You’ve got to be careful when buying firewood. Buying recently cut wood can spread oak wilt, common on Texas trees. The fungal disease can destroy a red oak in a matter of months. And if it’s cut up for firewood and hauled around the state, it can spread the disease. There are probably more than 50 centers of the disease in the Dallas area, says Jim Houser of the Texas A&M Forest Service, and 76 counties have reported the infection. Central Texas has been hit hardest, particularly around Austin.

“It’s still out there, folks,” Houser says.

Once it infects a tree, there is little that can be done to save it, and the disease is likely to spread to any nearby red oaks and live oaks. White oaks are not affected. Most of the fungus moves around the state on firewood, Houser says. Some of it is purchased from local retailers, some is hauled in from rural areas. Entrepreneurs in rural counties to the north and east often undercut a local wood yard’s prices for its limited supply. Hunters find fallen trees, ask owners for permission to cut them up and haul them home.

“That’s how we get oak wilt in Midland, in Houston, in Dallas,” Houser says.

Hunters should be especially careful if they plan to haul firewood back to the city from sites west of Interstate 35. To avoid spreading the disease, buy well-seasoned wood that was cut before summer. Summer heat destroys the fungus in cut firewood. Seasoned firewood is dry, with loose bark and cracked ends. If the firewood is fresh or from an unknown source, stack it away from landscape trees and cover it with clear plastic, burying the edges. “Take out the wood you need, then put the cover back,” Houser says. The oak wilt fungus is destroyed by fire. Oak wilt can strike all oaks but particularly likes red oaks. Red oaks that die of the disease should be burned, buried or chipped. To help keep trees healthy, avoid pruning or otherwise cutting oaks from February to June. Hot summers and cold winters destroy the fungus. Promptly use a thin coat of latex or pruning paint to cover any cuts.

Fireplaces get old, it is a fact, and when they do, they need to be replaced. Tearing out all those bricks and fire shielding, then replacing it with new, is costly and time consuming, this is also a fact. Revamping your fireplace does not have to be, however, when you choose to update with a fireplace insert. Fireplace inserts are safe and easy to install and give your room back that warmth and beauty you had when your fireplace was in its prime. If you are looking for a fireplace insert, then look no further than www.woodstoves-fireplaces.com .

The summertime rite of passage essential to a good picnic, ‘throwing another shrimp, hotdog, hamburger, or salmon on the barbie,’ has passed. Cooler temperatures are creeping in and Alaskans need to ensure that their home heating equipment will operate safely not only ensures safety but also reduces heating costs.

Many homeowners forget about their heating systems until they use them for the first time each fall. Malfunctioning and misused heating equipment were the leading causes of home fires in Alaska for 2009 and 2010. Malfunctioning heating equipment is also a source of deadly carbon monoxide gas. Alaska State Fire Marshal David Tyler is urging Alaskan’s to have their heating systems inspected by certified professionals and repaired or replaced as needed.

Suggestions include heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected by a qualified professional; Installing and maintaining carbon monoxide alarms to avoid risk of carbon monoxide poisoning; Combustibles kept at least 3 feet from heating equipment; Supervise children when a fireplace, fire pit, or other space heater is being used; Make sure all heating equipment has a label from a recognized testing laboratory; Do not use extension cords for portable electric space heaters; Use only approved fuel for each type of heater; Do not use cooking appliances to heat a home.

“Ensure your families safety,” Tyler said in a press release. “Having working smoke alarms, planning and practicing your fire escape plan and adding residential fire suppression sprinklers can ensure your families safety in case of a devastating home fire.”

There is nothing worse than the concerns of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide buildup in your home. With Duravent's line of venting products you can be assured those gases go right up and out of your home. Piping with twist-lock assembly, no need for sealants or gaskets and even laser-welded seams are just some of the advantages of choosing Duravent for your direct ventilation needs.

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Just because you are venting gases from your home is no reason to have to sacrifice looks for functionality not when you can have both. Duravent direct vent piping comes in three different finishes and offers a seamless design that easily fades into any background. While g alvanized steel and aluminum are sure to catch the eye, a black finish ventilation pipe also offers you the ability to have a lessened visual effect. You can see all three just by visiting www.woodstoves-fireplaces.com today and searching for Duravent.

If you have a hankering for a thick Porterhouse steak seared on an open flame with just a touch of seasoning and a toasty baked potato on the side, what are you waiting for? A little cold shouldn't stop you from enjoying some fresh-grilled meat. According to the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association, nearly 60 percent of grill owners use them year-round, and Jim Brewer is definitely one of them. More

When you are installing a direct vent gas fireplace or stove, you will need to run a vent to vent the by-products, like carbon monoxide, to the outside. Direct vent gas stoves and fireplaces do not require a large chimney to be run up through the roof of the home- they only need an exterior vent. Duravent is one manufacturer which makes direct vent products you can use to install your gas fireplace or stove.

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When selecting the placement of your gas fireplace, you need to make sure that you have access to an exterior wall of the home on at least one side of the fireplace. You can purchase all your Duravent gas vent products from Copperfield Chimney Supply .