How cold is it at your house right now?

[the*scarlet*pimpernel]

It's 1 degree outside and it's only 9pm. I hope my little birdies don't freeze.

[lurker172602]

chameleon54 wrote:

Its nice and toasty inside with old Jarah railway sleepers in the slow combustion heater. We have four baby orphan lambs we are bottle feeding at the moment. I put some hay in the wood shed and locked them in there for the night as it is very cold and windy outside.

I don't think you are supposed to burn railway sleepers.  There was a discussion about it on the Homies (ABC Radio) last week.  Something about asbestos from the trains brakes getting into the timber and then being released when they are burned.  http://blogs.abc.net.au/nsw/2014/06/homies.html?site=sydney&program=702_weekends
 
 

[lurker172602]

Well, that quote got mucked about didn't it 😞 Anyway you get my drift. Don't burn railway sleepers.

[lloydslights]

Brrrrrrrr.  Teeth chattering.   Shiver.  It's cold here.  Trying to warm up.  Had the porridge.  Hot coffee.  But my toes.   Wearing the old footy socks and fluffy slippies.

Lurker,  die of the cold now or die from possible asbestos contamination later?  

By the way, of the 6 sites I googled for info, were all referring to the Firewood Association's media release.  Not saying it's not correct info on the health aspects.  But I'm cold. 

DEB

[the*scarlet*pimpernel]

It's wet and windy here now. And all my wood is over there, under the tree, getting wet

I don't think I'll be taking any Building photos today. I might take the dog shopping and buy him a coat.

[bluecat*dancing]

A non-warming 11degrees outside

[soulart2]

I don't know what the temp is outside but it must be under 20 I reckon....grey skies and showers but being qld I'm sure it will be blue skies and tshirts tomorrow.......not skitting or anything !!!! hahaaaa

[purple_haize]

9 degrees and the wind is blowing a gale. Watching the large gum trees swaying right over in the wind.

[cherry*135]

Seems to be a lot of recent announcements about not using railway sleepers as firewood because of potential health hazards. We always used untreated wood when we had a home fire (log burner). Treated wood pollutes the air inside and outside the home.

HEALTH ALERT! BURNING OF OLD RAILWAY SLEEPERS
Last Updated: Thursday, 01 May 2014

After the recent upgrading of rail tracks throughout NSW, South Australia and Victoria a large quantity of old timber rail sleepers have been replaced by concrete sleepers.

It has come to Council’s attention that some of these old sleepers have been cut to 300mm lengths and are being off ered for sale as firewood.

The use of old rail sleepers for firewood raises significant health issues for the following reasons;

Used railway sleepers may contain asbestos – fibres from asbestos will be released when burnt and collect and concentrate in the ash at the bottom of the fi replace – this could be deadly.

Almost all used railway sleepers are contaminated to some extent with herbicides, heavy metals, grease and oil – when burnt these fumes will be absorbed by any food cooked over the fire. Fumes can escape from the heater/fire into the room and cause health problems.

Small stones from the track ballast become stuck in used sleepers – when heated small stones can explode creating a hazard or cracking the glass of a slow combustion heater.

Consideration should be given when purchasing firewood that it is free from contaminants.

[kabarine]

Cant beat wood heaters for heating, ours is pumping away atm, the whole house is toasty warm.

[i-need-a-martini]

A beautiful sunny day in Sydney.

Thermometre is sitting on 22 degrees inside and I have all the windows and doors open.