Free firewood

zaxdog

Now we are living on the mainland I walk to work and back along the seafront and started to notice tons of wood washed up on the beach so now at least two days a week my OH and I meet up on the front after work and load the car boot with driftwood :j Saves at least fifteen quid a week on peat or coal. And the heaters are all on minimum as we can have the fire on all day every day so hopefully the electricity bill will be a bit lower too.....................

craigywv

also look out for the small black shiny stones they are coal

redlady_1

It might be cheap but I can assure you it is very dangerous. When heated it can give off toxic fumes

Mr_Falling_Star

zaxdog wrote: »

Now we are living on the mainland I walk to work and back along the seafront and started to notice tons of wood washed up on the beach so now at least two days a week my OH and I meet up on the front after work and load the car boot with driftwood :j Saves at least fifteen quid a week on peat or coal. And the heaters are all on minimum as we can have the fire on all day every day so hopefully the electricity bill will be a bit lower too.....................

I can confirm that a lot of the old pitsites across the country are awash with coal, if you know where to look. I go down there sometimes to fill up a bucket

zaxdog

redlady_1 wrote: »

It might be cheap but I can assure you it is very dangerous. When heated it can give off toxic fumes

Why would driftwood give off toxic fumes? :eek:

bearcub

It's not the wood itself, but the chloride part of salt. When wood burns in the presence of chlorine, harmful substances called dioxins are made. Dioxins are extremely toxic.

zaxdog

bearcub wrote: »

It's not the wood itself, but the chloride part of salt. When wood burns in the presence of chlorine, harmful substances called dioxins are made. Dioxins are extremely toxic.

I'll risk it

good_advice

Make sure all the neighbours know you have a coal fire.
Our neighbours leave wood from DIY jobs at the front door or toss it over the back fence. All welcome for free heat.

bearcub

zaxdog wrote: »

I'll risk it

Fair enough, but you are opening yourself up to the same sort of risk as burning PVC on the fire, or standing in the middle of heavy traffic fumes/pollution. If you're prepared to fill your living room with that, then enjoy the warmth.

ClootiesMum

Any secondary schools near you? Woodwork classes often have a lot of off cuts that are brilliant as kindling.
And yes mention to neighbours and the like - we have nextdoor's old bed to pick up for burning (bad state of affairs when you're burning the neighbour's furniture for heat though:D)
And I came home to a telegraph pole in the back garden one day - we don't ask many questions:o

midnightraven3

after bearcubs post i decided to have a look around

:eek::eek::eek:
you may want to do the same
and thank bearcub

its VERY dangerous
dont play with your family's health for a few pounds

other posters have offered other ways to get free wood for your fire