Are Wood Fireplaces Safe?

What is Fireplace Safety?
Prevention of fire accidents and air pollution from the fireplace is the primary concept of safety for your home. Regular maintenance of the fireplace is very important for ensuring safety. Cleaning, part repairs and replacements, and isolation of fireplace from flammable objects can also ensure safety. Now, you can apply these parameters to the wood fireplace and see how safe it is.
Wood Fireplace – Probability of Fire Accidents
Overloading could be one of the most common causes of fire accidents. Poor maintenance of firebox could be the other reason. Using materials other than wood can also cause fire accidents. For example, you can consider dry leaves and other combustible debris from your home and garden. Clogged chimney, improper brick insulation, and improper design of opening could be the other probable causes.
The probability of fire accidents from the wood fireplace could be higher compared to the gas fireplace. It could be due to the complex maintenance procedures and faster aging of the furnace due to heat stress on its internal parts.
The wood fireplace will be active even after the wood has burnt out. The ashes can also spark the fire and cause accidents.

Wood Fireplace – Probability of Air Pollution

The volume of soot, dirt, and dust from the wood fireplace is higher compared to a gas fireplace. Moreover, carbon monoxide deposits within the fireplace and the chimney grows faster. They can frequently block the exit path, resulting in internal pollution. Cost of maintenance could be higher than the gas fireplace.
It could be highly difficult to detect the leaking of carbon compounds into the home premises where the fireplace is installed. It is because they are colorless and odorless. Long term exposure and inhalation can result in critical or chronic health conditions. More on this website

What Do Cockroaches Look Like?

Cockroaches are large insects which range in size from 10-23mm in length, they have long antennae and two sets of wings.

The most commonly found species is the German cockroach (Blatella Germanica) sometimes called the “steam fly” for their liking of warm steamy places such as laundries or boiler rooms.

The German Cockroach is yellowish brown in colour and has a shiny leather like body and is often seen climbing up walls.

The Oriental Cockroach (Blatta Orientalis) is less common and is much larger and has a darker, richer brown color. They can live for up to one year.

Have we got them?

Cockroaches are nocturnal by nature and spend the day hiding in cracks or under floor covering. They may be seen if you come home in the dark and put the lights on. They also emit a disagreeable almond like odor, but this is only noticeable if the infestation is large.

How did we get them?
Infestations may be introduced into domestic premises from foodstuffs from other premises. They can be transferred from other houses in laundry.

Significance
Cockroaches can carry food poisoning organisms on their bodies and will feed on almost anything including fecal matter.

Contamination occurs when the cockroaches come into contact with foodstuffs.

Life Cycle
The female cockroach can produce up to eight purse like egg cases at monthly intervals. The egg cases contain up to 30 eggs. The nymphs emerge from their eggs in 2-4 weeks (up to 6-12 weeks for oriental cockroaches). The nymphs are like the adults but smaller and lighter. The insects take some months before they mature.