Wakefords Fireplaces and Stoves

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The Benefits of Having a Fireplace or Stove in Your Home

If you’re considering having a fireplace or stove in your home, you’re onto a great idea. Not only do they add a rustic touch to your living space, but they also come with so many benefits that you may not have even thought of. In this blog, we’ll look at all the benefits of adding a fireplace or stove to your home.

Warmth & Ambience

First of all, one of the most obvious benefits is the warmth it provides you. During the chilly winters, a fireplace or a stove can give off the perfect amount of heat to keep you and your family comfortable. Not to mention, they also create a beautiful ambience that can’t be replicated by any other heating source in your home.

Cost Savings

Having a fireplace or stove can also save you money on your energy bills, which we all know is essential right now. By using wood as a fuel source, you can reduce your reliance on electricity or gas – which is pretty pricey, especially in the colder months!

Eco-Friendliness

Having a fireplace or a stove has more of a positive impact on the environment than other heating methods. Unlike fossil fuels, wood is a renewable source that produces little pollution when burned. This means you can enjoy the warmth of your fireplace without worrying about the planet. You can find the best fireplaces for the environment here!

Aesthetic Appeal

We can’t forget about the aesthetic benefits when it comes to fireplaces and stoves for your home. Adding one of these heating sources to your house can instantly create a focal point in any room which adds charm and character. Not to mention, they provide a wonderful, cosy environment for nights in with loved ones or friends.

Added Value

Lastly, having a fireplace or stove in your home can actually increase its value for when you come to sell. Many homebuyers see them as a desirable feature and are willing to pay more for a property that has one. So, not only can you enjoy the many benefits whilst you’re living there, but you can also reap the rewards when it’s time to sell.

Backup Heat Source

In the event of a power outage, your fireplace or stove can provide a reliable source of heat to keep your home warm and comfortable which can be especially important during the colder months. By having this backup heat (and light!) source, you can ensure your family is comfortable no matter what happens.

Takeaway

In conclusion, a fireplace or a stove can bring so much to your home. Whether it’s warmth, cost savings, eco-friendliness, aesthetic appeal, or added value, installing one in your home today is a great choice. At Wakefords, we have a range of fireplaces and stoves available for you to view in-store and online. We have the knowledge and experience to ensure you get the right product for your home every time.

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Why Do Fireplaces Smell? Here Is All You Need To Know

What is better than sitting in your warm cosy living room while enjoying your favourite TV show? The Winter season is thriving, and we all love to snuggle on a warm couch. But here is the truth, no matter how warm and comfy your living area is, a foul-smelling fireplace ruins all the fun. Good fireplaces are the key to spending happy winters and enjoying the warmth. So here are some reasons why do fireplaces smell bad:

Collected Leaves

It is common sense that leaves carried away by wind could get stuck in your chimney. Loads of leaves get collected in chimneys and start to rot. When you notice such a smell of rot and decomposition, you might be having a huge bunch of leaves up in your chimney. To get rid of this situation, the solution is simple; get your chimney swept. A good chimney sweep would remove all debris collected in it and so, no more smell now!

Dead Animals

The harsh winter days take their toll on small lovely animals such as raccoons and birds. They tend to move inside the source of warmth, that is, your chimney, and most of the time, they get stuck. Over time, their poor bodies start to disintegrate and produce an unbearable characteristic smell. To get rid of this, again have a good chimney sweep to clear out the chimney and als9 invest in a good chimney cap with mesh nettings. Chimney caps prevent the animals from getting into the chimney in the first place, and so they keep the source of smells at a good distance from your chimney.

Moisture

Moisture is the mother of all disgusting smells. If it manages to get into your chimney, then oh my, you are doomed (dramatic music playing). Well, not actually because you can surely eliminate it. Water seeps inside your chimney on rainy days. Combined with creosote, water can cause massive amounts of damage and rust to your damper and flue lining, which leads to costly repairs. Inside your chimney, it produces an unpleasant musty odor which can be embarrassing if guests show up. So here is how you can prevent it. Simply install a chimney cap so that water stays out of it during rainy days.

