Wildfires

jamiehanson asked:


Wood burning stoves are very common now a day and are often used in cold countries to heat the houses as well as to do some cooking. Wood burning stoves not only warms your house but also gives your house a contemporary look and a feeling of coziness. You can install it anywhere you wish to in your living room, dining room or even on your terraces or patio. Well the choice is yours but you need to be a bit careful to install the wood burning stoves so as it gives the best performance with utmost safety. You need to get a wood burning stove that suits your room size, as a too large stove will not only look odd but may also heat up your room like an oven. It should be suitable enough to match your requirements. Once you have made a correct choice of wood burning stove for your sweet home, the next thing is to install it properly so that it gives the best performance and insures utmost safety and this needs to be done by the professional stove fitting experts. A poor installation may lead to serious problems to the extent that your house can burn to ashes, so a proper installation and good maintenance is the prime requisite. The wood burning stoves give the best functionality but can prove to be the most dangerous systems if not installed properly. A professional stove engineer needs to inspect the home properly and find a perfect place for the wood burning stove to be installed so that it safe enough. The electric supply and other electric connections are carefully studied before the equipment is installed. If there is some problem it should be corrected well before the installation process. Other problems like cracked fire bricks, a worn out or torn gaskets, unorganized or blocked passage to combustibles, heavy deposits of combustible waste in the stove or lastly the problem of small fireplace etc are the problems that need to be fixed up immediately. Ideally the hearth should be around 18 inches or more to the opening of the stove and its function is to protect the floor. The National Protection Association has made it mandatory to conduct a Level 2 chimney inspection by the licensed professional chimney experts who are well-trained to ensure the highest safety standards. This helps to inspect the house thoroughly and to correct any problem if missed by the installation professionals. This helps to control serious fire hazards that might have probably occurred in future if the wood burning stove is poorly installed. Different wood burning stoves have different needs, but each stove should have a non-combustible base underneath which must lengthen around 8 inches from all sides and 18 inches past opening the stove doors. These are the basic requirements that should be fulfilled to install the wood burning stove properly and exactly. So always remember that a poor installation may lead to grave risks so it is sensible to get the installation done by professional installers as any equipment is not worth installing at the cost of your precious life!



CARMEN

Ann Marier asked:


Have you ever wanted to live or work in a home or a business in which the air smells fresh and clean? Are you constantly using air freshener to try to make your environment a little bit more comfortable for everyone? Do you or someone in your family suffer from allergies that are making life miserable? If the answer to any or all of these questions is “yes”, you should consider purchasing a Rain Forest air purifier for your home or office to enhance the air and the quality of life within.

Reasons to Use an Air Purifier

There are many reasons to consider using a Rain Forest air purifier. First, you are going to find that you are breathing easier in a room that utilizes an air purifier, even if you don’t have allergies. This is because the Rain Forest air purifier will take all of the potentially harmful particles and substances out of the air before circulating it back into the room, where it will be much cleaner and easier to breathe.

Another reason to consider an air purifier is that you are going to find that a Rain Forest air purifier actually creates a safer environment for you and your family. Much of the smells and odors that are found in the air actually come about because the air is filled with bacteria or other harmful substances.

By using a Rain Forest air purifier, you will actually be able to clean the air - making it much easier for you to breathe and much safer for you to live and work in. The bad thing about airborne particles is that you can’t see them. Sometimes you have no idea what you are breathing in and how it could affect your health. By using a Rain Forest air purifier to clean the air, you can rest assured that your environment is fresh and healthy.

These air purifiers are also affordable, easy to use, and easy to find. The filters do not need to be replaced very often, but when you do purchase replacements, you will see that they are very affordable as well. This means that you will have a low maintenance method of ensuring that your family is always breathing air that is clean and safe. Talk to your retail center today to find the Rain Forest air purifier that will meet your individual needs.



ISIAH

Paul Purcell asked:


With many areas of the country in drought conditions, all of us could use a reminder list of ways to cut back on our water consumption around the house.

You can go three weeks without food, but only three days without W.A.T.E.R.:

Waste: “Tighten plumbing leaks and prevent other needless losses of water.

Application: Where do you use water that you shouldn’t?

