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How to Clean and Maintain Your Fireplace, Stove, or Log Burner

Fireplaces, stoves, and log burners are a great addition to any home. They provide a focus to your room as well as warmth and ambience during the colder months. However, as with any heating appliance, it’s important to keep it clean and well-maintained so it operates safely and efficiently. Therefore, we’ve pulled together some tips for cleaning and maintaining your fireplace, stove, or log burner.

Clean the Interior

First of all, if you have a wood-burning stove or a fireplace, it’s important to clean the ash out on a regular basis. A build-up of ash can cause your fireplace or stove to operate less efficiently which can reduce the amount of heat it produces. To clean out the ash, make sure it is completely cool. You should clean the interior regularly with a brush or vacuum designed for that purpose. This will help prevent the build-up of creosote, a flammable substance that can cause chimney fires.

Check the Chimney

Your chimney should be inspected and cleaned by a professional chimney sweep at least once a year. A dirty or clogged chimney can lead to a dangerous build-up of creosote which can cause a chimney fire. During the inspection, the chimney sweep will look for any damage to the chimney such as cracks or missing mortar which could allow smoke and gasses to escape into your home.

Inspect the Flue

The flue is the opening at the top of the chimney that allows smoke and gases to escape. It’s important to make sure it is clear of obstructions such as leaves, bird’s nests, or debris. If the flue is clogged, smoke and gasses can back up into your home which can increase the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Check the Seals

The seals on your stove or fireplace help to prevent smoke and gasses from escaping into your home. It’s important to regularly check the seals to ensure they’re in good condition and replace them if necessary. If the seals are damaged or worn, smoke and gasses can escape into your home which reduces the efficiency of the fireplace and increases the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

By following these simple tips and investing in regular cleaning and maintenance, you can enjoy the warmth and ambience of your fireplace, stove, or log burner for years to come.

If you’re looking for a fireplace or stove for your home, contact us now to arrange a visit to our showroom where we can help you choose the perfect heating solution for you.

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Which Fireplace Is Best For The Environment

Here is All You Need to Know About Different Types of Fireplaces!

There are no doubts over the fact that the fireplace is an integral part of the living room. However, with so many types of options in the market, one gets baffled when the decision is to be made. And here is our suggestion; when income allows, your topmost priority should be “going green.” Going green is the best choice you can make for yourself and for the greater good of the planet. So let’s dig in the options for the fireplace before we conclude which type is the best, keeping the environment in mind.

Fireplace and Their Impact on The Environment

We have a list of fireplaces that you can choose from:

1. Gas Fireplace

Gas fireplace has been an increasing choice of the users due to its efficiency, effectiveness, and the fact that it keeps the area cleaner. However, it should be kept in mind that it’s not environment-friendly, and in fact, gas is a non-renewable resource that we should be working to conserve and not the opposite. Furthermore, natural gas is hazardous to health.

2. Wood-Burning Fireplace

While this might sound like a not-so-good option, the recent advancements have enabled the wood-burning fireplace to be somewhat better for the environment. This means you can be considerate about the environment while having warmth and earthy aesthetic vibes for the living room.

3. Electric Fireplace

With so many options of the fireplace, one that truly and fully checks all the points in the list for the “fireplace best for the environment” has to be an electric fireplace. Not only are the electric fireplaces efficient, but they are also cost-saving and ensure that there is no burden being put on the environment. The best part about the electric fireplace is that it serves its purpose too. It keeps the room warm and additionally provides other benefits. An electric fireplace can be easily installed, is easy to maintain, doesn’t require much cleaning, and above all, is aesthetically pleasing. All in all, an electric fireplace makes the best choice in all categories while being the obvious choice when it comes to the environment. Also, if your electricity is powered via solar panels, the electric fireplace will be more eco-friendly.

4. Pellet Stove Fireplace
Pellet fireplace is another choice when it comes to selecting a fireplace that is best for the environment. They are efficient and have low emissions. Pellet is made of a variety of biomass and organic material that are in abundance and is cost-effective too.

In A Nutshell

Which fireplace is best for the environment depends entirely on your preferences and needs. Just because you have a gas fireplace doesn’t mean you can play your part; the usage matters too. Also, you can always upgrade to a better, energy-saving, and resource-conserving option that is best for the environment as well.
Wakeford Fireplace

If you are not sure regarding which type of fireplace you should get your hands on or which will work best in favour of the environment, then we, Wakeford Fireplace, have got you covered!

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What Are The Essential Fireplace Tools You Need? An Ultimate Guide to Safety!

Fireplaces provide your living area with a cosy vibe and relaxing ambience. However, there is a high risk associated with fireplace handling. But that’s not you to worry about since we have got you covered in this blog.

Here, we are talking about the essential fireplace tools to keep the situation “under control.”

And that’s just not it. There is another reason why you should have fireplace tools at your place; “wink, wink” it’s for decoration purposes!

