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Fireplaces can be a great addition to any home, but it’s important to make sure that they are properly maintained. Do you need to clean a fireplace? Fireplaces should be inspected and cleaned at least once a year. Burning wood produces ash, creosote, soot, and other debris that builds up in the chimney over time and becomes a hazard. By keeping chimneys and fireplaces clean, you prevent the risk of home fires while also avoiding health problems. Fireplaces are meant to get dirty as time goes on and people don’t realise how much a fireplace does need to be cleaned. Do you have to clean a fireplace? You do have to clean a fireplace at least once a year – more often if you are using it regularly. If a fireplace isn’t properly cleaned and maintained, it can become a hazard and lead to a house fire. It’s important to clean out the fireplace ashes and remaining burnt wood to reduce the chances of unwanted fire catching. This is especially the case for open fireplaces. When wood is burned in a fireplace, soot, and creosote build up inside the chimney. Creosote is a black, heavy, and sticky substance. This is produced when wood particles, smoke, tar, and debris combine with water vapour during a fire. Creosote sticks to the chimney lining and is extremely flammable, making it a hazard to start a chimney fire. It’s important to clean a fireplace and chimney to remove the creosote and reduce the risk of your chimney catching fire. You also need to clean a fireplace to get rid of fire dust and other particles that can become a health hazard. If you don’t clean your fireplace, dangerous particles from the fireplace can end up airborne and float around your house. They can be inhaled and stick to your lungs causing respiratory problems. This is why it’s important to clean your fireplace regularly and always wear a mask when doing so. How do you know your fireplace or chimney needs cleaning? One of the biggest ways to know if your fireplace needs cleaning is if it’s difficult to start and maintain a fire. This is a sign that your chimney may be clogged and the airflow throughout the chimney and fireplace is restricted. Other signs your fireplace needs cleaning include: Any of these signs should be taken as an indication that you need to clean your fireplace. Make sure you have the right fireplace cleaning gear, including a P2 respirator mask to protect yourself while cleaning. Do you need to clean a wood-burning fireplace? Cleaning a wood-burning fireplace is necessary to remove soot, built-up creosote, and blockages from your firebox, chimney liner, smoke chamber, and damper. Creosote is a highly flammable, sticky substance that builds up inside a chimney when the wood is burned. Even a small accumulation of creosote has the potential to start a chimney fire. When a woodburning fireplace is inspected and cleaned regularly, it results in a safer operation of the heating system, minimising the chances of housefires. Different types of wood can produce different amounts of creosote when they’re burned. So, if you’re burning a range of different wood in a wood-burning fireplace, you need to regularly check the fireplace. In winter, you may find that you need to clean your fireplace once or twice a month depending on how often you’re using your fireplace. Do you have to clean a fireplace if you don’t use it? If you don’t use your fireplace at all or have minimal use of your fireplace, you don’t need to get it cleaned regularly. However, it’s still advised to get your fireplace and chimney inspected annually. Inspection will help you identify any issues or defects that require action even though cleaning is not needed. When a fireplace isn’t used often, animals often nest in the chimney above. You should be regularly checking for animals that may be nesting in your chimney and fireplace. They can become a danger to the household or a hazard if you do decide to use your fireplace. So, regularly check your fireplace and perform maintenance a couple of times a year. But if you don’t use a fireplace, you only really have to clean it once a year. Make sure you have the right protective chimney sweeping clothes when you decide it’s time to clean your fireplace and chimney! How often should you clean ashes out of a fireplace? If you are regularly using your fireplace, you should clean ashes out of the fireplace once a week. This will most likely be the case during the winter seasons. But if you don’t use your fireplace multiple times a week, you can clean ashes once a month or every few months. There are some types of wood that produce more ash than others. The type of wood you use can also determine how often you should clean ashes out of a fireplace. A good way to think about cleaning fireplace ashes is that you should have a 1-inch layer of ash on the bottom of the fireplace. This layer of ash helps create more heat to fuel your fire without posing a threat of starting an unwanted fire. Can a dirty fireplace make you sick? Aside from increasing the risk of a house fire, a dirty fireplace can make you and your loved ones sick. If the chimney and fireplace are not properly cleaned, it can negatively impact your health by causing respiratory problems and irritation. A build-up of creosote in a dirty chimney can cause irritation to your skin. It can also cause a burning sensation in your eyes that can end up needing medical attention. Inhaling creosote and other bad particles from a dirty fireplace can impact your breathing. This can result in developing respiratory problems and is especially bad for people with asthma or other lung issues. Carbon monoxide poisoning is also a big risk of being around a dirty fireplace. 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Sweeping a chimney is a messy job at the best of times. This is why it’s important to wear the right gear. This helps reduce mess and protect yourself. So, what should you wear to sweep a chimney? When sweeping a chimney, protective gear including a dust mask, gloves, and safety glasses should be worn. Long-sleeved tops and pants should be paired with boots and a bandana or other head covering. This is for protection from chimney debris. Masks and glasses are the most important to wear chimney sweeping. There are many clothing options to wear when sweeping a chimney. But you need to pair these with the right protective gear. Let’s talk more about chimney sweeping outfits and protection. What should you wear to clean a chimney? Most people wear a pair of old clothes when cleaning a chimney because they don’t mind if these clothes get dirty. Sweeping a chimney is never going to be a clean job. So you should put on your designated messy work clothes. Often people wear denim jeans and a long-sleeved cotton shirt to sweep a chimney. Cotton fibres are the best option for your clothing when sweeping a chimney. This is because they let your body breathe. This can help reduce overheating and excessive sweating when cleaning your chimney. Overalls are a great option to put on over a cotton long sleeve. When sweeping a chimney, it’s essential to wear appropriate protective clothing to safeguard against soot, debris, and potential hazards. Sue Hood from Vidar Australia advises, “Wearing durable, flame-resistant coveralls, along with gloves and a dust mask, ensures safety and comfort during chimney cleaning tasks.” Such gear not only protects your skin and lungs but also makes the cleaning process more efficient and less messy.