PAGE A41, WIIITBY FREE PRESS, IN'IERIORStWEDNESDAY,FEBRUARY 10, 1988 Cae, maintenance urged or home heating systems in Ontario homes. Lack of chlmney maintenance and improper use of woodstoves share much of the WALLPAPER.ý SA-LE C30 25O FF Regular Book Price Choose the pattern that refleots yoùr life style. We will help you choose from hundreds of highstyle pattern books. Don't be satisfied with duilinm-store selections.. Great personal service. Always a custom paint color ta match your watlpaper. O VER 25 VEA RS *EXPERIENCE OPEN FRIDAY EVENUINGS TWO LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU PERKINS PAINTS & WALLCOUVERINGS ,LTDm WHITBY , 107 BYRON St.os. 668-5862, JAX PLAZ 683-1560 bDeaths, Injuries and millions.of dollars in damages are caused every year by heating system fires Surtshine . .. . .. . .. . .. . blamneexperts say. "W;e cannot stress. enougb, the importance of having chimneys of ail klnds inspected and cleaned at least once each year,"says Bob Clendinlng, Fuels Safety Director for the Ontarlo Mlnistry -of Con- sumer and Commercial Relations. (MCCR). "This applies io furnace and fireplace chmneys, as well'as wood, stove flues. If you use- your fireplace or stove often, it needs even more frequent cleaning." Anyone actually heating part Of their home with wood, would do well to check their complete system on, an ongoing bais, says Greg Alexander, provincial fire coor- dinator with the Ministry of the Solicitor Géneral. Wood stove safety doesn't stop with a clean flue pipe, he notes. Improper installation of wood burning appliances --especially the flue pipe that connects to the chim- ney -is also a concern, says Alexander. Stoves located too close to combustible material, par- ticularly walls, can cause a phenomenon called pyrolysis. over time, the heat from the stove causes a chemical change in the wood studs and other combustibles in walls, lowering the temperature required to make them burn. "Peôple go. along for years withoutý pro blems, then suddenly there's a major fire," Alexander says. "We do not know how many wood stoves are out there. Some fire chiefs are s0 concerned, they're going out to count chimneys and sending information packages to the homes they spot." The Canadian Standards Association code for the installation of wood burning appliances was fir- st published i 1980. There have since been several changes to the standards and many stoves put in before the code was revised, are too close te walls, Alexander says. "Even after the changes, stoves may have been put in wrong out of habit or sheer ignorance of the standards," he notes. A fourth edition of the code will soon be published. .Most muiicipalities require building permits for new in- stallations to ensure they adhere te the standards. Contact your municipal building department for Royale becomes a part of Whitby's furniture alley Something for everyone is-of- feréd at Furniture Royale, accor- ding to Mike Moss, general manager of one of the stores that make up Whitby's retail furniture area at Thickson and Dundas. "We have a look for everybody," says Moss, listing the' various lines that range -from tradit.ional to modern. With Evans Fumniture House one side, Cherney's Furniture World on the other, Best Cholce across the street and No ' Frilîs -down the alley,". says Moss. "ýWe're nowlIà competitive shopping -area for fur- niture" -and the only one east of Toronto, he adds. Soon to join is The Brick, which plans to open in Mar- ch. Furniture Royale opened Jan.'41 and Moss describes business as "quite good so far." The 20,000-sq. ft. store has four employees. Moss Himself has been in the furnituif business for 16 years. 1 m asImIm m 0mlIm m Iosou m mlIm a alcml A mlIm m m0Im m qBfiids & rapery SAL§E 1/3 SAVINGS ON For a limited time we are offering the quality Rosedale lime of fabrics and bedcoverings at 33% off oui regular prices. Tergzel sheers, satins, moire, lace and printed fabrics. Similar savings on Jolie Anne, Richmark, and Studio 10 bedspreads and comforters. . - Now you can decorate with quality -and get good value too! Our consultants will assist you in designing 'the draperies you have always mur' ~ < Concejrns 'about existing stevesi may arise if homeowners dld the 1 installations themselves wlthout1 knowledge of safety standards. A i lot of' do-it-yourselfers may notg even read the manufacturers' in- structions, the. fire safety co- ordinater says.1 If there is the slightest reason for concerix, cail the local building or fire department to get an inspection done. The stove or flue pipe may have to be moved or a heat shield i- stalled to protect combustible materials, Alexander warns. "But thin about the alternatives and the potential for a dangerous or deadly incident," he says. "IThink . of your family ... thlflk of the children." Aside from- having chimneys cleaned and fireplace inserts or wood steves inspected, homeowners can take a number of steps to improve.home safety, the experts say. Instail smoke* alarms and be sure te keep them functioning properly. Consult manufacturers' instruc- tions. Local fire officials can provide vital information on how to maintain and instail these safety devices. " They ail need regular vacuuming and proper testing,"t says Alexander. 've personally, §gP9uvfqJMqD2tpqEq<9p where the only alarmn on the'site failed to- work due to inadequate testlng and maintenance. If I'had 'a. wood burning stove I would definltely load Up ofl smoke alarms and make sure they work properly. Unfortunately, a l 'ot of, people with wood stoves are unhooking their alarms because they keep, going off...it's scary." Following the stove manufac- turer's instructions for use can also save a lot of grief. If a stove or fireplace isn't operated properly, a combustible .byproduet called, creosote may build Up'rapidly on the chimney walls, creating a fire hazard. Creosote build-up is hastened when imnproper fuel is1 burned. Use only natural wood that has been air- dried or seasoned for about a year. Do not store wood or. place fur- miture close' to the fireplace or stove. Treat them as "com- bustible" materials and adhere to, the manufacturer's suggested clearances. Appliances and flues that have passed stringent testing will bear the official certification mark of the CSA, Underwriters' LaboratoiS of Canada (ULC) or Warnock Her- sey Professional Services Ltd. For further information about wood stove safety, contact your municipal fire prevention bureau., ý--e e«K 47,? ýel