It's the ideal time to buy a fireplace....

As the weather gets warmer, people tend to start thinking about summer holidays rather than evenings around the fire, but in fact this is the perfect time of year to start looking for a new fireplace or stove.  As soon as the evenings start drawing in and there's a chill in the air, fireplace retailers and fitters start to get busier and so there are longer waits for deliveries and fittings. 

If you start looking for your fire or stove now, you'll have plenty of time to deliberate before you make a decision and you'll be able to have it ordered, delivered and fitted in time for those first crisp autumn days.  When everyone else suddenly thinks they must get round to sourcing that fireplace, you'll already be spending your evenings settled in front of a cosy fire.

Come and visit our showrooms at 250-252 Lee High Road in Lewisham, South-East London or take a look at our website to see some of our wide range of stoves and fireplaces - www.westcombes.co.uk

Our fireplace buying guide

Welcome to the Westcombes BUYING GUIDE the essential fireplace-buyers check-list and safety guide.

We will look at the measurements needed to install a fireplace, the ventilation, your chimney and it's condition, fuel, the period of your property and style of fireplace.

What period is your property?

Period fireplaces look best matched to the historical period of your home, whereas more modern designs may suit a newer house.

Late Georgian/ Regency 1800-1830 Victorian 1837-1901 Edwardian & Art Nouveau 1901-1915 Art Deco 1920-1930 Modern

Take a look at the selection above to get an idea of the style of the period. Please note that the above examples are samples from our range.

Your Chimney and Measurements

Your chimney and it's condition is important for saftey and efficiency of your fire. Is your chimney pot still there? Or is it capped?

We recommend that your chimney is swept by a registered chimney sweep. This will tell you what condition your flue is in and whether it is safe to use. Feel free to contact us for further advice.

Fuel Types and Fitting

An authentic open fire, with the efficiency and cleanliness of controlable gas. Our range conforms to BS EN ISO 9002 safety standards, all models have an automatic shut-down mechanism should oxygen levels fall to a predetermined level. Suitable fireguards are also recommended where infants, elderly, and the infirm are concerned - see our Classic Range for more details - and print our guide for reference.

The last thing to do is have your fireplace installed. We have fully qualified Gas Safe Register (formally Corgi) and Hetas Registered fitters to take care of installations.

The importance of chimney sweeping

It's something people often forget, but you should have your chimneys swept on a regular basis.  Whatever type of fuel you burn, deposits can build up inside the chimney and you should have it cleared by a sweep at least once a year.  When soot and ash collects inside the chimney, it restricts the flow of air and can make the fire less efficient. The deposits can even catch fire, causing a potentially hazardous chimney fire.  Chimney pots are popular places for birds to build their nests and a sweep will also clear these out, along with any other debris that has gathered.

In Victorian times, it was small boys who climbed up chimneys to clear them but today it's a highly professional job which is usually done with no mess at all. Sweeps don't only clean, but may also be able to spot any other problems with the chimney, too.  What's more, chimney sweeps are meant to bring good luck, which is why they were traditionally paid to turn up at weddings, so you can have a clean chimney and some good fortune thrown in!

We can recommend sweeps at Westcombes as well as advising on the right sort of fire and fuel for your home - visit our website at www.westcombes.co.uk for more information.

Welcome to Westcombes

Welcome to the Westcombes blog.  We're one of London's largest suppliers of fireplaces and stoves and we pride ourselves on helping our customers right through from inspiration to installation.  We're based at 250-252 Lee High Road in Lewisham, South East London and we're open Monday to Friday from 10am to 6pm.  Our friendly team are always at hand in the shop, and we'll be giving lots of useful tips, advice and information about all things fireplace-related on this, our new blog!