​ You should pair long sleeves and overalls with some regular work boots to protect your feet from debris that falls out of the chimney. Work boots have a good grip if you’re standing on the roof. This is useful when cleaning the top of a chimney. When you’re sweeping a chimney, you should also cover your head either with a hat, bandana, or another kind of material. This firstly protects you from the sun when sweeping your chimney outside. It also prevents soot and small debris from landing and sticking in your hair. You should pair your head protection with safety glasses and a dust mask. This stops soot or dirt from landing in your eyes and mouth. Finally, you can tie this all together with a pair of gloves to protect your hands. All of this creates the perfect outfit for chimney sweeping! Should you wear a mask when sweeping a chimney? You should wear a mask when sweeping a chimney to protect your respiratory system from inhaling soot and dust. Without a mask, you will inhale large amounts of dust from the chimney through your nose and mouth. This can settle in your lungs. When dust sticks to your lungs, it can cause lots of damage resulting in both short and long-term illnesses. One example is hypersensitivity pneumonitis which causes allergic reactions from dust inhalation. The worst-case scenario is if the dust from chimney sweeping makes it to the deepest part of your lungs. This is where it can cause severe injury to your lungs, creating scar tissue that can impair the functioning of your lungs. The best thing you can do to protect yourself is to wear a mask when sweeping a chimney. A P2 respirator mask is one of the best options for airway protection when chimney sweeping. What protection should you wear when sweeping a chimney? When you’re sweeping a chimney, the most important protection to wear includes safety glasses and dust masks. Your eyes and lungs are at great risk of being harmed when sweeping a chimney. This is because of all the dust and soot particles that are going to end up in the air. Airborne dust particles can easily slip into your airways or land in your eyes if you don’t have proper protection. Make sure you wear a P2 dust mask that is designed to filter as many dust and dirt particles as possible. Safety goggles are also a good idea if you want eye protection that properly seals around your eyes. Safety glasses will protect you from chimney sweeping debris. But clear safety goggles are designed to seal around your eyes. This leaves no space for dirt particles to land in your eyes. Eye protection is important to stop eye injuries. This is due to dust particles scratching your eye. Overalls or a body suit are also advisable to protect your clothing from unwanted stains and debris when sweeping a chimney. Disposable body suits allow you to immediately discard your dirty chimney sweeping clothes. This prevents dust and soot from lingering on your clothes and ending up back in your house. You should also wear work boots when sweeping a chimney to protect your feet from any chimney debris that may fall. Why do you need to wear protection when sweeping a chimney? You need to wear protection when sweeping a chimney to safely complete this cleaning. This helps reduce risks of injury and harm. Debris can often get caught in the top of your chimney, falling when you start chimney sweeping. It’s important to wear protective gear. This stops debris from causing injury by cutting exposed skin. Any open wounds can become infected from the dirt inside a chimney. You also need to protect your eyes from debris that can fall and scratch your eyes. Otherwise, you risk vision damage that may not ever heal properly. It’s also important to protect your airways from dust particles that float around inside your chimney when sweeping it. Without this protection, you can end up suffering from lung injury and a range of potential lung diseases. Is sweeping a chimney messy? Sweeping a chimney is a messy job as the aftermath of fire leaves soot, dust, and

Wearing a mask has almost become second nature now and has led to lots of questions about times when they are actually needed. They are designed to protect us from illness, but also health problems that occur from inhaling dust and other particles. With this in mind, should you wear a mask while cleaning a chimney? A mask should always be worn when cleaning a fireplace and chimney to prevent inhaling contaminating and polluting particles. P2-rated face masks are best to wear when fireplace cleaning. Without a face mask, dust, gases, and combustion particles may be inhaled, causing serious respiratory problems. It’s important to protect yourself when cleaning dirty places such as chimneys and fireplaces, otherwise, you risk becoming very sick. Your safety should be your number 1 priority while cleaning a chimney. Do you need to wear a mask when cleaning the fireplace? You need to wear a mask when cleaning the fireplace to protect yourself from inhaling contaminating agents and pollutants, including dust. Fireplaces have solid particles such as dust, fog, fumes, combustion particles and evaporated liquid particles that can damage your respiratory tract. This is why wearing a mask while cleaning a fireplace is very important. The mask will prevent you from inhaling any of these dangerous substances and particles. Masks with P filters are the best to wear when cleaning the fireplace. P2 masks have a 92% filtration level and are recommended for non-toxic dust, smoke, aerosol, virus, and bacteria protection. You can get a P2 dust mask that will help prevent all of the hazardous dust and grime particles from entering your airways when cleaning a fireplace. Without wearing a mask while cleaning a fireplace, you risk inhaling a range of particles that can stick to your lungs. This can damage your lungs, impacting your ability to breathe properly. The effect of inhaling dirty particles from fireplaces has can be a long-term problem. There is potential for your lungs to never recover. So, for your health and safety, we always recommend wearing a face mask, specifically a P2 respirator mask, when cleaning the fireplace. Do you need to protect your skin when cleaning a fireplace? It’s important to protect your skin when cleaning out a fireplace, otherwise, you can have rashes, irritation, or allergic reactions occurring on your skin. This irritation can occur from the dust and grime in the fireplace. While you should mostly only be burning wood, people do burn other materials such as fire starters, cardboard, and other recycling objects. You never know what chemicals are mixed in with these materials that can cause irritation on your skin when you go to clean the fireplace. The other reason it’s important to protect your skin is to prevent cuts, infections, and burns. Without proper safety gear on, it’s easy to end up with a cut somewhere on your skin when cleaning a fireplace. You may not even notice it at first. This cut can then get infected by the dirt in the fireplace. Whether it’s a combustion fireplace or an open fireplace that you’re cleaning, you should always protect your skin when cleaning it out. Should you protect your eyes when cleaning out a fireplace? As well as skin and airway protection, you should protect your eyes when cleaning out a fireplace. It is very easy to damage your eyes while cleaning a fireplace if you don’t wear protective gear. Dirt and