toggleswitch2
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 23, 2008
- Messages
- 5,000
Unless there are beans for dinner.
O. I. C.
O. I. C.
Dont leave candles burning
- Thread starter laundryboy
- Start date
Help Support :
filter-flo_rob
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2008
- Messages
- 184
heh heh heh ... don't want any unnecessary explosions.
Actually, we have a few carbon filament light bulbs we use occasionally, but in all honesty, they burn hotter than kerosene lamps! I especially like the light output and colour on those.
Rob.
Actually, we have a few carbon filament light bulbs we use occasionally, but in all honesty, they burn hotter than kerosene lamps! I especially like the light output and colour on those.
Rob.
whirlcool
Well-known member
Rob,
Those heated tube things for the fireplace are called heatalators. My brother up in Indianapolis has one and it does a nice job of heating the room up. Make sure you get one that has a fan built into it so it circulates the heated air around the room. I have also seen those built into a fireplace with the output air vents near the top of the mantle. Those also work very well.
Those heated tube things for the fireplace are called heatalators. My brother up in Indianapolis has one and it does a nice job of heating the room up. Make sure you get one that has a fan built into it so it circulates the heated air around the room. I have also seen those built into a fireplace with the output air vents near the top of the mantle. Those also work very well.
I heat my home up north with coal & wood. I even cook with coal and often use kerosene lamps. The point is that you MUST understand how to use these things. Chimneys MUST be kept scrupulously clean. dampers on stoves ,ranges and furnaces must be properly regulated . All combustable materials must be a safe distance from the source of heat . These sound liks trite sayings but they are most important. As far as candles and or lamps go NEVER leave them unattended. I am always amused when you go to a party and the host or hostess has a small candle burning in the bathroom..what a source for disaster. I taught in a one room school where our heat came from a box stove and you learned how to treat a stove with respect for not only your life was on the line but so were the lives of my 18 students. Hearting with solid fuel is perfectly safe provised you make it your business to learn how to use it safely. It is a shame what happened to that nice old lake house. Carelessness and stupidity are the fault. I fear that this winter , if it is a cold one there will be many people burning wood and coal without knowing what they are doing. In some cases, managing areange stove or furnace is quickly becoming a lost skill..like blacksmithing or harness making! I fear there will be many fires due to a lack of knowledge . Hopefully I am wrong. And I am NOT 125 years old!
Oldhousegreg,
You could put in one of the new super-efficient wood burning inserts, the kind with catalytic converter, and by code that would need to have a stainless steel chimney liner (really a relatively small diameter ss tube) all the way to the top of the chimney. That would circumvent the old leaky chimney issue. And if you have a steady supply of firewood it could be very economical as well. Initial cost, however, would probably be a couple grand, maybe more depending on labor rates and material cost in your area.
The chimney liner for super-efficient inserts is needed because the flue gases are cooler than with a normal fireplace, and hence they tend to condense in a large bricked chimney and cause corrosion. The small diameter liner helps to keep the flue gases hot to the top and resists any corrosion.
Your mileage may vary.
You could put in one of the new super-efficient wood burning inserts, the kind with catalytic converter, and by code that would need to have a stainless steel chimney liner (really a relatively small diameter ss tube) all the way to the top of the chimney. That would circumvent the old leaky chimney issue. And if you have a steady supply of firewood it could be very economical as well. Initial cost, however, would probably be a couple grand, maybe more depending on labor rates and material cost in your area.
The chimney liner for super-efficient inserts is needed because the flue gases are cooler than with a normal fireplace, and hence they tend to condense in a large bricked chimney and cause corrosion. The small diameter liner helps to keep the flue gases hot to the top and resists any corrosion.
Your mileage may vary.
jeb
Well-known member
heating with wood or coal
I grew up in a house heated entirely with wood and or coal. First the fireplace ( with a grat-o-lator ) then a wood/coal heating stove in the kitchen then a wood/coal furnace add on in the basement( this is a heating stove that sits beside your regular furnace and is connected to your furnace ductes and blows heat up through the house). We learned very early dampering- to get the most heat, banking coals- to have some to start in the morning, ect... We also learned to get up and get dressed in rooms where you could almost see you breath, take quick shower in a very cold bathroom and to sleep in sweatsuits. We also learned to split wood, carry heavy ash bucket and hand carry fist sized lumps of coal throught the coal fields- enough to fill a pick up truck, then come home and unload it. (again all by hand). I hated it all so much that the very first check, from my very first checking account, that i got with my very first paycheck, from my first job, (Check 0001) was to someone who delivered and stacked wood. I told my parents that was my contribution to the woodpile and if it wasn't enough I would buy another load, but I would never cut or split wood, or carry coal again-- and to this day I haven't. I also rember my mothers constant battle with the coal dust. She washed and iron the curtains and drapes frequently (or they turned gray) and all walls were washed atleast twice a year. Regular dusting was even a pain because coal dust is slightly oily and hard to remove.
