Top tips for getting warm and toastie

Smoke Detectors

Know your Smoke Detectors

There are a range of smoke detectors on the market. Each one is slightly different and fulfils different roles. Be sure to purchase and correctly install the right one for your home. Not forgetting to regularly test them or replace the batteries to make sure that they continue to provide an audible warning.

Ionisation

These are often the cheapest smoke detectors, so if budget is important this might be the best one to purchase. They contain a very small amount of radioactive material held between two electrically charged places, that ionise the air and cause current to flow between the two plates.

These two plates are very sensitive to the small particles of smoke produced by fast flaming e.g. paper, wood. They detect this type of fire before the smoke gets too thick. Ionisation smoke detectors are slightly less sensitive to slow burning and smouldering fires, which tend to give off larger quantities of smoke.

Optical (Photoelectric)

Optical fire detectors are more expensive. They work by aiming a light source into a sensing chamber at an angle away from the sensor. During a fire, smoke will enter the chamber, which then reflects the light onto the light sensor which in turn triggers the alarm. Optical detectors are more effective at detecting larger particles of smoke that start with a long periods of smouldering e.g. Foam / upholstery, PVC wiring. However, they are less sensitive for fast flaming fires.

Combined Smoke Alarms

These detectors use both the Ionisation and optical methods of detecting fires sourced from slow burning / smouldering fires as well as fast flaming fires. The best of the two technologies available on the market today.

Battery Powered Smoke Alarms

Battery powered smoke alarms require a change of battery every 12 months. However, some smoke alarms are now sold with a sealed fitted battery that lasts 10 years.

Mains Powered Smoke Alarms

This eliminates the problem of checking and changing the battery each year. Experts suggest that you have a battery backup alarm to be on the safe side.

Combined Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms

These types of alarms combine the two essential alarms into one Optical Smoke Alarms and also Carbon Monoxide detection. It reduces costs and maintenance.

Which Alarms should I chose?

Experts advise that each house has a number of different alarms;one to detect fast flames and another for smouldering flames with a combination of battery and power supply. A Carbon Monoxide detector is a must if gas fired central heating is installed in a home. Remember to only purchase alarms and detectors that comply with the BSI standard. Look out for this symbol. If you are in any doubt as to which one is right for you we suggest contacting your local fire station for more information.

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Home Fire Extinguishers

Each year in the UK there are around 60,000 house fires, resulting in the loss of lives and also the devastation that fire brings. It is important to have the right fire safety equipment in your home to help protect your life and the lives of those around you. Even if you do not have an open or wood burning fire, there are numerous other hazards within any house, which may require the arresting powers of a fire extinguisher.

Commercial Fire extinguisher manufacturers classify their products into the following:

Class A

• Usage: Fires involving wood, paper, rubbish, rags or textiles.
• Action: Control the fire by wetting down and cooling down the flames.

Class B

• Usage: Fires involving gases or flammable liquids.
• Action: They cut off the oxygen and reduce flames.

Class C

• Usage: Fires involving electrical equipment and wiring.
• Action: They contain Co2 or a dry chemical as water conducts electricity.

Class D

• Usage: Fires involving combustible metal such as aluminium, sodium, magnesium or zinc.
• Action: These are usually industrial fires and not found in a normal household

Here is a quick guide to help you choose the right fire extinguisher for the right part of your home. If you are in any doubt, we advise that you contact your local fire station for more help and information.

Co2

This type of extinguisher can be used on the widest range of fires in a home. It is ideal for use on textiles, wood, flammable liquids and electrical fires. It cannot be used on fires caused by cooking fats or oils. This is a good device for living areas and garages. The kitchen requires an alternative device such as a fire blanket.

Water

Water fire extinguishers are ideal for putting out fires on furniture and carpets, but are dangerous when used on flammable liquids or cooking fats. Water fire extinguishers are best kept and used in bedrooms and living rooms.

Foam

Foam extinguishers are most effective on woods and flammable liquids, petrol, spirits but not for electrical fires. This type of extinguisher is best kept in the garage or shed where these kinds of products can usually be found.

Fire Blanket

A fire blanket is ideally located on a wall in an easy to reach place in a kitchen. It can stop small pan fires from spreading. They can also be used to smoulder flames if someone has caught their clothes alight.

There is a bird down my chimney

Being the owner of a home that has fireplaces and chimney stacks, sometimes has a few downfalls. One thing that can happen, is a bird flying down your chimney flue.  There are no written manuals to tell you what to do and each situation is different. Hopefully this might help you pick the right solution to help the bird (or animal) that may be stuck down your chimney.