Creosote And Soot Buildup

It is one factor producing chimney odours that can not be 100% prevented. If your chimney smells like asphalt or burnt barbecue, then my dear, you have heaps of creosote and soot buildup up there. Creosote is a black and highly flammable tar produced from wood smoke. Soot, on the other hand, is mostly powdery and flaky amorphous carbon produced by incomplete burning of wood. Both of these result from burning the wood, so there is nothing that could be done about them. All you can do is have your chimney swept clean by a professional every year. Using low moisture wood for your fireplace can also greatly reduce the buildup.

In Conclusion

After having read the above article, you must be geared up to meet chimney odours out of your house! However, do keep in mind that a good fireplace can resist damage from all the above factors to a remarkable extent. Investing in a high-end and tough fireplace could make your winters warm, comfy, and enjoyable.

Wakeford’s Fireplaces and Stoves is a leading brand providing luxury options of fireplaces for your living room. We are a dedicated company and have been selling fireplaces and stoves all over Surrey and South East since 1984. We have a vast collection of cast iron, wooden, enclosed, open, and traditional fireplaces to adorn your home.

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Do Electric Fireplaces Really Heat A Room?

How Do Electric Fireplaces Work?

There are a huge range of fireplaces available on the market these days and depending on your household, some options will be better suited than others. A modern option is an electric fireplace; a good option for a stylish change for the traditional fireplaces that provides more flexibility. How electrical fireplaces works is; a heating element that mimics the look of the traditional wood-burning fireplace, but your home doesn’t need any vent, chimney or professional installation for the fireplace. The electric fireplace draws in cool air from the room, heats it around a coil and then pushes the warm air back into the room via a fan. But how well do electric fireplaces work? Do they heat a room to the same effectiveness as traditional wood-burning fireplaces?

Can An Electric Fireplace Heat A Room?

If you have the option to get either a wood-burner, electric or gas fireplace, the biggest question your likely ask is the running cost and how effective each of them are. Obviously, there are a few variables to consider such as; the size of the room being heating, size of the fireplace and airflow and ventilation of the room. Typically, an electric fireplace is more efficient to run and will heat a room, it doesn’t do so as fast as the more traditional fireplaces. So, if you’re spending your day in the room, perhaps staying in an office while you work, then the electric fireplace is a good option. However, if you’re looking to warm up fast by the fire after coming home in winter, a traditional fireplace such as a wood-burning fireplace or gas fireplace, because it will heat the room faster despite not being as cost-efficient as the electric fireplace option.

Additional Factors

When deciding on this purchase, there are a few more factors to consider that the electric fireplace has that work in its favour over the traditional counterparts. When using the electric fireplace, it won’t produce the same CO2 particles that gas fireplaces will and it doesn’t create the smoke that wood-burning fireplaces do. It is also considered the most renewable option available, depending on how the electricity is produced. It is a fireplace without a chimney and therefore can be used in different parts of the house. Most newer electric fireplaces also come with an automatic shut-off feature that prevents the unit from overheating and preventing an electrical fire, the same control isn’t available for the wood-burning fireplace.

Do electric fireplaces really heat a room? The answer is yes – not as quickly as the traditional options but it does so in a safer and more efficient manner. With a number of benefits that make it an improvement on both gas and wood-burning fireplaces. A modern solution that we will see develop to be improved even further as technology advances. Take a look at our electric fireplaces today and get in touch if you have any questions.

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What wood would be best?

It’s definitely the time of year to enjoy the wonderful warming atmosphere of a fire. It’s so satisfying and comforting. But have you ever found that sometimes your wood burning stove seems to burn better or worse than others? If so, it could be down to the wood you use. Here are some top tips on what sort of wood to use and how to store it to get the best and most efficient results from your fire.

