Wakefords Fireplaces and Stoves

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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.

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Colder Winters In Surrey

Over the last 30 years, Surrey has experienced some of its coldest winters ever. With temperatures getting more extreme in recent history, this trend of hotter summers and colder winters can be expected. 2018 saw the coldest winter Surrey had experienced since 1986, according to records kept at Gatwick by the Met Office. Dropping below zero and reaching as far as -10C, it was certainly a shock across Surrey. A number of schools had to shut down for a day to allow temperatures to rise again. Weather warnings have been given every year in recent years and nothing sounds better in these conditions than cosying up with the family by the fireplace.

Dealing With Cold Weather In Surrey

Weather warnings are placed in the winter months across Surrey to help prevent motor accidents, areas such as Reigate and Leatherhead experienced heavy snowfall. Not great for those trying to get to work but the local school children were overjoyed with the school closing for a day or two. Minimising travel and having a good supply of food are vital parts of dealing with the snow and dangerous weather, luckily in the UK we are in a more temperate weather system but with record cold winters seemingly occurring every few years you can’t be too careful. If you don’t have a place for storing wood logs, gas or electric fireplaces are an excellent viable option.

Get In Touch

If you’re interested in having a new fireplace or stove this winter, our Surrey fireplace showroom has displays so you can see how each model works and how it would fit into your home. Our wide range of fireplaces and stoves grant you an abundance of options to choose from. Get in touch with our team today on 01483 223900 or email us at info@wakefordfireplaces.com.

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What are the best woods for your fireplace

It is safe to assume that all types of wood burn, but it might surprise you to know that not all woods burn the same way. Some will burn at a higher temperature, some woods will burn at a slower rate and some are cleaner to burn than others. Depending on how much resin and sap they have, some woods will clog up and dirty your chimney faster. There will be some woods that are considered “the best” for burning in a fireplace; those that burn hot and produce more heat at a steady rate. Let’s take a look at the different types of woods available for your fireplace…

Hardwood for Fireplaces

For those looking for a high quality burn with a longer burn time, hardwoods are the best choice. Most fruit trees or trees such as; birch, ash or oak are great examples of hardwoods that are excellent for burning in your stove or fireplace. They will usually burn for a hotter and long time and they are cleaner to handle than other woods, having a relatively small amount of sap in them. However, most hardwoods will be more expensive than their softwood counterparts and are more prone to leaving stony residue leftover in the ash. Some hardwoods like birch will retain a lot of moisture, this will create more smoke when burning it. If this is a concern for your fireplace, it is something to be mindful of when considering birch.

Burning Softwood in Fireplaces

The biggest benefit of choosing a softwood is that softwoods are typically cheaper to buy. The best softwoods to consider are; alder, balsam, cedar, fir, pine and spruce. Typically, softwood will burn faster than hardwood and leave finer ash. A softwood will make more of a mess however and, especially pine will cause creosote (creosote is a tar-like soot substance that builds up on the walls of your chimney when the byproducts of your wood get burnt off) to build up faster in your chimney.

Woods Not To Burn In Your Fireplace

Recovering scraps of wood or salvaging firewood can be a great low-budget option for those looking to save some money while still enjoying their wood burning stove or fireplace. However, not knowing the origin of the wood, what foreign objects may be inside it or if it has been treated with any chemicals or products create a risk when it is burnt. Avoid painted or varnished woods, plywood and MDF will be filled with dangerous chemicals and driftwood may be too wet for a long time to use and have nails or other metal objects inside it.

Get in touch

For more information about fireplaces or advice on your fireplace and wood burning stove options, get in touch with our team today and we will be happy to talk to you about your options. Give our team a call on 01483 223900 or email us at info@wakefordfireplaces.com. See our full contact details here or give the showroom a visit to talk to our team in person.

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Will I Need Fireplace Tools?

If you are considering getting a fireplace or have recently made a purchase, you may need to get yourself some tools and accessories to use it. Fireplace tools are there to be used to handle the fire in a way that makes it safer, more manageable, and generally more enjoyable. They can also serve a decorative purpose; fireplace accessories can be antiques and enhance the beauty of your fireplace. So what tools and accessories are there? And which will you need to operate and improve your own fireplace? Here are some of our recommend fireplace tools for you to use.

Fireplace Tongs

In order to move your burning logs around to control the fire, you will need fireplace tongs. Using fireplace tongs you can breathe more air into the fire and enables the fire to burn better as a result. The size of the logs and the size of the fire will dictate the length and style of the fire tongs you need. There are tongs with styles from different countries for those who have a preference for style. If you have existing equipment, it may be best to match the style of those pieces and the style of your fireplace. Fire tongs are often seen immediately next to the fire for ease of use and decoration.