Don’t smoke them out

First instincts may be to light a fire and smoke them out of your chimney but this is cruel and could kill the animal which could leave you with a blocked chimney flu and the smell of a decomposing animal. There are a number of alternative ways that you can do to try and get them out.

Give the bird a disco

If a bird (or animal) has decided that your chimney is the ideal place to make their nest, it will be because, in their minds it is a warm, dry and safe place. This might not be ideal for you in the short term and you may decide that they need to move on.  A proven technique has been to play loud music into the chimney flue and leave a bright light shining up your chimney for a couple of days. Hopefully the animal will chose to leave of its own accord.

Positive encouragement

Once a bird has fallen down your chimney flue, it is really hard for them to turn and fly upwards in such a confined space. They become distressed and flustered very quickly. If possible it is best to get them to come all the way to the bottom of the chimney into the hearth and coax them out through the window or door. Failing that, it is better to put them in a box and either release them to the wild again or take, if injured, to your local RSPB.

Put a cap on it!

Once you have managed to get the bird or animal from your chimney, it might be worth thinking about putting a cap on the top of your chimney or chimney pot. This should stop unwanted birds and animals inadvertently entering. Your local chimney sweep or roofing contractor will be able to recommend the best type for your home.

Call in the Experts

Your local chimney sweep or wildlife expert can always be a sensible port of call. They are used to dealing with such issues on a weekly basis, especially during the nesting season. These experts have the right equipment to help get the bird out of the chimney with the least amount of distress to all parties concerned.

If you have any of your own top tips for removing birds from your chimney then we would love to hear them! Please share to our Facebook page, tweet us or send us an email.

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Freddie’s Indoor Safety Tips

1. When lighting your fire, place your firelighter on a bed of cinders or amongst the coal in your BBQ.
2. Be sure to use long safety matches, striking the match away from you before carefully lighting your fire.
3. To avoid a hazardous situation, avoid using firelighters on a warm/hot grate and do not light firelighters in your hand.
4. Prevent a chimney fire by ensuring your chimney is regularly swept. We recommend your chimney is professionally cleaned twice a year. At the beginning of the winter season and at the end.
5. It is always best to store firelighters well away from your fire, preferably in a separate room or shed to prevent any unwanted accidents.
6. Once your fire is lit, make sure you use a fireguard or fire screen. Be aware that sparks can sometimes penetrate fireguards, therefore do not leave your fire to burn unattended, especially when children and pets are nearby. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
7. Do not use firelighters on a warm grate.
8. Do not light firelighters in your hand.

Check the safety tips on packs!!

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Fire Safety

At Zip™, we take fire safety very seriously, and are often asked for advice on a number of wide ranking topics such as whether a chimney needs sweeping or how a fireguard should be used. To make it easier, we have collated our most frequently asked questions.

Q: How often should I have my chimney swept?

A: Frequency of sweeping can depend on a number of factors – our guidelines are:-

• Chimneys – once or twice a year
• Smokeless fuel open fires – once a year
• Bituminous house coal open fires – twice a year
• Wood burning stoves – every 3 months during use

Many insurance companies now insist on proof of sweeping by a certified chimney sweep and it is also worth checking the details of your insurance policy to ensure you will be covered in the event of a claim.

Q: How can I prevent build-up of creosote and tars in my chimney?

A: To help ensure that your chimney remains clean of all residues, use only dry wood and have your chimney swept on a regular basis. Using wet or damp wood or turf can lead to a build-up of creosote and tar, which needs to be removed. Burning a hot fire can also ignite residues and cause a chimney fire. Why not try Zip™ Soot reducer?

Q: Where should I store my firelighters and fuel?

A: Firelighters should be kept away from the close surroundings of a fire in a cool and dry place. Many fire makers store them next to the fire on the hearth for convenience but, this is a fire risk. We advise to keep our firelighters in a metal tin and away from food.

Wood, coal and peat should be stored in a dry place with good ventilation so that any dampness can quickly be evaporated to leave dry fuel. The wetter the fuel the harder it will be to light.

Q: What fuel is suitable for my stove?

A: Always be guided by your manufacturer’s recommendations.

Q: Do I need a good air supply?

A: For open fires the chimney should provide enough air to help ’draw the fire’. However, for closed appliances like wood burners and stoves, there needs to be an an adequate flow of air, to allow them to burn correctly. Ensure that your rooms with fires in are well ventilated with fresh air. Sometimes a little draft from outside increases the performance of a fire and sometimes the wind direction moving over the chimney pot can aid air flow. However, fires are generally worse performing on windy days when the wind tends to blow down the chimney.

