There's Nothing Like a Real Fire

Thursday, February 21, 2008 | Printer Friendly

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There's nothing like a real fire, with dancing flames and crackling logs in the grate, while the weather howls outside. Yet how safe is your fire? Follow our easy steps to ensure your real fire remains firmly in control.

1. When Did You Last Sweep Your Chimney?

Your chimney is the driving force behind a real fire, whether it's an open grate in a fireplace or a multi-fuel burning stove. Your chimney should be swept once a year to keep it clean and fully functional. This also applies to stainless steel flue liners; some companies claim they need never be swept, but you still get deposit build-up over time. A clean chimney is also a safe chimney, drastically reducing the possibilities of chimney fires by clearing away deposits that could catch alight.

You should always install a smoke alarm in the same room as a fire, whether electric, gas or real. Often, the alarm from a smoke alarm will indicate that your fire is too smoky before you notice, so invest in one with a hush button if your fire-building skills need some practice! The Kidde 10 year battery smoke alarm will give you years of protection - and silence when you need it!

2. Keep Bright Sparks Out of Your Home

Modern regulations state that there must be at least 300mm width of non-combustible material in front of a fire or wood burning stove, whether this be brick or slate or similar. However, nobody told sparks from wood fires that they should not jump more than 300mm, so an old-fashioned fire guard is still a worthwhile investment for fire safety, and a necessity if young children are around.

Just in case a spark does catch any item alight, all you need do is grab your domestic fire extinguisher hanging on the wall. Haven't got one yet? We recommend the 2kg home fire extinguisher.

3. Life's A Gas, and So Is Carbon Monoxide

Any faulty gas appliance has the potential to produce lethal carbon monoxide (CO). Known as the silent killer, CO is odourless and tasteless, so the only sure way to detect it is to install a carbon monoxide alarm.

A CO alarm works like a smoke alarm, giving an audible alarm if CO is detected. Place one in every room that has a gas appliance or gas fire, preferably on the wall, as CO gas rises with the hot air.

4. What Can a New Flue Do?

If you have a gas appliance installed in your chimney, you will already have a flue liner and special chimney cap installed. However, with a wood burning stove, don't assume that your chimney has a liner beyond the registration plate. A stainless steel liner is a good investment, as it not only improves the draw of your wood burning stove, but it also ensures that the heat your stove is producing heats the room, not your chimney.

Enjoy your real fire in safety.

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