WAntT-JCWi__80dcEUZWqO8VtXmeSxCBJgB548S4DwIAjrUNu7KBQPe81mrNQ9NmFZorp3mx0AmcKE3BAZPsAvCY_E7ppjrfIxam-9TL7beKp0Bt-c02Xxyi1g/s1600/Killington.jpg" width="290" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">All direct vent gas appliances need an annual tune-up service by a professional technician in order to maintain the warranty and assure proper operation. If we or someone else installed a unit for you and it has been used for a season, contact us for an appointment.</span><p></p><p><span face="Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefd; font-family: inherit;">Tune up includes checking and cleaning of all components, cleaning the glass, cleaning the logs, doing a test burn, CO test, checking the vent system, and checking the remote. It takes about 90 minutes to complete. </span></p><div style="background-color: #fefefd;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tiny spiders build webs inside </span>orifices<span style="font-family: inherit;">, and dust can impede the function of the appliance. </span></div><div style="background-color: #fefefd;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: #fefefd;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Change the Batteries:</span> Direct vent gas appliances and gas logs with remotes need to have new batteries installed every six months. Be sure to change the batteries in the remote<span style="font-weight: bold;"> and </span>in the sending unit in the appliance. Check your manual for the location. If your appliance is not coming on - check the batteries first.</span></div><div style="background-color: #fefefd;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: #fefefd;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Venting and non-venting gas logs also need to be serviced and cleaned periodically, depending on how much they are used. Every three years should be sufficient in most cases. </span></div><div style="background-color: #fefefd;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: #fefefd;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i>Tip:</i></b> Never move gas logs around. They must remain in the same position or flame impingement could occur!</span></div><div style="background-color: #fefefd;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: #fefefd;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">____________________________________________________</span></div><div style="background-color: #fefefd;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: #fefefd;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Marge Padgitt is the president of <a href="https://www.chimkc.com">HearthMasters, Inc.</a> in Independence, Missouri </span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">HearthMasters Blog</div>Marge Padgitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647210965207710968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107388463200554654.post-38206759717754205492022-09-17T09:14:00.001-06:002022-09-17T09:14:32.323-06:00Tandoor Ovens are Unique and Practical<p> <span lang="en-US" style="clear: left; font-family: "French Script MT"; font-size: 48pt; language: en-US; line-height: 76.16px; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Garamond; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Garamond; mso-default-font-family: Garamond; mso-greek-font-family: Garamond; mso-latin-font-family: Garamond; mso-latinext-font-family: Garamond; mso-ligatures: none;">I</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; line-height: 19.04px; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Garamond; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Garamond; mso-default-font-family: Garamond; mso-greek-font-family: Garamond; mso-latin-font-family: Garamond; mso-latinext-font-family: Garamond; mso-ligatures: none;"> was first introduced to Tandoor ovens during a trip to the U.K. in 2005 with my husband, Gene, and Martin Glynn, a chimney sweep and friend who lives near London. Martin took us to an</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element-linespan: 4; mso-element-linesup: 3; mso-element: dropcap-up; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; line-height: 19.04px; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Garamond; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Garamond; mso-default-font-family: Garamond; mso-greek-font-family: Garamond; mso-latin-font-family: Garamond; mso-latinext-font-family: Garamond; mso-ligatures: none;">Indian restaurant and were so impressed with the food we asked what type of oven they used. The surprised waiter was more than happy to take me back to the kitchen where I got to see the oven at work with hot coals in the bottom of a clay oven and meat cooking inside. A few years later we watched a Tandoor oven being built out of firebrick at a Masonry Heater Association workshop. It was at that point I decided that we needed to have our own Tandoor oven in our back yard –something I’m still trying to convince Gene to build.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; line-height: 19.04px; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Garamond; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Garamond; mso-default-font-family: Garamond; mso-greek-font-family: Garamond; mso-latin-font-family: Garamond; mso-latinext-font-family: Garamond; mso-ligatures: none;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ8UwGBjAhSeTG7oNstxP2rBkdFKcgxBSy76lB2vUAWi0B0Qe3-J0inHs2sfnCqJrFHGPHZpIFjKOxFbjfNzUwFSqTvWTfPzGGOb6smgKRXrNTN1fS9iP5bgsOlKHtMmcFK8_7l9tMuZcNWAaVktJXmJLrsW1RVu4lJnrgyjm7MiZ1zgXzo9O6ZoD4/s798/flatbread.png" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="695" data-original-width="798" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ8UwGBjAhSeTG7oNstxP2rBkdFKcgxBSy76lB2vUAWi0B0Qe3-J0inHs2sfnCqJrFHGPHZpIFjKOxFbjfNzUwFSqTvWTfPzGGOb6smgKRXrNTN1fS9iP5bgsOlKHtMmcFK8_7l9tMuZcNWAaVktJXmJLrsW1RVu4lJnrgyjm7MiZ1zgXzo9O6ZoD4/s320/flatbread.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flatbread from a Tandoor</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Tandoor ovens are more commonly used in India, some regions of central Asia, and Arabic countries, but are becoming more popular in the U.S. and U.K. Unlike traditional ovens with a door on the front, Tandoor ovens are cylindrical or egg-shaped with the opening at the top.</p><o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; line-height: 19.04px; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Garamond; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Garamond; mso-default-font-family: Garamond; mso-greek-font-family: Garamond; mso-latin-font-family: Garamond; mso-latinext-font-family: Garamond; mso-ligatures: none;">Food is normally placed on long skewers, which are then placed inside the oven for cooking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; line-height: 19.04px; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Garamond; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Garamond; mso-default-font-family: Garamond; mso-greek-font-family: Garamond; mso-latin-font-family: Garamond; mso-latinext-font-family: Garamond; mso-ligatures: none;">Traditional flatbread is cooked on the sides of a tandoor– the cook shapes the dough, then throws it on the side of the oven where it sticks and cooks.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; line-height: 19.04px; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Garamond; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Garamond; mso-default-font-family: Garamond; mso-greek-font-family: Garamond; mso-latin-font-family: Garamond; mso-latinext-font-family: Garamond; mso-ligatures: none;">Tandoors are usually made out of bricks or clay and fueled with wood </span><span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 12pt;">or charcoal to reach temperatures upwards of 900 Fahrenheit. Food normally cooks very quickly via convection, conduction, and radiation. The temperature can be controlled by the cook via the amount of fuel burned. It is common for tandoors to remain lit by leaving coals inside the oven during cooking to maintain higher temperatures.</span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; line-height: 19.04px; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Garamond; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Garamond; mso-default-font-family: Garamond; mso-greek-font-family: Garamond; mso-latin-font-family: Garamond; mso-latinext-font-family: Garamond; mso-ligatures: none;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9WX1Bu73GTQ6h4qG1Q8_vUXv-dfFIEphLZti4-1O3NSMApy86B1Yz3qbyXppwLtRCGMB1BHNvePFBK-u0urmn45vQfMx7Tm1i3LW2dLxnMyQqukhfhR1ZtetoCYShx1mjfuUZ_XLE1k7IacUbwzJiJ1vX0o3iUhL7q0h2XK3c-wJ0CVMAU9co1ofqWQ/s356/tandoor%20makin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="356" data-original-width="263" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9WX1Bu73GTQ6h4qG1Q8_vUXv-dfFIEphLZti4-1O3NSMApy86B1Yz3qbyXppwLtRCGMB1BHNvePFBK-u0urmn45vQfMx7Tm1i3LW2dLxnMyQqukhfhR1ZtetoCYShx1mjfuUZ_XLE1k7IacUbwzJiJ1vX0o3iUhL7q0h2XK3c-wJ0CVMAU9co1ofqWQ/s320/tandoor%20makin.jpg" width="236" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tandoor factory</td></tr></tbody></table><br />One of the most popular dishes prepared is Tandoori Chicken. This excellent dish is chicken roasted with yogurt and spices. The chicken is first marinated in yogurt and honey and seasoned with tandoori masala spice mixture which contains red chili powder, cayenne pepper, turmeric, and paprika. The spice combinations give the chicken its bright red color. This dish is reported to have been invented in 1947 by Kundan Lai Gujral, a restaurant owner in Delhi. Tandoori chicken is also used as a base ingredient in Indian curries and traditionally served </span><span lang="en-US"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 12pt;">an Indian flatbread). The dish is now served in Britain as Chicken Tikka Masala.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; line-height: 19.04px; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Garamond; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Garamond; mso-default-font-family: Garamond; mso-greek-font-family: Garamond; mso-latin-font-family: Garamond; mso-latinext-font-family: Garamond; mso-ligatures: none;">If the Tandoor bug has bitten you, there are ovens available for purchase (check the internet) or build one yourself. I found some plans that don’t look too difficult on<a href="https:// instructables.com"> instructables.com</a> and <a href="http://lifehacker.com">lifehacker.com</a>, and even some videos on You Tube. The idea is too have heat coming from all sides so the food cooks fast and evenly.<o:p></o:p></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6uS_mdlVXmYeQcXJ_8-BzmCzNMtCk3KiRKrmt3CAFbKAtYrB7Tbhr79HxHKpKLIndXv9gWxYzgy5YaDipQAUSTYY-hgbB3I5bNkfiF7OAYmjOgQ2SfWJaqbPg7wG2-9DYXiEwJ-G2AFim2nPJl3EG7m72MxSuARnNImEytHB5nJGtvv1C4iTQbcU/s1007/tandoor.png" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="1007" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6uS_mdlVXmYeQcXJ_8-BzmCzNMtCk3KiRKrmt3CAFbKAtYrB7Tbhr79HxHKpKLIndXv9gWxYzgy5YaDipQAUSTYY-hgbB3I5bNkfiF7OAYmjOgQ2SfWJaqbPg7wG2-9DYXiEwJ-G2AFim2nPJl3EG7m72MxSuARnNImEytHB5nJGtvv1C4iTQbcU/s320/tandoor.