If you have double glazing or draught proofing, you might want to consider fitting an air duct to allow fresh air to enter your room.

Q: What precautions should I take to ensure that my fire does not produce harmful gasses?

A: To prevent harmful gasses being produced by your fire, enough oxygen must be supplied to burn your fuels completely. To do this:

• Ensure all chimneys are cleaned regularly and are kept clear of any obstructions.
• Make sure stoves and appliances are professionally installed and that the doors are sealed properly.
• Never block vents or air bricks.

Q: How often do I need to remove the ash from my fire?

A: A build-up of ash may damage your appliance, so it is important that you remove any ash before each new fire. Allow the ash to cool before cleaning out (ideally overnight). If the ash is from wood logs then it would be possible to use it in your garden as a form of fertiliser. It contains 13 essential nutrients for good plant growth. It also helps to maintain a neutral soil condition.

Q: When should I use a fireguard?

A: Zip™ recommends using a fireguard with any open fire. Never leave an open fire unattended without placing a fireguard in front of the fire. Make sure that the fireguard is fireproof and not made of any flammable materials such as plastic or fabric.

Always place a fire guard over any appliance where indoor pets and small children are able to touch or put their hands near. Log burning stoves heat up to high temperatures and the glass also becomes extremely hot and can cause serious burning and blistering.

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Tools of the Trade

The presence of a home fireplace creates a true heart to a home, warmth and a sense of well-being. However, to get the most out of your fireplace you might need some of these ‘tools of the trade’ to make life a bit easier, so you can spend more time enjoying the warmth rather than poking the fire!

Fire guard

If there is one thing that you have to have when lighting indoor fires of any kind, it has to be a fire guard. It is a close weave metal stand that sits in front of the fire to stop any sparks that might be ejected by your fire landing onto your hearth rug and potentially causing a fire. It also protects small children and family pets from getting too close to the hot fire or stove.

Fireplace poker

This is also known as a stoker or fire iron. This is a short ridged rod with an insulated handle used to adjust coal and wood fuel when burning in a fireplace. Sometimes these pokers have a hook on one side to help roll logs over when in the grate. This can prove to be a very useful tool in large fireplaces.

Spade

Already well known to most gardeners, a spade is also a multi-purpose tool for tending fireplaces or stoves. Similar in purpose to a fireplace poker, it allows you to handle burning embers and logs. It is most ideal to scooping up any excess ash from the heath when the fire has died down. A flat based spade is best to get the most ash out with just one sweep and can get right back into the corners of the grate or ash pan.

Tongs

Tongs, together with the spade and fireplace poker, are used to handle the hot fuel in the fireplace. Their advantage is their gripping capability, which allows you to pick up materials from the fireplace. They are often used to put coal into the fire from the coal scuttle, as they ensure that your hands do not get all black and dirty.

Fireplace broom

The fireplace broom does exactly what it is called. It cleans up the ash left in the bottom of the grate once the fire has burned out.

Bellows

These are used to deliver a pressured yet controlled amount of air to a specific part of the fireplace to increase the amount of oxygen to the flames. Bellows are usually powered by hand pumping a semi closed chamber through a nozzle. These can be particularly handy if you do not want to spend time blowing flames to the hard to reach places of your fireplace grate. It saves a lot of puff.

Andiron (dog irons!)

This is often considered as a decorative piece and is otherwise known as dog irons. They are usually made up of two horizontal bars that supports the logs placed in the hearth and allow air to pass through the stacked logs. They help the fire to burn and prevents a build-up of smoke.

Cinders bucket

This is a small metal bucket with a handle. There are several different varieties to be bought but essentially they do the same job.They enable you to put the sometimes warm or even hot cinders into a receptacle to be disposed of. Some people use their ash to help fertilise the garden and have proven to work when placed around the foot of rose bushes.

If you have any of your own top tips for Tools of the Trade then we would love to hear them! Please share to our Facebook page, tweet us or send us an email.

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Choosing The Right Wood

Not only are we passionate about lighting fires we really want to share our love and enthusiasm for all things fire. Especially about which woods will make your fire hot and toasty and those which, quite frankly, are a bit of a damp squib.

