The recent bout of destructive weather has left homeowners scrambling to make repairs to torn roof shingles, eaves, gutters and chimneys.

But even if you were not affected by the storm, September is an ideal time to think about inspecting your roof and chimney before the cold weather arrives.

"The hurricane did a number on a lot of homes, so we’ve been extra busy," said Chet Janiec, owner of Janiec Roofing in Lodi (janiecroofing.biz, 201-797-1189). "But even so, the best times for inspection are in the spring or right before the winter."

Roof Inspection and Repair

The typical life span of a roof is between 18 and 20 years, Janiec said, but problems certainly arise along the way — "Too often, people wait until there’s a leak or some damage." He warned that even a few ripped shingles or loose flashing can result in rotted wood in the frames, electrical wiring mishaps or soggy sheetrock.

Still, procrastination can result in a bigger, more expensive project.

Routine maintenance and minor repairs entail nominal fees for materials and labor, Janiec said, whereas total replacement — especially when the damage involves indoor wall structures — can run thousands.

Flat roofs need to be inspected for worn spots, depressions and proper drainage, and touched up or replaced as necessary.

There are dozens of styles and materials available for installing new roofs or for repairing existing roofs.

"There are designer styles, but most people opt for the standard shingles," Janiec said. He uses GAF products, which carry a lifetime guarantee.

Chimneys, Inside and Out

This time of year also gets you thinking about warm, cozy nights in front of the fireplace. That means having your chimney and fireplace checked for any repairs that might need to be made.

Whether your chimney is an extension of a fireplace or a furnace, it should be cleaned or "swept" at least once a year, for several reasons.

First, creosote — a black, sticky by-product of smoke — often adheres to the inside of the fireplace chimney. Because of its chemical nature, creosote can actually ignite at nearly 3,000 degrees, rapidly causing a chimney fire and potential damage to the rest of the home.

Burning wood at a relatively low temperature (your cooking stove flame is actually hotter than a fireplace) causes incomplete combustion of the oils found naturally in the wood. When the smoke from a fire rises into a chimney, the residual chemicals may stick to the inside of the chimney walls or liner. This residue becomes creosote.

Second, soot and dust build-up can clog a chimney and diminish heat output. A furnace flue may accumulate a layer of sulfuric acid or chlorine, which can cause erosion and big problems down the road.

"A good rule of thumb is to not ever assume your chimney is functioning properly, even if you rarely use it," said Ken Chalmers, owner of Clifton-based Dream Team Construction (dreamteamconstructionnj.com, 1-888-382-2001), Clifton. "Animals, leaves and moisture from a buildup of snow or rain need to be taken care of before safe use of your fireplace."

He also recommended a thorough check for any shifting that may have occurred over the years. "Years ago, chimneys were built with a section near the top made of terracotta," he said. "Over time, these sections sometime move, causing the potential for leaks of carbon monoxide through the seams and even a backdraft."

In addition to a good cleaning, chimney inspection includes checking for leaks in the flashing around the chimney, which can cause wood rot and condensation. This, in turn, can damage electrical wiring and present a fire hazard.

"Every year, hundreds of homes burn down or suffer serious damage from chimney fires," Chalmers said. "Once there’s even a small problem that isn’t addressed, it’s like a cancer that spreads and creates bigger problems."

Servicing also involves checking the damper, which restricts air flow and keeps warm air indoors when the fireplace is not in use. The damper, which works like a lid, is controlled by a chain or metal cable and must be opened before you start a fire so smoke can escape up the chimney.

What Consumers Should Know When Using Pour Gel Products Recent incidents highlight the need for consumer education and safety Racine , Wis. - The US Consumer Product Safety Commission in cooperation with Napa Home and Garden on Wednesday announced a voluntary recall of the following products:

• Napafire and FireGel fuel bottles and jugs

This recall is for the Napafire and FireGel bottles and jugs only. No other gel fuels are involved.

Real Flame, a Racine, Wis.-based company that has sold gel-fueled products for more than two decades, urges that consumers read and follow all labels, instructions and warnings when using Real Flame or any fire-related products.

"We take consumer safety very seriously," said John Ridgeway, vice president of sales and marketing for Real Flame. "We have sold get-fueled products for nearly 30 years and have an outstanding safety record."

