Tip for those with an open fire to save fuel!

LJM

my nan buys coal through the summer as she says it works out slightly cheaper then she is stocked for winter, she saves all her newspapers and obviously after years all the locals know her and drop off off cuts to her for burning, try asking around

Gefjun

I've heard that saw mills package all their offcuts up onto a pallet and sell them for literally a couple of quid - you just need to shift it!

You could ring round your local tree surgeons and ask what they do with the trees they chop down - they might deliver to you for a few quid? Or see if there's a local conservation group as they generally go around clearing local woodland so you might be lucky there.

Remember though if you're going to go down these routes for wood, that you'll need to season it otherwise it won't burn - I think you need to chop and stack it for about a year or so, so it's dry - you may need to find something else to get you through this winter.

There are places which sell things which squeeze newspaper into bricks for burning (see here )- although I've no idea how effective newspaper blocks are, although guaranteed to be cheap!

Miss_J

This month I'm getting my fireplace swept for the first time and plan on using it for open fires. Having never had a fire before I don't quite know what is best for burning on the fire.

Anyone got any good ideas, also I'm in a smokeless zone. Cheers

dumpy

I think if you are in a smokeless zone you have to burn smokeless fuel (I know that sounds really stupid, sorry)

My parents used to order smokeless fule from the coal merchants.

wilroda

I am not sure what you can burn in a smokeless area but we have a wood burner and this old poem sums up whats good and whats not for us!


Beech-wood fires burn bright and clear
If the logs are kept a year;
Store your beech for Christmastide
With new-cut holly laid beside;
Chestnut's only good, they say,
If for years 'tis stored away;
Birch and fir-wood burn too fast
Blaze too bright and do not last;
Flames from larch will shoot up high,
Dangerously the sparks will fly;
But ash-wood green and ash-wood brown
Are fit for a Queen with a golden crown.

Oaken logs, if dry and old,
Keep away the winter's cold;
Poplar gives a bitter smoke,
Fills your eyes and makes you choke;
Elm-wood burns like churchyard mould,
E'en the very flames are cold;
It is by the Irish said;
Hawthorn bakes the sweetest bread,
Apple-wood will scent the room,
Pear-wood smells like flowers in bloom;
But ash-wood wet and ash-wood dry
A King may warm his slippers by.

Anon.

dumpy

I always thougth they weren't allowed to use wood due to the smoke but I'm sure lots of people will rush to correct me......

rachbc

no dumpy you are right - can only burn wood in smokeless area if you have a woodburner to a certain specification so not in open fires.

Pink.

Hi Miss J,

These earlier threads may give you some ideas:

Tip for those with an open fire to save fuel!

Laying a fire

Looking after the fire

Wood burning fire

OS firelighters

Making Paper Bricks

Pine Cones on the fire?

Cheap Fire Kindler wood

I'll add your thread to the first link later.

Pink

suki1964

Your chimney sweep would be the best to ask as he would have local knowledge as to what is being sold

[Deleted User]

To bring this thread up to date, we moved into a bungalow with an open fire, first thing got the chimney swept, the sweep condemned the fire because new regulations have come in, you need an air brick to allow for a change of air and also a carbon monoxide monitor, a fire of any description can give off Carbon Monoxide fumes which as we all know can be fatal. The draw on the chimney also needs to be at least satisfactory.