Teaching: It’s good you’re following these suggestions, but what about others? Pass these along.

Economy: Where do you need to use water that you could use less?

Reclamation: Where can you get extra water?

1. Fire Safety. Summer brings heat, dryness, and wildfires and winter sees increased house fires from additional heating sources. Since a fire would need hundreds or thousands of gallons of water to fight, any fire prevention steps are water saving steps.

2. Brick in the toilet. A brick in the toilet tank takes up space to replace water. If a brick uses half a quart of space, you save half a quart per flush. Hint: Since bricks can dissolve, paint it with basement water sealant.

3. Color coded conservation. You don’t always have to flush your toilet every time. To borrow an old adage, “If it’s yellow let it mellow, if it’s brown flush it down.”

4. Buy a low-flow toilet. Though an expensive option, it’s easy to incorporate into your lifestyle, and some communities offer homeowners rebates for installing these water-savers.

5. Rain barrels. Rain barrels save rain water. While you can’t immediately drink this water, you can use it in food gardens, for outside washing, and you can purify it for bathing. Also, buy storage barrels to keep in the garage, and use them to store water saved by methods listed in this article. Mark the barrel as to whether the water is drinkable.

6. AC condensation. If you have central heat and air, you have a drain line that carries away the condensation that collects from your air conditioner coils. If yours is not connected to sewage lines you can collect and use this water. DO NOT DRINK THIS WATER! It can be used to water your garden, outside washing, or watering the house plants. You can collect up to two quarts per day during humid weather.

7. Squeeze-handle shower head. You can buy shower setups that have the squeeze-lever-activated head on a hose. This will let you wet down, lather up, and then rinse off without leaving the shower running. If you don’t like the squeeze-handle variety, you can find low-flow shower heads.

8. Faucet restrictors. Like the low-flow shower head, you can also find low-flow faucet restrictors.

9. Liquid soap. For hand washing, nothing saves water like liquid soap since it lathers more quickly than bar soap. ****** a small dollop of liquid soap, give a quick burst from the faucet, lather, and turn the faucet back on briefly to rinse.

10. Spray bottles. Keep a small spray bottle of water by the sink. When washing your hands (with liquid soap), or wetting your toothbrush, all you need is a quick spritz from the bottle instead of using the faucet.

11. Plastic gloves. Plastic foodservice gloves come 100 to a box for just a couple of dollars. If there’s anything you’d do that would make you wash your hands before, during, or afterwards (like painting, etc.), then wearing gloves will save a hand washing.

12. Paper plates. During a drought; water takes temporary precedence over other resources. Using paper plates saves dishwashing water. Paper towels will also help by cutting down on the number of cloth towels you have to wash.

13. Keep a jug by the sink. Keep an empty water jug by the sink to catch and save cold water coming from the tap while you’re waiting for the hot water. If you collect a lot of water this way, put it in your storage barrels.

14. Consolidate heavy work. Do you do things at different times of day that make you sweaty? Consolidate these efforts. If you work out and also work in the yard, try to work out and then immediately do your yard work. Stay sweaty, take just one shower, and wear just one set of clothes.

15. Waterless car wash. Several companies produce “waterless carwash” products that let you spray them on and wipe them off leaving your car spotless without the use of water. (For one that benefits schools, see http://www.beatthedirt.com or call them at 601-503-8300.)

16. Disposable paint brushes. If you have to paint, try to use zero water. Wear your plastic gloves and use brushes you can just throw away.

17. No lawn watering. However, if you collected the rain water or AC condensation earlier, you might use a watering can to cure brown spots, or water shrubs or trees that might die.

18. Check faucet washers. However, know what you’re doing before tackling the repairs yourself since a plumbing accident could spew more water than your faucet drip.

19. Full dish washer. Letting the dishes pile up in the sink is okay if you’re waiting for a full load for the dishwasher.

20. Full clothes washer. Full loads of laundry are best as they’re more water-efficient. And if you have just one or two items to wash? Hand wash them in the sink.

21. Hand wash over dishes. If you’re letting dishes pile up and some need some presoaking, use the kitchen sink for hand washing. Let the soapy water accumulate and pull double duty by pre-cleaning your dishware.