Why use wood

Wood is a natural and sustainable choice of fuel for domestic fires and has been in use since the first fire many millennia ago. When we warm our homes with wood, we participate in a natural cycle that we share with our ancient ancestors. Wood fuelled the open fires of the hunter-gatherers, the brick ovens of the first bakers, and, until the 19th century, all our homes.

Today, we still love to sit in front of a fire and coming in from the cold naturally draws us to the fire. We all know that feeling of returning home after a busy day out, to a cold chilly house and really wanting a warm and cosy fire as quickly as possible.

Knowing which wood to use will help you achieve a speedy, toasty house leaving you more time to relax and enjoy your well-earned rest at the end of a busy day. Whether it is gazing into the magical flames or unwinding with a glass of your favorite wine, enjoy your fire with Zip™ firelighters and the right wood:

Woods for instant, great warming heat:

• Ash: Reckoned by many to be the best wood for burning. It can be burnt green but burns best when dry and seasoned.
• Birch: Good heat and burns quickly. Smell is pleasant, but it can cause gum deposits in the chimney if used a lot.
• Cedar: Great heat, small flame, a nice scent, and lots of crackle and pop. Cedar is a great splitting wood and good for cooking.
• Eucalyptus: A fast burning wood with a pleasant smell and no spitting. It is full of sap and oils when fresh and can start a chimney fire if burned unseasoned. May not be the best for cooking with.
• Larch: Crackly, scented, and fairly good for heat. It needs to be seasoned well and forms oily soot in chimneys.
• Plum: A good burning wood with good heat output.
• Rowan: Is a good burning wood that has a slow burn with a good heat output.
• Thorn Is one of the best woods for burning. It produces a steady flame and very good heat output with very little smoke.
• Beech, hickory, hard maple, pecan, dogwood are also excellent sources of woods which produce high amounts of heat, are easy to burn and produce few sparks and smoke.

Woods for a warm, slow burn:

• Apple: This is a good fuel that has a slow and steady burn when dry. Sparking and spitting is also at a minimum and it has a nice scent. This fuel is great for cooking.
• Cherry: A slow to burn wood that produces a good heat output. Needs to be seasoned well.
• Hawthorn: Is a good traditional firewood that has a slow burn with good heat output.
• Laurel: Produces a very bright flame but only reasonable heat output. It needs to be well seasoned.
• Oak: Oak has a light flame and the smoke is pungent if not seasoned for two years after winter felling. Summer felled Oak takes years to season well. Dry old oak is excellent for heat, burning slowly and steadily.

Not good wood:

• Alder: Poor heat output and quick burning makes this a low quality firewood.
• Chestnut: A poor burning wood with poor heat output.
• Elder: Burns quickly without much heat output and has thick smoke. Probably best avoided.
• Laburnum: A very smoky wood with a poor burn. Do not use.

Kindling:

• Pine species generally: (Including the dreaded Leylandii) Burns with an impressive flame, but liable to spit. Needs to be seasoned well and is another one that can leave an oily soot in the chimney. Pines smell great and the high resin content makes it good for kindling.

Aspen, basswood, cottonwood, chestnut, yellow poplar and spruce produce relative low amounts of heat and whilst easy to burn also pop, throw out sparks and produce a fair amount of smoke. However, they are most suitable for use as kindling.

If you have any of your own top tips for Choosing The Right Wood then we would love to hear them! Please share to our Facebook page, tweet us or send us an email.

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Cleaner Fireplace

Did you know?

Did you know that a cleaner fireplace also means a warmer one? No? Well, why not try some of these ideas to help you get the most from your fire…

Potato peelings and acorns help prevent creosote build-up in the chimney. Save your potato skins and collect the acorns in the autumn. Just a hand full, thrown on top of a burning fire can help to keep your chimney in good shape.

Use fire ash to clean ashes. To clean stove or closed fireplace glass door, simply dampen some newspaper and dip into some cold weed ashes. Rub gently until all the creosote comes off. Repeat if necessary until the glass is clean. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.

White, distilled vinegar is an effective, money saving and non-toxic way of cleaning your hearthstone fireplace. Simply pour the vinegar directly from the bottle or use a spray bottle to get into the crevices. Allow the vinegar to sit for a few minutes, then scrub with an old toothbrush. Wipe clean with a damp cloth. It will be gleaming in no time at all.

Use coffee grounds added to the ash in your fireplace to help limit the amount of dirt billowing up when cleaning. Don’t forget to place newspaper or protective sheeting when cleaning out the hearth to prevent flooring getting marked or stained.

