5 reasons why you should invest in a wood-burner

firemizer_admin 27th February 2018 No Comments Blog, Fire Expert

5 reasons why you should invest in a wood-burner:

Wood-burning is a popular trend that has escalated both in the UK and U.S. over the last decade or so. 1.5 million stoves are already fitted in Britain whilst 2.5 million American homes use wood as their primary heat source. The state of California in particular contributes 218,185 wood-burners to the 116 million total homes in the U.S. The reason for this rise in this popularity can be related to the environment, saving money or simply interior design preferences. Here are 5 reasons why you should invest in a wood-burning fire.

1. Wood is essentially carbon neutral. –

Though wood does release carbon dioxide when combusted, it can still be environmentally conscious. Unlike other fossil fuels, wood can be sustainable if bought from somewhere that ensures the replacement of every tree felled. This means that for every tree chopped down, another is planted, meaning the source can become entirely renewable. Wood-burning fires can however still release harmful pollutants and smoke if the wood hasn’t been dried or seasoned properly. Reduce harmful air pollutants by up to 72% if paired with a Firemizer.

2. They’re more efficient than hearths. –

Modern wood-burning stoves now come with efficiency ratings of somewhere between 80-85% whereas hearth will typically have around 20-25%. This means a wood-burning stove is about three times more efficient. Firemizer helps your fuel burn more slower and evenly, helping maintain this efficiency.

3. They can save you money. –

As the price of gas and electricity continues to rise, many houses are swapping to wood-powered heaters and boilers as a cheaper alternative. Again, locally-sourced wood is not only renewable but can also work out cheaper than your current energy provider. Also, gas or electricity services are often prone to power outages, whereas a well-maintained fire can burn all night. With Firemizer saving you 38% on solid fuel, you can reduce a third of the wood you burn too.

4. Wood-stoves are so versatile. –

Modern advancements haven’t just helped the efficiency of wood-stoves; they’ve also created a huge range to choose from. As long as there’s room to run a vent pipe to the outside, they can be fitted in any room of the house – from lounge to bedroom to kitchen. A Firemizer grid can easily be cut down to fit smaller stoves too.

5. They create a lovely scene. –

There’s no denying that wood-burning stoves have a certain romantic aesthetic to them. The sounds of crackling embers, the smell of firewood, the sight of roaring flames and the warmth they give off. A wood-burning stove or fire makes any room a domestic heaven we so often swoon over in the movies. With Firebuilder, the firelighter-kindling combo tool, starting your dream fire couldn’t be any easier – turning your home into a movie-set!

Contact your local Flue specialist or chimney sweep to get an expert opinion on what type and size of stove would best suit your home, and start reaping the benefits of the wood-burning fire (with a Firemizer and Firebuilder) as soon as possible!

Pollution

firemizer_admin 2nd February 2018 No Comments Blog, News

The Dangers of Pollution:

As of the 21^st century, growing levels of pollution have contributed to 6.5 million deaths per year. Air pollution in particular (the release of pollutants into the air) causes skin and lung irritation and lasting blood disorders. Dioxins, lead and mercury pollutants can also cause significant damage to the immune, reproductive and central nervous systems.

The origin of these pollutants ranges from wildfires to the release of industrial chemicals to burning fossil fuels resulting in harmful smog, radiation, increased pollen production and the extreme weather. However, the most destructive consequence of pollution is the rising of global surface temperatures – this causes sea levels to rise and the transmission of infectious diseases far more probable. Cities of dangerously high pollution levels are no longer limited to industrial powerhouses like New Delhi and Beijing; London and Los Angeles are rapidly catching up. As the ‘State of the Air’ Association reported in 2017, 125 million Americans lived in counties of elevated particle pollution. Escalated surface temperatures could be one of the prime contributors of the devastating natural disasters that hit America in 2017.

Combating pollution doesn’t have to start on a global scale – we can start it ourselves at home. It can be as simple as cycling to work, or recycling waste goods and generating electricity via solar panels. Buying locally-sourced food and products also reduces the levels of fossil fuels needed in transportation, so it also pays to shop with small businesses too.

Wood-Burning Pollution:

The process of burning wood and coal also contributes to higher levels of air pollutants within our homes. London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Environmental Secretary Michael Gove have both expressed disdain towards the 1.5 million wood stoves already fitted in Britain (with a further 200,000 sold every year). Gove shows an interest in the banning of house coal and unseasoned wood, despite smokeless alternatives being considerably more expensive.