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chicken cooking in a Tandoor oven</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; line-height: 19.04px; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Garamond; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Garamond; mso-default-font-family: Garamond; mso-greek-font-family: Garamond; mso-latin-font-family: Garamond; mso-latinext-font-family: Garamond; mso-ligatures: none;">DIY projects are constructed using a metal trash can (no galvanized) or large terra cotta pot with a smaller terra cotta pot inside of it with vermiculite insulation poured between the two pots. Some builders even use firebrick at the base.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; line-height: 19.04px; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Garamond; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Garamond; mso-default-font-family: Garamond; mso-greek-font-family: Garamond; mso-latin-font-family: Garamond; mso-latinext-font-family: Garamond; mso-ligatures: none;">These ovens are not as heavy duty as the commercial ovens, but according to the builders/cooks they work fine for home use </span><span lang="en-US"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 12pt;">in the back yard. High temperatures can be reached, and the food cooked in them</span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 12pt;">is delicious.</span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 12pt;">______________________</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 12pt;">Marge Padgitt is the president of HearthMasters, Inc. and the author of Wood-Fired Heating and Cooking, available at Amazon. </span></p><div><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">HearthMasters Blog</div>Marge Padgitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647210965207710968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107388463200554654.post-21910145290519412042022-08-23T13:59:00.001-06:002022-08-23T13:59:10.507-06:00Gas is at risk in Kansas City!<p> <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 36px; font-weight: bold; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">CALL-TO-ACTION</span></p><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face="Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px;"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face=""Century Gothic", Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">WHEN:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face=""Century Gothic", Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px;">Wednesday, August 24 (tentatively)</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face=""Century Gothic", Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px;">9:00 AM CT</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face=""Century Gothic", Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face=""Century Gothic", Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">WHERE:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face=""Century Gothic", Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px;">Kansas City City Hall -</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face=""Century Gothic", Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px;">26th Floor, Council Chamber</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face=""Century Gothic", Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px;">414 E. 12th Street</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face=""Century Gothic", Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px;">Kansas City, MO 64106</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face=""Century Gothic", Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face=""Century Gothic", Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px;">Make a public comment on how eliminating natural gas affects you, your business, and your customers.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face=""Century Gothic", Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px;">- or -</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face=""Century Gothic", Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px;">Help us fill the room with opposition. Attend the meeting to show support for industry members commenting against the CPRP.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face=""Century Gothic", Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;">The final draft of the Kansas City </span><a data-link-type="web" href="https://www.kcmo.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/8641/637920624789300000" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: #5e81ca; font-family: "Century Gothic", Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Climate Protection and Resiliency Plan (CPRP)</a><span face=""Century Gothic", Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"> will establish an Equitable Building Decarbonization Program to update existing building heating, water heating, and cooking systems to run on electricity instead of </span><span face=""Century Gothic", Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-weight: bold;">natural gas</span><span face=""Century Gothic", Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;">. It will also require all new city buildings to be all-electric and to electrify existing city buildings. It is only a matter of time before they want homes changed, too.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face=""Century Gothic", Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face=""Century Gothic", Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-weight: bold;">Members…it is crucial that the KC City Council hears from you </span><span face=""Century Gothic", Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;">as to why eliminating natural gas affects your customers and your business!</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face=""Century Gothic", Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face=""Century Gothic", Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;">There is a committee hearing scheduled for </span><span face=""Century Gothic", Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-weight: bold;">this Wednesday at 9 AM</span><span face=""Century Gothic", Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;">. While an agenda for this hearing has not yet been released (which is by design to keep the crowd small) we have received word from the America Gas Association that this topic will be on the agenda.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face="Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;">To attend via Zoom:</span><span face="Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 16px;"> </span><a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fus02web.zoom.us%2Fj%2F84530222968&data=05%7C01%7Cmkennedy%40copperfield.com%7C6db4ac0d4a8a43f40f3808da8519f78a%7Cea614d2cf8904cdd9dbedbec3ea4a7c7%7C1%7C1%7C637968644112711840%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=1wrgRLd7oCr11noJpyixpV5ar4Ey9DbwLWHGRyY83PA%3D&reserved=0" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" target="_blank">https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84530222968</a></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face="Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;">To send in written comments: </span><span face="Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 16px;"> Those who wish to comment on proposed ordinances can email written testimony to </span><a href="mailto:public.testimony@kcmo.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" target="_blank">public.testimony@kcmo.org</a><span face="Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 16px;">. Comments received will be distributed to the committee and added to the public record by the clerk.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face="Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb932u8V6cLlAc620ZstKz_nU1dx_WQaX7GXS-cgUN3QHX5BocB1XGGf5X6nQvHSB7Epc3lPfb9V0rCMaQdVHTDRoKCzRfL7vuuJU3quUXYoClrne7udoYRXjxFXBVmNELQdJ-YFnJhpOy909ALml8YILfEURse93cuLSpiylC4t4TCwtChAw5hR_d/s792/Natural-Gas-Issues-Balanced_Energy_Source_Flyer.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="612" height="796" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb932u8V6cLlAc620ZstKz_nU1dx_WQaX7GXS-cgUN3QHX5BocB1XGGf5X6nQvHSB7Epc3lPfb9V0rCMaQdVHTDRoKCzRfL7vuuJU3quUXYoClrne7udoYRXjxFXBVmNELQdJ-YFnJhpOy909ALml8YILfEURse93cuLSpiylC4t4TCwtChAw5hR_d/w616-h796/Natural-Gas-Issues-Balanced_Energy_Source_Flyer.jpg" width="616" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">HearthMasters Blog</div>Marge Padgitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647210965207710968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107388463200554654.post-8307141613865091172022-06-07T11:36:00.007-06:002022-06-07T11:36:58.830-06:00Everyone Needs a Wood Stove for Emergency Heating!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr05JsN0j99SaAN-nffpZfrT6tvuFh-YgzzcTIzYgfo-sk7ZaFMHzRU5mEyE9ajY-bSn5JYTZgmhlu_85FSxgPFHfRVfT1a5KKvcC0dlWrZ6AqopWIniIsenjqYx0E5LQk5LRD_ZR1vuAmWhXkrxOJX3vcNyF2tALwKtTNxTaHtN8tJeM-CEj_mFHwLg/s1350/Clydesdale10BROWNtv%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1174" data-original-width="1350" height="457" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr05JsN0j99SaAN-nffpZfrT6tvuFh-YgzzcTIzYgfo-sk7ZaFMHzRU5mEyE9ajY-bSn5JYTZgmhlu_85FSxgPFHfRVfT1a5KKvcC0dlWrZ6AqopWIniIsenjqYx0E5LQk5LRD_ZR1vuAmWhXkrxOJX3vcNyF2tALwKtTNxTaHtN8tJeM-CEj_mFHwLg/w527-h457/Clydesdale10BROWNtv%5B1%5D.jpg" width="527" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hearthstone wood-burning insert in a masonry fireplace</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>With the economy in shambles and the cost of everything going up, the one piece of advice I can give to people is this: </p>
<div><br /></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 20px; font-weight: bold;">Everyone needs a wood-burning stove or fireplace insert in their home for emergency heating!</span></div>
<div><br /></div>
<ul><li> Wood-burning stoves work without the use of electricity or fans (unlike gas furnaces or pellet stoves).</li></ul>
<div></div>
<ul><li> Wood stoves and inserts produce TWICE the amount of heat (BTU's) than gas stoves or inserts!</li></ul>
<div></div>
<ul><li> Fuel is readily available either by using your own trees on site or purchasing through a firewood dealer. Tip: Buy NOW. </li></ul>
<div></div>
<ul><li> No electricity is needed for a wood stove or insert to work! In
case of emergency when the power is out you'll be able to stay in your
home instead of going to stay with friends or family or going to a
hotel.</li></ul>
<div></div>
<ul><li> With a freestanding stove you can cook on the top if needed.</li></ul>
<div><br /></div>
<div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2jl3e9LYWr1tPXiwOT0DCFfTePdnURjr6oyakiI44QkZ1Y2NFAg82mjaT6cc__Rc9M9LaHzLlCK31jnp_C7Iv32S1C_Mg82ypOgDMxn54-EEiEjJNZZkASiime9y3pT95NdxpQBwBzM8phF_mTzY4g0UpOY0b74X8X8vSWaiOaw1xerLR1EmGcPT9jg/s284/Heritage8021LowRes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="216" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2jl3e9LYWr1tPXiwOT0DCFfTePdnURjr6oyakiI44QkZ1Y2NFAg82mjaT6cc__Rc9M9LaHzLlCK31jnp_C7Iv32S1C_Mg82ypOgDMxn54-EEiEjJNZZkASiime9y3pT95NdxpQBwBzM8phF_mTzY4g0UpOY0b74X8X8vSWaiOaw1xerLR1EmGcPT9jg/w270-h355/Heritage8021LowRes.jpg" width="270" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Freestanding wood-burning stove by Hearthstone</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Use a wood-burning stove during fall and winter as a supplemental
heating source to save money and provide a more comfortable, even heat.
