An independent reference about fireplaces and stoves at home. It sells nothing, is not an installation company and is not connected with the previous website on this domain.
fireplaces and stoves at home: a reference that sells nothing
A real fire at home means warmth, the smell of wood and long evenings, which is why so many people start thinking about a fireplace or stove. But a hearth is still an appliance that needs attention: the right fuel, a sound chimney and the habit of never leaving the fire alone. Here we explain how the types of hearth differ, how to burn without excess smoke, what to do about the chimney and why a carbon monoxide alarm matters as much as a poker in a home with a fire.
A good hearth never makes you uneasy: it does not smoke into the room, smell of burning or keep you listening at night. That peace of mind comes from simple habits: dry firewood, a clean chimney and a working alarm.
A wood-burning fireplace, a stove, a gas fire, an electric fire or a bioethanol fire: each has its own character, its own demands on the house and its own amount of upkeep. Compare them before you think about surrounds and furniture.
Well-dried firewood burns more evenly and leaves less soot than wet wood. We explain how to store logs, what to light a fire with and why flammable liquids have no place in lighting it.
Draught, soot and chimney sweeping directly affect what you breathe by the fire. Carbon monoxide has no colour or smell, so only an alarm will notice it.
A non-combustible hearth in front of the firebox, a fire screen, an extinguisher within reach and clear rules for children and pets: this is what keeps a fire at home cosy rather than dangerous.
Firewood, fuel briquettes, fire-resistant linings, door glass, non-combustible hearths and bioethanol in general terms, plus our article catalogue.
Ideas for the home: a living-room fireplace, a stove at the cottage, electric and bioethanol fires in a flat, a log corner and a hearth with children around.
How to light a fire and how to store firewood, plus the stove, gas and chimney work you should never do yourself.
How to plan a fireplace or stove: the type of hearth, what the house needs, the design, professional installation, a draught check and alarms.
What is useful by the hearth, no brands: a fireside tool set, ash bucket, log holder, carbon monoxide alarm, fire extinguisher and gloves.
Chimney sweeping, ash, door glass and seals, alarm checks and a pre-season inspection of the fireplace or stove.
Answers about this reference, about lighting fires and firewood, and about fireplace and stove safety at home.
In good light, look into the firebox: are there loose bricks, cracks in the lining, or soot marks on the wall or surround? Open and close the door and check that the glass and seal are intact. Show anything doubtful to a professional before lighting a fire.
Russia's Fire Safety Regulations require stoves and chimneys to be cleaned of soot before and during the heating season; other countries have their own rules. If you cannot remember when the chimney was last swept, book a chimney sweep before the first fire.
Press the test button, make sure the alarm sounds and replace the battery if needed. If you do not have an alarm yet, now is the time to fit one: carbon monoxide has no colour or smell.
Bring a small supply of logs in from the woodshed in advance so they warm up and their surface dries. Set aside darkened, mouldy and wet logs: they will give more smoke and soot.
Move rugs, paper baskets, textiles, furniture and clothes airers away from the fireplace or stove. There should be a non-combustible base in front of the firebox, with the fireside tools and a fire extinguisher nearby.
No. This is an independent reference: we sell, install and service nothing, and we do not recommend shops or installers. The site's name came to us with the domain.
We do not give instructions for building stoves or fireplaces. A hearth is built to a design that takes the house and chimney requirements into account, and the work is done by professionals. A building mistake can lead to a fire or poisoning, and it is almost impossible to spot from the outside.
The Fire Safety Regulations of the Russian Federation require stoves and chimneys to be cleaned of soot before and during the heating season. Other countries have their own rules, so check local regulations. How often your hearth needs it depends on the fuel and how you use it; ask a qualified chimney sweep.
Do not put it down to tiredness. Go out into fresh air, get people and pets out and ventilate the room if it is safe to do so. If you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning, call 112 or 101 (or your local emergency number) and be sure to see a doctor. Do not use the hearth until the cause has been found.
This domain used to host only unrelated pages that had nothing to do with this reference. We do not reproduce or restore their content; all the reference inherited from the domain is its name.
We write for people who already have a fireplace or stove at home and for those who are only thinking about a real fire: what kinds of hearth exist, how to handle them and where sensible do-it-yourself ends. This reference sells nothing, names no brands or installers, gives no dimensions or numerical standards and provides no instructions for building stoves or connecting gas.
Ideas for the home: a living-room fireplace, a stove at the cottage, electric and bioethanol fires in a flat, a log corner and a hearth with children around.
How to light a fire and how to store firewood, plus the stove, gas and chimney work you should never do yourself.
Chimney sweeping, ash, door glass and seals, alarm checks and a pre-season inspection of the fireplace or stove.
Specific requirements are summarised in general terms from the Fire Safety Regulations of the Russian Federation and Russian rescue-service guidance on stove heating. Other countries have their own chimney and fire-safety rules, so check your local regulations. Dimensions, clearances, fire separations and installation methods are set by the design, the applicable regulations and the professionals who install and service your fireplace or stove.