22. Dig a well. If you live in an area where you can have a well, please dig one. Though pricey, it will give you an alternate source of water and will help conserve city water.

23. Dixie cups. These tiny cups can let you see how much (or little) water you need for things like rinsing after brushing your teeth. And since they’re disposable, you don’t have to wash.

24. Pass this list to a friend. It’s good that you’re reading this list. Passing it along to others helps them conserve too. With conservation, it really is “the more the merrier.”

25. No new aquariums. If the kids come home wanting anything more than a fishbowl for a new aquatic pet, do what you can to talk them out of it. Unless of course, you fill it and maintain it with rainwater.

26. Nuke your water. For some hot water needs it’s thriftier to fill a cup with cold water and zap it in the microwave, rather than let the water run until the hot water shows.

27. Shave from a cup. One use for your cup of hot water is shaving. Rather than let the water run during a shave, just rinse your razor in the cup. Better yet, if possible, use an electric razor.

28. Skip a shower. If you’re not dirty and you’re not going to do anything but hang around the house, especially if by yourself, why take a shower?

29. Let the kids skip a bath. If you want to be a hero to your children, provided they’re really not dirty and don’t need it, let them skip every other day’s bath or shower.

30. Baking soda for Fido. Your dog’s baths can be a little farther apart too, if you give them a dry rubdown with baking soda. Rub it in their fur and then brush it out thoroughly. They’ll smell lots better, and be happy they skipped a soaking.

31. Nuke a washcloth. Wet a washcloth with a quick blast from the faucet, add liquid soap, and zap it in the microwave for a few seconds. You could wash your face and hands, and probably take half a bath. Wet another washcloth and microwave it a few seconds for a quick rinse cloth.

32. Paper towel dry-off. After your sponge bath with your microwaved washcloths, dry off with paper towels.

33. Kiddie pools. If you’re lacking rain barrels and want to catch a few drops, get some rigid plastic “kiddie pools.” They’re inexpensive and will hold gallons of rain runoff from your gutter downspouts.

34. Solar showers. Have a private back yard? Like being outdoors? You can get “solar showers” at almost any camping supply store. Use your collected rain water for that occasional warm-weather outdoor shower.

35. No swimming pool. You save lots of water by not filling your pool. But how could you use existing pool water? The chlorine will evaporate in a few weeks if not maintained, but not enough to drink the water. Use the water for outdoor washing, outdoor showers, flushing your toilet, or as a firefighting water reservoir if your home is in a wildfire area. (See http://www.disasterprep101.com/wildfire.htm )

36. Check your meter. Check for leaks at your water meter. If yours is leaking, notify your local water authority.

37. Check for a leaky toilet. Put a few drops of food coloring into your toilet tank’s water. If you see the colored water in the bowl after a few minutes you have a leak and might need a new tank valve.

38. Tie up a tarp. If you’re really serious about collecting rain water, tie a few tarps in place to where they drain into your kiddie pool or other collection point.

39. Frozen water bottles. Keep plastic bottles of water (about 4/5 full) in your freezer. When using your cooler, use a few frozen bottles of water to keep food cold.

40. Water at restaurants. If you don’t plan to drink it, don’t let the waiter leave you a glass of water at the table.

41. Dishes: wipe vs. rinse. If the dishes are too dirty to stick straight in the dishwasher, wipe them off with newspaper rather than rinsing them. You save water and get double-duty from your newspaper.

42. Let Fido lick the bowl. If you have a dog, let Fido clean your dishes before they’re put in the dishwasher. (Don’t give Fido too much, or anything bad for a dog.)

43. Aluminum foil. When cooking at home, line your pots and pans with aluminum foil. When you’re done cooking, remove the foil to make cleanup easier.

44. Buying your water. If you buy your drinking water, go for the gallons of distilled water rather than the smaller bottles of mineral water. The distilled is a better value and is actually more pure than the “designer waters.”

45. Bug sprayers. Your lawn and garden store will have 2-gallon pump-up sprayers. These will help you use your collected rain water or pool water for washing (and even fighting small fires).

46. “Go Jo.” Go Jo is a waterless hand soap that mechanics use. It’s rather effective on dirty hands and can be used without water. Similarly, use the little bottles of clear hand sanitizer.

