4 Tips for Owning a Log Burner
Log burners are an absolute god-send when the weather turns bitterly cold. If you own one, you'll know when it's time to light it up. We usually start ours up again, after having it swept and serviced, in October/November.
It's been a lifesaver so far this year as it means we don't have to put the heating on, if at all. If left burning for long enough, supervised of course, it can heat upstairs as well. But there's a certain knack to owning a log burner that not everyone realises when they either have one installed or, like us, inherit one from a previous homeowner. So here are some tips for owning and looking after your log burner.
1. Have it swept & serviced every year
It might seem a bit excessive, but it's important that, after you've finished using your log burner for the year, to have it swept and serviced. This help to prevent chimney fires as well as ensuring that all seals are intact. This makes sure that the equipment is burning efficiently and effectively, which could save you money on fuel when you come to start it up again in the autumn/winter. When you get it swept and serviced, you should be provided with paperwork - make sure you keep this to show future homeowners that you've been looking after the burner, if you decide to sell.
2. Make sure you're burning the right fuel
This is important to help prevent chimney fires. Burning the wrong stuff can lead to creosote build-up which is one of the main causes of chimney fires. For example, refrain from using newspaper to start your fires and don't burn wood that's been treated or painted. Always look for the 'Ready to Burn' symbol on packaging if you're going to buy wood etc from a supermarket, DIY store or petrol station.
We bulk-buy our wood and kindling from a local supplier. Although this is more costly initially, it's no where near as expensive as buying several bags from B&Q at nearly £20 a pop. I wrote a blog post all about bulk-buying wood and what you should look for if you've not done it before. Have a read of that here if you're interested.
3. Get yourself a temperature gauge
You'll just be able to see on the picture above, a small, round dial on the flue pipe going up into the chimney. This tells us how hot the fire actually is. It might seem pointless, but it helps to get the fire going and keep it going. Once the dial gets to ten-to-the-hour, then it's time to put on a larger piece of wood.
If the dial hasn't yet reached that position, then you'll end up suffocating the fire and it won't last long or get hot enough to heat the room. Ideally, you want the dial to sit on the hour consistently to get the most heat out of it. Trust me, if you're new to the game, you want a temperature gauge, it makes life so much easier.
4. Invest in a fan
Again, it might seem pointless, but a fan is highly-effective. In fact, even our chimney sweep said how much of it a difference it will likely make and that he thinks more of his clients should have them. You don't have to have them installed by anyone. They're not a permanent fixture. We bought ours on Amazon for a reasonable price and we wouldn't be without one now.
A fan helps to distribute the heat out into the room more evenly and more quickly. It will kick in by itself when it gets up to temperature and all without batteries or any other power supply needed. It's a game-changer and something you need if you're struggling to heat the whole room evenly.
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I hope you enjoyed this blog post? Let me know in the comments below whether you already own and use a log burner or if you're thinking about having one installed. I'll see you again very soon with a brand new blog post :)
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