Category Archives: Safety

What is Glazing..and What is De-glazing?

glazingAfter you burn a fire the wood will eventually cool down. When it cools down, you create creosote. Creosote is a liquid that gets attached (or condenses) to the inner wall of your flue or connector pipe.  The creosote will dry out and become hard and become one of 3 stages. Stage 1 (velvet soot), Stage 2 porous and crunchy in makeup or Stage 3, shiny, rock-hard chimney glaze. The more fires you have, the more build up you are creating.

If this happens to your chimney you will need to have a De-glazing done. This is a two steps process. Mike’s Mobile uses a product called ACS (Anti Creosote Spray). We recommend that our effected customers make a few fires over the course of a few weeks and spray this the ACS into their fire. ACS changes the chemical make up of the creosote and weakens it. We can then come out to your home and clean your chimney.

Christmas Tree Safety

safetreeThings to consider about Christmas Tree Safety

Picking The Tree
Choose a tree with fresh, green needles that do not fall off when touched.

Placing The Tree
Before placing the tree in the stand, cut 1-2” from the base of the trunk.

Make sure the tree is at least three feet away from any heat source like fireplaces radiators, candle, heat vents or lights.

Make sure the tree is not blocking an exit.

Add water to the tree stand. Be sure to add water daily.

Lighting The Tree
Use lights that have the label of an independent test laboratory. Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use

Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections of mini string sets and a maximum of 50 bulbs for screw-in bulbs. Read manufacturer’s instructions for number of LED strands to connect.

Never use lit candles to decorate the tree.

Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to bed.

10 Tips For The Heating Season

checkmark

  1. Have your furnace inspected and serviced by a qualified professional.
  2. Have your chimney and vents cleaned and inspected by a qualified professional.
  3. Make sure your wood for your fireplace is dry and seasoned.
  4. Check to see if your fireplace screen or heat tempered glass is in good condition and securely in position.
  5. Keep a covered metal container ready to use for disposal of cooled ashes (Keep this at least 10 feet from your home).
  6. Inform children to stay 3 feet away from the fireplace or wood stove.
  7. Make sure that space heaters have an automatic shut off.
  8. Make sure to have space heaters directly plugged into an outlet (Do not use an extension cord) and place them at least 3 feet from anything that can burn.
  9. Inspect and test your smoke alarms
  10. Inspect and test your carbon monoxide alarms

Fireplace Safety: Decorating 101 for Christmas

 

 Fireplace Safety Tips for Holiday Decorating  

xmas fireplace safety
 

Although a beautifully decorated hearth is a Christmas tradition, those decorations can pose a fire hazard if placed too close to your fireplace. Before decorating for the upcoming holidays, there are a few fireplace safety tips you should know.

 

Follow the 3 Foot Rule

Both the Chimney Safety Institution of America and the National Fire Protection Association recommend creating a 3 foot zone around your fireplace. Combustible materials such as decorations, paper, throw pillows and blankets should be kept beyond the 3 foot zone. This also includes you Christmas tree. Both synthetic and real trees can catch on fire if they are placed too close to the fireplace.

 

Do Not Hang Decorations from the Mantle

Ribbons, garland and greenery dangled from the mantle provide a beautiful effect to your hearth and fireplace, but it can also be dangerous. Don’t let decorations to dangle from the mantle, as hanging flammable materials too close can ignite either from the heat of your fireplace or from an errant spark.

 

 

xmas decors xmas decor
 

 

Remove Stockings Before Lighting a Fire

Hanging up stockings in front of the fireplace is a holiday tradition, however make sure that you carefully remove them from the mantle before you light your fireplace. And, remember to observe the 3 foot rule and place the removed stockings safely away from the hearth.

 

 

xmas stockings

 

Fire-Resistant Decorations

A great option for decorating your hearth is to purchase decorations that are manufactured or treated to be fire resistant. These can make a great option for decorating your hearth as they are safer to use. Keep in mind that fire-resistant doesn’t mean that these objects won’t burn, it just means that they are less likely to accidentally ignite. You should still observe fireplace safety tips when placing fire-resistant decorations on your mantle or near your fireplace.