47. In-line water heater. In-line water heaters can be installed closer to the faucets or tubs they’re to heat, and use less energy. If you get one don’t do away with your old water heater (even if you cut off the gas or electric to it) since it’s a great backup reservoir in water shortage scenarios.

48. No mopping. Most households now have a “Swiffer” or comparable cleaning aid intended to replace old-fashioned mops. If you haven’t made the switch, doing so will save a few gallons of water per year.

49. Skip a laundry load. Once in a while, some clothing really doesn’t need to be washed. In mild weather, outer shirts that were only worn briefly might need just a “fluff in the dryer” or another ironing to be perfectly ready to wear. Bachelors have known this secret for years.

50. General safety. We started this article with fire safety and we’ll close with general safety. Each time you prevent a trip to the hospital, you prevent the extra water that would be used during your visit.

Water is like money. Learn to save it well and spend it wisely.



ALEX

Ben Anton asked:


Fires can break out at any time, forcing families to make quick decisions about how to best evacuate their homes and save their belongings from utter destruction. If you live in an area where wildfires are common, it is expected that certain major precautions have already been made to reduce the damage that these fire may cause. Even if fire safety tactics have not been set-up ahead of time, however, there are still a number of things you can do before leaving your home when it is being threatened by wildfires.

There are a several fire damage preparation and evacuation tasks you should conduct if a wildfire is threatening to damage your home.

Call the Fire Department

The first step is often the most overlooked - call the fire department. If you notice a wildfire anywhere near your home, even if it seems far in the distance, don’t assume someone else has contacted the authorities. When it comes to wildfire outbreaks, time is of the essence.

Evacuation

Evacuation is critical. All children, elderly residents and family members with medical conditions should be evacuated first. Pets should be put in carriers and evacuated too. Anyone that is not needed to prepare the home for the fire should leave immediately. Do not spend time saving personnel belongings beyond general identification documents. Document recovery is possible after a fire; recovering lives may not be.

Remove Combustibles

Those family members that may stay behind to secure the home should put on protective clothing and then get to work quickly. First, the perimeter of the home should be cleaned up. Any item that will easily burn should be moved from around the house to an area away from the home but that will not inhibit rescue workers or firemen from reaching the lot. These include wood piles, tarps, lawn furniture, barbeques and grills, yard debris, and any other flammable material. Inside the home, move important documents like family archives, blueprints, photos and other important papers to one area, preferably in a basement, and cover it with a non-flammable tarp. This will increase the likelihood of protecting your documents from fire damage as well as potential water damage caused by firefighters.

Secure Windows and Doors

Next homeowners should make sure all openings are properly closed, including vents, windows, and doors. Non-combustible window coverings should be closed to reduce radiant heat.

Combustible window coverings should be removed. Interior doors should also be closed to prevent drafts that could fuel flames. Firefighters may need to enter your home quickly, so close but do not lock your doors.

Secure Fuel Sources

After closing all the doors and windows, turn off all fuel sources - natural gas, propane and fuel oil supplies - are shut of.

Create Water Barriers

Turn on all hoses and outside water sources and fill any pools, hot tubs, garbage cans, and recycling bins to create a water barrier.

The most important thing to remember if a fire is threatening your home is to stay calm and under stand that fire restoration is possible. Evacuating your family is the most important step. Taking some quick precautionary steps to reduce the threat of wildfire to your home may just help save some of your possessions and reduce the fire damage to your home.

~Ben Anton, 2008



ANGELO

Ben Anton asked:


It is essential that no matter where you live you take care to protect your home and family from fire. Homes in areas that experience high temperatures and dry conditions are even more susceptible to fire dangers, especially during the summer. There are a number of safety measures you should consider as fire season is in full force around the country to protect your family and your personal property from the potential for fire damage.

Advanced Planning

The simplest and easiest way to prevent fire damage is to think ahead. Educate yourself on the high-risk areas around your home, the type of vegetation surrounding it, and how fire-resistant your land may or may not be. If you live in a wooded area, know the history of wildfire in your area. Is there a history of drought during the summer? Have there been fires near your property in the past?

Evacuation

Homes in areas at high risk for wildfires should have a proper emergency evacuation plan - this may be the surest way to protect your family. Plan several escape routes in case a fire blocks main roads and have emergency kit materials ready to go at a moments notice.