I grew up in a house heated entirely with wood and or coal. First the fireplace ( with a grat-o-lator ) then a wood/coal heating stove in the kitchen then a wood/coal furnace add on in the basement( this is a heating stove that sits beside your regular furnace and is connected to your furnace ductes and blows heat up through the house). We learned very early dampering- to get the most heat, banking coals- to have some to start in the morning, ect... We also learned to get up and get dressed in rooms where you could almost see you breath, take quick shower in a very cold bathroom and to sleep in sweatsuits. We also learned to split wood, carry heavy ash bucket and hand carry fist sized lumps of coal throught the coal fields- enough to fill a pick up truck, then come home and unload it. (again all by hand). I hated it all so much that the very first check, from my very first checking account, that i got with my very first paycheck, from my first job, (Check 0001) was to someone who delivered and stacked wood. I told my parents that was my contribution to the woodpile and if it wasn't enough I would buy another load, but I would never cut or split wood, or carry coal again-- and to this day I haven't. I also rember my mothers constant battle with the coal dust. She washed and iron the curtains and drapes frequently (or they turned gray) and all walls were washed atleast twice a year. Regular dusting was even a pain because coal dust is slightly oily and hard to remove.
whitekingd
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 6, 2008
- Messages
- 484
Good, God!
What as loss!! I am so sorry to hear this for your family. What a tragedy for you family. I have lots of vintage radios and appliances in my house. I go through every one before I plug them in to see how the wiring and components are. If they look good, I plug them in for a few days, and unplug them at night. If they pass the test, then I will leave them plugged in. Your family's renters were par for the course. It's not mine, so I don't care!! An heirloom of sorts lost. I am sorry for you.
What as loss!! I am so sorry to hear this for your family. What a tragedy for you family. I have lots of vintage radios and appliances in my house. I go through every one before I plug them in to see how the wiring and components are. If they look good, I plug them in for a few days, and unplug them at night. If they pass the test, then I will leave them plugged in. Your family's renters were par for the course. It's not mine, so I don't care!! An heirloom of sorts lost. I am sorry for you.
filter-flo_rob
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2008
- Messages
- 184
A comment from the posting by John Buscemi: I fear that this winter , if it is a cold one there will be many people burning wood and coal without knowing what they are doing.
I hear you!!!! I'm really concerned about this as well. We firefighters are beefing-up our training and preparing for such things this winter. I'm forever amazed at such casual attitudes using potentially dangerous items: from a wood stove to a candle. Lack of knowledge and education is one thing, lack of respect is another. I often wonder what happened to "common sense!"
Rob.
I hear you!!!! I'm really concerned about this as well. We firefighters are beefing-up our training and preparing for such things this winter. I'm forever amazed at such casual attitudes using potentially dangerous items: from a wood stove to a candle. Lack of knowledge and education is one thing, lack of respect is another. I often wonder what happened to "common sense!"
Rob.
oldhouseman
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2007
- Messages
- 838
Rich, that's
what I wanted to do in at least one of the fireplaces (we have 7) but the insurance company told us they would cancel the policy if we installed it. For me the hard part of restoring the place has not been the work as much as it has been the bank, insurance company and the historic trust. They have all reset my priorities at one time or another.
I grew up with these materials and know how to use them. But I know people who I would not trust to lite a candle. One of my neighbors burned their house down two years ago on Christmas eve. They had lit over a dozen candles for a christmas display and left them burning when they went to bed. They woke up to find the entire house engulfed and were lucky to get out the bedroom windows. The house was a total loss. They rebuilt the house and I could not believe it when I saw them using the same type of christmas display in the living room last year. Some people never learn I guess.
what I wanted to do in at least one of the fireplaces (we have 7) but the insurance company told us they would cancel the policy if we installed it. For me the hard part of restoring the place has not been the work as much as it has been the bank, insurance company and the historic trust. They have all reset my priorities at one time or another.
I grew up with these materials and know how to use them. But I know people who I would not trust to lite a candle. One of my neighbors burned their house down two years ago on Christmas eve. They had lit over a dozen candles for a christmas display and left them burning when they went to bed. They woke up to find the entire house engulfed and were lucky to get out the bedroom windows. The house was a total loss. They rebuilt the house and I could not believe it when I saw them using the same type of christmas display in the living room last year. Some people never learn I guess.
Greg,
My home was built in '41 with a fireplace in the living room. When I moved in there was an old fake log set in it - the kind that has a motor driven drum with red/orange printed plastic covering. You put a lightbulb inside and it's supposed to similate flames. But the noise of the motor kind of kills any ambience, lol.