dust particles can swirl around and land in your eyes. This can scratch your eyes and end up causing permanent damage to your vision. Safety goggles or clear safety glasses are recommended for eye protection when cleaning out a fireplace. They are made from strong plastic that is unlikely to break from any fireplace debris. Should you wear gloves when cleaning out a fireplace? Wearing gloves when cleaning out a fireplace is good to protect your hands from potential splinters and other wounds. Leather and welding gloves are commonly worn to clean out a fireplace because they can be thick and still flexible. The leather will stop little wood pieces from stabbing into your hands as you clear debris out of the fireplace. These gloves can also protect your hands if you happen to grab leftover embers from a previous fire. You should always wait for a fireplace to be completely cool before cleaning it out. But there is a possibility for everything else to have cooled while a few hidden embers are still warm. Wearing gloves will protect you from potential burns when cleaning the fireplace. Can a dirty fireplace make you sick? A dirty fireplace can make you sick if you leave it dirty for too long. There are lots of pollutants that can settle in your fireplace from burning different materials. When this is lit, the pollutants quickly become airborne and can release into your household. This makes it very easy for you to end up inhaling toxic particles without even realizing it. The toxic particles can float around your house for days if you don’t open up your house. They can also continue to linger in and around the fireplace, sticking to the dirt inside it. Without cleaning your fireplace, the number of pollutants continues to increase, and you will inhale many dangerous particles. This can make you very sick as the particles enter your respiratory system and stick to your insides. Your lungs are the most at-risk here. You can develop lung diseases from inhaling dirty particles from your fireplace. This results in long-term lung disease, impacting your ability to breathe. To stop a dirty fireplace from making you sick, you need to regularly clean the fireplace. If you enjoyed this article, check out our other resources including ‘what is the safest fireplace?’ For quality gardening and construction tools, visit our Canberra Diamond Blade shop today!

Checking that your chainsaw has the correct compression is vital to having a well-maintained and powerful chainsaw. To do this, you need to conduct compression tests on your chainsaw. So, how do you perform a chainsaw compression test? To perform a chainsaw compression test, seal a compression test gauge on the spark plug hole, then gently pull the chainsaw starter rope. Pull the starter rope multiple times until the needle on the gauge stops flicking. Where this stops indicates the level of compression your chainsaw is producing. It’s important to learn how to properly perform your chainsaw compression test. This helps with your chainsaw maintenance and to get the most out of your chainsaw use. How to perform a chainsaw compression test A chainsaw compression test should be conducted if you have noticed less power from your chainsaw or the engine shutting down. The compression test is conducted usually using a compression test gauge. This gauge gives the best reading of the compression in your chainsaw. Below we’re going to walk you through how to do a chainsaw compression test. Using a chainsaw compression test gauge Using a compression test gauge is a more reliable method to get an accurate reading of PSI on your chainsaw. Here is a step-by-step procedure on how to do it: Engage the chainsaw brake Chainsaws are fitted with breaks to ensure that the chainsaw chain remains in place when not in use to minimize the risk of injury. So, the first thing to do before completing a chainsaw compression test is to engage the chainsaw brake. It’s important to do this when conducting any chainsaw maintenance. Find and remove the spark plug The second step is to locate your chainsaw spark plug. If you’re not sure where to find it, consult your chainsaw manual. Once you have found the spark plug, use a wrench or ratchet to turn it counterclockwise. This will loosen it and allow you to remove it. Fix your chainsaw compression test gauge Grab your chainsaw compression test gauge and fasten it in the hole where the spark plug goes. Ensure that the seal is tight and that no air can escape. If the seal isn’t secure, there’s a chance that the gauge will give you a wrong reading. To prevent this from happening, make sure that you get the right-sized compression gauge for your chainsaw. Pull on your chainsaw’s starter rope Now that the compression test gauge is in position, gently pull on the chainsaw starter rope. You will notice that the needle of the gauge will start to move. Repeat the process until the needle no longer moves. Where the needle stops on the gauge is the PSI reading of your chainsaw. The size and model of your chainsaw will determine what PSI reading you want for the chainsaw compression. This should be written in your chainsaw manual. Otherwise, you can contact a chainsaw maintenance service for advice. If your chainsaw’s compression levels are too high or low, it’s recommended to take it to a professional to be fixed. Reattach the chainsaw’s spark plug Once you’ve completed your chainsaw compression test, remove the compression test gauge, and put the spark plug back in place. To ensure that the chainsaw functions as it should start it up for a small test run. Don’t forget to disengage the chainsaw brake. The chainsaw compression thumb test If you don’t have access to a chainsaw compression test gauge, you can attempt the chainsaw compression thumb test. This method doesn’t provide a proper, accurate reading, but can be an indication of whether the chainsaw has compression issues. To complete the chainsaw compression thumb test, follow these steps: Remove the spark plug by rotating it counterclockwise, and then pulling it from the hole. Place your thumb over the hole that the spark plug initially filled. Gently pull on the chainsaw starter rope. When you do this, there should be enough air to push your thumb out of the hole. If this happens, your chainsaw has an adequate amount of compression. If this doesn’t happen, your chainsaw compression level is low. This method is just an indication of the chainsaw compression levels and should be conducted with extreme caution. Make sure you have engaged the chainsaw break and are practising chainsaw safety at all times. How much compression should a chainsaw have? It’s hard to specify how much compression your chainsaw should have because it varies from make and model. One of the most common chainsaw compression levels is around 110 PSI. But you should always consult your specific chainsaw’s manual to be sure. A bigger chainsaw engine could require a compression reading of 160 PSI, whereas a smaller one might only need 90 PSI. If you buy a petrol chainsaw, it will have a different compression level than some battery chainsaws. The range of compression levels across chainsaws is very wide. If you’re not sure, always contact a professional to check out the chainsaw. They will be able to tell you exactly what PSI you need, conduct the compression test, and make adjustments to compression levels. Problems caused by incorrect chainsaw compression levels Chainsaws need to have the right level of compression, otherwise, this can cause problems for the engine. The chainsaw might not produce enough energy to function properly. Let’s talk about the specific problems related to high and low compression levels. Poor chainsaw performance A chainsaw with too much compression will always have an untidy finish. The chainsaw could saw too fast, making it hard to control. The pressure can cause the chain to jump. This risks chainsaw kickback injury and puts you in danger. If your chainsaw’s compression levels are too low, the chainsaw won’t have much power. This will make sawing a lot more difficult and time-consuming. Difficulty starting the chainsaw   A chainsaw with high compression will constantly have a hard time starting. If not treated right away, there’s a chance that the chainsaw won’t start at all. This