Radiant heat from a wood stove or masonry heater has more health
benefits than a gas furnace or electric baseboard heaters.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>Good quality wood stoves aren't inexpensive - but they are worth
the investment. A good stove will last many years. <i>Note: beware of box
store wood stoves that have no or limited warranty and may burn out after a few
seasons.</i> </div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>New EPA approved wood-burning stoves and inserts are <b>75%+ efficient </b>which means
that most of the heat is staying in your house rather than going up the
flue as with a standard open fireplace. </div>
<div><br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #eb4c39; font-weight: bold;"> </span></div><div><span style="color: #eb4c39; font-weight: bold;">Bonus: Get a TAX CREDIT for an efficient wood stove or insert up to 26% in 2022 and that includes labor and all materials! </span></div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>Call us if you are in the greater Kansas City area or another professional chimney sweep our hearth dealer to discuss upgrading your inefficient open fireplace to a
high-efficiency wood-burning insert, or if no fireplace is available you can have a freestanding wood stove along with a Class A chimney or
stainless steel chimney liner installed. <span style="font-style: italic;">Note: These appliances can ONLY be installed in MASONRY chimneys or with a CLASS A chimney. </span>
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>A word about <span style="font-weight: bold;">GAS</span>: If you
have a gas-burning insert or stove, it will likely work with no power
available. They just produce HALF the amount of heat as a wood-burning
appliance.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>Note: Blowers on gas or wood-burning appliances will NOT work unless you have a generator. But they will still provide heat. </div><div> </div><div>Find a professional installer at <a href="http://www.nficertified.org">www.nficertified.org</a> or <a href="http://www.csia.org">www.csia.org</a>. </div><div></div>
<div><br />_____________________________</div><div><br /></div><div>Marge Padgitt is a chimney industry veteran and author of Wood-Fired Heating and Cooking and the Chimney Pro's Resource Book. She is a speaker, talk show guest, and instructor. Visit <a href="http://www.chimkc.com">www.chimkc.com</a> or <a href="http://www.hearthmasters.net">www.hearthmasters.net</a> for more information. <br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">HearthMasters Blog</div>Marge Padgitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647210965207710968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107388463200554654.post-44441214636673296382022-06-07T09:14:00.000-06:002022-06-07T09:14:07.501-06:00Spring Masonry Chimney Checkup<p> </p><div class="text-container galileo-ap-content-editor"><div><div><span style="color: #479b46; font-size: 18px;">Masonry Chimney Checkup</span></div></div></div>
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<div>Each spring, homeowners should check their exterior masonry chimney
for any spalling (bricks flaking off), missing mortar between joints,
missing bricks, and if possible to reach the top of the chimney - check
to be sure the cement cap is in good condition with no cracks that allow
damaging rain water to enter the interior of the chimney chase. It is a good idea to have a chimney professional examine the chimney annually, preferably in the springtime. <br /></div>
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<div>Additionally, a good chimney cover is needed on all flues to keep rain
and animals out. We suggest professional heavy duty stainless steel
covers that raccoons have a hard time tearing up!</div>
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<div class="text-container galileo-ap-content-editor"><div><div>The bricks on this chimney are spalling (flaking off) severely. The chimney is so water-logged that it can't be saved.</div></div></div>
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<div class="text-container galileo-ap-content-editor"><div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">This is a cement cap that is deteriorating due to exposure to the elements. It needs to be replaced.</div></div></div>
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<div class="publish-container"> <img alt="shed for storing firewood with dry firewood." border="0" class="" hspace="0" src="https://files.constantcontact.com/719676e6be/3ebe0454-b36d-4ef1-b58c-6fb5edda59be.jpg" style="display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" vspace="0" width="571" />
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<div class="text-container galileo-ap-content-editor"><div><div><span style="color: #479b46; font-size: 20px;">Get Firewood Now!</span></div></div></div>
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<div></div>
<div class="text-container galileo-ap-content-editor"><div><div>Now is
the time to purchase or cut firewood, split, and stack so it will dry
out by the time it is needed in the fall and winter. Wood should be
dried to approximately 15% moisture content. You can get an inexpensive
moisture meter online and check it yourself. Be sure to stack wood
loosely to allow air to flow through it, and cover the wood with a roof
or tarp to keep rain off of it.</div></div></div>
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<div class="publish-container"> <img alt="Young chimney sweep at work" border="0" class="" hspace="0" src="https://files.constantcontact.com/719676e6be/9aa324e9-56d8-4fc5-bf55-7688a530c681.jpg" style="display: block; height: auto !important; max-width: 100% !important;" vspace="0" width="275" />
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<div class="publish-container"> <img alt="Man cleaning chimney pipe outside. Cleaning a wood burning stove. Chimney sweep cleaning" border="0" class="" hspace="0" src="https://files.constantcontact.com/719676e6be/85841e00-7f9b-42f2-aeee-f40b212d1d5d.jpg" style="display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" vspace="0" width="280" />
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<div></div>
<div class="text-container galileo-ap-content-editor"><div><div><span style="color: #479b46; font-size: 20px;">Spring Chimney Cleaning</span></div></div></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="min-width: 100%; width: 100%px;">
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<td align="left" class="editor-text feature-text" style="color: black; display: block; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.2; padding: 10px 20px 10px 10px; text-align: left; word-wrap: break-word;" valign="top">
<div></div>
<div class="text-container galileo-ap-content-editor"><div>
<div>Believe it or not, Spring is the best time to have a chimney swept.
The chimney sweep will remove creosote, which will be smelly during hot
summer months. Additionally, creosote forms an acid that eats away at
mortar joints in clay tile flue liners so it is best to avoid leaving
creosote in the flue all summer.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>For these reasons, we recommend having fireplaces, inserts, and
wood-burning stove flues and pipes cleaned out during the Spring.</div>
<div><a href="https://app.constantcontact.com/pages/campaigns/email-details/details/activity/aa2bff6f-f845-4342-bd2a-6fd7d6b5f481#" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: #e8f9ff; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Text Link</a></div>
</div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="blogger-post-footer">HearthMasters Blog</div>Marge Padgitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647210965207710968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107388463200554654.post-61659376169336594412021-11-04T15:26:00.007-06:002021-11-04T15:26:53.118-06:00HearthMasters Publishing announces the release of Wood-fired Heating and Cooking<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">HearthMasters
Publishing announces the release of Wood-fired Heating and Cooking: How to
choose, maintain, and operate a wood-fired appliance <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuWgn5SSdShGjP4cYZp4aM2FmAEMZTE0Pb2QGyBRWCSInx2tCGO2E1YkOTzOMp9CkDhVkOqC2AH-Fv4ZeWcXU3a9uueCgVWUi9UyDQ0kDFab73hII8Ql325Ief6WtHoW94cPL1YHElOXf/s768/Cover+%2528Medium%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuWgn5SSdShGjP4cYZp4aM2FmAEMZTE0Pb2QGyBRWCSInx2tCGO2E1YkOTzOMp9CkDhVkOqC2AH-Fv4ZeWcXU3a9uueCgVWUi9UyDQ0kDFab73hII8Ql325Ief6WtHoW94cPL1YHElOXf/s320/Cover+%2528Medium%2529.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />Kansas City,
Missouri, November 4, 2021<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Wood-Fired
Heating & Cooking is a guide for homeowners, preppers, and homesteaders who
are planning to install a wood-fired heating appliance, improve their existing
masonry fireplace, or install a wood-fired cooking appliance. Industry veterans
Gene and Marge Padgitt explain how each type of appliance works and how to
properly locate, operate, and maintain them. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Heating
appliances covered in this book are masonry fireplaces, Rumford fireplaces,
circulating fireplaces, furnaces, wood-burning fireplace inserts, freestanding
stoves, masonry heaters, and rocket mass heaters. Wood selection and
preparation is included. Cooking appliances discussed are wood-burning indoor
cook stoves, indoor and outdoor brick ovens and oven kits, Tandoori ovens,
grills, and campfires along with cooking tools and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>utensils. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The authors
provide references and suggested reading, online groups, and educational
resources. A bonus section contains delicious recipes for cooking with a
wood-fired appliance by the authors. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The release
of Wood-Fired Heating and Cooking comes at a time when people are thinking about
being self-sufficient and prepared for any disaster or power outage. The book
is an excellent resource for persons who need help trying to navigate through
all of the choices available to heat their home or cook with a wood-fired
appliance. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Marge and Gene are available for radio interviews. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
Contact: </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Marge
Padgitt<br />
<a href="mailto:hearthmasters.office@gmail.com">hearthmasters.office@gmail.com</a><br />
816-461-3665</span></p>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">HearthMasters Blog</div>Marge Padgitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647210965207710968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107388463200554654.post-62902923475624098592021-11-04T14:58:00.000-06:002021-11-04T14:58:00.496-06:00Tis the Season for Chimney Fires<div><p> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p class="MsoNormal">By Marge Padgitt</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinnMLCDDM83qGw7SLt8oUlf0jmZzkyU9jdBny27U7GO2OkzfQDAHnEsTHPppxR1YrUsCTZV9P_gbWlTOUpNt6YRzH0B8zXxnwM_WnQjk35-cZH4px7TTmBNY7Clm1XXlSR8C3Gj0A7KRiI/s710/710px-Chimney_Fire%252CMarlboro_Vt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="710" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinnMLCDDM83qGw7SLt8oUlf0jmZzkyU9jdBny27U7GO2OkzfQDAHnEsTHPppxR1YrUsCTZV9P_gbWlTOUpNt6YRzH0B8zXxnwM_WnQjk35-cZH4px7TTmBNY7Clm1XXlSR8C3Gj0A7KRiI/s320/710px-Chimney_Fire%252CMarlboro_Vt.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Chimney Fire: Source: Marlboro FD, VA</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>It’s that time of year again – the season for chimney fires.
