The signs say heavy snow and cold weather for Kansas City

The rabbits, cats, and dogs in the Kansas City area have a noticeably heavy coat right now – according to folklore heavier coats on any of our animal friends indicate very cold wet weather coming soon. But that is not the only way to predict the weather using non-scientific means.

Persimmon Seeds: According to Mike Dougherty of Tree Management Company in Lenexa, Kansas, find persimmon fruit in the supermarket or on a persimmon tree in your neighborhood. Note: You can eat persimmon fruit but most people don’t think it is very tasty and prefer to leave it for the deer, squirrels, and raccoons. The fruit should be locally-grown to reflect the area weather. Cut one of the seeds inside the fruit open and examine the shape of the white kernel inside.

• If the kernel is fork-shaped, we can expect powdery, light snow and a mild winter.
• If the kernel is knife-shaped, expect to be "cut" by icy, cold and cutting winds.
• If the kernel is spoon-shaped, lots of heavy, wet snow will fall. The spoon is supposed to represent a shovel, which you will need to have on hand.

Animal Folklore:

·         If a mole digs its hole 2½ feet deep, expect severe weather; if two feet deep, not so severe; if one foot deep, a mild winter.

·         When pigs gather leaves and straw in all, expect a cold winter.

·         When rabbits are fat in October and November, expect a long, cold winter.

·         Wooly Worms: According to folklore, the black-and-brown caterpillars can predict the weather for the coming winter. If you find one during the fall season and see that the brown band is narrow, winter weather will be harsh. Supposedly, wooly worm weather predictions have been accurate 80% of the time since tracking began in the 1950s.

·         Insects and birds nesting high in the trees in the fall indicate a harsh winter is ahead.

·         Tough acorns: A thicker, harder shell than normal on acorns is a sign of hard weather to come.

·         Squirrel activity: If the squirrels are bustling around and storing more food than normal, or burying their acorns deeper than normal, expect a hard winter.

The accuracy of these folklore traditions may be questionable, however, it will be interesting to see what actually happens this winter. If there is a lot of snow, I’ll be a believer.

Moon Signs:
“Clear Moon, frost soon.”  When the night sky is clear, Earth's surface cools rapidly—there is no cloud cover to keep the heat in. If the night is clear enough to see the Moon and the temperature drops enough, frost will form overnight, so expect a very chilly morning.

Farmer’s Almanac: I prefer to check a publication that has been around since 1792. According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, December temperatures will average 30° (2° below avg.) and precipitation will be low at 0.5" (1" below avg.). The Almanac shows snowy and cold periods from December 12 – 27, then very cold. 

Vote for HearthMasters!

The Examiner newspaper is having their annual contest for the Best of the Best in Independence, Missouri. If you live in or near Independence, please vote for us after Sept 13 here: https://examiner.gatehousecontests.com/Best-of-Eastern-Jackson-County-2019/

Thank you!

Woodburners Prep your Wood for Fall NOW!

As difficult as it is to think about cold weather during the nice spring and summer months when the trees are green and the flowers are in full bloom, wood burners need to start prepping for fall now.

Since wood needs to be cut, split, and stacked months in advance so that it dries out properly, now is the time to get that project completed, and get some exercise to boot. There are several types of log-splitters available that can make the job much easier. Prices range from $150 for a hand-operated splitter, to $3,000 for a professional gas splitter.

Wood should be stacked off the ground, away from the house, with a covering over the top but not on the sides-- so the wind can blow through and dry the wood out. For the serious wood-burner, a woodshed with a permanent roof will offer years of protection from the elements. Be sure to stack wood loosely so it will dry out faster. 

Wood should be kept away from the house because creepy crawlies like brown recluses like to hide in between the logs. Check wood with an inexpensive moisture meter to be sure it contains less than 20% moisture content before burning. Moisture meters can be purchased online. 

Stack split wood loosely

Any dry wood will do - but hardwood will burn for a longer time since it is denser than softwood. By using hardwood less time is involved in loading up the wood stove or fireplace insert, but softwoods will burn nicely, too. 

Stay away from dry pine and hedge, however, because they burn so hot and fast there is a greater risk of a chimney fire or damaging a wood stove or fireplace.

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Marge Padgitt is a veteran chimney contractor in Kansas City, Missouri. She is the author of the Chimney and Hearth Pro's Resource Book and The Homeowner's Guide to Hearth Appliances. 

The Wrong Type of Chimney Cap Can Cause Problems

Cement Cap with Crack and Separation

The cement cap on top of masonry chimneys is the single most problematic area of any chimney.  As chimney service technicians, we know that the cement cap (or crown) is often cracked, deteriorated, and separated from the top course of brick, leaving areas where rainwater can seep in and enter the chimney chase.