Sanding helps produce smooth finishes on a range of surfaces, but also produces large amounts of dust. With this dust flying everywhere, you could potentially inhale some dangerous particles. So, should you wear a mask while sanding? A respirator mask should always be worn when sanding to prevent inhalation of wood and dust particles that can cause respiratory problems. Without a mask, dust from sanding can infiltrate and damage lungs. When sanding, safety goggles, earplugs and coveralls should be worn with a mask for protection. It’s important to always protect your airways when working with dust. You should make sure to wear the best-suited mask for different jobs such as sanding, sawing and more. Why should you Wear a Mask While Sanding? You should wear a mask while sanding to protect yourself from inhaling dust particles that can become trapped in your airways and affect your health. Sanding produces lots of wood dust that are released into the air surrounding your workspace. Without any protection, this dust will enter your airways, irritate your eyes, and potentially your skin as well, and pose a risk to your health. Inhaled sanding dust can clog up your lung tissues, damaging and scarring them. In the long term, you can develop a range of respiratory problems that could have been avoided simply by wearing a mask while sanding. Not everyone is susceptible to all of the potential health problems, but you never know what impact inhaling dust from sanding will have on your body. You could develop sensitivity and respiratory problems from not protecting your airways when sanding. There are also very fine dust particles that are produced when sanding that you don’t see as well. These fine particles are more harmful than visible ones. Dust particles larger than 10 microns are easily trapped by your body’s natural filters such as in your nose and throat. But the finer particles can bypass these filters and travel deep within your lungs. When this happens, you can experience shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, and congestion in the nasal passages. Then, as we’ve mentioned, if you continue to inhale sanded particles, you can cause more severe damage to your lungs, resulting in respiratory problems. To prevent all of these issues, you should always wear a dust mask while sanding. What kind of mask do you use for sanding? When sanding, you should wear either a dust mask or a respirator mask with high-rated filters to stop the dust particles from entering your airways. Dust masks are designed to protect you from both visible and fine dust particles. This is important since the fine dust particles are very dangerous for your lung health. One of the best masks to wear when sanding is an FFP2 dust respirator mask. These masks filter at least 94% of airborne dust particles from tasks such as sanding. They are also designed to be worn comfortably for longer periods of time. There is extra space for you to breathe inside the mask without the dust particles slipping in. FFP2 dust respirator masks have dual headband straps, securing the masks on your face and reducing the chance of particles slipping into your breathing space. What should you wear while sanding? As well as a dust mask, coveralls, safety goggles and earplugs should be worn while sanding. This is especially the case if you’re planning to sand materials that can release more toxic, harmful particles such as varnish, paint, and fibreglass. Coveralls will protect your clothes from the dust and debris of sanding. The wood dust and toxic particles will stay on the coveralls that you can take off once you finish sanding. You can then immediately wash the coveralls and get rid of those particles. It’s important to protect your eyes when sanding, as well as your airways, which is why you should wear safety goggles. These goggles will stop any dust from flicking up into your eyes and potentially damaging your vision. How to avoid dust while sanding? You can protect yourself when sanding wood by wearing the correct PPE gear and sanding in well-ventilated areas. It’s vital to wear a mask when sanding to protect yourself against dust inhalation. Pair this with wearing safety goggles to protect your eyes from flying dust particles. Wearing coveralls prevent dust from sticking to your clothes and following you home. Once you’ve finished sanding, remove the coveralls and change your clothes. Wash the clothes and have a shower to prevent transferring wood dust to your house and exposing you and your family to it. Alongside the PPE gear that you should wear while sanding, you should try to limit your exposure to wood dust. Complete sanding projects outdoors, letting the wind blow the dust away from you. If you can’t complete the sanding outdoors, install a vacuum dust collection in the space you will be sanding. Keep the space ventilated with fresh air. See if there is a mist system you can also install. This will dampen the dust from sanding, stopping it from flying into the air. Is it safe to sand indoors? Sanding indoors can be safe with proper dust collection mechanisms installed and lots of good ventilation, however, it isn’t recommended. To safely sand indoors, you need to first put on all of your protective equipment including your dust respirator mask. Then you should seal off the space you’re working in so that dust doesn’t travel to other rooms. Make sure you have installed your dust collection mechanism. This can involve connecting a vacuum cleaner to your sander, or using a dust catcher. You should also sand on a downdraft table. If you have to sand inside your house, it’s better to opt for wet sanding instead of dry sanding. Wet sanding will considerably reduce the wood dust and keep it from floating around in the air. Wet wood dust is heavier and will stick together in clumps on the ground. This also makes it easier to clean up dust if you