Fire Poker

Next to the tongs, fire poker is the most common fireplace tool you will see. It allows you to stoke the fire and move the burning logs around. Similarly to the fireplace tongs, you can use a fire poker to give the fire more oxygen and create a better burn with less ash and smoke being produced. An easy to use tool, kept by the fireplace, the fire poker can come in a wide range of styles and designs – perfect to match any fireplace design or existing tools you have for your fireplace and are often seen with tongs in a set by the fire.

Fireplace Shovel

Once you have a nice fire going and you have the tools to manage it while it burns, you’ll need to find a tool to help handle the amount of ash that sits in the fireplace. If there is too much ash in the fireplace, the oxygen in the fireplace won’t be able to reach the fire properly and prevents it from burning nicely. However, you don’t want to remove all of the ash, it keeps a nice insulating layer between the cold of the floor and the fire. This means that when it comes time to light the fire, it can be done so quickly and easily. A functional tool to be used on a regular basis and a common sight next to the fireplace.

Fireplace Brush

Not seen as often as the tools listed above, the fireplace brush is used to sweep ashes back into the fireplace. The ashes are scooped up by a fireplace shovel and controlled with the brush; the best way to manage the level of ash in the fireplace. Similarly to the fireplace tongs, the size and style of the right fireplace brush will depend on the type of fireplace you have.

Get In Touch

The items listed here aren’t all of the tools available but they are the most recommended and needed for any wood-burning fireplace. For more information on your fireplace, get in touch with the Wakeford team on 01483 223900 or get in touch today to book a visit to our showroom.

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Traditional Vs Modern Fireplaces

If you’re in the market for a new fireplace or you want to replace your existing fireplace, you will be met with the decision between purchasing a traditional fireplace or a more modern option. Now, there are going to be benefits to both options, but you’ll need to make an informed decision about which is best for you and your home. Some of the traditional fireplaces may not be suited for how your home is built, and some modern fireplaces may have features or operate in a way that doesn’t match your style. Here is some advice on what you can look for between traditional and modern fireplaces.

Modern and Traditional Fireplace Controls

Typically modern appliances and devices come with a new level of convenience and usability; fireplaces are no exception. Having a simple control system or even operated by a remote or mobile app, a modern fireplace brings a level of convenience that a more traditional fireplace simply won’t be able to have. You’ll be able to control the intensity of the fire, brightness and even set it to a timer. With the advancement of technology and the integration of smart apps and home automation, a modern fireplace is more future-proof and a better option for anyone interested in gadgets.

Unlike their modern counterparts, a traditional fireplace will have to be controlled manually, the user simply placing the wood into the fireplace to burn. It’s not as flashing as the modern fireplace but if you want straightforward and easy to use, then the traditional fireplace is the choice for you. There is something to be said for the satisfaction of having your own logs stacked and lighting the fireplace, as good as the modern fireplaces are, a traditional fireplace is simple yet effective.

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Space and Safety of Fireplaces

Other than how they practically operate, the space taken up by the fireplaces and how safe they are will be the defining qualities for anyone looking to make a purchase. Traditional fireplaces aren’t very efficient when it comes to space and some types of properties won’t be able to have them at all. They need a lot of space and additional space needs to accommodate logs and pieces of wood. Additionally, because of the nature of a traditional fireplace, they aren’t considered as safe as modern fireplaces. However, the output you get from a traditional fireplace and the aesthetics of them is alluring to many and given the right situation, a great addition to a home.

Modern fireplaces are generally considered more efficient, customisable and compact compared to traditional options. They can be very compact and built into most rooms you’d want a fireplace in. Because of this they are an option growing in popularity. They’re typically considered safer too; no need for large fire guards or running the risk of catching fire to anything around the room – being powered by gas or electricity.

Get In Touch

Ultimately the choice falls down more into a personal preference of the person making the purchase; given that your home is suited for a traditional fireplace, many people like to go for this option as it creates a fantastic atmosphere and the genuine heat produced by an actual fire is hard to replace. The Modern fireplaces come with more options for those looking to implement some style into their choice. They’re able to fit into smaller rooms and run at a cheaper cost, don’t require additional space for logs and burning material and have considerably lower risks of danger and damage. If you want to know more about both traditional and modern fireplaces, get in touch with our team today.