As a chimney and fireplace service company we see the results of the lack of proper
maintenance and improper installation that can cause fires and destruction of
property, and in some cases injury or death. Chimney fires are preventable and
should be avoided because of the risk that they could escape the chimney and
catch the house on fire. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All types of wood – even hardwood- creates creosote when burned.
It accumulates on flue and smoke chamber walls and must be periodically removed.
Chimney sweeping should be done by a professional chimney sweep who has the
proper equipment to do the job right. First, tarps and a vacuum are set up.
Then the sweep brushes the flue with wire brushes for masonry flues, or poly
brushes for metal flues, and removes the creosote from the flue and fireplace
or wood stove. Next, the sweep should run a chimney camera through the chamber
and flue to inspect it and make sure there are no broken flue tiles, missing
mortar, or blockages, or in the case of a manufactured fireplace or stove, that
all of the metal pipe seams are solid and unwarped. The chimney sweep will then
do a visual inspection of the interior and exterior chimney, check for proper
clearance to combustibles and proper installation of components, then provide a
report on its condition. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0qjGm8hI4UhCHuyPG2_T2CpkP03FFD4NDi0KVE9k4MhRsn9Rf-o4c08-2wflY5Hpsz_3r3VrfU-NDXQnoc1iArrIMNTRP0xM2nSf6In3Yh5YQ1jzeFCNMx9ZDl_mhx0vpjnNb64VhPmw/s468/chimney-sweep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="318" data-original-width="468" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0qjGm8hI4UhCHuyPG2_T2CpkP03FFD4NDi0KVE9k4MhRsn9Rf-o4c08-2wflY5Hpsz_3r3VrfU-NDXQnoc1iArrIMNTRP0xM2nSf6In3Yh5YQ1jzeFCNMx9ZDl_mhx0vpjnNb64VhPmw/s320/chimney-sweep.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chimney sweep Source: Adobestock.com<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>It is very common for repair issues to arise with any type
of chimney. Regular maintenance is <br />needed in order to keep the system
functioning properly. Exterior masonry repairs should be done in the spring or
summer, but if the chimney needs a new flue liner this can be done any time of
year. Chimney fires can cause costly damage to a masonry or metal chimney system.
If relining is necessary, it will cost thousands of dollars. Fortunately,
chimney fires are covered by homeowner’s insurance. However, it is best to
avoid a chimney fire in the first place. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">According to the U.S. Fire Administration there were 83,300
house fires caused by heating in 2018.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The National Fire Protection Association’s latest press release dated
November 22, 2010 estimates that 66,100 home fires caused 1.1 billion in
property damage, 1,660 injuries and 480 deaths in 2008, which was a 0.5%
decline from 2007. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>15,200 (23%) of all
home heating fires are creosote fires, which the NFPA calls “failure to clean”
fires that were confined to a chimney or flue, or involved solid-fueled space
heaters, chimneys, connectors, and fireplaces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>See the entire news release at <a href="http://www.nfpa.org">www.nfpa.org</a>
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Tips: </b></p>
<br /></div><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Never burn a dry Christmas tree in a fireplace. <br />
<br /><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Only burn dry, seasoned hard or soft cordwood in
a stove or fireplace <br />
<br /><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Only burn one piece of hedge to two pieces of
other types of wood. <br />
<br /><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Have the chimney inspected and swept annually,
or twice per season if using a wood stove. <br />
<br /><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Have a Draw Collar installed for hard-starting
wood stoves.<br />
<br /><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>When purchasing a new home have the chimney
inspected by a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep prior to closing so you know what
you are getting into. <br />
<br /><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>If you hear a whooshing sound, or freight-train
like sound, or the room fills with smoke, get out of the house and call the
fire department. Go outside and see if flames are shooting out the top of the
flue. <br /><div>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"> </p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-fT86ozsV9QIvnK-OYcxQLfOH_Z1n-lbty36bSa6v1Nfyl1Tu9OboA7B8lwJY_45nCQ-EaJo8QJuIGMSMWQXijPyuLVfiry6j59s1UYqirlPxf3Djka1r8SqAf1vzRMv_145kjiVTgZ8/s768/Cover+%2528Medium%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="512" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-fT86ozsV9QIvnK-OYcxQLfOH_Z1n-lbty36bSa6v1Nfyl1Tu9OboA7B8lwJY_45nCQ-EaJo8QJuIGMSMWQXijPyuLVfiry6j59s1UYqirlPxf3Djka1r8SqAf1vzRMv_145kjiVTgZ8/w106-h160/Cover+%2528Medium%2529.jpg" width="106" /></a></div><br />See more information about chimney and fireplace
maintenance and how to choose an appliance in Marge and Gene Padgitt’s new book
<i>Wood-Fired Heating and Cooking: How to choose, maintain, and operate a
wood-burning appliance </i>at Amazon.com or hearthmasters.net. <p></p>
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">HearthMasters Blog</div>Marge Padgitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647210965207710968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107388463200554654.post-75924082251667143372021-09-29T12:35:00.000-06:002021-09-29T12:35:20.610-06:00Chimney Ghosts and Portals<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">By Marge Padgitt<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Are chimneys portals to other
dimensions? </span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWnZwcxIDUqLvi8fRkh9du6ADN7TNfewXTZ49NsJF3NyY60bdTrCUzf8ihDJWNQhfVpMtO23Yso-GATZK3gKWARWLfKkqWYah-t0TdpU83IoviQkwrZAw0wDBV_gqdezfbgxq3kwuuziYZ/s635/Picture1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="635" data-original-width="476" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWnZwcxIDUqLvi8fRkh9du6ADN7TNfewXTZ49NsJF3NyY60bdTrCUzf8ihDJWNQhfVpMtO23Yso-GATZK3gKWARWLfKkqWYah-t0TdpU83IoviQkwrZAw0wDBV_gqdezfbgxq3kwuuziYZ/w279-h373/Picture1.png" width="279" /></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Since our company does chimney inspections and repair, we
are around fireplaces and chimneys all the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have noticed a pattern of ghostly activity
and orbs around chimneys, and I am beginning to think that this sort of
activity is common. I also have a theory as to <i>why </i>paranormal events
happen around chimneys, but more about that later. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> Over the years my company has taken thousands of pictures
of chimneys and fireplaces with digital cameras. I started noticing that orbs
were showing up in the photos when an extremely dramatic photo with colored
orbs showed up in May of 2003. This was the first time I noticed anything
unusual in the photos, and this prompted me to watch for other anomalies around
chimneys when inspection reports come in. We started using digital cameras
around 1999, before that we used 35 mm film which never showed anything out of
the ordinary. Digital cameras pick up more of the UV spectrum, so they
sometimes get things that the naked eye cannot see. In all but one case, the
inspector did not see anything at the time, but the strange items show up when
the photos are on the computer. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In the past two years we have collected quite a few photos
that show something unusual in them such as colored orbs, white orbs, white
streams of heavy fog, and in one instance—a clearly defined face of a man in a
back fireplace wall. In every case, I compared the rest of the photographs
taken at the same time and of the same chimney, and in all but one case they
show nothing unusual. It is usually ONE photograph that catches something, then
the rest at the same location do not show anything. There is only one chimney
so far where an orb showed up in three different photos from different angles,
and in the case of the face in the fireplace it can still be seen with the
naked eye at the home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">We do approximately five inspections per day with 10-20
photos taken at each house, so the photos with anomalies are only a small
fraction of the total number of photos we have on file.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With this in mind, that means that it is
fairly rare to catch an orb or ghost on film. </span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Now for some ghostly experiences. In 1989 our company swept
350 chimneys at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Leavenworth">Fort Leavenworth</a>, Kansas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We ran into three ghosts at Leavenworth that were rather uncooperative
and apparently did not appreciate us disturbing them. The fort was established
in 1827 and has a long history of spirits. At least nine ghosts have been
officially reported, but there are likely more that have not been reported.
