Tips for Winter

Save money and stay safe this Winter

This year more than ever, we need to be careful with money. Be like the humble squirrel and you could save yourself some money as well as keep your family safe.

Below are some helpful tips for getting ready for Winter and save money on your heating bills. Here they are in a nutshell!

• Get your chimney swept in Summer (especially if you have a logburner)

• Check your logburner for wear and tear

• Stock up on fuel and kindling locally in Autumn

• Check your carbon monoxide alarm is working

• Check your Smoke Alarm batteries

• Use old bills to start your fire - protect from identity theft
   

Check out our new website for for tips on using your log burner

"We are very pleased with the finished work" - Dave in Hertfordshire

Sweep in Summer

Arrange a chimney sweep in Summer.

After you stop using your fire, soot remains in the chimney and starts to mix with the water in the atmosphere rather than getting burnt off. This can cause your bricks and mortar or expensive chimney lining material to corrode. Getting your chimney swept in the Summer months helps avoid this damage and also saves you the stress of finding a chimney sweep in the busy months leading up to Christmas. Sweeps are quieter in the summer months and often will offer a discount to attract your business.

The fire service recommend that you get your chimney swept annually (at least) as this helps prevent dangerous chimney fires. 

To book your chimney sweep online visit our sister company website : chimneysweep.info/diary or sign up for a yearly reminder that your chimney is due a sweep. [top]

Check your burner

Love Your Woodburner

As the price of energy increases, a wood stove will save you money on gas and electric bills and should there be a power cut, you will still have a source of heat and can also use the top of your burner for cooking. Log burners need a little bit of care and attention every year to keep them running optimally. Check that...

• the grate and fire bricks that line the walls inside of the stove are not in need of repair.

• the glass and rope around the door seal. If damaged extra air will enter and unnecessary fuel will be burnt.

• your fire proof gloves are still intact. 

• the pipe coming out of the stove still has an intact seal.

You could also consider buying a stove pipe thermometer as these are an excellent visual guide to help you keep your fire burning at its most efficient temperature.
 

Contact us for our repair services.

"We are delighted with the woodburner , the heat from it is wonderful" - Gerry in Letchworth

Stock-up Early

Be Safe

Check your CO detector

Blockages in chimneys can cause carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. CO is a poisonous gas that has no smell or taste. Breathing it can make you unwell, and can kill. Every year in the UK, over 200 people go to hospital with suspected carbon monoxide poisoning, which leads to around 40 deaths.

It is a legal requirement to have a CO detector located near any wood, log or solid fuel burning stove. It is recommended to also have one in every bedroom in use. Check that yours is working, that it is correctly positioned and conforms to the British Standard. We will install one as part of your installation if you do not already have one.

Check your Smoke Alarms

You should also check your smoke alarms at the same time as you should have both kinds in your property. To book a free home fire safety check visit www.fireservice.co.uk.

Check your heat-proof gloves

If they are damaged or wearing thin, consider buying new. No-one needs burnt fingers.  [top]

"Great service, lovely guys, would highly recommend your company to others!" - Emma in Hitchin

Buy fuel locally

Reduce your carbon footprint

Log burners and multi-fuel stoves produce much less polution and harmful emissions than open fires so it makes sense to also buy coal and smokeless fuel from a local company to reduce damage caused by transportation of the coal.

Unbelievably coal mined in the UK can be more expensive than coal shipped from the other side of the world but if customers insist on buying it then suppliers will have to provide it.

Jellis Coal Merchants are a company that we use ourselves. We avoid buying bags of coal from shops and garages as they are usually overally expensive. [top]

Buy logs locally

Avoid buying fossil fuels...

Multifuel stoves are even cleaner burning when using wood only and your liner will last longer if you avoid coal.

Here are reliable local companies that will deliver seasoned logs from the local area to your door, that we use ourselves.

• Phillip Allen; Tree Surgeon in Arlesey. Call 01462 834411 to arrange for a delivery of logs to your house.

• Mr Goddard in Pirton. Call 01462 712692 for competitively priced logs and kindling delivered to your door
   

You should also look companies with the 'Ready To Burn' logo to ensure that the wood has reached the legal moisture requirement such as The White Horse Wholesale Company. [ask us for a voucher] [top]

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