 

Use a Spark Guard

A spark guard is a great option for making your hearth safer this winter season if you have an open-hearth fireplace. What is a park guard? A spark guard is a mesh screen placed over the fireplace opening to prevent embers from crackling out of the fireplace. It can help keep your Christmas decorations, furniture and flooring safe from sparks.

 

sparkguard
 

Keep a Fire Extinguisher on Hand

Even if you have followed all of the other tips for safely decorating near your fireplace, you still should have a fire extinguisher on hand. Make sure that the extinguisher is operational and current and that everyone in the home knows where the fire extinguisher is and how to use it in case of an emergency.

xmas extinguisher
 

If you need help preparing your hearth for the winter holidays, call Mike’s Mobile Screen & Chimney Service today! (877) 520-3595

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Why You NEED a CO and Smoke Detector

Beginning July 1, 2011, the Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention act (Senate Bill SB1483) requites all single-family homes with an attached garage or a fossil fuel source to install carbon monoxide alarms. As well as per building code 310.9.1of California all residence must have smoke alarms.

As reported by the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) Approximately 200 people are killed by accidental CO poisoning with an additional 5000 people injured. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) also reported that three out of five fire deaths are the result of no smoke alarm present in home.

Smoke alarms should be installed in the following locations:

  • Each bedroom
  • Immediately outside the sleeping rooms and areas
  • On each level of home and basements (not including crawl spaces) and livable attics.
  • In dwellings with split-levels that have a door between adjacent levels, an alarm shall be located on each level.
  • Smoke alarms are not required in garages

Smoke Alarm

Carbon Monoxide Alarms (CO) should be installed in the following locations:

      • Immediately outside the sleeping rooms an areas.
      • On each story, including basements and livable areas.
      • They are not required in garages.

CO Alarm

 

What Causes a Chimney Fire?

 
Mike's Mobile Screen & Chimney Service

Chimney fires are usually caused by the accumulation of creosote in the chimney. Creosote is a natural by-product of burning wood. It accumulates in the flue over time and is highly flammable. Creosote is especially likely to accumulate when wood is not burned at the proper temperature. Since creosote is flammable, when it accumulates on the walls of your flue, hot flue gasses can ignite it. The result is a chimney fire. Depending on the condition of your chimney, such a fire can pose a significant threat to the rest of your house. Flames from the fire can find their way through cracks in your clay chimney liner or mortar and ignite framing around the chimney. They can also spill over onto the roof and cause a fire there.

Getting Started With Fire Building

fireplace safetyThink small when it comes to starting a fire. First be sure that your chimney is ready for a fire. Have your chimney inspected and cleaned annually. Once you have determined that you can safely burn a fire, you will need to prepare the fireplace. Make sure that your damper is completely open.

Pick small pieces of wood and make sure that the wood is not over flowing your fireplace grate. This will ensure that you have enough room between the fireplace and the grate on all sides.

Listen carefully. Sizzling is a sign that the wood that you are burning still has water. This will cause extra smoke that can enter into your living room area.

Pick out proper wood for burning fires. Make sure that your wood meets the following criteria:

  • Seasoned Firewood (Excess Moisture Takes Energy Out of a Fire)
  • Proper size (Pieces Must Not be Oversized or Hanging Out of Your Fireplace)
  • Pieces may need to be cut to fit properly

Winter is Coming!

Chimney Sweeps – Winter is Almost Here!

 

Guess what time it is?!

It’s time to get your home’s chimney and fireplace inspected! Summer has officially drawn to a close and Fall has already begun! Which means your home’s heating appliances will be heavily used this upcoming Winter!

Do you know why it is important to have your home’s heating appliances ready before the cold season approaches?

Well it is recommended by the National Fire Protection Association that homeowners should have their chimneys cleaned and inspected annually. If you haven’t had yours swept yet, don’t wait until the very last minute to schedule your needed inspections and repairs! Here at Mike’s Mobile Screen & Chimney Service, we offer a full chimney services. Mike’s Mobile also does the following services to our customers including: chimney cleanings, inspections, repairs, fireplace rebuilds, masonry work and much more! Our company also serves the surrounding areas including: West Sacramento, Davis, Carmichael, Citrus Heights, Cameron Park, El Dorado Hills, Rocklin, Folsom and more!

