With proper
care and use, a real open fire is a welcome addition to any home. Whilst
providing cosy warmth, a blazing fire also acts as the heart of the home where
the whole family can while away the hours of a long winter’s evening.
The natural
glow of a fire warms both our homes and our spirits, however, you need to make
sure you look after your open fire properly. Here are our top tips:
Keep a clear space
Whilst you
don’t often have much choice about where your fireplace is, it’s important to
consider the placement of the furniture surrounding your fire. You should keep
all items of furniture and soft furnishings a safe distance away from the fire
and any plastic items should stay well clear as they won’t be able to withstand
the heat. It’s also a good idea to invest in a fire screen to ensure young
children and pets can’t get too close.
Invest in quality fire tools
You need to
be able to tend to your fire safely and investing in quality fire tools is the
best way to do this. Don’t just buy one or two things- make sure you have
everything you need. This includes a poker, a shovel, a brush and tongs in case
you need to move logs or coal around whilst the fire it’s burning. A good brush
is essential as you’ll need to clean ash out regularly so that it doesn’t build
up too much.
Burn clean fuel
This may
sound obvious, but you should never burn anything other than your chosen fuel
on your fire. The three main fuel options are coal, kindling and fire logs. You
can now buy environmentally friendly coal that produces less C02, eliminating
coal’s bad reputation for being harmful to the environment. Kindling and logs
i.e. wood fuel, is the most popular choice nowadays. Be sure to only burn
composition logs or real hardwood logs like birch, oak or maple. When you burn
your fuel cleanly, you won’t damage your fire or chimney and you’ll reduce the
release of harmful emissions into the air.
Store your fuel properly
To ensure
your fuel burns as cleanly as possible, you also need to make sure you store it
properly. Wood must be kept completely dry- remember that hardwood dries slower
than softwood so if you’re buying unseasoned logs, you’ll need to buy your logs
in summer so they have time to dry by winter.
Keep your
fire logs one-foot off the ground and if they’re stored outside, make sure
they’re under shelter. Coal should be treated in a similar way- store your coal
in an outside coal bunker to keep it sheltered from the elements.
Find a reliable chimney sweep
Whilst there
are many ways you can look after your real fire yourself, sometimes you simply
need to call in the professionals. It’s essential that you find a reliable
chimney sweep in your area to carry out an annual inspection and give your fire
and chimney a deep clean. You should alert your local chimney sweep if you
notice a soot or creosote buildup, as this could signify a blockage in your
chimney flue.
If you live
in Sussex, Kent or Surrey and you enjoy the comfort of a real fire in your
home, Milborrow Chimney Sweeps are your local fireplace specialists. We are a
family-run firm with an excellent reputation for chimney sweeping, fireplace
repairs and stove and boiler installation. For warmth and comfort all year
round, get in touch
with us today.
