In Praise of a Real Fire

The smell of a log fire seems to instantly transport people back to the halcyon days of their childhood. The mesmerising dance of the flames accompanied by the pops and crackles of burning wood soothe away the cares of the world.

But, talking about the cares of the world, our planet is facing some environmental worries at the moment so it’s important to be a little more mindful about what you burn to create winter warmth, as well as how you burn it. Everyone needs to do what they can for the environment, so here are a few tips.

Our approach to sustainability

Certainly Wood has always taken a responsible approach to sustainability. The wood we use for our logs comes from woodland thinnings – a much-needed forestry process to ensure the health of a wood or forest is maintained. Likewise, we only source wood within a 100-mile radius or less. All our logs and kindling are 100% British, so we can be certain of their quality and provenance.

We’ve just invested in Processo – one of the world’s largest wood processing plants - which allows us to use more of the woodland thinnings and therefore  decrease wastage even further.

Any bits of wood that are left over from the production process are used to fire the kilns that dry our logs, whilst much of our electricity comes from our own solar panels. What’s more, we’ve introduced new packaging this year– as well as being made from 30% recycled materials, it is totally recyclable in its own right. If you buy one of our bulk bags, you can ask for a Collect Plus bag and return it free of charge.

What stove to choose?

With well over 1 million wood burning stoves in the UK, home owners also need to take a responsible role. Firstly, it’s a question of which wood burner to choose. Take a look at our blog about this to find out more about the things you need to consider. Nowadays most of the British stove manufacturers are creating stoves with the environment in mind that conform to the standards required by the Clean Air Strategy

No matter whether you’re looking for something sleek and contemporary or a stove with a more traditional look, there’ll be one to fit the bill.

Open Fires

With thoughts turning to Christmas at this time of the year, the inevitable images of open fires with stockings hanging from the mantelpiece start to appear on seasonal ads. Although delightfully traditional, we’re keen to encourage people to move away from an open fire, as Certainly Wood’s Nic Snell explains:

“We sound a word of caution for those who have an open fire at home, particularly if they’re being used in cities. Whilst they’re wonderful, we have all known for many years that they are incredibly inefficient with most of the heat going up the chimney. 

It’s also time to spare a thought for the environmental impact and perhaps consider a new Ecodesign wood burning stove instead. To many this may sound like the end to wood burning at home, but believe me, you need to see it as the beginning of a new wood burning revolution. I was brought up in a house with an open fire, but when I was forced to install a wood burning stove, I never looked back and now burn wood far more often to help heat my home.”

What firewood to choose

Certainly Wood was one of the first advocates for kiln dried logs and they really are the most sensible choice to burn – both for you and for the environment.

We’ve written this useful blog to help you understand the difference between kiln dried logs and seasoned logs. We’re also part of the Woodsure scheme which you can find out about here.

How to light your fire in a woodburner

Believe it or not, lighting your fire in the correct manner is one of the best ways to avoid any emissions. Take a look at Nic in action as he explains how to light a woodburning stove in the most effective way.

Why you need to keep your chimney swept

Now is the time to book a sweep to clean your chimney before they get caught up in the Christmas rush. We recommend getting it swept at least once a year. Here’s what industry body HETAS has to say on the matter and the article also advises on how to find an approved chimney sweep 

Carbon Monoxide Alarm

Whatever fuel you burn – coal, oil, biomass or logs – a stove can produce carbon monoxide. The problem with carbon monoxide poisoning is the fact it is a silent killer and many of the symptoms can be associated with all sorts of things – even having one too many glasses of wine of an evening.

Here’s the HETAS advice about carbon monoxide and how to deal with it. However, having an alarm in the same room as your wood burner takes away some of the worries as long as you remember to replace the batteries regularly.

Spooky fireside tales for Halloween

And finally, there’s a tradition of telling spooky tales around the fire at both Halloween and Christmas. Here is a collection of 10 such chilling tales to make the hair on your hackles stand on end.