During our work, several highly unusual events occurred that can only be
attributed to the paranormal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Unfortunately, we do not have photos of any fireplaces since photography
is not allowed on the base. All the chimneys are constructed with bricks and
mortar. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNXYzpVoAA8hNnZwKLERmQxOXDvtyaB8oDSqPR2XWUl2yHMRB4t8VDzroiGx-neYL4Py649IFE0U9c-G46ypdfQs0G7XKCzpRN_Ciug46VwDknHo5pNpUDNjG7vixt9oIt0Z0diNm7lbr/s1152/Fort+Leavenworth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="1152" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNXYzpVoAA8hNnZwKLERmQxOXDvtyaB8oDSqPR2XWUl2yHMRB4t8VDzroiGx-neYL4Py649IFE0U9c-G46ypdfQs0G7XKCzpRN_Ciug46VwDknHo5pNpUDNjG7vixt9oIt0Z0diNm7lbr/w556-h313/Fort+Leavenworth.jpg" width="556" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Historic Fort Leavenworth, Kansas</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />House #1: </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">This house was the oldest building on the post and was
originally a chapel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The chapel burned
down in approximately 1827, and a clergyman named Father Fred was killed in the
fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A new house was built on the same
spot in the 1830’s— presumably using the same chimney.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While we were sweeping the chimney, coal
dust started coming through the entire masonry wall in the living room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were no holes or cracks in the
masonry!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The entire lower level of the
house was dusted with fine, grey coal dust and we had to go back and spend 8
hours vacuuming and cleaning up. What a mess! I was mortified, as nothing like
that had ever happened to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The colonel’s wife was not upset at all, and calmly
explained to me that the problem must have been caused by their resident
ghost!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She told me that right after
moving into the house, they hosted a party for the officers and their wives.
During the party, a woman screamed when she saw a face of a man in the fire in
the fireplace. Everyone saw the same thing and ran screaming out of the house.
Evidently, it was quite a scene. After that, the family saw the apparition of a
man floating on the landing next to the chimney on several occasions. He was
wearing a clergy outfit, but his feet did not materialize when he appeared. He
also appeared on many occasions in the fire, so the family quit using the
fireplace. Well, at least it is clean now. I hope that ghost appreciates it. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">House #2: </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Built in the later 1800’s, this is a large three-story
home. The occupant (the wife of an officer) notified us upon arrival that the
room we were going to be working in was haunted, and the ghost often closed the
door. She noted that she was leaving the door open all the way and that the
door was off balance leaning in towards the room, then she left us to our work.
I tarped off the fireplace, then sent a tech up to the top of the chimney to
start sweeping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While standing alone in
the room, the door suddenly slammed shut. I quickly ran over to the door and
opened it to see if anyone was around, but there was no one in the hall. I then
heard strange noises and talking coming from the fireplace and called the sweep
on the radio to see what was going on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She said she did not say anything, and of course there was no one else
on the chimney with her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the lady
of the house returned, she was not surprised to hear about the goings–on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She also told me that it was common knowledge
among the residents at Fort Leavenworth that there is a lot of ghostly activity
going on in the older houses. We packed up our gear and got out as quickly as
possible. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">House #3: </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Built around 1840, this is a two-story brick house with
slate roof and brick chimney.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
outside by the van talking to the homeowner. One tech was inside at the
fireplace, and another tech was outside on top of the roof doing the
sweeping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suddenly the ladder fell over
on its side—seemingly pushed by someone who was not there. The occupant and I
both saw it fall over. The sweep walked over to the place where the ladder was
but could not get down until we got the ladder back up again. This was a 40’
heavy aluminum ladder that weighs 80 lbs.! There was no wind that day <i>and </i>it
was tied down to the gutter with a bungee cord!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I had to call in another crew to get the ladder back up so the sweep
could get down. The occupant of the home told me that they have a mischievous
ghost who lives with them and causes havoc frequently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said that the ghost hung around the
fireplace most of the time. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I did an internet search to see if there was any
information about the Fort Leavenworth ghosts, and it turns out that there are
several books written about the subject that are available. From
<a href="http://hauntedhouses.com">hauntedhouses.com</a> I found the following information regarding the fireplace at
605 McClellan, located in the McClellan Officer's quarters. This house is a
large three-story home. Apparently when a family moved in this house in 1975, a
spirit made itself known to them. While enjoying a warm fire in the fireplace,
the family was “gripped with fearful fascination” when an apparition of a man
with a mustache and goatee appeared in the middle of the flame. When the fire
died out, the face of this ghostly man appeared and remained on the back of the
fireplace. This case sounds like the face in the fireplace I mentioned earlier.
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">A program about these spirits was presented on the Discovery
Channel. The occupants of the house said that every psychic investigator that
has gone through the home notices that one of the entities comes in through the
fireplace damper and stands in front of the fireplace. The temperature where the ghost
stands is noticeably colder than the surrounding area. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWUjLFYbmu8RojH4BLd57qmk4lDCc1j_eUUfYLwsyLWZzYE3ursExdfamEz5syz5g0b4CwrpmWfB393JR5cmsjIH40wLgdDsFzMjeo8GZ8lNZwnIgwIGAy1vukkG1bajVsm8Ko2hfQfPk/s550/thurnham-hall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="366" data-original-width="550" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWUjLFYbmu8RojH4BLd57qmk4lDCc1j_eUUfYLwsyLWZzYE3ursExdfamEz5syz5g0b4CwrpmWfB393JR5cmsjIH40wLgdDsFzMjeo8GZ8lNZwnIgwIGAy1vukkG1bajVsm8Ko2hfQfPk/w475-h316/thurnham-hall.jpg" width="475" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thurnham Hall, Lancaster, England built in 1060 <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> We made a trip to Lancaster, England in April of 2005 and
got to stay in a wonderful stone 10th century hall or “manor house” called
Thurnham Hall. On the third evening of our stay, the activities director
presented a tour of the building and told stories of the ghosts that choose to
occupy several rooms in the large hall. Our guide showed a VCR tape in one room
that had been occupied by a man who killed his wife in the 1700’s. The tape had
been made by a film crew from British television who brought along a psychic to
do research for a program on ghosts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
filmed the TV screen so the quality of my tape is not that great—but it is digital
so you can plainly what is going on. Everyone in the room watching the tape
gasped as they watched hundreds of tiny white glowing orbs appear from the
fireplace. The orbs exited the fireplace into the room, then went through the
walls in several directions. This continued for at least two full minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I am not sure what the orbs, fog, and impressions
are—perhaps they are spirits of people who have passed on, or spirits that have
never inhabited a human body. or maybe they are life forms that we do not yet
understand, or beings from another dimension. I speculate that spirits hang out
in the fifth dimension and sometimes enter our fourth dimensional space and
time through a portal of some type. Perhaps chimney are portals. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I believe is that ghosts like chimneys. Why? Here is my
theory – in doing research on ghosts in the Kansas City area I talked with
several ghost hunters including Chris Breathwaite, a local Kansas City
paranormal investigator and author. Chris and others have mentioned on several
occasions that there is more paranormal activity around rivers, streams, and
railroad tracks. I got to thinking about what those features have in common
with chimneys. It is <i>movement.</i> There is a flow of energy in any river,
stream, or railroad track. And the correlation with chimneys is DRAFT, the only
difference being that chimneys are vertical.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">All chimneys are designed to create draft to remove toxic
flue gasses and smoke from the fireplace or appliance without mechanical means.
It is simply physics that makes a chimney work. The temperature differential
between the outside of the chimney and the inside of the house is basically
what creates draft. Draft is different at certain times of the year, being
stronger in the cold winter months. That is also the time of year that people
spend more time around the fireplace and fire up their gas furnace. Are there
more sightings in the winter as a result?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That will be my next project to pursue. But draft in a chimney occurs
all the time, even when it reverses because something is wrong with the system
or house. The pictures we have taken of orbs are from all seasons of the year. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I plan to continue my research on this subject. If the
reader has photos of orbs, apparitions, or ghosts around fireplaces or
chimneys, I would like to have a copy for our research project on this subject.
