Getting it right is easy once you know how - you can have a great fire, pollution will be minimised, you’ll save money and your chimney will be cleaner and safer.
You can burn any type of wood, as long as it's dry. You may have heard softwoods create “tar” problems in chimneys but it’s not true. They are less dense and so you’ll need more.
Have you had a bird fly down your chimney, or worse still, make a nest on top?
We often get calls from customers who have just moved house and found themselves new owners of an open fire or wood burner. Here's what they ask...
There were around 5000 reported chimney fires 2014 – 2015. The real number will be far greater as not all fires result in an emergency call. Also, as professional sweeps, we know that some customers have smaller chimney fires they are unaware of. Chimney fires can be slow and quiet or burn explosively – noisy and dramatic enough to be detected by neighbours or passers-by.
Logs stacked around a stove might look nice but it’s an accident waiting to happen.
If you use a wood burner or open fire in a Smoke Control Area it is important to know the rules.
These tools will help you get the very best from your stove and your fuel. They can save you money, help keep the chimney cleaner and reduce unnecessary air pollution.
How to reduce pollution, stay safer and save money when using your woodburning stove
You can actually burn any type of wood on your fire - as long as it's dry and not treated.
A well ventilated log store works best with some air below (stacking on an old pallet is perfect!).