If you have brick or stone in your fireplace that has soot stuck on it, you can clean it up with minimal effort. All you have to do is use salt. Carefully throw in a few tablespoons of salt into a roaring fire and watch as the soot stains on your brick or stone fireplace go up in smoke. This works as the salt helps loosen the soot as it burns. The soot will soon move up the chimney with all the rest of the smoke.

If you have any more interesting facts that you would like to share then please get in touch! Tweet us, write on our Facebook wall or send us an email.

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Fun Facts About Fires

1. Fire is an event, not a thing. Heating wood or other fuel releases volatile vapours that can rapidly combust with oxygen in the air; the resulting incandescent bloom of gas further heats the fuel, releasing more vapours and perpetuating the cycle.

2. Earth is the only known planet where fire can burn. Everywhere else: Not enough oxygen.

3. Oxygen supply influences the colour of the flame. A low-oxygen fire contains lots of un-combusted fuel particles and will give off a yellow glow. A high-oxygen fire burns blue.

4. So candle flames are blue at the bottom because that’s where they take up fresh air, and yellow at the top because the rising fumes from below partly suffocate the upper part of the flame.

5. Conversely, the more oxygen, the hotter the fire. Air is 21 percent oxygen; combine pure oxygen with acetylene, a chemical relative of methane, and you get an oxyacetylene welding torch that burns at over 5,500 degrees Fahrenheit—the hottest fire you are likely to encounter.

6. The 1666 Great Fire of London destroyed 80 percent of the city but also ended an outbreak of bubonic plague that had killed more than 65,000 people the previous year. The fire fried the rats and fleas that carried Yersinia pestis, the plague-causing bacterium.

If you have any of your own top tips for Fun Facts About Fires then we would love to hear them! Please share to our Facebook page, tweet us or send us an email.

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Top Tips for lighting a coal fire

Keep it clean

Remove all the ash and small cinders from your fireplace it will restrict the air flow, this makes for poor burning. Keep the larger cinders for reuse, not point in letting it go to waste.

Building your fire (the easy way)

Use a Zip™ Starterlog do not remove the wrapper. Place the Starterlog in your fireplace, chiminea or fire pit with the horizontal seam at the top. Grasp the wrapper at either end and pull outwards then carefully pull the middle seam upwards. (Suitable for us in fireplaces, chimineas and firepits).

Light it!

Light the Zip™ Starterlog at both ends and the middle seam. After 20 minutes it’s time to add the coal (fuel). Place it on top of your fire using an appropriate fire utensil, careful not to burn your hands. (No need to deal with paper or kindling, its mess free and a hassle free way of lighting your coals).

Love your fire

Once your coals have lit poke them gently to break up the coals (the tar build up may have stuck them together) and release any unwanted ash. Add the cinders you kept during step 1 (keep it clean) or more coals around the edge or the centre of the fire when needed. Try and avoid throwing a bucket of coal on a fire.

Tips and Tricks for getting the best out of your wood burning stove

Don’t burn water

Fresh, green logs are actually 50% water and therefore will not burn well. If you do burn green logs your fire will splutter producing a lot of unwanted smoke! To avoid this, make sure you use fully dried out logs firewood- If you are drying your own logs please remember this will take time- approximately 1 whole Summer! (If you don’t have this time to spare- never fear there are lots of great wood suppliers around with perfect logs to purchase).

Keep it clean so it can keep you warm

It’s really important to keep your stove clean – Ideally you should remove soot from the stove and flue pipe once a year. Even a few millimeters of soot can really affect heat conduction.

Close the door

Don’t leave the stove door open, unless you have been specifically instructed to by the manufacturer when lighting the fire. You are reducing the stoves efficiency and allowing all of the warm air to escape straight up the chimney.

Don’t just use one log

Make sure you use 2 or 3 logs at one time. One log will most likely just die out, the reason for this is because the burning of the log happens in three stages and a single log is not able to keep its own process going. More logs keep the burning process going!

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One Lonely Log

It is always better to put two or three logs on your fire at any one time, not only will it give you a great feel of warmth and ambience, there is a little science behind it too.

One single log in a fireplace grate will more than likely die out. The reason for this is that the burning of the wood log fibres happens in stages, and one single log is not able to keep the process or momentum of burning going by itself. More logs have a combined bigger burning surface, which in turn create air and flame turbulence that keeps the burning process going.

That is why at the end of the evening, that last log in the grate just sits there, charred and lonely.

If you have any of your own top tips for One Lonely Log then we would love to hear them! Please share to our Facebook page, tweet us or send us an email.

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