Tag: wood burner

Log Storage Basics

12th September 2023 No Comments Blog

Log storage is a must if you own a wood burner. As soon as the winter chill hits, the demand for logs increases, along with the prices! So it is a good idea to begin stock piling well in advance.

There are lots of wood store designs that are both practical and pleasing on the eye. Outdoor stores are a great way of keeping wood dry in wet weather whilst steering clear of wood piles cluttering your home.

First, you need to decide where you’d like to put your wood store. You preferably want it to be easily accessible, closer to your house the better! You don’t want to be scrambling up the garden on cold, dark nights. If this isn’t an option, a good sturdy basket to carry your logs inside beforehand is an easy solution.

You want it to be sitting on level ground, and raised enough so that your bottom row of logs are not exposed to the damp. For the same reason, if you are positioning near a wall or fence, be sure to leave a gap in between.

For easy access, choose an open fronted store. Air needs to be able to circulate around your wood, therefore gaps in the sides is a must. The roof needs to overhang all sides and slope away from the front to allow rain to run off.

Once your log storage is in place, it is time to load it up. When stacking, try to keep it as neat and tidy as you can to avoid the logs tumbling out. Plus, the neater they are, the more you will be able to fit in!

 

 

 

 

Valentine’s Day The Eco-Friendly Way

11th February 2022 No Comments Blog

Valentine’s Day can have a huge impact on the environment. Over 40 million of people in the UK are expected to celebrate this year. So that’s over 40 million cards covered in glitter, glue and metallics that are not recyclable. We also spend over £1 billion on gifts like balloons, teddy bears and decorations that are impossible to recycle. Consequently these end up in landfills.

But, this doesn’t mean we shouldn’t celebrate the day of love! We should just be more mindful of how we choose to. Here are a few ideas for a more sustainable Valentine’s Day.

Eco-Friendly Cards

Why not give the ultimate personal touch, and make your own card? Have a rummage through your recycle bins and junk drawers for things you could use and let your artistic side run wild. Another option is buying from an eco-friendly company. I have found a fantastic business that hand makes cards from 100% recycled paper and seeds. After use the card can be planted in your garden and will grow into beautiful flowers! Check them out here – Eco Friendly Cards.

Did you know, ash from your fire can be a useful additive to your compost heap? or, it can be applied directly to fallow ground and dug in.

Get Your Bake On!

Show how much you love someone by spending a couple of hours in the kitchen making them a sweet treat. Cupcakes are really simple to make and perfect for sharing too. You can’t go wrong with cookies, and you can decorate them to your recipients taste. If you don’t have much time, chocolate-dipped strawberries are a guaranteed winner. Drizzle white chocolate over milk chocolate for the extra wow factor!

Swap Flowers For A Plant

Cut-flowers are a beautiful gift to receive, but unfortunately they don’t last. Wouldn’t it be much better to receive a house plant, that with care and attention, will stay alive. House plants act as a natural filter to indoor pollution, research found that there are over 50 houseplant types that remove pollutants and gases. And that’s not all, it’s a gift that keeps on giving! Plants have also shown to lower stress levels and help to improve your wellbeing.

So show the planet some love this Valentine’s Day and opt for  the eco friendly way!

Happy Valentine’s Day ♥

5 Ways To Stay Healthy This Winter

11th November 2021 No Comments Blog

It’s especially important to stay happy and healthy during the colder months. Here we have 5 tips to help you fight off the colds and winter blues.

With winter just a few weeks away, it will soon be time to snuggle up indoors by the fire, hot drinks, stew in the pot and cosy blankets. But it’s also the time of year for the dreaded shovelling of snow, scraping your car windscreen and those unwelcome colds and bugs.

1. Keep Warm

Cold weather can affect your body’s ability to fight off viruses and infections. By keeping warm, you can help yourself stay well this winter. Your home should be heated to around 18-21ºC especially in your living room during the day. If you have a wood burner, not only does it do a great job of keeping your home toasty through winter it also helps to reduce your blood pressure. Just watching a fire and listening to the sounds of the crackling wood will bring your heart rate down leaving you feeling both relaxed and warm.