Use seasoned wood

This is one of the most important considerations. Seasoned means wood that has been left to dry.  It should have a moisture content of no more than 20% for the best results. Using full-seasoned wood will ensure it burns better, for longer, providing greater heat and less smoke. It will also have a lower carbon footprint. You can either store and season it at home, or find a local provider who has seasoned it for you. It takes 1-2 years for wood to be properly seasoned. Drier wood is lighter and any bark on it will peel away more easily.

Hard vs Soft

There are plenty of opinions on the best types of wood to burn and you can read for hours on the merits of different sources. In general, hardwoods are reputed to be better for wood burning stoves. They are slow growing and therefore denser, which leads to a longer burn and better heat provision. Ash is often cited as the best, but oak, birch and beech are also good. Softwoods will burn quicker, so you will need more. Any resinous woods are likely to need longer to season properly.

Storing your wood

Whether your wood was pre-seasoned or whether you are doing it yourself, you will want to keep the wood as dry as possible when storing it at home. The best way to achieve this is to avoid stacking directly on the ground – simple pallets or the like can provide elevation. Also try to keep the wood covered to avoid the worst of the weather, but in a manner that still allows the wood to breathe. Be aware that your wood stack will be a haven for insects, so you might need to shake them off before taking into the house!

Then sit back and enjoy the wonders of a roaring fire….and if you don’t have a fire or a burner and you would like one, please do get in touch!

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Surrey in Autumn – Top Things to Do!

It is not hard to work out why we love autumn; it means we get to light our lovely fires and enjoy all the comforts and hygiene type feelings they bring, but we also love our county, so we thought it might be fun to have a look at some of the “cool” things going on in Surrey this autumn that we will be heading too and enjoying before getting back to a warm fire!

Autumn with the National Trust

Leaves…and lots of them! Nothing says autumn like a walk around some stunning gardens when all the leaves are turning. The colours are stunning, and we have some amazing National Trust properties to visit in Surrey. So head to the Winkworth Arboretum in Godalming, Claremont Landscape Gardens in Esher or Hatchlands Park in Guildford to really get into the changing season. A good walk, maybe something nice to eat and then….yes you guessed it, back home in front of a warm fire!

Guildford Book Festival

Keeping the cosy fireside theme going what better way to get ready for the coming winter than stock up on books! The Guildford Book Festival is the largest literary festival in Surrey and happens in October. Events are spread across a number of locations from The Electric Theatre and the Yvonne Arnaud to the Guildhall and the Guildford Harbour Hotel. 7 days of talks and more should be more than enough inspiration to get a good stack of new authors to binge during those darks nights…in front of the fire.

October Half Term in Surrey

It may feel like they have only just gone back to school but October half term will be here fast! There is always so much to do in Surrey and this year is no exception. There are Wizards and Witches Week at Brocketts Farm, Awesome Autumn at RHS Wisley and Wiglet’s Great Spook-er-ree at Godstone Farm. There is also the Pumpkin Carving Fest on Saturday the 19th and it goes on until the 23rd so plenty of time to get down to Morden Hall Park and get carving!

Bonfires and Fireworks

Literally nothing says Autumn like bonfire night. Events start in late October and run until early November right across Surrey. There will be loads of community evenings with all sorts of fun but the main Bonfire night is Saturday, November the 2nd for 2019.  Why not head to Newdigate on the 25th of October to kick things off, then Ripley for the 26th for their evening of ohhs and ahhhs! Our local event in Woking is on the 2nd of November this year along with a whole host of other events at Wisley, Guildford, Morden, Horley, Brockham and Epsom to name just a few! It might be a chilly night so you might want to lay your fire before you leave so you can light it easily when you get in with cold children after the fun.

We know the summer is amazing, but we can’t stop the seasons, so we might as well embrace them, we hope you will join us in getting out in our lovely county this Autumn and having lots of fun!