Fireplace help

Justamum

I don't know which forum I should post this into, but hopefully someone here will be able to help.

I want to use our fire, but can't get it lit. I'm sure there should be something above the fire inside the chimney - there's a constant draught down it, and from my vague recollections there should be something which I can open or close.

Does anybody know the name of what it is I need to buy?

Sorry I seem a bit vague

yummyhoney

i remember yrs ago having a back boiler and oening and closing something in the fire to heat the water,,i think!!i dont have anything in this house tho,,no back boiler and no open closey thing,,i'm not using my fire for next few days so i just stuffed an old cushion up there to stop the draft,,i dunno if i'm doing right or wrong have to say,,

Olliebeak

The thing that you have to 'open/close' is the damper - used to direct heat towards (or away from) the back boiler for hot water and/or CH, IF there's one installed.

Ours was in the form of a long iron bar that hung down towards the fire with a hook on the end.

You had to put the poker into the hook and pull it downwards - this would allow the heat from the fire to reach the boiler and also helped to 'draw the fire' to make it catch light properly when first lit.

If you're wanting to light a 'real fire' it may be a good idea to have a chimney sweep take a look at the chimney to see if it needs sweeping. He may be able to tell by looking at it, if it's ok for a fire to be lit in your particular fireplace.

Woofles

What are you using to try and get it lit, firelighters are the obvious answer, but you can make paper logs.

Ah the joys of trying light damp coal, glad I don't have to do that any more, or take the ashes out on a windy day.

Jevvers

If you've not used the fire you shd def get it swept otherwise you risk a chimney fire:eek:

Justamum

Jevvers wrote: »

If you've not used the fire you shd def get it swept otherwise you risk a chimney fire:eek:

I did get it swept last year as I was going to have a fire then, but never got round to it

We haven't got a back boiler so I assume we don't need a damper? So the open chimney is fine then?

I went and bought some firelighters and it's going fine now I have to say I used to be able to make a fire without ever having to resort to firelighters, though it's a few years since I had a real fire.:D

I really enjoy clearing out a grate and re-laying a fire - am I odd :rotfl:

Justamum

yummyhoney wrote: »

i remember yrs ago having a back boiler and oening and closing something in the fire to heat the water,,i think!!i dont have anything in this house tho,,no back boiler and no open closey thing,,i'm not using my fire for next few days so i just stuffed an old cushion up there to stop the draft,,i dunno if i'm doing right or wrong have to say,,

When I was googling earlier on I found these http://www.chimney-balloon.co.uk/acatalog/?gclid=CIPJiZ_qtZ4CFSBk4wods2NgEQ so I'm sure your cushion should be ok - just don't forget to remove it when you light the fire!

Jevvers

Not odd at all - I also find it very satisfying, addictive even!

CLARABEL

:T
I love my fire too, really love laying it and starting it. My personal challenge is no firelighters, ever, and only one match!

I use loo roll innners and other bits of card to help it start, then sit there tending to it for as long as I can before the kids start to kill each other! it's relaxing and hypnotic...who needs telly??!!

Clara.
xxxxx:A

Mrs_Thrify

Coal fires, love them or hate them?
I love my small coal fire. Just started using it again last winter after a break of a few years ,when the front room was turned into a 4th bedroom.
When we moved in years ago the little grate did not have an ash pan and all the ash would fall on the fire place floor. On holiday in Devon we managed to find a tiny ash pan for the small fire. The box was all broken but it was the last one in the shop so we paid.
The fire is so cosy with the feeling of warm winter nights. No back boiler though which is a shame.With a coal fire it does give off a lot of ash/dust and when you are not keeping a good eye on it the thing will die and go out! We have the chimly swept once a year at the begining or end of use. In September we paid the chimly sweep £35.
I use 1 fire lighter to get it started with newspaper and small sticks of wood/little coal.