A Guide to Regular Maintenance of Stoves and Open Fires

Like any other appliance in your home your solid fuelled fire will perform much better if installed, maintained, and serviced correctly. By adhering to the following simple guidelines will ensure the safe and efficient operation of your fireplace and maintain your fireplace looking its best and offering you a lifetime of service, pleasure, and enjoyment!    

Three MUST DO Guidelines for the Safe Use of Solid Fuel!

1.Ensure Adequate Ventilation

2.Regular Cleaning and Sweeping

3.Use Correct Fuel

Ventilation

You must ensure adequate ventilation. All heating appliances that burn with a flame needs oxygen from the atmosphere to allow combustion to take place  (see Science of Fire for more information).  Safe and efficient combustion requires an adequate air flow to ensure efficient and complete combustion of the fuel. If your home is double glazed and fitted with draft excluder there may not be sufficient air to feed the fire. In extreme circumstances the house may be prone to de-pressurisation (see  to The Myth, the Science and the Solution to Open log Fires) where the chimney or flu draws more air from the room and home than can entre it. This will not only lead to the incomplete combustion of the fuel but can cause smoke spillage from the fire back into the room or lead to the house re-pressurising from drawing air through another flue such as the central heating boiler or water heater. Both smoke spillage from a fire or re-pressurisation from another flue is dangerous and harbours potentially fatal consequences from Carbon Monoxide poisoning (lsee The Unknown, Under Reported Silent Killer: The frightening Truth of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning!).  The remedy is to install vents or air bricks in an outside wall of the room to allow sufficient air into the room. If an air brick or vent is already there, make sure they are never blocked or covered.

Regular Cleaning and Sweeping

To ensure your solid fuel fire performs safely and efficiently it is important that you do not  allow ash or soot to build up anywhere where it might impede the flow of smoke or any other of the by-products of combustion. Do ensure your chimneys are swept on a regular basis. It is recomended a chimney is swept a minimum of once a year if solid fuel is used and twice a year if you are burning wood (see annual cleaning schedule).  

Daily

Before lighting the fire empty the ash can. Make sure the ashes are cold and be  aware there maybe hot coals ‘hidden’ in otherwise cool ashes so place the ashes in a  metal bucket or something similar to truly cool outside before tipping in the household rubbish bin. It is recommended you wear thick workman type gloves when emptying the ashes to protect yourself from any accidental burns, soot and dust.

Weekly

If your appliance has a boiler fitted clean the flue ways once a week. Do not attempt this whilst the fire is still burning or the ashes are warm

Monthly

If applicable, clean the throat plate by removing it.

Annually

Have your chimney swept at least once a year by a qualified and registered chimney  sweep. Chimney sweeps registered with the National Association of Chimney Sweeps (NACS ), the Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps  or the Association of Professional and Independent Chimney Sweeps (APICS ) will have proved themselves to be competent chimney sweeps and work to strict standards governed by each association’s code of practice. Your chimney should be swept before each winter and twice a year if burning wood.