Fireplaces come in pretty enormous variety nowadays. One of the most popular around the world is known as a combustion fireplace—but just what is a combustion fireplace? Combustion fireplaces are open or closed system fires, typically with a solid metal firebox, which retains a lot more heat than an open fireplace. They usually have controlled airflow that brings in oxygen from the building to create the combustion. Wood burning stoves are the most common example. In a lot of ways, combustion fireplaces are a more efficient way to heat your home. Having a closed system means a great deal more of the heat can be captured. There’s a lot to talk about with combustion fireplaces, so let’s get to it. What are combustion fireplaces? A combustion fireplace is an enclosed chamber that burns fuel by feeding the fire oxygen through combustion chambers from the rest of the home. Airflow in the combustion chambers is regulated and usually has manual airflow controls. Combustion fireplaces are typically made from solid metal fireboxes. These boxes retain more heat than other open fireplaces. Combustion fireplaces are different to open fireplaces that burn fuel in an open hearth to warm a room. The heat in a combustion fireplace is refracted and the combustion temperatures can be much higher. Rather than the heat being sucked out into the room or up a chimney, the word burns cleanly and completely in a combustion fireplace chamber. This makes a combustion fireplace good for any kind of home, including a rural house build. There is a range of combustion fireplaces available such as closed and wood-burning stoves. What is a closed combustion fireplace? Closed combustion fireplaces have external air supplies that fuel the fire, rather than using airflow from inside the house. This means that the way air is flowing inside the house won’t have much effect on how the fire will burn. The source of the airflow for a combustion fireplace is the main distinguisher between open and closed combustion fireplaces. Open combustion fireplaces draw their oxygen from vents through the house. This can help spread the heat from the fireplace throughout the house more. Often, for open combustion fireplaces, having windows open along with the use of an extractor hood can create a vacuum. This interrupts the oxygen supply, and you can end up with smoke coming back into the living area. The airflow for closed combustion fireplaces isn’t affected in this same way. This is why more people opt for a closed combustion fireplace. But, in case of emergencies of vent failure in your fireplaces, make sure to have a fire fighting pump nearby. How does a combustion fireplace work? Whether it’s an open or a closed combustion fireplace, they work by drawing oxygen into a sealed chamber. This feeds the fire, keeping the wood-burning. The heat from that fire is then dissipated into the room. The fuel and oxygen are used much more efficiently than in a typical fire, burning slower and producing more optimal heat output. Flue pipes are an important part of a combustion fireplace, too, for creating an updraft to extract smoke. Combustion fireplaces typically come with primary and secondary air controls. The primary controls are for letting air in to fuel the fire. The secondary controls are generally for the air wash system, to push out smoke. Tertiary controls are sometimes also featured, for aiding with secondary combustion. This involves burning off smoke produced from the initial fire. Are combustion fireplaces dangerous? Again, though, if used correctly, the air pollution is minimal. If you do have a history of lung disease, though, you may want to think carefully about whether a fireplace is right for you. Combustion fireplaces, when used properly and with caution, aren’t dangerous and are a great addition to your house. There are always risks associated with fireplaces, but a combustion fireplace can be one of your safer fireplace options. The glass doors prevent sparks and most smoke from entering the room that the combustion fireplace is in. This makes a combustion fireplace safer than most open fireplaces in this way. However, combustion fireplaces still release some particles into the air from the smoke. When breathed in, these particles stay in your system for a long time. One study has found that these inhaled fire particles can be in your body for up to three months and risk respiratory and cardiovascular illness. Outside of these aspects and the need to be careful when moving around the fireplace, combustion fireplaces aren’t dangerous. Is the glass on a combustion fireplace safe? The glass on a combustion fireplace is safe, specifically designed to handle high temperatures. Glass on combustion fireplaces has been tempered to withstand much greater heat pressures than regular glass. Usually, tempered glass is safe for sustained temperatures of up to 244 degrees Celsius. Over long periods of time, the glass will gradually weaken. Maintaining the glass on your combustion fireplace is really important. You need to clean it regularly with a ceramic glass cleaner to remove built-up soot. This will prolong the lifespan of the glass on your combustion fireplace. Can you leave a closed fireplace burning overnight? It’s never a good idea to leave a closed fireplace burning overnight, or any fire for that matter. You shouldn’t leave a burning fire unattended at any point. Even tiny gusts of air have the potential to reignite or increase the burning of the fire. For a combustion fireplace, you would need to leave the air vents open to keep the fire burning. By leaving the vents open, a strong air current could reignite the fire in the combustion fireplace. While combustion fireplaces are safe, you can never be sure of your safety with an unattended fire burning overnight. It can be tempting to leave the combustion fireplace burning overnight to keep yourself warm. But it isn’t worth the risk of the unknown. Combustion fireplaces can be a great investment for your home. They certainly have benefits over open

Covid-19 heightened the value of masks to the general public, including the recommended N95 to prevent airborne viral transmission. But can N95 masks protect against hazardous paint fumes? N95 masks won’t protect against paint fume inhalation as they filter 95% of non-oil-based fumes. Paint fumes are all mostly oil-based. An R95 rated respirator mask will prevent paint fumes, non-oil and oil-based, from being inhaled. R95 masks are oil-resistant, blocking 95% of all airborne particles. Let’s talk more about masks that will protect against paint fumes below. Can N95 masks help protect against paint fumes?  N95 masks won’t help protect you from inhaling paint fumes because they aren’t designed to stop the oil-based fume particles. N95-rated masks can filter 95% of non-oil-based airborne particles. These include allergens, woodshop dust, and airborne diseases. But they are not designed to filter or stop toxic substances from oil-based paint fumes. Most paint fumes are oil-based which is why an N95 mask won’t protect you from inhaling them. Rather than an N95 mask, for protection against paint fumes, you need a paint respirator mask. When you paint, you are likely to encounter toxins and harmful chemicals within the paint fumes. You could also be surrounded by dust, solvent particles, adhesives, and other chemical products. A respirator mask is better to protect your health than an N95 mask in these cases. Paint fumes carry oil-based substances and metals such as lead, which can pose a danger to your health. You can use a P100 or N100 filter to prevent the fumes from reaching your airways. N95 dust masks aren’t as highly rated and will not stop paint fumes or other oil-based toxic substances. What masks protect you against paint fumes best? Paint respirator masks are the best masks to wear to protect yourself against paint fumes. R95-rated masks are great for protecting you from inhaling oil-based paint fumes. They are designed with charcoal filters that remove stubborn and heavy toxins from paint fumes. So, the air that you do breathe in while painting and wearing these masks will be as clear as you can get it. R95 filters in a paint respirator mask will be your best protective option to avoid inhaling paint fumes. When you’re looking for a face mask to wear while painting, you should consider these factors: Mask filtration systems Different face masks are designed for different jobs. When choosing a paint mask, look for respirators to block solid particles and paint fumes. Respirators with 6001 cartridges to block gases, vapours, and particles are ideal for filtration.   