In 2015, 40% of the UK’s particulates originated from domestic stoves and fireplaces, double what was produced by diesel cars. Khan has outlined his ideas for awarding local governments the authority to fine those in high pollution areas who continue to use wood or coal as their primary heating source. Firemizer has backing from Nottingham and Cambridge Universities who have independently tested and confirmed the product’s claims of conserving solid fuel resources whilst improving heat output.

Omni-Test Laboratories in Oregon also concluded that it reduces pollutants (produced by burning wood and coal) by up to 72%. This means that Firemizer can not only help you save up to a third of your wood or coal costs (meaning less solid fuel used overall and less fossil fuel used on transportation if sourced locally), but also it can significantly reduce the harmful pollutants released into your home and potentially prevent those in high-emission areas from receiving fines.

How-to use Firemizer & Firebuilder

fire_alex 8th January 2018 2 Comments Blog

Instructions for how to use Firemizer & Firebuilder together:

Unsure of how to get the most out of your Firemizer and Firebuilder? Follow these easy steps:

Firstly, place your Firemizer on the base or grate of your domestic stove or fireplace.
Secondly, place one Firebuilder flat on the grate (tip: one grid easily snaps into two for smaller grates or stoves, meaning a box of 5 can potentially start you 10 fires).
Light under the edge of the Firebuilder, or if you’ve snapped it in two, at one of middle two corners.
Allow the Firebuilder to ignite through its unique draught technology and wait for the flames to become established.
Add fuel, sit back, and enjoy a beautiful fire that lasts even longer. Firebuilder doubles as kindling, so there’s no need to disturb it once it’s roaring.

Alternatively you can watch the video below to achieve a better understanding!

Firemizer’s round-up of 2017!

firemizer_admin 8th January 2018 No Comments Blog, News

2017 is over!

As we finish the last of the turkey, now seems a perfect time to reflect on the successes of 2017. with growing purchases of Firemizer in the US market and the introduction of its sister-product Firebuilder in the UK market, homes across both continents have been enjoying their fireplaces and wood-burning stoves for cheaper and longer over the festive period.

Firemizer (a unique heat grid that is easy to use and optimises the performance of solid fuel fires and stoves) continued its strong sales in the UK market and concluded 2017 with its best month of US website sales in December. Firebuilder (an odourless and kerosene-free firelighter that doubles as kindling) enjoyed a strong introduction to the UK market. They received some glowing reviews –

Bloggers:

Green & beauty blogger Fifi Friendly said “Honest pants on, I was a little sceptical and set out to test their claims. Better heat, longer burn time, money-saving and easier to clean… bonus! It totally works.”
UK-based-attractions website What’s Good To Do described the combination of Firemizer and Firebuilder as able to produce a “warm room very quickly in half the time of my usual fires. These items are without
Kerosene and odourless, quicker and also made of recycled material so have to recommend them.”
Green living Eco Fluffy Mama thought that it “actually made the fire look really pretty. It’s also made cleaning out the ash pan a much more pleasant experience.”
French-based Family bloggers Family Makes reported that “our son has been working over there and has certainly seen the benefit. Hhe seems to be using fewer logs, and they last longer and burn more thoroughly.”
Craft with Cartwright, a freelance illustrator and craftswoman, taught us how Firemizer is the perfect companion to a BBQ – “it slows down the air flow and reduces the burn rate […] giving you a longer time period to cook for, great when you are entertaining from lunch into evening.” On her BBQ essentials, health blogger Just Average Jen mentioned that Firemizer allowed her to “cook more items than normal as it was still hot so we cooked some food for the following day!”
Finally, videogame and tech enthusiast DadGeek said “it gave us a really decent campfire all evening and well into the night. I’d really recommend it for people who are heavy/regular users of a fire pit or barbecue. The main benefit is going to be those mid-to-long term fuel savings.”

Newspapers

Firemizer also found itself featured in national newspaper The Sun’s ‘Sun Savers’. This featured a collection of products that help to save money during the chilly November months.