Around 1975, the kitchen and one bedroom of the house were remodeled into a continuous kitchen/family room, with a fireplace added in the family room. There was another fake log set in that fireplace - this one used thermal curents from the light bulb to spin the drum. That fireplace has never seen a real flame, and I've kept it that way. In fact although I enjoy a fire on a rainy night, I've never lit a fire in either one (the original one from '41 of course has seen plenty of fires). I picked up a cheap insert on Craigslist a while back, but it's so ugly (think thin brass plating over steel) that it's been sitting the carport ever since.
As part of weatherizing the home I serviced the dampers so they close properly, and also fitted plexiglass inserts into the openings. You can't tell they are there with the screens in place. I know they are doing the job because the thermally driven fake log set won' work any more - there's not enough air circulation in there to create a thermally driven air flow.
The only time I exercised bad candle ettiquette was when I was in high school and a girl friend gave me a handmade candle - one of those big ones - about the size of a coke can. It was a dark blue some some sort of abstract design on it (it was SF in the 60's). I set it on the end table by my bed and lit it. Then I fell asleep, waking in the morning to a nearly completely consumed candle, flame very low. Luckily nothing caught fire, but after that I've been very careful with candles.
Nowadays I don't even have many incandescent bulbs at home. Nearly all the lighting is fluorescent, which of course is somewhat safe, temperature-wise, than a hot traditional light bulb. Of course the fireplace fake logs use incandescent, though.
My home was built in '41 with a fireplace in the living room. When I moved in there was an old fake log set in it - the kind that has a motor driven drum with red/orange printed plastic covering. You put a lightbulb inside and it's supposed to similate flames. But the noise of the motor kind of kills any ambience, lol.
Around 1975, the kitchen and one bedroom of the house were remodeled into a continuous kitchen/family room, with a fireplace added in the family room. There was another fake log set in that fireplace - this one used thermal curents from the light bulb to spin the drum. That fireplace has never seen a real flame, and I've kept it that way. In fact although I enjoy a fire on a rainy night, I've never lit a fire in either one (the original one from '41 of course has seen plenty of fires). I picked up a cheap insert on Craigslist a while back, but it's so ugly (think thin brass plating over steel) that it's been sitting the carport ever since.
As part of weatherizing the home I serviced the dampers so they close properly, and also fitted plexiglass inserts into the openings. You can't tell they are there with the screens in place. I know they are doing the job because the thermally driven fake log set won' work any more - there's not enough air circulation in there to create a thermally driven air flow.
The only time I exercised bad candle ettiquette was when I was in high school and a girl friend gave me a handmade candle - one of those big ones - about the size of a coke can. It was a dark blue some some sort of abstract design on it (it was SF in the 60's). I set it on the end table by my bed and lit it. Then I fell asleep, waking in the morning to a nearly completely consumed candle, flame very low. Luckily nothing caught fire, but after that I've been very careful with candles.
Nowadays I don't even have many incandescent bulbs at home. Nearly all the lighting is fluorescent, which of course is somewhat safe, temperature-wise, than a hot traditional light bulb. Of course the fireplace fake logs use incandescent, though.
58limited
Well-known member
Sorry for your loss. I would be really pissed - I am an amateur historian and the loss of a 100+ year old house would set me off. I won't even post what my response to a request for a deposit refund by these idiots would be. I do know that my insurance company would probably take them to court to try and recoup some of the costs.
I heated with a wood stove in college - a reproduction of an 1840's parlor stove (not very efficient). Even split wood in an ice storm because we didn't do enough in the summer. That one stove could heat a 1200 sq. ft. farm house - I learned pretty quickly how to adjust several box fans to circulate the air through out the house. The stove has now been cleaned up and restored, it sits in my living room on display.
My fireplace has gas logs. I love to run it on cool nights, mostly for ambiance. I even run it in summer sometimes when I want to relax with a book. The fireplace (circa 1940) has a passive "heat-o-lator." It is made of approx. 2" diameter brass tubes (one is missing a small section)and as the fireplace gets hot, the air comes in from under the house and flows out two decorative grates on either side of the fireplace. I have thought about adding a fan, but haven't gotten around to it. This is not really a major heat source for the house anyway.
The brass tubes look like flexi-tubing. I would like to find some of the same diameter so I can repair the tube that has the missing piece, and another tube that has a hole in it.
I heated with a wood stove in college - a reproduction of an 1840's parlor stove (not very efficient). Even split wood in an ice storm because we didn't do enough in the summer. That one stove could heat a 1200 sq. ft. farm house - I learned pretty quickly how to adjust several box fans to circulate the air through out the house. The stove has now been cleaned up and restored, it sits in my living room on display.