2. Exercise

It’s easy to let your exercise routine slump during the cold, dark months of winter. It’s harder to get out of bed in a morning and all you want to do is cosy up by the fire of an evening. Keep up with your routine and you will feel the benefits. Exercise is great for physical and mental health and will help to keep your stress levels down. If you don’t fancy a run in the cold and wet, head to the gym instead or stick on a fitness program at home to get your heart pumping. It’s important to not over do it either as that’s when illness can strike!

3. Sleep Well

8 full hours of sleep every night is recommended. Sleep boosts your immune system, your immune cells and proteins get the rest they need to fight off whatever comes their way, like colds or the flu! Other benefits include weight loss, better moods and it can also strengthen your heart.

4. Eat Well

Eating a healthy, varied diet is essential all year through. Are you getting your 5 a day? Fruit and vegetables should make up just over a third of the food you eat each day. There’s evidence that people who eat at least 5 portions have a lower risk of heart disease, stroke and some cancers.

5. Supplement with vitamin D3

Because there’s less sun in the winter months, we don’t get as much vitamin D. Vitamin D contributes to the normal function of the immune system so supplementing through winter will give you a boost.

 

wood stove

How to clean your wood burning stove – a useful guide!

8th June 2021 No Comments Blog, Fire Expert

How to clean your wood burning stove, now is as good a time as any with the warmer summer months upon us.

Although wood burning is brilliant for generating heat efficiently, it can become messy if you don’t keep on top of maintaining it. Keeping it clean will also increase the lifetime of your stove.

Here are some tips to get your stove looking and performing it’s best

 

Firstly there are a few things you’ll need to check

  1. Examine the firebrick lining and see if it needs replacing  – the lining will keep the stove from overheating
  2. Make sure the chimney is cleaned. This will prevent chimney fires and help your stove burn more efficiently.
  3. Check the sealed door. You want a tight seal to make sure smoke doesn’t enter your house. The cord that’s around the door may need replacing on occasion.

Before you start make sure your stove has fully cooled.

Equipment you’ll need:

  • gloves
  • newspaper
  • a small ash shovel
  • a small brush
  • a metal ash bucket
  • household glass cleaner
  • cloth

It’s a good idea to wear protective gloves whilst cleaning your stove. Place newspaper on the floor around your stove then use a small shovel to remove all the ash into your metal bucket or container, you can use a hand brush to gently sweep any remaining debris.

You will find that if you have been using Firemizer there will be a significant reduction in the amount of ash produced, therefore making it easier to clean!

When your used Firemizer starts to deteriorate, ensure it is cold before removal. Firemizer can be recycled with your normal household metal waste.

Click here to order your replacement Firemizer.

Take the ash to a safe place outdoors away from any bushes or other materials that might catch fire. Leave for at least 24 hours before you dispose of it.

Apply glass cleaner to the glass and wipe using a cloth until the window is clean. If parts of the window don’t clean straight away, let the solution react for a few minutes before wiping. You can then use a dry cloth and hoover to clean the exterior of your burner.

Always refer to the manufacturer’s instructions which came with you stove. The information provided is guidance only, and should be followed only in accordance with the guidelines of the manufacturer.

So now you know how to clean your wood burning stove, there is no excuse not to keep it looking spick and span!

 

3 Reasons To Love The Cold

22nd November 2019 No Comments Blog

As the nights are darker and the days can seem very gloomy and cold its hard to see the appeal of winter and the cold. However, there are some benefits and true pleasures to be had in the winter months.

  • Cosy by the Fire

This time of year is perfect to get your log burners going and enjoy the warmth. Your fireplace can create a festive atmosphere especially when decorated. Make sure you stock up on wood get your chimney swept a minimum of once a year.

To give your fire that extra bit of Christmas spirit you can add spices to your fire. Cinnamon sticks create a lovely spicy and sweet smell. Just place two sticks with the logs alternatively you could add a few drops of essential oil to your logs, allow them to dry and then burn away.

  • Warm drinks

There are so many lovely hot drinks to enjoy this time of year from hot chocolate to mulled wine. These are perfect to enjoy in the cold gloomy weather and a great pick me up. Here are some classics that’ll get you in the Christmas spirit;

  • Coconut milk hot chocolate
  • Eggnog
  • Hot buttered rum

If you’d like more ideas and recipes click here

  • Food

Winter brings around all the best food that you can enjoy. From roast dinners and mince pies to cheese boards and lots of chocolate. This Christmas why not try something new at a Christmas market like the chimney cakes or strudel.

Do you like winter or summer?

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