Archive for the ‘Fireplace help and advice’ Category

Regular maintenance for Solid Fuel Stoves and Fireplaces

Saturday, August 28th, 2010

So you have your new solid fuel fireplace or stove installed the last thing on your mind is maintenance and cleaning of chimneys and flues etc.
Most of the time this is very seriously overlooked and a lot of customers do not even have the chimney swept before installing a new real fire fireplace or stove.
As most people are aware fitting of a solid fuel fuel appliance must be done by HETAS registered fitter or have it signed of by Building Control inspector from your local council.
Bizzarely after that there is no further regular maintenance required by law, in my opinion this is very shortsighted as burning solid fuel can also create carbon monoxide which is a silent killer if the fuel is not burnt correctly i have read online about a death from a blocked flue for a Kitchen Range.
There are no regulations currently that say solid fuel fires of any type must be serviced and chimneys swept once a year. It would be good to have a regime in place or guide line so people know how often to service the fireplace, flue etc they have.
I understand most people would detect a fully blocked flue but how often have you heard people say sometimes the fire blows back smoke into the room, normally there is an underlying reason for this do not leave it have it investigated by HETAS registered fitter.
As a guide chimneys should be swept once a year by a decent sweep try the NACS which has sweeps numbers all over the uk they will give you free advice as to how often you will need it cleaning depending on the fuel you are burning.
As the flue is the only source for the toxic fumes escaping make sure it is in good condition so smoke does not enter your property right through the run of the chimney if in doubt have a chimney sweep test it for you and if found to be faulty it can always be lined.
So enjoy your winter fires and as good sound advice get your chimney swept just as you start to reuse the fireplace after the Summer so if you do have birds nest etc in the flue it will be removed before you light the fire.

Happy Burning and just to let you know our local sweep is cleaning my stove Thursday next week

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Strange Noise from behind my Fireplace

Wednesday, August 25th, 2010

Now i have just taken the most odd phonecall i think i have ever had so weird id thought id let you all in on it.
A customer of ours has rung from Hereford to say they have fitted the pembroke fireplace we have supplied them and it was fitted last week.
All was fine but today when they went to open it to light a fire they couldnt open the damper flap properley and a strange noise was coming from behind the fireplace.
I then asked them what the noise was and why the damper would not open fully without falling back shut and told them how to remove it and see what the obstruction was.
Well 20 minutes later they were back on the phone, the problem had been sorted and it was a baby pigeon that was blocking it and the noise was flapping.
Im afraid i just laughed when they told me this im not sure how that would have got there it really a good job the damper was not open otherwise it could well have been tea.
So it just shows you what weird things we get asked at Castfireplaces regarding our products so if you have any livestock queries or questions relating to Stuck Animals behind Fireplaces or Stoves we really are the people to help you.
On that note im off to walk our Hound in the Rain Lovely

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Paris Highlighted and Daisy Fireplaces are Out Of Stock

Thursday, August 19th, 2010

Quite unusual for us i know but as these two Fireplaces are ordered directly from China and not available anymore to most shops that deal in Gallery Fireplaces we have a little bit of a supply problem concerning both of these fireplaces.
We have sold all those we had left in stock infact we oversold the Paris Highlighted as a customer in Skegness ordered three and has now swapped two to the Nottage Fireplaces instead.
I was not aware of the stock shortage so please accept my apologies for us being out of stock.
They are due in again but not until October at the earliest which is not ideal but there is not much we can do as no other people in the Gallery group stock them anymore so it really is a waiting game.
We do have Paris Black in Stock which i will be adding to our website and also the Defra approved Carron Stoves arrive on Monday so they will be listed too.
On our website when anything is out of stock for a long while we have a little notice near the add to basket stating when it will be back in stock see photo below so you can see what i mean this advises our customers of delivery date.
When this has been removed or with all the other items on our website theres nothing there you are fine to order.
Sorry again for this happening it is beyond our control as to when they arrive

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How do i measure made to measure Granite Hearth