Paint mask designs You can choose between a full-face or half-face mask for your paint job. If you go for a full-face mask design, ensure it has good visibility and breathability. The main thing is that the mask seals well around your mouth and nose. This is the best way to stop yourself from inhaling paint fumes. If you choose to use a half-face respirator mask, you should wear safety goggles while painting to protect your eyes. Comfort of painting mask If you are going to be painting often, you will want to pick a paint mask that is comfortable to wear. No mask will be comfortable to wear constantly. But you can find certain masks that are easily adjustable to your face. Paint respirators can be adjustable, plus you can add the right protective mask filters to them. What mask should you wear when painting? When you paint, you should wear an R95 respiratory paint mask. If you are painting lots, a full-faced respiratory mask will be best for protecting your health. The mask needs to fit your face well, sealing around your mouth and nose. This is the best way to prevent yourself from inhaling dangerous gases, vapours, and particles when painting. Most paints contain dangerous fumes that can cause health issues such as cancer and respiratory diseases if inhaled over a long time. So, it’s important to make sure you take the right steps to protect yourself from paint fumes. Wearing a painter’s respirator mask is one of the best protection methods you can take. If you’re spraying high VOC paints, you should wear a 3M disposable mask for protection. R95 masks are one of the best masks for filtering paint fumes, as we mentioned. They can filter heavy pollutants for up to 8 hours at a time. When you start to smell any vapours while painting, you will need to replace your mask. Are medical masks good for painting? Medical masks are not good for protection against paint fumes, especially oil-based paints with high toxic chemical compounds. Disposable medical masks can filter particles such as mist, dust, and liquid. However, medical masks aren’t effective in preventing most paint vapours and gases from entering your airways. Wearing a medical mask when painting is better than not having any protection at all. But you should make an effort to wear a mask such as the R95-rated masks. You should always be putting your safety first, especially when working around toxic paint fumes. All face masks are designed to filter specific particles. Their ratings categorise what particles they are designed to stop. So, you should always consider the ratings of a mask to pick the best one for your task at hand. N = Non-oil-proof R = Oilproof for 8 hours in operation P = Oilproof longer than 8 hours The number that follows the above letters, such as 95, 97, and 100, shows the effective percentage for removing micro-meter particles. For example, the N95 rate shows that the mask filters 95% of non-oil-based airborne dust particles. As we’ve mentioned, the fact that N95 masks don’t protect you against oil-based paint fumes means that you shouldn’t wear them while painting. There are other masks with better ratings to protect you against paint fumes. For protection against paint fumes, check out our respiratory masks for sale. We also have lots of other PPE gear for your painting and working needs. Find all your gardening and

Picking the right time to get your mowing done can be a bit of a challenge. This is especially the case when you’re trying to help your lawn grow to be luscious and green! To help you out a bit, let’s answer the question ‘is it better to mow before or after it rains?’ It is best to mow your grass before it rains, rather than after. When the mower cuts the grass, it leaves a raw edge. This needs time to heal before the sun spreads heat and you mow again or use the lawn. By mowing before rain, the water from the rain can promote the growth and healing of the grass. Read on to find out more! Is mowing before or after rain better? It is always better to mow before rain if possible. If your grass is dry, but you see rain on the way, it is a good idea to mow the yard before the rain arrives. Otherwise, the next best time to mow is when your grass has completely dried after rainfall. The reason we recommend mowing your dry grass before rain is because it can help your grass grow better. When you mow the lawn, the grass is left with a sort of open wound from being cut. This is one of the times when your lawn can easily be damaged. So, it’s important to keep this in mind before picking a time to mow. Mowing before rain means that the grass can take in more water and heal better. Then the wounds can close sooner, and the grass will spread and grow. Mowing before rain can help your grass be much healthier. If you mow after rain, there are more dangers that risk your safety. The first thing to consider is the fact that the ground will be more slippery. This means you are more at risk of either yourself or the lawnmower slipping on the grass. A few injuries could occur. This isn’t considered mowing safely. The other thing to consider is the clumps of grass that will be dragged around the yard because they are wet. The clumps can end up blocking the sunlight from reaching the seeded grass. This affects the health of your lawn. You can also do some damage to your lawnmower and need to have lawnmower service and repair conducted. For your safety, and the sake of your lawn’s health, it is better to mow before rain or when your grass is completely dry. Can you mow after it rains? You can mow after it rains, but you should wait until your lawn is completely dry. If the lawn is soggy, it can be quite challenging to mow. Wet grass often lays down, which makes it harder for the mower blades to grab it. This can create an uneven cut across the lawn. If the rain has completely saturated the grassroots, your lawnmower’s wheels can slide on the grass. This can cause long-term ruin to your lawn, causing you to have to work with patch healing. It’s also difficult to give your lawn a clean look if you mow just after rain and the grass is still wet. Since the soil will be soft, you risk spreading plant diseases and compacting the soil. Plus, as we mentioned, you are putting yourself more at risk of injury if you mow after it rains. This is because of how slippery the ground can be. You could fall and sprain or potentially even break something. You could accidentally get caught on parts of your lawnmower. You want to always keep yourself safe. This includes wearing correct personal protective equipment and mowing when your grass is not wet! How soon after rain can I mow? If the rain was only a light shower, you can mow after 3 to 5 hours. This is a good amount of time, provided that there isn’t more rainfall, to let the grass dry and moisture reduce. But you should check the soil before deciding to mow after rain. If the ground still feels quite damp, it could be better to wait longer. On cloudy days, there will be more moisture in the air which can make