Thursday 31 March 2016

Fire Safety and Prevention - Essential Fire Safety Tips For Fireplaces at Home

When it comes to adding a true feel of homeliness to your home, there is nothing that can quite match a fireplace. However, in this era of electric heating, many people have forgotten the basic safety considerations that come with open fireplaces. 

With that in mind, here is a short article on open fire safety that will help you to make sure your fireplace does not present a hazard. 

First of all, keep your fireplace clean by regularly sweeping it. Each year, before you begin using your fireplace, check the chimney for blockages - even small ones can cause serious problems. Hiring a professional chimney sweep is strongly advised, as they will know all there is to know about open fire safety.
As well as using a fire guard, you should make sure that objects and furnishings around the fire are safe. Keep furniture away from the fire, and check to see if furnishings around the fireplace are fireproof: certain ordinary household items are combustible, and should be kept away from fires at all costs. 

Caution when obtaining wood is another aspect of open fireplace safety. Some processed wood available on the market contains chemicals that will be released into the air when burnt, so before you purchase wood check with the retailer to ensure that it is safe to use as firewood. Never burn unseasoned wet wood, as this can cause a chimney fire. 

Finally, when you retire to bed for the night, make sure that your fire is fully extinguished. This may sound obvious, but in practice it is all too easy to leave an ember or two still alight - and all too easy for those little embers to re-ignite the fire as you sleep.Put your fire guard in place also. 

We hope that this quick guide to open fireplace safety will be of use to you! 

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How to Use a Wood Burning fire

An open fire is perfect for heating up your home in those cold winters. You can get some wood burners UK that are ideal for any setting. They come in different designs, and you can take time making the right choice. Before that, though, it helps to know how to use a wood burning fire to get the most out of it. 

Clear the Chimney Before you light an open fire, check the chimney of your home. The flue facilitates ventilation, and it has to be clear for that purpose. If you don’t use the fireplace often, then the chimney may have debris and dust clogging it. Clean the chimney to prepare it for an open fire. 

Pick the Wood It is essential to know which fuel to use for wood burners UK when you buy one. The type of wood will determine the kind of heat you get. Hardwoods such as ash, beach and oak produce better heat than soft woods. Be mindful of the environment and do not use endangered species of wood for your open fire. Find a supplier that provides quality seasoned wood from reputable sources. Dry wood will typically give you better heat. Wood should season it for a minimum of 18 months for it to dry properly. 

Accessories The right tools will help you use a wood burning fire to its full potential. When buying one, consider accessories such as poker, ash bucket, grate, tongs, fender and a fire screen. It will make it easier to light and maintain your fire when you have the right tools. You can buy these tools from the same place you get the wood burner. Also a moisture meter to make sure your wood is well seasoned before you use it. 

To know more about wood burning fire and wood burners uk visit to website.