Tip for those with an open fire to save fuel!

moo2moo

I have a Villager stove and it came with firebricks fitted at the back and sides to prevent heat loss to rear (and neighbours).

jd1000

Hello all,
Quick question about open fires, I know winter is still some way away, but last year we used the fireplace in our living room to heat the room, very nice and cosy, but it went through a lot of wood.

Anyone have some tips? I heard someone mention using coal as a base, how does this work?

Thanks,

John

Belt-tightener_2

We put down a base of coal and this will burn for hours and add the wood on top the bigger the wood the longer it takes to burn so don't cut it too small nice quater logs are great. We use one £6 bag of coal a week I light the fire after the last school run of the day so used to be about lunch time it will now be 3.30pm and we burn through to 11pm and then let it stay warm over night some times it can be saved on a morning other days not.

Speak to your local coal merchant they know their stuff and will help you we get a mix of two different types every fortnight so one heat producer and one slow burner we tip these into a old style bin mixed up and use as needed.

Thistle-down

When I had a coal fire I used to build a decent fire and get a good blaze going, then cover the whole thing with ashes until no flames came out of the top. It kept burning slowly underneath the ashes, and would last all day. I did it again at night and it would last - in the morning I just had to riddle it, get a new blaze going and cover it all up again with ashes. Not as pretty to look at but really saved on the coal consumption.

I got the tip from an old WI housekeeping book.

Pink.

Hi Jd1000,

Welcome to MSE :hello:

There's an earlier thread with more tips that should help so I've added your post to it to keep the suggestions together.

Pink

betterlife

hi everyone :wave:
after having such a hefty gas bill last winter, i have decided to use the open fire in my lounge and try and save some money :money:.
we have not used one before so any advice, would be great, starting it, keeping it alite etc.
also me and the kids want to start collecting fire wood on our walks, can we use and wood we find? (i have a wood/coal shed to dry it) also what else can we burn that will help save money ie newspapers? cardboard boxes, cereal boxes etc.
thanks in advance

markandkate

Firstly you can lose up to 75% of the heat up the chimney so you need to think about that when you are buying fuel.

You can burn all of the things that you mention but cardboard and paper will no keep you warm for long.

You may be able to get free wood off freecycle but if it is wood that has been cut this year it my not be suitable until next year as it willhave too much sap in it still.

You also need to check with your local council about what you can burn as both you and the coal merchant face prosecution if you burn coal in a smokeless zone

Pink.

Hi betterlife,

I use a the larger cinders from the previous fire as a base, then add one firelighter broken into three, topped with paper sticks and/or kindling. Add on a little coal, and light the firelighter. Once it gets going either add on more coal or dried firewoood. To save on fuel, let the fire die down well before adding more coal, wood etc. I know some Old Stylers prefer not to use the firelighter, but I find it gets it going every time. Likewise save any old bits of candlegrease from used candles which ignites easily and can be used to revive a dying fire.

These previous threads may help:

Laying a fire

Tip for those with an open fire to save fuel!

Looking after the fire

Wood burning fire

OS firelighters

Making Paper Bricks

Pine Cones on the fire?

Cheap Fire Kindler wood

Pink

caris

I would say if its your first time using the fire get the chimney cleaned BEFORE you use it, as the chimney maybe blocked, if it is you will get the smoke coming back into your room, also reduces the risk of a chimney fire and make sure the fire is safe to use.

luxor4t

You'll need to get a fireguard (by law) if young children are in the house & a spark guard for safety:
http://www.chimneyproblems.co.uk/moresafety.htm