1. Tongs

Fireplace tongs are not an option to have but a necessity. They assist the moving the burning logs to control the fire. The length of the tongue is one thing you should be considerate about. The reason is, if your burning logs are large enough, then a small fireplace tong will be of no use. The only way to get them moved is by going to the fireplace area. And we don’t want that, do we? Hence, making sure that you have the right length of fireplace tong is crucial.

2. Shovel

You might have noticed an ash layer in your fireplace area. The thing about ash is that you don’t have to get it removed fully. However, excess ash is required for you to get rid of as it prevents the air from reaching the wood, which is needed for it to burn.

You will need a shovel to remove the fireplace ash so that it’s lit nicely and evenly. Moreover, fireplace shovels are a great piece of decoration; old, unique, or contemporary shovels add an aesthetic vibe to your living area.

3. Fireplace Brush

Fireplaces are an integral part of your living. You surely don’t want the ashes and the dust to pile up there, right?

And that’s what the primary purpose of the fireplace brushes is. But, here, not any random brush will do. The brush with the right shape and width is needed to reach the corners and holes to get the dirt removed properly.

4. Fireplace Poker

There is a reason why fireplace poker is called a must-have. It is made of fireproof material that helps in pushing and moving the burning logs. In simpler words, it helps you make the smaller fire bigger and the bigger fire smaller.

5. Ash Bucket

Now you might be pondering that why a bucket is needed to stoke fire? Well, as we talked about earlier, we need to get rid of ash on an almost daily basis for the logs to be lit. The removing of the ash can be one hell of a task, and hence as buckets ease the things out for you.

Just for your convenience and better as management, investing in an ash bucket won’t hurt.

Get In Touch

To all the people living in Surrey, Wakeford fireplaces have been catering to your stove, fire, and fireplace needs for more than 3 decades now. And the best thing is that we are the best in the business.

If you are planning to get an electric, gas, or wooden fireplace installed, then look no further. We are the guide you need.

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Unusual Uses For Fireplace Ash Around Your Home

As we move into the colder winter months one of the biggest by-products of your fireplace, ash, will develop at the base of the fireplace. Typically, most people will throw it away but if you feel that’s a waste we have a few tips here for how you can use your ash around your home. So don’t throw away your ash, make the most of it!

Can I Use Wood Ashes For Cleaning?

Some surfaces made from metal and glass can be cleaned with your fireplace ash. The burnt wood ashes, mixed up with some tap water will form a grey paste. This paste is a mild abrasive and can be used to clean glass, remove residue and buff some metals. Ensure to wear gloves to protect your skin and apply the paste with a cotton cloth, start with small spots to test the results and clean away!

Can Fireplace Ashes Keep Bugs Away?

The wood ashes from your fireplace can indeed be used to prevent bugs, slugs, ants and pests from entering your home. A small circle around your vulnerable plants that are being attacked by bugs and pests will help protect them. Additionally, any small holes that ants and insects use to gain access to your home can be filled with ashes to prevent them from even entering your home. If you want to remove the ash, you can simply wash it away with water – no fuss.

Can Ash Help With Driveway Spills?

If you have a particularly big collection of ash from your fireplace, you can use this to help clean up any oil spills on your driveway (or road). When changing your vehicle’s oil, keep the ash to hand and it can be used in a similar fashion to sawdust to collect it up and help clean it away. Absorbing the spill and avoiding any unsightliness for your driveway.

These are just a few of the many unusual and helpful uses of your fireplace ashes. For further advice about your fireplace and how to best use them, get in touch with our team today.

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Prepare For A Cold Surrey Winter

October is about to start, a chill is in the air and the days getting shorter. Now is the time of year that we all start thinking about keeping warm for the winter. We can look forward to the hot chocolate and Autumnal aesthetic that moves in but with rising prices from energy suppliers and the increase in the cost of living, there are naturally going to be concerns around the coming winter. In Surrey, the average price for a kWh of energy is £10.05 (based on data from 2018). You can see how well a fireplace can heat a room or your house here. Using alternatives to heat your home may be a viable option depending on what resources you have available. Log burning stoves can be a cost-effective choice for those with a natural supply or a cheap wholesale option available. Gas fires are a modern alternative to a fireplace and typically will run cheaper than an electric or wood fireplace but don’t produce the same environment that a traditional fireplace creates.

What To Do In Surrey This Winter

All across Surrey, towns and villages will host fantastic Christmas events, have wonderful decorations and displays, and host markets throughout December. We’ve previously written about things to do in Surrey in the Autumn if you want to catch some of this seasons activities. You can also take a look at the Visit Surrey website and get this years list of fun activities and events that will happen across Surrey. This year there are some exciting activities including a favourite of ours; taking a llama for a winter walk – in Hambledon, there is a herd of llamas that visitors can take for a stroll through the Surrey Hills and soak up the beautiful scenery and create some wonderful memories with your friends and family.