Friday, August 13th, 2010

First off before you think about ordering a made to measure granite or tiled hearth have alook through our Hearths Section to make sure we do not have a stock size that is a few cms or inches off the size you require.
Stock size hearths are considerably cheaper than made to measure and for it being a little larger or smaller could save you time and money.
So you have had a look and there is nothing suitabl don’t dispair we can manufacture exactly the right size you need in Granite,Tiled Slate etc.
The main reason for made to measure hearths are either to replace hearth within a room that is carpeted or you have a consructional hearth laid level with your floorboards and standard hearth will not cover it.
Another common reason is a sub hearth for a stove to sit on where there has never been a hearth and it needs to match the front one.
Ok were ready to go then decide on waht size you want your new hearth to be either to cover the hole in your carpet or to extend over the constructional hearth
The Dimensions we require are
A Width
B Depth
C Height
Most hearths are simple three measurements and normally the hearths are made as standard at 50mm in height for normal use there should be no reason to later this
Just bear im mind that granite hearths are boxed and lipped that means the top section overhangs the front and the sides by 10-15mm so if hearth is required to cover cooncrete base take this inot consideration

Alsp if using for solid fuel your granite hearth will be in sections and rejoined so it can expand and contract with the heat from a real fire it has to be done or it will crack if in one solid piece.

If you are in doubt about any made to measure hearth jst ring the office and we can run through it with you.

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How do i measure Made to Size Fireplace Mantel

Thursday, August 12th, 2010

Ok so you know you need a made to measure fireplace mantel and your not 100 % sure how to find out exactly what size you require lets see if we can help you out a bit so you can then contact our office in confidence
First off you need to measure the chimney breast of where the fireplace is going this is the main factor in the size of your mantel.
Then decide what your using it for is it to go round a fireplace etc or is it it fitting flush to the chimney breast to surround a stove etc.
All these details are important for rebate sizes etc we will work these out for you do not worry about those.
Ok on to the design have a look through any brochure, magazine or website to find the design you like.
We can manufacture any style and design in any wood you choose the choices are endless.
Right dimension time we need to know a few things in relation to what you are after the most important are shown on the diagram below so we can then make sure everything looks right and we also can see if it will work ok.
It is not as daunting as it sounds fireplace mantels are very simple in design basically and have few sections to measure so if you have the dimensions below to hand it makes it very simple to work out.
Most mantels are normally slight variations to stock sizes so have a check through and contact us if you are unsure.
We are here to help you and wish to make your purchase as simple as possible

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Fireplace Brochures are Available to post out

Tuesday, July 27th, 2010

As gallery stockists we do supply the full range of gallery fireplaces from both our showroom and also via our website.
You are more than welcome to come and view just ring us to make appointment but for those not wishing to visit us read on.
We have contemplated having a pdf brochure online for our customers to download but on feedback we have discovered our customers prefer to have it posted to them in hard copy so they can look through it at their leisure and indeed even cut bits out like one of our customers today told me they did.
We do have a full range of brochures from Gallery which are the Purple brochure containing all the Cast iron fireplaces with Timber and Limestone Mantels etc.
The pink brochure has Stoves and Firebaskets in and finally the green Brochure has modern suites in Jura stone and Limestone etc.
All these brochures are available from us free of charge and will be snt out in the post to you.
Not many if any other online fireplace companies offer this service along with our samples service its what helps make Castfireplaces different from the rest.
So if you do require a brochure we will be adding a Brochure request section on our website so you can fill in your detasils there and leave the rest up to us.