your grass stay damp for longer. If you have had lots of rain, you might need to wait more than a day for the grass and soil to dry before mowing. The good news is that this is plenty of time for your grass to take in nutrients from the rain. But it can push back your mowing schedule a bit. This is the time when it is most important to wait for your lawn to dry after rain before you mow. When there has been high rainfall, the ground is much more slippery, and mowing becomes much more dangerous. So, keep an eye on the weather and the moisture levels of your yard. Then, when the yard is dry, you can mow safely. What’s the best lawn mower to use in wet conditions? In wetter climates, you need a high-quality lawnmower, such as the Husqvarna TS138 ride-on mower. There are times and places where waiting for your lawn to completely dry might be impractical. For example, during winter, when you live near water, the air is almost always full of moisture. This will make it hard for your lawn to dry throughout the whole winter. So, you need a trusty mower to cut the grass at this time. You should consider the Husqvarna TS138 ride-on mower’s effectiveness when cutting wet grass. This mower has an easy-to-adjust seat, allowing the operator to choose suitable heights. The Husqvarna TS138 also has great manoeuvrability, allowing you to mow big and small spaces. It has an adjustable cutting height of 4 inches and a range of cutting modes. This is what makes the Husqvarna TS138 a good wet-conditions lawnmower. The side discharge will help prevent the grass from clumping, aiding a smoother mow of damp lawns. As we said, it’s best

Fireplaces are a fantastic feature to make a home cosier and more inviting. They add a great accent to any house, but there are safety risks. So, what are the safest fireplaces?   Electric fireplaces are considered the safest for inside a home. For families with pets or young children especially, electric fireplaces are safest as they have no open flame. Gas and wood-burning models have many safety concerns, but there are precautions that can be taken to reduce safety risks. An electric fireplace is a great safe option but may not always achieve quite the effect you are looking for. There are a few factors to consider before choosing your fireplace, so read on to find out more. What the safest fireplaces are The overall safest kind of fireplace is an electric fireplace. This is because this type of fireplace doesn’t have an open flame. The chances of being able to burn yourself or have parts of your home catch fire are greatly reduced with an electric fireplace. An electric fireplace is also considered the safest fireplace if you have pets or children running around the house. Our pets can be super cheeky and might risk their safety by walking near fireplaces. With an electric fireplace, the chances of your pets accidentally catching fire are reduced greatly. They might get a small and quick burn by walking around the fireplace, but they won’t end up in flames. Plus, they will quickly learn not to walk on the hot surface. The electric fireplace is safest for children because there is little risk of them being burnt by the flames. You will need to be sure to stop them from touching potentially hot parts of the fireplace. But a lot of modern electric fireplaces have been designed to lower the temperature of the surrounding surfaces. Just be sure to know what parts of the fireplace will get warm to touch to keep your kids extra safe. With this being said, modern gas and wood-burning fires are still good. Contemporary models have been designed with many more safety features that make them much safer fireplaces than they ever have been before. But these fireplaces do still involve a more open flame, which is why an electric fireplace is considered a safer fireplace. But it’s always good to have a fire fighting pump on standby, just in case! What makes a fireplace safe? Often, the number one factor people consider when choosing a fireplace is how safe it is for children and pets. An open, roaring fire always involves the hazard of potentially falling into it or disturbing it and spreading the fire outside the fireplace. Electric fires don’t have this problem since the flame is completely tethered to the mechanism of the fireplace. They work by heating interior coils with electricity and giving the appearance of a flame. They also don’t require any venting, since no smoke is produced. This does make them a bit safer, too, as fumes from gas and wood-burning fires can spread to your home. So, combined an enclosed flame, with good ventilation, reduced smoke, and a fire that can be instantly turned off; there you have a safe fireplace! The other safety bonus of an electric fireplace? They aren’t hot to touch! Apart from the front of the heater, the main surfaces of and around an electric fireplace won’t burn you. The tricky part can be performing maintenance on electric fireplaces because they are more complicated than other fireplaces. So, be sure to always wear personal protective equipment when completing any fireplace maintenance to keep yourself safe. What are the dangers of a fireplace? The main and most immediate danger of most fireplaces is the open flame. Gas and wood-burning fires usually aren’t covered by panels such as glass panels, and not all are housed in fireboxes. While these fireplaces can be pleasing to the eye, they pose a big danger of being burnt by the flames. You also need to be extra careful when putting wood in the fireplaces without causing embers to fly out and land on carpets and furniture. These fireplaces aren’t recommended for households with children. The other big concerns are fumes and contaminants spreading to the rest of the house. For proper fires, you’ll need to be sure that there is sufficient ventilation to carry the smoke out of the house. Without this ventilation, there is a danger of long-term health issues occurring from fireplaces. It’s good to air out your house after using an open fireplace to help prevent consumption of contaminants and smoke from the fire. Can you get carbon monoxide poisoning from a fireplace? It is possible to get carbon monoxide poisoning from a fireplace. But there are precautionary steps you can take to reduce this risk. Gas fireplaces are the biggest concern for this health risk, so it’s important to protect yourself if this is the fireplace you want to use. The best thing to do is get a carbon monoxide detector and don’t sit right in front of the fireplace. If you ever notice symptoms such as headaches, nausea, or dizziness when the fire is lit, put it out straight away. Then don’t use your fireplace again until you get it checked out by a professional. What is the healthiest fireplace? Electric fires are considered the healthiest and safest fireplaces. From our own health point of view, they produce no toxic by-products, and there is no risk of fireplace contaminants seeping out. They don’t create actual fire, so the health risks associated with smoke and fires aren’t present when using electric fireplaces. Gas and wood-burning fires do carry more health risks. But safety standards in manufacturing are requiring more efforts to reduce health risks from these fireplaces. This means that modern designs should stop you from being at any considerable risk with a new fireplace. At the end of the day, you can reduce the health risks from a fireplace by taking safe and precautionary actions.