Contact me at margepadgitt@comcast.net. <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span></p>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">HearthMasters Blog</div>Marge Padgitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647210965207710968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107388463200554654.post-7680838827485457122021-07-29T10:57:00.009-06:002021-07-29T11:01:16.699-06:00Be prepared for price increases<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-C398j68oC9hKlOwxHX0k5x8fcAtmt8ZkRqYCFH9jdCS-ltSO-4xd9TS2qzsrpHqMEi-hApy3CUP6372tlrsXw9DUfa4l9vgnQPSuNmIfQD4kluA8KI5YPx-Yxy0UhP3ctdFvTd0oD1o/s800/surprised-nerd-man-looking-tablet-computer-23246162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-C398j68oC9hKlOwxHX0k5x8fcAtmt8ZkRqYCFH9jdCS-ltSO-4xd9TS2qzsrpHqMEi-hApy3CUP6372tlrsXw9DUfa4l9vgnQPSuNmIfQD4kluA8KI5YPx-Yxy0UhP3ctdFvTd0oD1o/s320/surprised-nerd-man-looking-tablet-computer-23246162.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Consumers should be prepared for sticker shock when it comes to
chimney repair or hearth appliances, since everything has gone up in
price. Not only that, but wait times can be weeks or months due to the
increased demand. Manufacturers are having a difficult time keeping up
with the demand for products. </p><p>This is frustrating for the
homeowners and their providers as well. In some cases, standard freight
costs no longer exist and the dealers must pay whatever the freight
lines charge. This makes it impossible to tell a buyer what their final
price will be for a hearth appliance. <br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Aluminum prices have increased by 20%</li><li>Cold Rolled steel has increased by 160%</li><li>Stainless steel price increase is 10%</li><li>Lumber price increase is 130%</li></ul><p>Domestic Freight has increased by 5% a<span>nd is expected to rise due to gas price increases. </span></p><p><span>Expect
to pay more for gas hearth appliances, wood-burning stoves and inserts,
aluminum flue liners for gas, and stainless steel flue liners and
chimneys for wood-burning appliances, plus additional freight cost. <br /></span></p><p><span>There
is some good news, however. The 26% tax credit is in effect, so could
offset costs for a hearth appliance and it's chimney, plus installation
costs. For this reason,<b> now</b> is the time to purchase a hearth appliance. Read more about the tax credit at the <a href="https://www.hpba.org/Advocacy/Biomass-Stove-Tax-Credit">Hearth, Patio, and Barbecue website. </a></span></p><p><span>_____________________________________</span></p><span>Marge Padgitt is the CEO of <a href="https://www.chimkc.com">HearthMasters, Inc</a>. chimney & fireplace restoration company in Kansas City, Missouri. </span><div class="blogger-post-footer">HearthMasters Blog</div>Marge Padgitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647210965207710968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107388463200554654.post-63932377668289476992021-02-12T12:26:00.009-06:002021-02-12T12:28:21.341-06:00Firewood Allergies? Yes, it’s a Thing. <p><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">By Audrey Elder</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The massive chunk of walnut
sat nearly a year next to the woodpile before we gave up on the idea of turning
it into a new kitchen floor. Our woodpile consists of whatever fallen trees
come our way. This particular behemoth was once part of a massive tree that
fell on a friend’s farm property with no where to go but my yard. It was
finally time for gloves, glasses and a chainsaw. The freshly cut chunks were
quickly split into perfectly sized pieces for the woodstove. They smelled
wonderful as I stacked them onto the pile, although my nose burned a bit with
each whiff I took. Once alit in the living room, my sinuses reacted with
vengeance. As it turns out, different kinds of firewood can create allergic
reactions for different people. One might notice a sensitivity to oak while I
sit on the other side of the room when burning walnut. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPPlTGXuJ1F0u_i-e-JIXgX4bMJEsISDeVITe07qPQAxecoKHDej3t2jy-YnOIAF2jPcUTW09gUi5fECNfK9jT4JjqcroxK9kAjCxPuqk-STmhSwpz-NdViNMLjtOjguJ5ACpEPc_pmQry/s425/h300-shlv-425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPPlTGXuJ1F0u_i-e-JIXgX4bMJEsISDeVITe07qPQAxecoKHDej3t2jy-YnOIAF2jPcUTW09gUi5fECNfK9jT4JjqcroxK9kAjCxPuqk-STmhSwpz-NdViNMLjtOjguJ5ACpEPc_pmQry/s320/h300-shlv-425.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">There are a large range of
allergic reactions or sensitivities that can be brought on by wood including a
sinus reaction or rash from touching wood. Nearly all woods have the potential
to cause a reaction in some people. Unfortunately, there has been little
research done on how different woods can cause a reaction when burned. It is
unknown if having a known allergy to a specific wood based on a physician
performed allergy test also means you will have a reaction to burning that
wood. If you have a known allergy to mold however, make sure you are not
burning firewood with mold present. If you have experienced sensitivity to your
fireplace or woodstove keep a journal of what type of wood you are burning and
if that particular wood is bothering you. If a type or types are confirmed this
way try to avoid sitting close to the fireplace or stove or discontinue using
that type all together. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">It is also important to note
that smoke never has a place in the home, it should only be going up the
chimney. We often tend to think of keeping our chimney clean for the sole
purpose of preventing a chimney fire. Where avoiding chimney fires is an
obvious top priority, a dirty chimney won’t allow for a good draft to take
place. It makes it harder to start a fire and keep all that smoke where it
belongs. If you are still having trouble getting your fire to draft, it could
be an issue of negative air pressure or just super cold air. Consider having an
outside air supply, draft inducer, or whole house ventilator installed to fix
this issue. <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">So far, walnut has been the
only wood I have to avoid burning. I was overjoyed last summer when my husband
announced a friend offered him a fallen….oak! An entire winter back in my
favorite spot in the house, next to the woodstove was happily in my future. May
your home be warm and your sinuses happy!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> ______________________</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Audrey Elder is an historian and writer living in Independence, Missouri. She works for HearthMasters, Inc. <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p><br /><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></b></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">HearthMasters Blog</div>Marge Padgitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647210965207710968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107388463200554654.post-26644496856666053782021-02-01T09:08:00.003-06:002021-02-01T09:08:31.251-06:00The Tax Credit for Wood-Burning Appliances is Impressive<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4aQ8i6RGu-lN9tjgDjigEBaN1qNdQiPua0ByMtiRybATA7XOtAB9-tD_m-MWr3J5LLumAtWua6i42suZQRzWEAoRSwW8uFdhaEtf7HO5cgvNubzqZzF4CSLt75oUhHTBbCv54nbCoWo2Q/s790/Clydesdale8492_matteblack_201013_1024x855-790x660.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="660" data-original-width="790" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4aQ8i6RGu-lN9tjgDjigEBaN1qNdQiPua0ByMtiRybATA7XOtAB9-tD_m-MWr3J5LLumAtWua6i42suZQRzWEAoRSwW8uFdhaEtf7HO5cgvNubzqZzF4CSLt75oUhHTBbCv54nbCoWo2Q/s320/Clydesdale8492_matteblack_201013_1024x855-790x660.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hearthstone fireplace insert</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p> <br />With the new Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit Consumers can take 26% of the cost for a new wood-burning stove or fireplace insert, including the appliance, venting, and installation in 2021-2022. </p><p>That is a big deal. Anyone who has considered purchasing a high-efficiency wood stove but held off due to the cost, now is the time to take advantage of the government program. </p><p>Wood-burning appliances can be used for supplemental or primary heating, and in power outages. Anyone who has gone through a power outage without heat will understand the importance of having a backup heating system.</p><p>Freestanding stoves can be placed in almost any room. They are vented with a Class A stainless steel chimney, or a masonry chimney with a stainless steel flue liner. Fireplace inserts are installed in a masonry fireplace with a stainless steel flue liner. Wood-burning fireplace inserts cannot be installed into a manufactured firebox. <br /></p><p></p><ul><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYnuP8F0s27i054Qdst3RS0KfGm0lRCJOpEm9eMQxosno2lCVNvaDUCSEq7cz0YvDdxLs-SlM7NzxX4ztFKdcrFeL60215Qjva4zLRa-FzyKV4yfehBPPujTEjhpIeAC3WaN-bpCgcVJa0/s660/BariPlus8172_Charcoal_375x700-354x660.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="660" data-original-width="354" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYnuP8F0s27i054Qdst3RS0KfGm0lRCJOpEm9eMQxosno2lCVNvaDUCSEq7cz0YvDdxLs-SlM7NzxX4ztFKdcrFeL60215Qjva4zLRa-FzyKV4yfehBPPujTEjhpIeAC3WaN-bpCgcVJa0/s320/BariPlus8172_Charcoal_375x700-354x660.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hearthstone <br />freestanding stove</span> <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><li>Consumers buying highly efficient wood stoves will be able to
claim a 26% tax credit that is uncapped and based on the full cost of
the wood stove (including purchase AND installation)<br /><br /></li><li>The 26% tax
credit is valid from January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2022. In
2023, the tax credit will remain in effect for the entire year, but the
percentage steps down to a 22% tax credit.<br /><br /></li><li>Qualifying wood stoves must meet at least a 75% HHV efficiency value. Not all wood stoves qualify. <br /><br /></li><li>You
will claim your tax credit when you file your taxes on IRS form 5695