Our top tips for beating the chills of November without racking up huge bills — plus find out high street deals from Sun Savers

Exhibitions

In 2017, Microtex attended its first Exhibition show – the Grand Designs Exhibition show held in Birmingham’s NEC Arena. Over the course of five (very long but rewarding) days, we had the chance to speak face-to-face with new customers and old supporters of Firemizer and Firebuilder and convey the true ingenuity of the products ourselves. We loved it; we’re even booked to exhibit at the Columbus Home & Garden Show and Countryfile Live this year!

Other Developments

The Firemizer team also participated in Movember last year, trying our hardest to grow out our moustaches in the name of changing the face of men’s health. Though our facial hair wasn’t that impressive, the £292 that we raised certainly was. Here’s to another great Movember helping a great cause!

2017 also marked the beginning of a partnership with Canadian fan and heating manufacturer Caframo. With new packaging, Firemizer is now available to buy on Amazon!

And now 2018 is upon us, Firemizer and Firebuilder are enjoying a completely refreshed website, courtesy of m360 graphic designers – the new website features a cleaner layout, updated research findings and is generally more streamlined and intuitive. This means that buying with us has never been quicker or easier! Be sure to look out for our new website launch in the coming days.

Let’s hope the future of Firemizer and Firebuilder stays bright as we tackle this year with a fire roaring in our bellies and in our hearths too.

Firebuilder – everything you need to know about the all-in-one fire lighter!

M360 Developers 20th December 2017 No Comments Blog, News

Firebuilder is the most effortless and efficient way to start the perfect fire in your barbecue, chiminea or fireplace. The genius of this fire lighter truly lies in its simplicity! Made of 100% recycled cardboard, the unique draught technology of Firebuilder ensures that the airflow of the fire produces a fuller flame and faster heat production without the need for any extra kindling or the intrusion of chemicals like kerosene. This means it’s odourless and great to cook with, safety-conscious and environmentally friendly!

Using Firebuilder couldn’t be easier – here’s a step-by-step guide:

Simply place one grid flat on your grate or stove (or snap the grid into two for smaller models).
Ignite the corner and the let the unique design do the work until the fire has become established.
Finally add your fuel (with sister-product Firemizer if you want your fire to last over a third longer). The whole of grid is consumed during its lifespan, which means there’s no mess to clean up afterwards either.

Firebuilder is also the perfect companion to any outdoor enthusiast. It requires no extra kindling and one pack can potentially make up to 10 fires faster than any comparable product. Extensive product research and testing has proven that whilst other market firelighters can take up to 42 minutes to achieve 1kw of heat, Firebuilder takes a mere 27 minutes. Starting campfires, barbeques or chimineas has never been as quick, clean or easy!

Whether it’s for cooking up a meal in the great outdoors, or starting the fireplace to warm the family home, Firebuilder makes the process of starting the perfect fire quicker, cleaner, and much easier. Don’t find yourself without one whatever the weather this season!

Firemizer – everything you need to know about the solid-fuel-saving device!

fire_alex 28th November 2017 No Comments Blog

Here’s all you need to know about Firemizer:

It’s a suspiciously simple yet incredibly effective product. Everything you need to know about the product and how it improves your wood or coal-burning falls into three qualities; Efficient, Environmental, and Economic.

Firstly, Firemizer boasts an exceptionally efficient nature that helps to save you over a third of your solid fuel source. By slowing down the airflow to the body of the fire, Firemizer reduces the burn-rate and its stainless-steel-alloy mesh evenly distributes the heat across the entire base of your wood or coal-burning stove or fireplace. This means that with the addition of Firemizer, your fire will burn far more resourcefully than it ever did before.

Secondly, Firemizer is a helpful tool in the battle against climate change. It is non-catalytic, chemical-free and with its cardboard packaging, entirely recyclable. You can even use the leftover stove ash in your garden as compost for plants! Firemizer reduces excess creosote tars that build up in chimneys by 57% and general air pollutants by 72%, and with 38% of extra life added to your fire, saving a third of your wood or coal resources in the process!

Finally, and most importantly to some, are the economic benefits. By reducing the amount of solid fuel needed and simultaneously increasing the lifespan of your fire, Firemizer immediately starts helping you save on energy bills from the second it’s placed under your fire until the end of its lifespan (typically around 500 burn hour or one season).

So stop throwing your money and resources into the fire – purchase a Firemizer and start burning efficiently, environmentally and economically!

Tag: wood burning