My fireplace has gas logs. I love to run it on cool nights, mostly for ambiance. I even run it in summer sometimes when I want to relax with a book. The fireplace (circa 1940) has a passive "heat-o-lator." It is made of approx. 2" diameter brass tubes (one is missing a small section)and as the fireplace gets hot, the air comes in from under the house and flows out two decorative grates on either side of the fireplace. I have thought about adding a fan, but haven't gotten around to it. This is not really a major heat source for the house anyway.
The brass tubes look like flexi-tubing. I would like to find some of the same diameter so I can repair the tube that has the missing piece, and another tube that has a hole in it.
Too many close calls for me
I am done with large candles and such. The only candles I burn are tea lights with the metal base to them. Then they are in a glass votive holder. If I want the smell from a candle, I buy Yankee candles the middle size jar. I purchased a candle warmer at AC Moores for $6.00. You light the candle once for about an hour under close watch then you use the warmer after that. I have tried using the candle without lighting it first but the scent goes rather quickly. I guess the flame for the 1st hour must change the chemical they use. No big candles in this house. I don't even use the long tapered ones on the dining room table anymore. I have purchased different tea light holders that the base fits into a regular candle stick holder. Everyone comments on these. No wax on the table or cloth. Easy to replace if it goes out. No mess. No fire.
Jon
I am done with large candles and such. The only candles I burn are tea lights with the metal base to them. Then they are in a glass votive holder. If I want the smell from a candle, I buy Yankee candles the middle size jar. I purchased a candle warmer at AC Moores for $6.00. You light the candle once for about an hour under close watch then you use the warmer after that. I have tried using the candle without lighting it first but the scent goes rather quickly. I guess the flame for the 1st hour must change the chemical they use. No big candles in this house. I don't even use the long tapered ones on the dining room table anymore. I have purchased different tea light holders that the base fits into a regular candle stick holder. Everyone comments on these. No wax on the table or cloth. Easy to replace if it goes out. No mess. No fire.
Jon
Of course at one time Christmas trees were lit with small candles. I suppose if the tree was very fresh and still full of moisture, this was tolerable provided it was watched every minute the candles were lit. But I understand that these tree candles were a major cause of house fires. And probably the first electric versions, with brittle asphalt/fabric wire insulation, weren't too safe either.
Christmas trees candles?
OH MY GOD!
Are you crazy?
I've never heard about it (at least here in brazil)
we always used those lo voltage bulbs.
I remember in the 70's and 80's they were really expensive (basicly a long cord with hundreds of flashlight bulbs)and we always stored them carefully to use again every year.
now we use the chinese crap (USD1 each cord with 300 LEDs)
and every year after christmas, I just save them to cut and use to tie the trash bags.
You know my underfloor negligent neighbours. If I tell them about christmas trees candles, I'll have to activate the fire alarm and start evacuating the whole building in november 24th or ask them to move to a house in front of the fire department headquarters.
OH MY GOD!
Are you crazy?
I've never heard about it (at least here in brazil)
we always used those lo voltage bulbs.
I remember in the 70's and 80's they were really expensive (basicly a long cord with hundreds of flashlight bulbs)and we always stored them carefully to use again every year.
now we use the chinese crap (USD1 each cord with 300 LEDs)
and every year after christmas, I just save them to cut and use to tie the trash bags.
You know my underfloor negligent neighbours. If I tell them about christmas trees candles, I'll have to activate the fire alarm and start evacuating the whole building in november 24th or ask them to move to a house in front of the fire department headquarters.
Christmas trees candles?
My German grandmother used have real candles on her tree here in the US until she moved into a retirement home, and my German relatives still do it!
Of course there are fires every year...however in a country where everything is "verboten" unless specifically permitted, it is still a widely accepted practice...
Notice that no candles are placed on the lowest branches.
My German grandmother used have real candles on her tree here in the US until she moved into a retirement home, and my German relatives still do it!
Of course there are fires every year...however in a country where everything is "verboten" unless specifically permitted, it is still a widely accepted practice...
Notice that no candles are placed on the lowest branches.
I still shocked...
I´m sorry but I still think this is absolutely dangerous.
I´m sorry but I still think this is absolutely dangerous.
toggleswitch2
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 23, 2008
- Messages
- 5,000
Interesting. My understanding of how Christmas trees came into being was that a bunch of German lumber-jacks were in the forest working, and were having a hard time finding their way out quickly to get home to Christmas dinner.
The wives stuck candles in the trees as a beacon to get them home......
The wives stuck candles in the trees as a beacon to get them home......
My mother used to tell me stories about how they used to put candles on the tree also. It was very common in the '20 and '30 I guess, especially out on farms and such. They only burned them for a short time on Christmas Eve and Day and that was it.
bpetersxx
Well-known member
The renters should be taken to the woodshed and have their jackets tanned for pulling a stunt like this
Oh I use Glade flameless candles
Nice scent and very safe
Oh I use Glade flameless candles
Nice scent and very safe
