Over time, they form a thick layer of creosote that a hot fire can ignite, causing a dangerous chimney fire. Filling a wood stove at night and closing the damper to reduce airflow can keep a fire burning slowly until morning. But it can also help creosote to form. The first cold snap of fall can bring some pretty spooky guests into your home, says a University of Georgia scientist. They're just seeking shelter from the cold.
Insects are cold-blooded.
They can't produce their own heat, so they rely on their environment to keep their body temperature regulated. When it gets cold, they look for warmth. Often, they find that vital warmth in attics, garages or other protected areas around homes and heated buildings. Sparks said entire colonies of wasps, hornets and yellow jackets, except the fertilized females, die during the first cold spell of fall. The fertilized females are the queens of the colonies.