under “Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit “. You will need
your purchase receipt (showing cost of product and installation). You
will also need a manufacturer certificate stating that the
stove qualifies for the credit and is at least 75 percent efficient HHV. These are available on the manufacturer website. </li></ul><p>An inspection of the current chimney must be done prior to the installation of a wood-burning insert or stove using the chimney for venting purposes. It must also be cleaned to remove any creosote. The best time to have this done is in the spring or summer. <br /></p><p>HearthMasters carries Regency, Hampton, and Hearthstone brands, which all have qualifying models. <br /></p><p>For more information visit <a href="http://www.chimkc.com">www.chimkc.com</a>. </p><p>__________________________________________________________</p><p>Marge Padgitt is a chimney industry veteran. She is a <a href="http://www.csia.org">CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep</a> and <a href="http://www.nficertified.org">NFI Woodburning Specialist</a>. Marge is the President of HearthMasters, Inc. in Kansas City, Missouri. Reach her at <a href="mailto:hearthmastersboss@gmail.com">hearthmastersboss@gmail.com</a>. <br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">HearthMasters Blog</div>Marge Padgitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647210965207710968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107388463200554654.post-40659687666054831442020-03-19T11:06:00.003-06:002020-03-21T14:43:20.542-06:00Plan Now for Emergency Heating and Cooking Preparedness <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As we all contend with the Coronavirus worldwide, emergency preparedness is on everyone's mind. I'm sure by now that most people have become painfully aware of how unprepared they have been, and are considering how to get ready for the next emergency. And there will be one, no doubt.<br />
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Emergency heating and cooking should be something that everyone plans for. We've all experienced temporary electrical outages, and there may be a time when gas is not available, either. As someone familiar with wood-fired appliances, I recommend that everyone has a backup plan using the appliances of your choice.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPPlTGXuJ1F0u_i-e-JIXgX4bMJEsISDeVITe07qPQAxecoKHDej3t2jy-YnOIAF2jPcUTW09gUi5fECNfK9jT4JjqcroxK9kAjCxPuqk-STmhSwpz-NdViNMLjtOjguJ5ACpEPc_pmQry/s1600/h300-shlv-425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="425" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPPlTGXuJ1F0u_i-e-JIXgX4bMJEsISDeVITe07qPQAxecoKHDej3t2jy-YnOIAF2jPcUTW09gUi5fECNfK9jT4JjqcroxK9kAjCxPuqk-STmhSwpz-NdViNMLjtOjguJ5ACpEPc_pmQry/s320/h300-shlv-425.jpg" width="320" /></a>There are several options available. The first thing most people think about is getting a wood stove or wood-burning fireplace insert. These are good options for supplemental or primary heating if the appliance is located in the center of the home. Keep in mind that the bedrooms will be much cooler than the common spaces. An open floor plan is best so that heat can reach further.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAlecjsbrJf4YgoxfZuv6P01YyLkK-NWf7HKgMjTnBQB81-O2Th_WtjdSnv9sDQtNcLbH-qvdZXEOOKRZIuTieMVrmC_GNmrKHVIndcPMVKOvgj4j-QGepj6JgDGqnQL8KkSkU29396fuN/s1600/product_photo_26_72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="235" data-original-width="290" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAlecjsbrJf4YgoxfZuv6P01YyLkK-NWf7HKgMjTnBQB81-O2Th_WtjdSnv9sDQtNcLbH-qvdZXEOOKRZIuTieMVrmC_GNmrKHVIndcPMVKOvgj4j-QGepj6JgDGqnQL8KkSkU29396fuN/s400/product_photo_26_72.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cookstove by Hearthstone</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
For cooking, using the top of a wood-burning freestanding stove is an option, but it can be frustrating to use the small space over a long period of time. A better option would be a wood-burning cookstove with a stovetop and oven. As a bonus, the stove produces heat as well.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZV4DIXOpO_j69sAMeAFifyPEXg30JYQejHruvMVlk7oKBMr2hYWsgn4ZKgUDLV9vVkRq045NukkSa3Ud5qEfZ5Aq18JvnO04DVVx_snWmMPQM9J0OsSmhdGpB-AYxE7x6MxHVUhuVut-a/s1600/Freilich+oven+2014+%252826%2529+%2528Medium%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1147" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZV4DIXOpO_j69sAMeAFifyPEXg30JYQejHruvMVlk7oKBMr2hYWsgn4ZKgUDLV9vVkRq045NukkSa3Ud5qEfZ5Aq18JvnO04DVVx_snWmMPQM9J0OsSmhdGpB-AYxE7x6MxHVUhuVut-a/s400/Freilich+oven+2014+%252826%2529+%2528Medium%2529.JPG" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outdoor brick oven by<br />
Gene Padgitt</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In Italy and France, it is very common for each household to have an outdoor brick oven and the idea is becoming very popular in the U.S. With an outdoor wood-fired oven it gives a person the option of using a different fuel which may be more available than gas or propane, and it keeps heat out of the kitchen in the summer months. Food tastes better when cooked in a brick oven, too. Wood-fired ovens can be heated to over 700 degrees, which is excellent for cooking pizza.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-wHISsjrA4Skh8odxDygJ1fEolT9qjFGpF19LiDpxSC7f0MLiyZZd5LeqJXdyA7dLTEfF2LP4DGVDT6a678X_EnbT5ySMUYTi-jVd6Vfhbe0dG0-uvVDW_NIVLq7riI-CfukdNikFnq_S/s1600/8x10back+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="864" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-wHISsjrA4Skh8odxDygJ1fEolT9qjFGpF19LiDpxSC7f0MLiyZZd5LeqJXdyA7dLTEfF2LP4DGVDT6a678X_EnbT5ySMUYTi-jVd6Vfhbe0dG0-uvVDW_NIVLq7riI-CfukdNikFnq_S/s400/8x10back+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Masonry heater with bake oven<br />
by Gene Padgitt</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The best option, in my opinion, is a masonry heater. Masonry heaters are large site-built or pre-cast kits that are assembled on site. They have a large mass of masonry and interior channels that trap heat. By far, they are the most efficient and clean-burning appliances and use 1/3 the amount of wood that a high-efficiency wood-burning stove or insert uses to produce the same amount of heat. Masonry heaters work differently as they retain and release heat over a longer period of time. A great option to add is a bake oven over the masonry heater firebox on either side. Most people prefer to have the oven on the kitchen side of the heater, and the firebox on the living room side. This option is the most expensive.<br />
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Plan now for installation of an appliance this summer, before the busy fall season.<br />
___________________________________________<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Marge Padgitt is a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep and NFI Certified Woodburning Specialist. She is the author of The Chimney and Hearth Pro's Resource Book, and The Homeowner's Guide to Heating and Cooking with Wood. Reach her at <a href="mailto:hearthmastersboss@gmail.com">hearthmastersboss@gmail.com</a></span><br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">HearthMasters Blog</div>Marge Padgitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647210965207710968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107388463200554654.post-67739485222510052492020-02-09T15:14:00.000-06:002020-02-09T15:14:20.601-06:00Masonry chimney repairs should be done in the spring<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
By Marge Padgitt<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPgvVHYofaIzwQXdMrI_EDXYRw0FMqeGMhPWvTF_yVMw5DUJq9ZXfX9Jwd5TwEeYtIbkU5Mec_s-ie-0ExKpNl0hm_VPT5Alu6kOJ9_mu8BKdiCbJB418huym14uSAlxVHj8Y0D5zDXZs/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPgvVHYofaIzwQXdMrI_EDXYRw0FMqeGMhPWvTF_yVMw5DUJq9ZXfX9Jwd5TwEeYtIbkU5Mec_s-ie-0ExKpNl0hm_VPT5Alu6kOJ9_mu8BKdiCbJB418huym14uSAlxVHj8Y0D5zDXZs/s400/011.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 19.2px; text-align: center;">Badly spalling bricks on a chimney</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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If there are pieces of bricks or stones lying around the yard or driveway, it could be a sign that masonry repair is needed. The first place to look for damages by cold, freezing rain, and wind is the chimney since it is the area most exposed to the elements.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Signs that repairs or rebuilding is needed are missing or deteriorating mortar joints, cracked bricks or stones, or faces of masonry popped off. This is due to the penetration of water into the masonry- and when water freezes it expands, which usually results in the face of a brick or stone breaking off.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwyCUtut2ohjp8ewNLcJD5iPqoTx6gezk89nygtlHh26Oh3cOIUu_KaLG4l6-MQjc_kb4-pNmMIDxgnmVik__IFkX9wREhIAXb6NShoPI4FWIRtDSFbdcGB-qL_LC_jCPD0ZyjjSKn_1U/s1600/101208+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwyCUtut2ohjp8ewNLcJD5iPqoTx6gezk89nygtlHh26Oh3cOIUu_KaLG4l6-MQjc_kb4-pNmMIDxgnmVik__IFkX9wREhIAXb6NShoPI4FWIRtDSFbdcGB-qL_LC_jCPD0ZyjjSKn_1U/s320/101208+020.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 19.2px; text-align: center;">Badly spalling bricks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Unfortunately, many chimneys are built with soft type bricks rather than hard type bricks due to the cost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soft bricks absorb moisture more easily than hard bricks. After a few years, the soft bricks will begin to show damage, but after 30 years any type of brick or stone chimney will likely show damages of some type, if only to the mortar joints. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In some cases, masons have found completely deteriorated bricks with hard mortar left behind. In other cases, the bricks are good but the mortar is severely deteriorated or missing altogether. When this occurs it is a sign that the wrong type of mortar was used.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For this reason, the Midwest Chimney Safety Council recommends that chimneys should be built or reconstructed using hard bricks and the right type of mortar which will last many years longer than those built with soft masonry units.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzcDcZ7tl2oXZYJaWDQouqZMxNEsqjSgxdRaQobnDLYo9bRQYf0eKp6Ecxyr1iJTIFYFXa8Y981Yzyp4y7IZsB1LZGXU6Sy6YDJvpA7PT4kRCA08X-YLA6BOkoe-hXEtcnlkBT_VYyoDQ/s1600/077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzcDcZ7tl2oXZYJaWDQouqZMxNEsqjSgxdRaQobnDLYo9bRQYf0eKp6Ecxyr1iJTIFYFXa8Y981Yzyp4y7IZsB1LZGXU6Sy6YDJvpA7PT4kRCA08X-YLA6BOkoe-hXEtcnlkBT_VYyoDQ/s400/077.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 19.2px; text-align: center;">Mortar deteriorated so badly that<br />
