Safety Tips for the Holidays

 Tip #1: Inspections. Some people use their fireplaces year-round and others only build a fire during the holidays - but it is important to have the chimney inspected and cleaned if necessary no matter how much the fireplace is used. This is because things can happen during the year to make fire hazards such as birds or squirrels building flammable nests, masonry deterioration, unseen blockages, etc.

Tip #2: Stockings. In the photo above we see just two stockings hanging above the fireplace, but they are still too close to the fire. Stockings are a fire hazard, so please remove them before building a fire in the fireplace. Also keep all flammable items at least 36" away from the fireplace opening, whether it is wood or gas burning.

Tip #3: Don't Burn Dry Christmas Trees. If you're using a real tree this year, it will dry out by the time January 1 rolls around. Dry pine is the most flammable type of wood but a Christmas tree is the most dangerous. Check YouTube to see some crazy people put their trees into their fireplaces and see them start chimney fires and watch flames shooting out the top of the chimney. Not a good idea. Instead, cut the tree into very small pieces and use them for fire starter throughout the winter.

Tip #4: Don't Burn Wrapping Paper. Keep the pretty wrapping paper out of the fireplace because when it burns it releases toxic fumes. Any paper that has color on it will produce toxins, and that includes magazines, brochures, flyers, etc. As a rule of thumb, only burn cordwood in a fireplace. If you have gas logs, don't put anything in the fireplace.

Have a Safe and Happy Holiday Season!

Holiday Decor Ideas for Fireplaces 2022

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. 

Fireplace not working? No problem - use candles for a welcoming atmosphere. 

Above and left: These faux fireplaces work great for focal points for your holiday decorations. 

Real fireplace - real fire - and nice decor without any stockings hanging down in front of the fireplace. We give this one an A+!

Whoops!  Looks nice, but do you see the problem? 

A stunning historical fireplace that is nicely done

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Marge Padgitt is the president of HearthMasters, Inc. and author of Wood-Fired Heating and Cooking. www.woodfiredpub.com or www.chimkc.com. Sign up for blog notices so you don't miss an article!

Some Halloween Decor Ideas for your Hearth and Home

Check out these cool ideas to decorate your fireplace and home for Halloween: 

There's nothing like a scary pumpkin on your front porch! 

                                          Looks like these guys could use a glass of water!

                                             A graveyard is not complete without skeletons

                                                              Don't forget the fireplace!

                                        These two lovely ladies are just out for a midnight stroll...

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Marge Padgitt is the president of HearthMasters, Inc. in Independence, MO. She loves Halloween. 

Gas Appliance Annual Maintenence Required

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.

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. 

Tiny spiders build webs inside orifices, and dust can impede the function of the appliance. 

Change the Batteries: 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 and in the sending unit in the appliance. Check your manual for the location. If your appliance is not coming on - check the batteries first.

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. 

Tip: Never move gas logs around. They must remain in the same position or flame impingement could occur!

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Marge Padgitt is the president of HearthMasters, Inc. in Independence, Missouri 

HearthMasters Publishing announces the release of Wood-fired Heating and Cooking

HearthMasters Publishing announces the release of Wood-fired Heating and Cooking: How to choose, maintain, and operate a wood-fired appliance

Kansas City, Missouri, November 4, 2021

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.

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.

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.

Marge and Gene are available for radio interviews. 

Contact:

Marge Padgitt
hearthmasters.office@gmail.com
816-461-3665

Keep Your Fireplace in Tip Top Shape for Winter

Keep Your Fireplace in Tip Top Shape for Winter 

By Marge Padgitt, President of HearthMasters, Inc.

The following are some tips for keeping your fireplace in good order for the winter: 

•    Have all chimneys inspected annually by a professional chimney sweep to be sure they are in good working order. The sweep will inspect the interior with a chimney camera and the entire exterior wood or masonry structure visually.  He will look for cracks, gaps, or missing mortar joints in the flue, check for proper flue size, check the smoke chamber and fireplace condition, flashing, crown, and chimney cover.

•   Have flues serving wood-burning appliances swept annually or bi-annually to remove flammable creosote and reduce the risk of chimney fire. All wood creates creosote - even dry hardwoods. 

•   Have the furnace or water heater flue inspected annually by a professional to be sure it is not a Carbon Monoxide risk. Blockages or flues in poor condition can be a CO risk. Even a CO detector does not register all levels of CO. 

•   Have gas direct vent fireplaces or stoves tuned up and serviced annually to assure proper performance. Dirt, dust, and spiders clog orifices and can make the unit inoperable. Annual service is required by the manufacturer for warranty coverage on all brands.

•   Have a chimney cover installed to keep damaging rain and animals out of the flue. A cover should be installed on each flue or a custom-cover can be made to cover all flues and the cement crown.
  
•   Masonry problems such as cracked mortar or bricks, deteriorating mortar or spalling bricks should be repaired in the spring and summer months to allow for proper curing so plan accordingly.

•   Have an elastomeric sealant applied to the cement crown to protect it from weather damage.