Click here for more information on our other services

Call Mike’s Mobile today and set up an appointment! (877) 520-3595

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We Got Featured on Good Day Sacramento!

Mike’s Mobile Chimney Good Day Sacramento

Chimney Good Day Sacramento

Mike’s Mobile Screen and Chimney Service was featured on Good Day Sacramento this past week! Mike’s Mobile and a special
guest, Santa Claus, showed the Good Day Sacramento crew and viewers how important it is to get your chimney inspected and
cleaned annually. It is especially important to do this before the upcoming holidays when the weather begins to get colder and
people tend to turn on their fireplaces to warm up their homes. 

For more information on the chimney services we offer visit: http://lhi.19f.mywebsitetransfer.com/chimney-services/

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Tips on How to Prevent a Chimney Fire

If you don’t give much thought on the condition of your chimney before lighting fires to warm you up during the chilly season, you and your home could be in danger. When the winter season gets super cold, there tends to be a sharp increase in chimney fires. So what causes a chimney fire? How do I know if I have one? Well the following text will give you helpful tips on how to identify and prevent any future chimney fires.

 

Chimney-Fire

So what causes a chimney fire?

A dirty, unkempt chimney leads to chimney fires. Which can lead to damaging structures, destroying homes and even injuring or killing people. Chimney fires are usually caused by the accumulation of creosote in the chimney. Creosote accumulates in the flue over time and is highly flammable. Creosote is especially likely to accumulate when wood is not being burned at the proper temperature. When it accumulates on the walls of your flue, hot flue gasses can ignite it, resulting in a chimney fire. Depending on the condition of your chimney, such a fire can pose a significant threat to the rest of your house. Furthermore the flames from the fire can find their way through cracks in your clay chimney liner or mortar and ignite framing around the chimney.

What are the indications of a chimney fire?
  • Flames or dense smoke may shoot from the top of the chimney
  • Loud cracking, and popping noises
  • An intense hot smell
  • Low rumbling

Creosote-Chimney-Fire
I just moved into a new home/property, how do I know if my chimney has had a chimney fire?
A chimney fire can occur without the homeowner being aware so it is really important to have your chimney inspected regularly by a certified chimney technician. These are the signs that a certified chimney sweep looks for:

  • Flaky or Puffy creosote
  • Any warped metal seen from the damper, smoke chamber connector pipe or factory-built metal chimney
  • Cracked or damaged flue tiles
  • Cracks found on exterior masonry
  • Distorted rain cap
  • TV antenna (that may be attached or be near chimney) is heat-damaged
  • Some roofing material is damaged from hot creosote
  • Smoke escaping through mortar joints from masonry/tile liners

firefighter-chimney-fire

So how do I prevent a chimney fire?

  • Have your chimney cleaned at least annually. The National Fire Protection Association Standard 211 says, “Chimneys, fireplaces, and vents shall be inspected at least once a year for soundness, freedom from deposits, and correct clearances.
  • Allow your firewood to dry for at least a year before burning it, if possible. Burning fresher (or wet) wood can lead to creosote building up and increases your chance of having a chimney fire.
  • Do not burn too hot of a fire. The hotter the fire is the greater the chance that the creosote will ignite.
  • If you have petroleum or gas heating systems, make sure they have a carbon monoxide near the heat source.
  • Should you find yourself near an active chimney fire, please do the following:
  • Immediately call 911! Even if the chimney fire is extinguished, hot spots still poses as a serious threat.
  • NEVER use water to put out the flames! Direct contact with the hot walls can lead to cracking, which can lead to much bigger problems.
Once you are safely out of that situation and the chimney fire has been put out, call one our certified chimney technicians from Mike’s Mobile Screens & Chimney Service to come out and inspect your chimney so that we can right away start repairs! Call us at [button link=”tel:18775203595″ type=”big”] (877) 520-3595[/button]! For more information on all the chimney services we offer, visit us @ http://lhi.19f.mywebsitetransfer.com/chimney-services/

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