Time for a Clean Sweep

As we prepare for the cold weather and dark nights of the winter months, it is important to ensure the appliances we use to keep us warm and cosy are safe and economical.

Having your chimney properly swept not only makes sure it is clean of soot, it also gives you peace of mind that there is no debris left over from nesting birds etc., which would prevent your chimney from drawing properly, and can cause smoke and fumes to return into the room.

Wood burning stoves are a very popular addition to homes, they off er warmth and are aesthetically pleasing, giving a cosy and welcoming feel to any room. However, it is essential that your new stove is fi tted correctly, by a competent fi tter. Ensure your installer is registered with a ‘competent person’ organisation, such as HETAS, to be certain that they have been properly trained to install your appliance safely and in line with regulations. Now you have your nice new stove, it is important to burn the correct fuel, in the correct way. Look out for kiln dried, or barn stored logs, with a moisture content of between 10 and 20%. Burning wood with a higher moisture content burns at a low temperature which creates more smoke, subsequently causes unnecessary air pollution and can cause tar and creosote to build up in your fl ue which is the main cause of chimney fi res. Burning wood with the correct moisture content burns at the optimum temperature; between 300 and 500 degrees which is also more effi cient, so it saves you money too. If you want to fi nd out more about the do’s and don’ts, go to burnright. co.uk or ask Graham Flood The Chimney Sweep who is always happy to off er advice.

Please see Graham Flood's advert on page 2.

Perhaps, more than ever at the moment, there is an increased awareness of our home surroundings, which has led to a rising demand for dining tables, chairs and benches. And for home offi ces, antique lamps and lighting, bookcases and tables for laptops and computers are required. Even books for the shelves – Zoom backdrops maybe?

This, coupled with antiques being the ultimate in recycling, is creating a marked increase in prices of what some would call ‘traditional furniture’.

In general, vintage and antiques are trending toward small, functional, and nostalgic. Small because millennials (born 1981-96) prefer smaller spaces and are often on the move. Functional because owning something that is solely decorative doesn’t work with ‘small’ and ‘on the move’.

And fi nally, nostalgic because at some point most of us enter a stage where we fi nd comfort in memories from our childhood, whether it’s a toy, something mum used in the kitchen, or some other item that we remember with fondness.

The mid-century modern boom is set to continue for a while. Almost anything related to this period is now of interest to collectors and dealers. There are no signs of this slowing any time soon.

Mon: Closed | Tues - Fri: 9.30am - 4.30pm Sat: 9.30am - 5.00pm | Sun: 10.30am - 4.30pm