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Didn't know where to put this, a fire...

94 replies

spottedbike · 29/08/2022 06:55

I have a working fire place. I back onto a woods and have part of that woods within my boundary too.
How can I learn how on earth I make the fireplace work. If I Google it I'm just so scared I'm going to muck up, also I have no idea how I get wood, does it have to be dried first and any particular type of can I hack down a tree and go for it.

I am feeling particularly stupid about it all and don't know who to ask that can help but I know we won't be able to afford heating bills this year and our salaries have not gone up just dreading it.

OP posts:
justabigdisco · 29/08/2022 06:56

If you’ve never used it before then don’t light it until you’ve had it swept.

Whycanineverever · 29/08/2022 06:56

Before you do anything you need to get the chimney swept.
They would probably be able to advise as well but generally wood needs to be dried before you can use it.

spottedbike · 29/08/2022 07:01

It gets swept every year as it's a rental and they insist. Does this mean it's ok to use?! Or get it swept again? The guy came out in June.

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spottedbike · 29/08/2022 07:03

How do you dry the wood? As in does it take a long time. We've had heavy rain in the last week so I'm thinking we should have already tried to get some wood in.

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QuebecBagnet · 29/08/2022 07:04

You can’t burn fresh wood. So the wood I’ve just got this year from a freshly cut tree can’t be used until next year. You’re not allowed to cut trees down in the woods, those trees will belong to someone, it would be theft and if everyone did it there would be no trees. The stuff in your boundary is yours, but how many trees do you have and how long will they last? Because buying logs isn’t cheap either. Real fires are very inefficient as well, 80% of heat goes up the chimney and doesn’t heat the house. A log burner is more efficient.

QuebecBagnet · 29/08/2022 07:05

If it got swept in June it should be fine to use now.

Lemonblossom · 29/08/2022 07:05

If it was swept in June it will be fine.

you need dried wood (seasoned) to burn. Otherwise the moisture content will be too high and you’ll get limited heat and lots of smoke. You need to collect wood now for use in 12-18 months so anything you pick up or chop down now is no good to you for quite some time (although with the heat we’ve had, you’ll pick up kindling (small sticks) that can be used straight away.

collect kindling whenever you go out. You’ll need storage for both kindling and logs.

so in summary you’ll need to buy a load if you’re planning on using it this year. I’d do it quickly since demand is high

QuebecBagnet · 29/08/2022 07:05

Would your landlord be ok with you cutting trees down in the garden?

Augend23 · 29/08/2022 07:06

If you rent you probably can't cut trees down in the woods - but you might find a coal delivery or a wood delivery is still cheaper than heating.

Do you have any out buildings? You could collect fallen wood now and begin drying - it will still be quite wet if you use this winter so it would be essential to use a fireguard with tight holes with it so you don't accidentally set the house on fire with spitting from the fire.

spottedbike · 29/08/2022 07:07

So will the fire not heat the home? We have about a quarter of an acre of woodland. Then further trees in the garden we could use.

Thanks re the public woods didn't realise it was theft. Noones ever in there but it's good to know so I won't do that!

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spottedbike · 29/08/2022 07:09

@QuebecBagnet I will ask but I'm assuming g they get the chimney swept so we can use it. It was used by the last tenants so I don't think will be a massive issue.
Well finding out the wood needs to be collected 12-18 months doesn't really help me so much now.
I have a fire guard from our last home because stuff kept spitting out the chime t onto the carpet but I've never used a fireplace! We do have a massive empty shed we could use for the wood.

OP posts:
Lemonblossom · 29/08/2022 07:09

spottedbike · 29/08/2022 07:03

How do you dry the wood? As in does it take a long time. We've had heavy rain in the last week so I'm thinking we should have already tried to get some wood in.

The rain is a bit of a red herring. Surface water on wood isn’t the same as it’s overall moisture content. This is why in places that use a lot you will often see wood stacked outside uncovered. The surface water will dry off quickly.

We have a system when wood goes into log stores (systematically filling them so we know which is the most seasoned). It then comes up from the log store to the rack at the bank of the house (south facing wall and sheltered), then into a large storage basket in the house for a few days before burning.

QuebecBagnet · 29/08/2022 07:10

I think you’d struggle to heat your home. We have a more efficient log burner and it heats that room effectively but does not heat the house.

spottedbike · 29/08/2022 07:10

Chimney not chimet

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GreenEggsAndBabycham · 29/08/2022 07:10

And the landlord is ok with you cutting down the trees in the garden...?

The wood needs to have been cut at least 12 months before being burnt, and stored somewhere dry to season. Fresh (or "green") wood is very hard to light and smokes badly.

Open fires are super inefficient anyway as previous posters have said. See if you can get a proper woodburner installed perhaps? And open fire will be a lot of effort and fuel for very little benefit - it'll warm the people sitting near it and eventually the room it's in, but it's not the best way of doing so!

