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Fireplaces Oxford by Turner Baker
Reopening Fireplaces Oxford
Having a fire or a fireplace are enjoying a renaissance in homes all around the UK, as homeowners look to bring back the enjoyment of the warmth and ambiance provided by a cosy fire on a cold winters evening. Turner Baker have many years experience in maintaining flues and fireplaces Oxford so you can trust them with yours in your property, no matter the age of it.
A fireplace historically was the centre of the home. It was where the cooking happened, and the heating and lighting was created. Modern fireplace requirements are now different, due to the convenience of central heating systems in the home. This means that heat is no longer the primary reason for having an open fire, wood burning stove or a gas fire in the home. Today’s fires and fireplaces are more frequently wanted for aesthetical or ambiance reasons.
In period properties, many fireplaces Oxford were boarded with the introduction of central heating. However they are now proving to be popular and being used once again in the homes of Oxford.
Safety Checking
In an ideal world, you could remove whatever material was used to block up the fireplace to light the fire and enjoy it immediately. However, this can be dangerous and cause a number of risks. There are several safety checks that should be done before, such as:
- A chimney sweep of the flue to be undertaken by a NACS or Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps registered practitioner. They can clear any obstructions that may have collected in the flue and fireplaces Oxford such as bird nests and other wildlife.
- A CCTV survey then needs to be carried out to ascertain whether the flue is safe to use. This will immediately show whether the flue is lined or unlined. Furthermore, it will give an indication of the integrity of the liner if it is lined. Lining chimneys has been common practice for many years now. Early liners were generally supplied as pipes that slotted together and it is not unusual for the joints in these early liners to fail, compared to modern single piece flue liners which often don’t.
Surveying and Testing Flues/Fireplaces Oxford
A camera survey will also identify any bends in the flue where debris might have collected, such as timber lintels in the brickwork and any obstructions such as old spit mechanisms.
A CCTV survey will give detailed information on the condition of the inside of your flue but will not show how well your flue works. To establish this, there are two different smoke tests that we can perform:
- Dynamic smoke test – This checks the draw of an appliance or open fire. A dynamic smoke test is designed to establish if the smoke escapes up the flue efficiently or if it fills the room where the fire is with smoke, which will mean poor performance.
- Static smoke test – This checks the integrity of the flue. When an appliance is used or a fire is lit in fireplaces Oxford, this test will show if smoke leaks from the flue into other rooms in the property.
It is highly unlikely for an old, unlined flue in a period property to be given a clean bill of health, especially if it has been redundant for a long time. The bricks and mortar that holds it together are likely to have degraded over time, particularly in areas where the original materials used are soft. For this reason, the flue is unlikely to be smoke tight.
In period properties that have had coal burnt in the fire, the inside of the flue may well be affected by the salts that are deposited from the coal. These then stick to the side of the flue and are difficult, if not impossible to remove with conventional sweeping methods.
Solutions for unsafe flues and fireplaces Oxford
There is a simple solution to the issue of a flue that is no longer fit for the purpose of hosting an open fire, gas fire or wood burning stove: Have it professionally lined by Turner Baker.
We offer many different modern lining solutions. From the more cost effective solution like stainless steel, to the more expensive but longer lasting and more flexible thermosetting resin liner. One of our highly trained installers will advise you on which system is best for your property as each period property has its own unique characteristics and a lining solution that may be perfectly safe for one property may be totally unsuitable for another.
Good Practice When Using Your Fire and Fireplace
Lining a flue will improve the performance and the safety of the flue and also allow you to enjoy your open fire, wood burning stove or gas fire on a cold winters evening. However, a liner is not a miracle solution. You will still have to follow good practice to ensure its longevity, including regular sweeping. Using well-seasoned wood can also reduce the build-up of sticky tar in flues and fireplaces Oxford, improving their longevity.
If you would like more information about opening up fireplaces Oxford or establishing whether a flue is safe to use, please call Turner Baker on 01432 839123.