"Gel-fueled products, just like log fireplaces or any other fire-related products, carry with them the risks associated with fires, but are safe as long as proper care and attention are taken when using the products."

He urges consumers be aware of the following points and "best practices" to prevent unexpected ignition, fires and potential injuries when using pour gel products and outdoor fireplaces and pots this summer season.

• As you should with any flammable product such as lighter fluid, torch oil and so on, you should always carefully read all labels, instructions and warnings before using flammable products, Make sure labels and directions don't get thrown away with the packaging.

• Do NOT add fuel of any sort to any existing fire for any reason. Follow the cool-down directions exactly. Lighting a gel-fueled product before it has properly cooled can result in injury.

• Real Flame's pour gel fuel labels clearly call out the fact that they are a fire-related product. Real Flame uses the international symbol for fire on the front along with specific warnings regarding the use of the product.

• The directions for Real Flame products begin with bold print informing the customer to never add fuel to a reservoir when it's already burning or hot. The instructions clearly state that the consumer needs to allow our products to cool at least 20 minutes before lighting it again.

• In case of an accident, consumers should use baking powder or a dry chemical extinguisher to extinguish a gel fuel fire. Do not attempt to pat the fire out or throw water on it.

• Treat all fire-related products with extreme care and caution. This includes charcoal grills, a wood burning fire, an oil-based torch or any fire-related product. Fire adds a beautiful ambiance to any setting, but if use and care directions are not followed injury can occur.

• Real Flame works closely with fire departments throughout the United States many times each year to test and approve products for burning at major trade events. This includes: infrared heat testing, stability of product, flame height and risk of injury. Real Flame has an outstanding record with the Chicago, Las Vegas and Atlanta Fire Departments and will continue to work with each for many years to come.

Ridgeway says that consumers should also be aware there are different formulations of pour gel fuel in the marketplace today with different qualities and burning characteristics.

Real Flame Pour Gel

• The experts at Real Flame recommend ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL (IPA)-based canned or pour gel products.

• Unlike ethanol-based fuel, IPA-based gel fuel burns with a vivid orange flame, which is easier for a consumer to see. That can help a consumer avoid pouring gel fuel on an existing fire, which can cause the fire to flash or flare. However, extreme care should be taken to ensure the fire is completely out since most fires can become difficult to see toward the end of a burn.

• Real Flame works closely with its fuel manufacturer, repeatedly testing various formulations of Real Flame's exclusively blended gel products in its offices and giving the fuel supplier feedback regarding burn characteristics.

• Our exclusive formulation has been sold in seven countries for close to 30 years, and we have established an outstanding safety record using our IPA-based gel fuel products

• Real Flame - Committed to Safety

• Real Flame has been in the fire-related business for nearly 30 years and has an outstanding record of safety.

• The company is committed to research and development to ensure products have undergone several steps of testing before they are introduced to consumers. It has worked with independent labs as well as fire departments at major cities.

• Real Flame has worked with fire-based products for close to 30 years, and has designed and patented some of its own products.

Media Availability

John Ridgeway Vice President Sales and Marketing for Real Flame would be happy to assist any media or retailer in any way to help you better understand this business and answer your customer questions. He is available to conduct in-person, phone and satellite interviews regarding best practices and consumer tips for safe use of fuel gel.

To schedule an interview, please call Lori Richards at (414) 390-5500 or lrichards@muellercommunications.com .

About Real Flame Company

For nearly 30 years Real Flame Company, a division of Jensen Metal Products, has been the leader in the production and sale of gel-fueled fireplaces and accessories. All of its products are manufactured to the highest standards and, of course, safety is the top priority in all of its designs.

Real Flame's Gel Fuel is an exclusive premium alcohol-based blend that requires no ventilation when burned. No chimney, no gas hookups and no electricity needed.

Tested and approved for indoor and outdoor use, Real Flame Gel Fuel meets all clean air requirements established by both OSHA and the EPA.

Chimney pipe is required for venting different types of fireplaces and appliances in your home. Certain types of older homes with fireplaces often have brick and clay chimneys along the exterior of the home. Newer model homes can use steel piping for chimneys instead, which allows the fireplace to be placed in the interior of the home and away from exterior walls. Placing the fireplace in the interior provides better heating efficiency and keeps more heat in the home, instead of going up and out the chimney.