Cracks often develop because most masons do not install a bond break around flue liners as is required by code, and when flue liners are heated they expand and push on the cement cap. Cracks may also develop during a sudden chimney fire or lightning strike.

Deteriorating Cement Cap

Cement caps are susceptible to weather damage and will deteriorate over time. This area is the most difficult to see because it cannot be viewed from the ground.

Poor Chimney Design

Right: This is a poor design for a chimney. Rainwater runs off the cement cap and directly on to rows of bricks. This upper portion of the chimney will deteriorate much more quickly than the rest of the structure.

Left: There is nothing left of the cement cap that used to be on the top of this chimney. Rainwater has been pouring into the interior of the chase for years, causing deterioration of the mortar joints inside the chase.

This type of damage can be very costly. Both the interior and exterior chimney need repair.




Right: This mortar joint between two tile flue liner sections has been completely washed out due to exposure to rain water on both the outside  and the inside of the tile. Gaps like this can allow toxic and heated flue gasses to escape the chimney.

Cement cap with drip edge. Note: the chimney
is too short and should have been raised.

The 2012 International Residential Code requires a cement cap to have a drip edge and a slope to permit water runoff away from the top courses of bricks on the chimney. Without this drip edge water runs onto the upper bricks and mortar, causing excessive deterioration.
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Marge Padgitt is the CEO and President of HearthMasters, Inc. and HearthMasters Masonry School in Independence, MO. Contact her at www.chimkc.com. 

Gene Padgitt to Teach River Rock Workshop

Midwest Chimney Safety Council Conference Sweeping the Lake II

At the beautiful Lake of the Ozarks May 16-18, 2019! 

We will be doing a whimsical river rock stone finish on the masonry heater we built last year at the Matthews' house.  Get hands-on masonry skills practice with this unique technique. Master masons Gene Padgitt and Gary Hart will head up the class. Plus we will have an annual auction and a Friday night buffet banquet. 

Make room reservations at The Lodge at Port Arrowhead. CSIA and NFI CEUS will be applied for. CEU's will apply for MHA Certified Heater Masons. 

Visit www.mcsc-net.org for more information. 

Sincerely, 

Marge Padgitt

MCSC President

816-461-3665
margepadgittmcsc@gmail.com 

How to Choose a Hearth Appliance

High-efficiency fireplace by Regency

Since there are so many options for hearth appliances, it can sometimes be difficult to make a decision.  There are many choices available now from old school open fireplaces that actually take heat from the house, to high-tech hybrid masonry heaters that heat an entire house with very little wood. Both gas and wood-burning appliances are available, and making the right choice can mean the difference between thoroughly enjoying a fire or regretting the day you decided to make a purchase. 

First and foremost, it is critical to purchase a quality appliance from a reputable hearth dealer or chimney sweep, and that the installer is certified by the National Fireplace Institute and/or the Chimney Safety Institute of America (preferably both). These Certifications show that the installer is trained in their field. Also be sure to find out if the dealer is properly licensed by the local contractor agency and pulls a permit from the city codes department if required by your city. Professional dealers carry quality products. 

Buying from a big box store or local farm store may be tempting because of the low prices. The price reflects the quality, workmanship, and the warranty of the appliance, and that is why these types of stores sell the cheaper items. The metal is not as thick, the welds may not be as strong, and some stores even continue to sell non-EPA approved appliances which are not legal. You may also find non U.L. listed products online or in stores and that is a big problem since your local codes likely don't allow them. There is a reason - these appliances are inferior and could be a fire hazard in the near future. We've actually seen cheap stoves burn out in one season. 

Another problem with box store hearth appliances (other than electric units which are OK) is that they don't provide a qualified installer to install it. Gas and wood-burning stoves and fireplace inserts should only be installed by a qualified professional,  and the manual likely states that or the warranty is voided. There is a reason for this, too - there are too many mistakes that could be made that can cause a fire or Carbon Monoxide hazard.

Below is a chart I made to help people choose the appliance that is right for them: 

If you can't read the small print, go to our website at www.chimkc.com and you'll find this same page under appliances. 

Things never to buy: 

• Non-U.L. Listed appliances
• Barrel-stove kits (unsafe and not U. L. listed)
• Non-EPA approved appliances
• Older appliances that were made prior to 1989 (f you have one, get rid of it unless it is a rare early EPA approved and U.L. listed product)

And do not sell your old appliance - have it hauled to the dump. It is illegal to install a non-approved appliance in most jurisdictions. 

Remember that your local jurisdiction may REQUIRE a professional to do the installation, including the chimney or flue liner and connecting pipe, components, chimney cover, wall and floor protection, etc. and won't let homeowners DIY. 