QuebecBagnet · 29/08/2022 07:11

But having one warm room might mean you use your heating less so could still be good.

Branster · 29/08/2022 07:13

Get it serviced first and they will show you how to use it properly. Please don't try it first, because there might be birds etc up the chimney or it might be blocked by dirt.

There would be a DIY option on collecting firewood, drying and storing but I have no knowledge of this.

We use the easy option:

We use kindling to start the fire : you can buy small bags of these from garden centres or some supermarkets.

You can use newspaper or firefighters (also available to buy from various places, small cubes of I don't know what, you can get non smelly varieties but they have a fuel in it so there is still some smell) to get it started.

You can also order fire logs. Find a local supplier or look online. We use a local supplier and two websites White Horse Energy and Luxury Woods. You get the wood in nets or crates. Crates are more cost effective. You'd need a sheltered storage space. Price has gone up last week (expected). I followed it because I managed to order just before price increase and kept an eye on it whilst waiting for stock to come in.

We use kiln dried wood but I think seasoned wood is also OK and a bit cheaper.

We only use oak as it's supposed to be longest lasting for maximum benefit but you can also use mixed hardwood for a slightly cheaper alternative.

There are the odd exotic hardwoods available by the net, supposedly better as it's a denser wood but these are more expensive and probably aimed to be used with smokers. I only tried olive so far and couldn't stand the smell and I'm not sure there will be any other experiments.

You also need some tools, look online or garden centres, a million options all down to aesthetic preferences and cost. But you want good quality stuff, to last a very long time.

Don't buy any if the above from petrol stations: very poor quality, not dried properly.

There will be a degree of trial and error until you learn how to use it.

Enjoy!

spottedbike · 29/08/2022 07:15

@Lemonblossom ooo maybe we stand a chance because the weather has been soooo dry this year we have a hosepipe ban and minimal rain.
Are fireplaces really that inefficient?! I was planning to heat the living room and stay in there then just go to bed so I don't have to turn the oil heating on.

OP posts:
QuebecBagnet · 29/08/2022 07:16

If it’s been swept recently it doesn’t need “servicing”. The sweep would have condemned it if unsafe to use I’d have thought. My sweep is very thorough and not only sweeps it but puts a smoke bomb thing in to check for leaks. Do have a working carbon monoxide alarm in the room though.

QuebecBagnet · 29/08/2022 07:17

spottedbike · 29/08/2022 07:15

@Lemonblossom ooo maybe we stand a chance because the weather has been soooo dry this year we have a hosepipe ban and minimal rain.
Are fireplaces really that inefficient?! I was planning to heat the living room and stay in there then just go to bed so I don't have to turn the oil heating on.

Try it, you’ve nothing to lose. Just don’t expect it to heat the rest of the house. But with a good duvet it’s workable.

Lemonblossom · 29/08/2022 07:18

All depends on the size and layout of your house. If your living room is central and your house is small you might find it heats the other rooms if you keep it going all day. But it’s labour intensive in that you need to go to it regularly to keep it going and it takes 10-15 minutes to get it started in the first place.

Youll also need lots of paper/card waste ti burn to get it started although this isn’t a problem for most of us due to packaging on food and other purchased items.

We have had a log burner for years and our house used to be entirely log fuelled (thus was removed since it was like a full time job!). Our second log burner is being installed this morning (in fact I need to go and have a shower or they’ll be here..)

Lemonblossom · 29/08/2022 07:22

spottedbike · 29/08/2022 07:15

@Lemonblossom ooo maybe we stand a chance because the weather has been soooo dry this year we have a hosepipe ban and minimal rain.
Are fireplaces really that inefficient?! I was planning to heat the living room and stay in there then just go to bed so I don't have to turn the oil heating on.

It sounds like you’re planning on using stuff that has just fallen rather than chopping down.

that might burn if you store it indoors first. But I think you’re massively underestimating how much wood it takes to keep a fire going. You might get a few nice evenings in front of a fire though..

When our house was log furnace powered I would be moving 5-6 wheelbarrow loads a day of properly seasoned thick logs.

spottedbike · 29/08/2022 07:24

@QuebecBagnet we have carbon monoxide. The guy that came here definitely burned something in it as I could smell it afterwards. I think there's something still sat in it that was burned out
Thanks for the advice @Lemonblossom good luck.
I have more time than money atm!

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Lemonblossom · 29/08/2022 07:28

If you have more time than money then you have nothing to lose by collecting kindling and dead wood.

As a tip if you have an aga, it’s great for drying. Obviously it’s also a massive oil/electricity guzzler but it is good for drying. Once ours goes back on in September I will use the bottom slow oven for log drying.

overitall1 · 29/08/2022 07:39

I have a fire guard from our last home because stuff kept spitting out the chime t onto the carpet but I've never used a fireplace!

How did that work? 🤔