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How do you send out your small items

Sunday, July 18th, 2010

We have recently added to our website a larger range of care products and various different items such as tiles.
These items are not delivered by our own vans and just to explain more we had a customer order a soot door via our website asking for an Early AM delivery which is a service we offer on our fireplaces so early am delivery is not an option.
We do not deliver all the small items on our website such as care products by our own vehicles we infact use Parcelforce or Royal Mail for all these items.
As this is out of our control for delivery unless you want to pay for a before 10 am service they normally arrive between 2-5 days depending on which service we have sent them.
All these items are very well packaged before delivery and up to now have had no damages this year so you can rest assured it will arrive in one piece.
When i explained our postage charge system of £2.95 for light items upto £14.95 he realised that it did say postage charge and not home delivery service.
Mr A was fine with this and instead had it delivered to work so if you are going to be out all day either have it posted to work or your postie will leave you a card through your door to collect from your local post office or Depot.
If in doubt give us a ring and i will explain in further detail

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How do i replace bulb in Electric Fireplace

Saturday, July 10th, 2010

A small problem that is simply solved and this little problem has oocured in one of our electric inserts that was supplied over 2 years ago now thats not bad lifespan for a simple bulb.
Anyway the electric inserts we supply with our gallery cast iron fireplaces all sit behind the bars and ashpan covers and the controls are accesed behind the removable aspan cover at the base of your fireplace.
It has 3 settings Effect only and Heat 1 and 2 settings, most of our customers tend to use the effect only and sitting in a darkened room at night with it glowiing away is quite effective as the the spinner above it creates flickering look.
Now when the bulb goes it is not a sealed unit but is a little tricky to replace as it all needs to be removed.
All the coals thats surround the unit have to be removed and as its real coal you may wish to put some paper down.
Once the coal has been removed just lift the unit out and at the back you will see where the red bulb goes it is a standard fitting and is just simply swapped over.
After fitting new bulb just briefly switch effect on to make sure it works if all is good replace unit back into the fireplace and then recover with all the coal to make it look like a real fire.
If in any doubt please ring us or consult a fireplace fitter.

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Time to spring clean your multi fuel stove

Tuesday, June 29th, 2010

It is the time of the year now you are not using your multi fuel stove to dismantle it and give it a thorough good clean, i know when its winter time and in use every day we all empty the ashpan but really not much else.
Anyway as the weather is a lot warmer let me explain to you how to give it a really good clean
First off get some clean newspaper and cover the whole are in front of the fire, remove any ash on the grate and drop it into the ashpan.
Remove the Hood thats sits on top of the firebricks and place on the paper then take out the firebricks and finally the grate and ashpan.
Hoover out any ash left in the stove and then inspect for any damage to the casting.
Take outside the baffle hood and the grate and give them a good wire brush loosening and removing any dirt these can then be sprayed with Heat temp paint if required.
Do the same with the firebricks using a soft brush and hoover ashpan check for any cracks or damage and repair or replace if needed then its all ready to be refitted.
Lightly hoover around the rope door seals checking for any fraying or if its coming out of its groove reglue back in place.
Give the glass a good polish with soot and tar removing glass cleaner to leave it as clean as a whistle, finally just give the outside a hoover off and add a drop of oil to the hinge pins and now your stove is all ready for a good winters use ahead.

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Which way round do my Fireplace tiles go

Monday, June 28th, 2010

Well when i took this phonecall this morning from Tony who fits a huge amount of fireplaces for us in the South area i thought he was taking the mickey as he really knows his job and very rarely rings for advice more for a chat and a bit of banter.

Anyway the Fireplace tiles in question are the Lavenham Velvet of course which are a gallery set of tiles sold by us on our website and very popular.

I knew instantly which set he meant and i said there all the same its a repetitive pattern so it doesnt matter, he replied thats what i thought and on closer inspection there not all the same.

Now i knew they had 3 tiles on two sides on 2 on the other but i had not seen that some of the two tile panels were further apart.

Right let me ring you back ill get brochure out and have a look now you can see what i mean there not the same and when fitted into the fireplace they do not seem to run in any pattern apart from the three flowers always being at the top.

So we settled on the fact they are placed in random fashion as there is no other way for them to go, so another thing i have learnt today i would have never noticed that had it not been pointed out to me.

So little small details eluded me and ive sold probably 100 sets of lavenham tiles in the past and this have never been mentioned before its true what they say you learn a little something everyday even if i have to store that bit of information in my brain forever without someone asking ever again its now logged in should anybody ever ask again.

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