21/04/2026
Its starting to get cool in the mornings and afternoons 🥶❄️
As we have a nice weekend coming it's the best time to ensure your wood heater is winter ready!
🔴Look at the flue from outside. Check for bird nests, leaf debris, a loose or damaged cowl, or any visible rust or gaps. Birds love nesting in flues over summer - a blocked flue means smoke has nowhere to go
🔴Open and close the flue damper. It should move freely without sticking. If it's jammed or stiff, don't force it - this needs professional attention.
🔴Test the door seal. Close the door on a piece of paper. If the paper slides out easily, the seal has lost compression and needs replacing. A worn seal lets air leak in, which means you lose control of the burn rate and waste heat.
🔴Inspect the firebricks. Small hairline cracks are normal and don't affect performance. But if you see large chunks missing or bricks crumbling away, they need replacing before you light the first fire. Firebricks protect the steel body of the heater from direct flame heat.
🔴Clean the firebox. Remove most of the old ash, but leave a thin bed of about two centimetres. A small layer of ash insulates the base and helps the fire burn more evenly.
🔴Clean the glass. Use a wood heater glass cleaner, not a standard household product. Regular glass cleaners can leave chemical residue that burns off at high temperatures and creates unpleasant odours - or damages the glass itself.
🔴Clear the hearth. Move anything flammable well away from the heater. Magazines, kindling bags, curtains, furniture - all of it needs a safe distance before the heater is in use.
