FIREPLACES AND CHIMNEY SAFETY

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Working fireplaces can be dangerous, so it is important to keep your fireplace and chimney safe.

There is very little more welcoming in your home than a real fire crackling in the grate. Even with today's environmentally-friendly fuel, there is something particularly comforting about real flame in your home. It is easy to forget that open fires and even stoves present a danger to children and adults, however, so taking a few simple safety steps can help you to really enjoy your open fireplaces.

Chimney and Fireplaces

In order to have a working open fireplace or fuel-burning stove, you must have a working chimney. Whether you are starting to re-use a fireplace that hasn't burned for a while, or your re-opening a chimney so that you can have an open fire in your home, it is essential that you make sure that the chimney is safe. If your chimney has been capped, shortened or blocked off, you may need to talk to a builder about reconstructing the chimney and the flue so that they meet with current requirements. Depending on the age and condition of your chimney, you will also need to get a chimney sweep to clean out the chimney and check the flue lining, which may need replacing. Because the chimney is the outlet for whatever fire you lay in your fireplace, it is essential that it works properly. A non-function chimney won't take the smoke away from your fire and in extreme circumstances could even cause a chimney fire, which would be disastrous for your home.

General Safety for Fireplaces

Anyone who is dealing with lighting or maintaining a fire needs to take sensible precautions. Good fireplaces will have proper baskets for the fuel so that it is well-contained within the fireplace and not spilling out onto the hearth. Always stack your fuel carefully to avoid any logs or coal falling off the basket, and light your fire carefully, making sure that any naked flame stays inside the basket. Whilst firelighters are commonly used to help light open fires, never use any other type of accelerant as you could be faced with a much stronger and more dangerous fire. If you have small children or elderly people who could harm themselves near the fire, invest in a fireguard. It should be big enough to cover the area where the fire is, and for small children, a guard that surrounds the whole hearth is recommended. Always use the right tools for stoking the fire or for adding new fuel so that you reduce the risk of burning yourself - lack of flames on your fire does not mean that the fuel is cool - in fact, it usually means just the opposite.

Fireplaces - a world of choice

If you're looking for somewhere that sells a range of fireplaces, including bespoke work, look no further than English Fireplaces. We offer great quality at a price you can afford, and our fireplaces come in a variety of styles, materials and sizes, so we're confident you can find exactly what you're looking for. We also supply hearths, grates and fire baskets, helping you to complete your look.

If you would like to know more about our range of fireplaces including Marble Fireplaces and Victorian Fireplaces or if you would like to know more about specific types of Fireplaces and Fire Surrounds , then please call us on 01730 897600, we are very helpful and will be glad to answer your questions and offer advice.