As an Arborist, choosing the right rope is essential. The question of ‘what type of rope do Arborists use?’ is not always straightforward. But this guide will help you understand the kinds of rope you will be needing as an Arborist. Arborists use static rope for climbing, and dynamic rope for rigging and pulling trees. Static rope has less stretch, which makes climbing easier. Dynamic rope has more stretch and is less likely to snap under pressure. Your arborist rope must be able to keep you safe and help you work efficiently. It is vital that you know how to choose the correct rope for the job. This post will explore the differences between climbing and rigging ropes, and the concepts of “static” and “dynamic”. What Type of Rope Do Arborists Use? Arborist ropes are specifically designed for arbory and have different properties than other types of rope. If you are thinking of reusing your rock-climbing ropes or general-purpose ropes for arbory, or thinking about buying them, think again! A “dynamic” rock-climbing rope is very different in stretch to a “dynamic” arborist rope, and making this mistake can be dangerous. The ease and low cost of a multi-purpose rope is not worth the risk of injury. Rock climbers have to anticipate big drops, so they use ropes with a lot more elasticity. Whilst the tensile strength and weave constructions may be the same, Arborist specific ropes have a certain necessary staticity and durability that will keep you safe while climbing trees. Arborist ropes also have a thicker sheath that provides protection from weather damage and abrasion. The correct rope will ensure safety and efficiency in your climbing and rigging. So, there are two main ropes that arborists use for two different purposes. Arborists use static ropes as climbing ropes. These ropes can help arborists secure themselves in a tree. One characteristic of these ropes is that they have a little bit of stretch to them. This feature is helpful for absorbing kinetic energy that occurs when a climber might slip. It helps prevent extra strain or potential injury if an arborist is to have a slight fall. These ropes are EN1891 certified and can be utilized as throw lines as well. The second main kind of rope arborists use is dynamic ropes for rigging and lowering. These are used to lower and move sections of wood or tree limbs. They generally aren’t suitable for climbing. They do have minimum breaking strain (MB) and safe working load (SWL) markings. These points are marked on the rope to help arborists use the rope correctly. Why Do Arborists Use Rope? Arborists use ropes to secure themselves to the tree, and to safely climb up and down. Safety is key in arbory since you can be working high up for long and tiring periods of time, so using the correct ropes is a smart move to ensure your safety. Arborists also use ropes to help pull down trees at different times. As arborists prune down damaged tree branches, they may require the assistance of ropes to lower the tree limbs. Sometimes, trees are in places where they just can’t be cut down due to close proximity to property or people. To prevent the risk of damage to people or property nearby, an arborist may be called in to carefully prune and cut down these tree sections safely. A safe way is to cut down these sections and lower them down using ropes. When you’re just starting out in your career as an Arborist, you’ll find that most of your time is spent on the ground chopping up large tree limbs and pruning. You may find yourself using ropes to lug trees around and to help pull trees from the ground. As you get more experienced you’ll also start to use ropes for climbing and rigging. Do Arborists use Static or Dynamic Rope? Arborists use both static and dynamic ropes, depending on the task at hand. The difference between static and dynamic ropes is in their stretch. Climbing ropes are static, while rigging ropes are dynamic. The purpose of using a static rope is to make climbing and lowering injured climbers steadier and less tiring – dynamic rope would allow the object or climber to bounce around! Rigging ropes – also known as bull ropes – need to be more dynamic due to the force that is exerted on them by falling tree limbs. Static ropes also allow knots to be held more securely. Dynamic ropes have more stretch and flexibility to them. This allows these ropes to better hold falling tree limbs. The weight of trees is easier held by the elasticity of a dynamic rope. A static rope would be more likely to break when lifting and lowering trees. Both static and dynamic ropes used by arborists need an extra outer layer to them. Arborist work creates a lot of friction on the ropes which can cause them to fuse or melt. The end result of this is a stiff and crusty outer layer that won’t hold knots well. When this happens, your arborist ropes become more likely to break, risking injury. So, ropes used by arborists require a special outer layer that is designed to be heat and friction-resistant. What is the Difference between Climbing Rope and Rigging Rope? A climbing rope is designed to deal with an ascending and descending static load (you, the climber), while a bull or rigging rope is designed to deal with a potentially dynamic load (a falling tree limb). Bull or rigging ropes are the best for pulling trees as they have greater tensile strength and can withstand repetitive stretch. Rigging ropes will be put under more tension due to the heavier loads they carry, but you don’t want to be ducking your head from a swinging tree limb that hasn’t been secured in place by a dynamic rope! One of the major differences between a climbing rope and a rigging rope is that the