Replace Chimney Pipe with Compatible Replacement Pieces

When replacing chimney pipe it is important that you look for steel piping, like is available on our website, here at Copperfield Chimney Supply, which is compatible with your existing fireplace or other type of appliance. The reason you want compatible piping is to prevent gaps between pieces as well as ensure snug connections to prevent smoke and other gases from escaping out of the chimney.

Many people find the beauty of a natural wood fire hard to resist. However, traditional fireplaces are ineffective for home heating, and tests have shown that they draw a large amount of warm air out of the house while delivering little heat. Conventional fireplaces also exhaust particulates and other toxic combustion products to the outdoor air. More

Corrugated stainless steel tubing or CSST gas line is an alternative method for running gas supplies to your gas appliances, fireplaces and stoves. You can use this type of gas line in place of traditional black iron solid gas pipes. CSST lines can be run longer because they need fewer threaded connections, and none of the complicated equipment needed for solid gas pipes. CSST lines consist of a stainless steel line, wrapped in a PVC plastic, which provides flexibility to be easily bent and used in awkward areas.

CSST Gas Line Provides Easy Additions at Anytime

CSST gas line comes in different lengths which allow you to obtain enough corrugated stainless steel tubing for your entire home. Since the gas line is not solid, it can offer the ability to run additional gas lines from a main line to all your appliances and gas products in the home. This type of piping also allows you to add additional gas products in the future by simply cutting and adding in a gas line tee to run additional new line. You can find this flexible gas pipe from Copperfield Chimney Supply .

Looking to use less oil to heat your house?

Well, unless you’re moving to Florida, you might want to look into a supplemental heating system. Perhaps a wood stove or a stove that burns wood pellets. Or a gas stove or gas insert for your fireplace.

Wood is relatively inexpensive now, about $225 a cord, with the average homeowner usually requiring one to two cords a winter for supplemental heating. And natural gas is a good option too, as gas lines are constantly being expanded in southern Maine.

Unitil, the gas utility for southern Maine, has seen its customer base grow at a rate of about 2 percent a year, or double the national average, said Alec O’Meara, a spokesman for the utility. He said that for people who want a gas line to their house, the first 100 feet is installed for free, and after that, the cost varies.

Fireplace inserts, either gas or wood, are something to consider as supplemental heating, since they are far more efficient than the existing fireplace they’ll be installed in.

Traditional “open face” wood-burning fireplaces operate at only about 10 percent efficiency, said Ernie Stanhope, owner of Embers Stoves & Fireplaces in South Portland. But a wood insert in that same fireplace would be about 75 percent efficient, said Stanhope. Tax credits for wood inserts are still available through the end of this year, he said, for about 10 percent of the price up to $300.

“With the high cost of oil right now, wood is one of the least expensive options to cut that cost down,” Stanhope said.

No matter what type of supplemental heating source you might consider — including wood-burning fireplace inserts, gas inserts, wood stoves, gas fireplaces or pellet stoves — cost is an important factor.

Gas fireplaces and and gas inserts often start around $1,800. A traditional wood stove might start around $800, while pellet stoves start around $2,000 and wood-burning fireplace inserts start around $2,000 as well. None of those prices include installation, which can vary widely depending on how much work needs to be done to vent and place the system.

Jotul North America, which makes stoves and inserts here in Maine, has a new gas insert which can operate without a standing pilot light in cold climates, said David Peck, marketing manager for Jotul. The insert costs about $2,622.

Jotul also has a new wood stove out this year, “Rangeley,” which loads from the top instead of the front. You can still watch the flames through glass in the front. But loading from the top is probably easier for most folks.

Pellet stoves or inserts, which burn compressed wood products, are easier to use than wood stoves. They can be controlled by a thermostat, for instance.

The major downfall to pellet stoves or inserts, says Stanhope, is that most require electricity to operate. So during a Maine winter, with outages likely, it might not be great for everyone.

When trying to decide what the best supplemental heating source might be in your home, it might be a good idea to get a consultation from a company that sells stoves and inserts. Stanhope, for instance, does free in-home consultations to look at the room sizes, possibilities for venting, and other factors that will determine which heating option makes the most sense.

“When deciding what type of alternative heat source to get, the first thing people need to determine is how it will be vented and where they want to put it,” said Stanhope. “So the best option is to have an in-home consultation.”

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