Safety Zone

Creating a safety zone around your house and property can help reduce the amount of damage done to your home by flames. Minimizing the amount of vegetation within thirty feet of your home will lessen the risk of fire damage to your possessions. It is recommended that trees and shrubbery be pruned to fifteen feet of fireplaces, stoves, and chimneys. Brick walls, stone patios, and swimming pools can also act as barriers against flames.

Making sure the area immediately around your home is clear of combustible material is also very important for fire disaster prevention. Home and business owners should try to install electrical lines underground if possible. They should also notify the electric company if branches start to interfere with power lines. Keep firewood and gas grills away from any structure and combustible or flammable materials in approved safety containers. Overhangs are high risk items for fire; using the area under them for storage greatly increases that risk. Some property owners encase their overhang or porch stilts in non-combustible material such as brick, concrete, or metal to reduce the risk of fire damage.

Home Materials

Wire mesh added to air vents and chimneys will help prevent embers and flaming debris from entering a building. Fire-resistant siding, such as stucco, metal, or brick helps a home resist catching fire if flames get too close. Dual- or triple-pane thermal glass helps reduce the risk of heat passing through your windows and igniting materials inside your home.

The roof is the most vulnerable part of your home during a fire. Wood, shake, and shingle roofs are particularly risky. It is best to stick with fiberglass, slate, metal, clay, or concrete tile.

Proper disaster preparation could mean the difference between losing everything - property, possessions, lives - and salvaging your home and everything you hold dear. Take the time to learn the fire history of your area and implement proper fire damage prevention measures in order to drastically reduce the risk of damage and the need to restore your home, documents and important materials completely. Contact your local fire department and find out what they recommend for fire protection if you have any questions about your particular area.

~Ben Anton, 2008



JOHNATHON

John Mejia asked:


If rainy days find you singing the leaky roof blues, it’s time to consider recovering your home’s cap. A new roof is a big investment – it can run you as much as an older car. Styles and materials vary, but remember – your new roof will not only keep you dry, it can be a selling point when you choose to put your home on the market. For that reason, regardless of what material you go with, be sure to choose a shingle that is complementary to your home’s exterior paint color.

Almost 90 per cent of today’s homes are covered in composite or asphalt shingles. These are popular because they are cheap, easy to install and come in a variety of colors. They can last 20 years but most are fairly nondescript. The higher grade architectural-quality come in a variety of styles that mimic wood or ceramic tile. It’s thicker and should last longer and offers more color choices.

Other, more expensive materials include sheet metal, wood shingles or shakes, slate, ceramic tiles, cement tiles. Asphalt shingles run from $80 to $200 (or more) per 100 square feet – this includes removing the original roofing material. Compare that to metal or concrete ($130 - $650) ceramic tiles ($330 to $550) and slate (up to $1000): you can see why asphalt is so commonly used. While wood has been a traditionally popular choice, the cost of the material has increased. Safety is another concern with wooden shingles, especially for homeowners in areas where wildfires may be an issue. In fact, many building codes require fireproof construction materials, which is something to consider before you get your heart set on a particular style. Also, today’s wood shingle is not necessarily as durable as it once was. Using newer wood instead of old growth means the shingle may dry faster. This is better for our forests, but not necessarily your pocket book.

For a greener option there are shingles made from recycled plastics, tire, and natural fibers, which mimic the look of silver cedar for a price comparable to steel roofing and require no maintenance once installed. These environmentally-friendlier materials come with warranties often guaranteeing the product for up to 50 years, which can be transferred to the next homeowner – definitely a bonus when it comes to sell.

By far the most unique option is the green or live roof. Still a virtual stranger in North America, green roofs are a multimillion dollar industry in parts of Europe. Not only do these living structures generally last a long time, they save on heating and cooling costs and minimize sound, making them ideal for noisy cities. Green roofs also improve air quality and can produce food (an added bonus for those with limited garden space). However, living roofs require some serious research before you attempt to install one.They are often quite heavy and require a water and root proof membrane. If this type of roof appeals to you, check with local governments and utility companies – there may be subsidies available for greening your home.



ARTHUR