England's Stove Pellet Stove Recall

Recall of Pellet Stove  (Feb 2016) : If you have an England's Stove Works Pellet Stove then please view this recall information regarding smoke build up and possible damage to the glass in the door to request a Free repair kit

http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2016/Englands-Stove-Works-Recalls-to-Repair-Freestanding-Pellet-Stoves/

Who Knew There Was a WRONG Way to Stack Firewood?

Photo: worldforestindustries.com

Nothing celebrates the colder weather like the distinct scent and sound of a crackling log in the fireplace. A steady supply of firewood can help offset your heating costs and, unlike oil and coal, is a renewable resource that can be replanted for future fire-burning pleasure. It takes up to a year to properly season wood, but following these guidelines for proper stacking will help keep purchased logs dry and burnable
Related: Firewood Primer: Which Wood Burns Best?
The purpose of seasoning freshly cut wood is to remove the moisture for ease of burning. Allocate a dry, sunny spot of your yard for stacking. A well-built pile provides proper ventilation and keeps the wood from being prone to molds or fungus A haphazard heap, on the other hand, won’t dry, will soak up rainwater, and eventually it will turn into a smelly, rotting mess
Buy or quarter your hardwoods, such as hickory, White Oak, and White Ash (softwoods ignite faster but burn too quickly), remembering that it’s good to get a range of log sizes: Smaller ones catch faster, while the larger, thick pieces burn longer. The most traditional pile has rows of logs held by a support tower at each end

Photo: woodheat.org

To construct the towers, take two similarly shaped logs and turn them parallel to each other. Build the next layer with two parallel logs that are perpendicular from the first set. Continue until you have about a dozen levels, or as high as you can without letting it get unwieldy. The second tower should be even with but several feet away from the first. In between, lay the logs next to each other so that the cut ends face the direction of the prevailing wind (in the US, weather systems tend to move from west to east, so facing west is a good bet)
Related: 12 “Different” Ways to Store Firewood
Keep layering until the pile is the same height as the towers. Place the pieces bark side up to keep them from shedding moisture into the pile. Although it’s tempting to stack all your wood in neat towers, they aren’t as effective for seasoning purposes, as they don’t allow for enough air ventilation. Finally, use long sticks to help bolster the pile, leaning them against the woodpile and stabilizing them in the dirt
The Shaker woodpile, another popular shape, is a round formation in which the sticks touch at one end, but spiral out with bigger gaps. The first layer looks a little like spokes on a wheel, and it’s a good way to use up oddly shaped logs, adding a nice visual presence to the yard

Did you know there are 3 types of WETT Inspection?

Although there are 3 types of WETT inspection that are progressive, Level 1 leads to 2 and 2 leads to 3. Most Insurance companies and hence most Real Estate transactions require Level 1

 

What is a WETT inspection? It’s a visual inspection of a wood burning appliance.  WETT is Wood Energy Technology Transfer.  There are three levels of inspections available in addition to maintenance done to chimneys, such as sweeping.

Level one is a visual inspection of readily accessible components of a wood burning system. The purpose is to determine if the system meets current standards and regulations. No components are required to be  disassembled and mounting of the roof is not mandatory during a level one inspection. Level two is an inspection that includes the dismantling of smoke pipes in addition to the visual inspection. Trim may also be removed from fireplace inserts. The chimney would likely be swept and often, a camera inspection of the chimney can be done, as a part of this service. Level three would include all the details of a level two, but would also involve cutting holes in walls to inspect hidden components. This type of inspection is very rarely done and would likely be ordered by the Fire Marshall in response to suspicions of serious code issues At Home and Play Inspections provides Level 1 inspections to assist you in the Real Estate Transaction or for knowledge of your home. Call for a fair price on your needed inspection requirements and gain "Confidence In Your Future"