THIS IS NOT A DO IT YOURSELF PROJECT!

House fire 

Let me repeat that - this is not a DIY project. I don't care how handy you are, if you are an engineer, contractor, or genius -if you are not a hearth or chimney professional you will miss something important!

After all, we are talking about FIRE in your house! 

I don't suggest using non-venting gas logs (see my article To Vent or Not to Vent on this blog for more info), or pellet stoves. Pellet stoves require weekly maintenance by the homeowner, which they never do, and then the stove stops working. There are also times when in the middle of winter it is impossible to find pellets. So for this reason I say stay away from pellet heating appliances. Pellet grills and smokers, on the other hand, are very easy and fun to use and you can always get pellets in the spring.  

Keep in mind that the newer the appliance the cleaner burning it is. The Environmental Protection Agency has come down hard on wood-burning appliance manufacturers and they've really stepped up and are now making super clean burning products. Some wood-burning stoves and inserts are hybrids, which means that a catalytic combustor is installed along with a secondary burn chamber. 

Custom masonry heater
by Gene Padgitt

So what is my favorite heating appliance?  Masonry heaters, of course. Masonry heaters use 1/3 the wood of a new clean- burning wood stove to produce the same amount of heat. They also retain the heat for long periods of time then emit this in the form of radiant heat throughout the day or evening, and only require loading twice per day. And no fan is required. The hybrid ECCO stove/masonry heater is also a very good choice. If you prefer gas, go with a direct vent gas insert that will provide ambiance and heating and is easy to use with a remote control! 

If you are considering a fireplace insert because your chimney is damaged by a chimney fire or rain water, remember to ask your chimney sweep to remove the creosote in the flue and chamber first. Creosote can cause bad odors, but more importantly can catch on fire when exposed to heat from the flue liner that comes with the stove. 

I know, this is a lot to consider, but hopefully I've made your job a bit easier. 

____________________________

Marge Padgitt is a veteran chimney specialist in Kansas City, Missouri. She is a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep and NFI Certified Gas Specialist. Contact her at hearthmastersboss@gmail.com. 

Health Benefits of a Fire in the Hearth

What is it about a fire in the fireplace that immediately elicits feelings of comfort and ease?  Is it the warmth, the sound of gentle crackle and pop, the rhythmic pattern of undulating flames…?

Perhaps all three; along with the added benefit that a fire invites us to slow down, sit down, and enjoy it.

Our modern lifestyle can keep us in a constant state of high alert status, or the “fight, freeze or flight response.”   (FFF) This is a normal, healthy response to stimulus or threat that has kept us humans on the planet for millennia.  A tiny, 2-part gland called the Amygdala that rests in the center of our brains is programed to keep us safe by remembering a threat and triggering a response to it.  IE: Stimulus = Saber-toothed Tiger, Response = Fight, Freeze or Flight.

However, that ancient protective response can be triggered by not-so-life-threatening stimulus in our world today.  In its effort to make sense of the stimuli that it is constantly bombarded with, the Amygdala can generalize and lump vaguely similar threats together.  Think about your most recent trip on a highway.  Did someone cut you off?, not let you in traffic?, run a stop sign? (and you had your kids in the car- whew!)  Your Amygdala reads those stimuli in exactly the same way it has been programmed to read “Saber-toothed tiger” – Yikes!  In addition, the sub-conscious does not know the difference between “real” and “virtual,” so even violent or disconcerting images on TV and through other media can prompt the FFF response.

That protective response floods the body with adrenaline, increases heart rate, slows digestion, tenses muscles and pumps blood to the extremities for fight or flight, leaving the brain sorely lacking in the nourishment it needs for optimal function and us feeling like we just ran a marathon.  No wonder we are tired after a long day!

A surprisingly simple, comforting and elegant way to de-stress and sooth the FFF response is to enjoy the benefits a fire in the hearth.   

Raising body temperature just a few degrees allows more efficient circulation; relaxing the muscles and bringing essential nutrients and oxygen to all parts of the body; creating a feeling of safety, security and ease.

The sound of the gentle sizzle and crackle of the burning wood serve as pleasant “white noise” which gives the brain just enough to occupy it, allowing other over-stimulated parts (ie: the Amygdala) to relax and rejuvenate

The almost hypnotic visual pattern created by dancing flames also provide as a pleasant pre-occupation for an over-stimulated brain and may even induce an Alpha brainwave response similar to that experienced in meditation or hypnosis.

Maybe our ancestors were on to something.  After a hard day in Saber-tooth-ville- Fire Good Medicine.

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Alice Brink is a Self-Empowerment Coach, Trainer and Mind/Body Healthcare Practitioner and may be reached at www.alicebrink.com