the chimney is falling apart</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mortar sets up better when the work is done in the spring when temperatures are moderate so the curing process can complete without issue. If the temperature is too cold, the mortar can crack and take a long time to cure. If the temperature is too hot the water in the mortar may migrate to surrounding masonry and shrink. Professional masons can control some of this by adding an accelerant in cold weather or soaking bricks in water before using them in hot weather, but they much prefer working with masonry in ideal weather conditions.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLpJx8uWgX2K5dmb7VAzRriylNb92TON-_gHlR1R23DsuwNmoMq_x3SS6kGYK6kJh2mLOiA3dJuGdKFrt-UOOzLLBJSPAYWCde81RrVabhl7G5tvUwMjleW1LFEtbh1fbZ4Sqm4hPTpo/s1600/poured+crown1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLpJx8uWgX2K5dmb7VAzRriylNb92TON-_gHlR1R23DsuwNmoMq_x3SS6kGYK6kJh2mLOiA3dJuGdKFrt-UOOzLLBJSPAYWCde81RrVabhl7G5tvUwMjleW1LFEtbh1fbZ4Sqm4hPTpo/s400/poured+crown1.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 19.2px; text-align: center;">Cement cap with drip edge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The cement cap (crown) should be inspected in the spring to assure that it is in good condition with no cracks, deterioration, or lifting. The cap serves as a roof for the chimney and keeps the elements out of the interior chimney chase where rain can cause damage to the interior flue, smoke chamber, damper, and firebox. Any small cracks or gaps should be filled with high temp silicone, but if large cracks, severe deterioration, or missing sections of the cap exist a new cap should be constructed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As of 2012, the International Residential Code required a poured formed crown with a drip edge to better protect the chimney from damaging rainwater. The old-style crowns with a slope but without a drip edge actually contribute to the fast deterioration of masonry at the top part of the chimney, so this newer style is a big improvement.<o:p></o:p></div>
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________________________________________</div>
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Marge Padgitt is the CEO of <a href="http://www.chimkc.com/">HearthMasters, Inc.</a> and HearthMasters Education in Kansas City, Missouri. Contact her at <a href="mailto:hearthmastersboss@gmail.com">hearthmastersboss@gmail.com</a>. </div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">HearthMasters Blog</div>Marge Padgitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647210965207710968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107388463200554654.post-88414116297968088612020-01-22T16:09:00.000-06:002020-01-22T16:09:19.789-06:00Maintaining Your Masonry Heater<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">By Marge Padgitt</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Masonry heaters require regular maintenance in order to function properly, and the flue should be swept to avoid chimney fires. Maintenance includes sweeping of the chimney flue, brushing out the flue gas channels, an inspection of the chimney and heater, and doing any repairs necessary. If the masonry heater is operated properly there should be little, if any creosote in the flue, and you should find only small amounts of soot. If there is any amount of creosote in the flue proper operation and burning procedures should be reviewed. One to two very hot fires should be burned each day, or once every 12 hours for most heaters. The fire should not be “damped down” to maintain a longer burning time as is the normal procedure with a wood stove. The maximum number of fires per day should be three. For chimneys with exterior exposure, the flue will be colder than an interior chimney and will accumulate more soot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Cleaning the flue gas channels involves using a small poly brush and vacuum. Go to the small channel doors, open them and clean and vacuum each one to remove fly ash. The chimney interior and exterior need to be inspected, and the heater itself should be inspected for any deterioration or loose firebrick in the firebox, any cracking in the exterior heater skin or finish work, and correct clearances to combustibles. Like any masonry structure, the masonry heater and chimney will need to be maintained and repaired as needed. Get a copy of the Homeowners Safety Manual and Burning Guide for Masonry Heaters for free at </span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">www.mha-net.org</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Be sure not to use a grate inside the firebox. Fires should be built right on the firebrick floor. The door should be closed during operation, and flammable liquids should not be used to start fires. Homeowners should not burn anything other than dry cordwood in the heater. Building a top-down burn fire will provide a clean burn startup with less CO and smoke. The top-down burn is the opposite of what you learned as a Scout. Place a couple of large logs on the bottom with an airspace between them, then add smaller logs on top in the opposite direction, then kindling. Try Fatwood or dry pine as a fire-starter. The fire will burn down slowly, like a candle. This method warms the flue slowly and causes draft to establish before the fire really gets going.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Your professional chimney sweep is best qualified to sweep and maintain a masonry heater, and can likely do any minor masonry repairs needed as well. Find a professional chimney sweep at </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">the Chimney Safety Institute of America site at </span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">www.csia.org</span></u></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">For more information visit </span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">www.mha-net.org</span></u></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> or call Executive Director Richard Smith at 530-883-0191.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Marge Padgitt is an industry veteran, author, and educator. </span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">HearthMasters Blog</div>Marge Padgitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647210965207710968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107388463200554654.post-68127630608908916812020-01-22T15:56:00.003-06:002020-01-22T15:56:51.187-06:00Clogged gas flue can cause illness or death<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 14.85px;">On May 17, 2016 Blue Springs, Missouri homeowners Richard and Mary Buckley were told by their heating and cooling contractor that they needed to call a professional chimney sweep to inspect their chimney. High carbon monoxide readings indicated that something was wrong with the venting system.</span></h3>
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When a chimney sweep arrived he found an unlined chimney in a 100-year-old home that was completely blocked with four feet of mortar, debris, leaves and twigs. The gas boiler and gas water heater could not vent toxic carbon monoxide gasses out of the flue, and it had been that way for years. The chimney sweep speculates that the only reason the homeowners were still alive is that the house is old and drafty, and that outside air diluted the toxic gasses coming into the home.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Unfortunately, the homeowners did have some symptoms of CO poisoning, which consisted of flu-like symptoms while they were inside the home, but ceased when they left the premises. This is common when a house is toxic.<br />
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According to the Midwest Chimney Safety Council, gas flues are often ignored and neglected and are commonly in much worse condition than fireplace flues. People tend to think about removing flammable creosote from a wood stove or fireplace flue, but don’t often realize that the condition of a gas flue is critical. While gas does not produce creosote, it does produce Carbon Monoxide, which must be contained within the flue walls until it exits the chimney at the top.<o:p></o:p></div>
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If the chimney is damaged or does not have a flue liner, CO can leak into the interior structure. Blockages cause CO backup, and incorrect sizing of the flue liner or connecting pipes can also be a CO hazard. Most heating and cooling contractors do not service, maintain, or repair gas flues or chimneys, and refer chimney work to professional chimney sweeps.<o:p></o:p></div>
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HearthMasters urges homeowners to have their utility flue checked annually at the same time the fireplace is serviced by a professional chimney sweep. We recommend that homeowners use a sweep who is certified by the <a href="http://www.csia.org/">Chimney Safety Institute of America. </a></div>
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Marge Padgitt is the owner of HearthMasters, Inc. chimney and fireplace restoration and educational school in Kansas City, Missouri. <a href="http://www.chimkc.com/">www.chimkc.com </a></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">HearthMasters Blog</div>Marge Padgitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647210965207710968noreply@blogger.com0