Woodway Wednesday Weekly

March 12, 2025

Fire Prevention Plan

Since we just changed over the clocks this week, please take the time to check your fire prevention equipment and ensure that your family's fire prevention plan is reviewed, too. Important preventative measures include checking your smoke alarms (replace batteries) and fire extinguishers. If your fire extinguisher gauge is not in the green, it needs serviced or replaced, as they are designed to last for 10 years. Carbon monoxide detectors are also a good idea.

Here at The Woodway we just had Shane Burnett from Arctic Fire and Safety stop by to give us a refresher course on the proper use of fire extinguishers. He was super informative and brought an assortment of products for us to get familiar with concerning fire prevention. The goal was for us to improve our fire safety strategy at the store, but also to take that knowledge to our homes and be prepared there, too.

Several years ago I watched my neighbor's house burn down due to a furnace fire. We live in Two Rivers and there was no fire service to respond. Several of the neighbors brought fire extinguishers, but despite our best efforts, it was unfortunately too little, too late. That feeling stays with you, questioning how we could have been more prepared and wishing we could have done more.

At The Woodway, we always recognize that we are putting a small fire in the middle of your house. Our focus is that all of the proper procedures are met when performing your professional installation. We stress that our customers should be just as well versed in the operation of their stoves, as we are in the installation process. It is our sincere hope that each of our customers will read their manuals, be aware of the safety implications, and use that information to develop a fire prevention plan for their homes. We strongly advocate being prepared for emergencies. Click on the link below for a fire safety checklist from the US Fire Administration.

Fire Safety Checklist for Homeowners and Renters

Essential Safety Equipment

It is important that you choose the correct equipment for the job at hand; that can include fire resistant gloves for your grill or wood stove, grid handlers, fireplace tools, chimney stack thermometers, roof braces and snow stops for your chimneys. We recommend a metal ash bucket with a lid for the safe collection and disposal of hot ashes and coals. The one we sell at The Woodway has a double steel bottom for extra safety. Always be diligent when cleaning and disposing of the ash from your woodstove so that you don't cause a fire inside or outside of your home.

When was the last time you checked or serviced your smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, and carbon monoxide detectors? These aren't items that we sell, but we do recognize their importance and recommend that you have them in your home.

Sweep Your Chimney!

Again, we highly recommend that you read the manual for your stove before operation. Each stove manual varies a little, but they all agree on one thing, excessive creosote could result in a chimney fire!

We stock FireEx and Chimfex chimney fire extinguishers. Of course, calling 911 is the first course of action in the case of a chimney fire.

We have often had customers give us their personal testimonial on the use of these products. More than one customer has come in and said, "I used the Chimfex last weekend and it saved my house!" They were at our counter to buy a replacement so that they would have it on hand when it is needed the most.

Critical Points for Proper Wood Stove Operation

Burn Dry Wood - Maximum of 20% Moisture Content

Don't guess, use a moisture meter!

Use stove top and/or stovepipe thermometers to monitor your stove.

(Consult the manual for the proper temperature range for your stove.)

SWEEP THE CHIMNEY REGULARLY!

All of our manufacturers stress that you need to inspect the chimney connector and chimney regularly during each burning season and clean when necessary. Burning your stove at a hotter temperature should lessen creosote build-up. And, you should always burn dry, seasoned wood. Burning green wood will result in greater creosote accumulation.

A moisture meter is a valuable tool to monitor the moisture content of your wood. Ask us to demonstrate one for you.

We have two styles of moisture meters in stock today.

Stop and see us at The Woodway, Mon - Fri from 9-6.

Do You Prefer To DIY?

We offer a full line of chimney brushes and rods in multiple sizes. Check out our kits for cleaning your pellet venting, chimney systems, and dryer vents. We also sell ash buckets, fireplace/stove gloves, and fire resistant hearth rugs, along with a full line of products to maintain your stoves. Offering products to keep you safe in your home is one of our top priorities.

Find A Chimney Sweep!

 You'll find a certified chimney sweep at www.csia.org. Put in your zip code to find the local choices. Check out the video below for more information. Keep in mind that the local chimney sweeps stay very busy, so you'll want to plan ahead and be patient during their busy season. You will often need to leave a message. 

I hope we've helped you make safer choices today!

Kim Watson

Hearth Department

St. Patrick's Day is coming soon!

Join us next week for All Things Green...