How to enjoy log burners, the safe way

January 12 2022

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In recent years we’ve seen a log burner revival, as many Brits look to combine warmth and style, with a roaring fire seen as the ultimate living room accessory. However, in recent years they’ve hit the headlines for the wrong reasons, with some studies even suggesting that they should be sold with a health warning due to the toxic particles that they can release into the air. 

This has led to the government releasing The Clean Air Strategy, which aims to reduce the effects of toxic air pollution by 50%. They’ve also advised that by 2022, homeowners will only be able to buy the most efficient burners. Despite safety concerns, this shows that log burners are very much here to stay, so we’ve created a guide to help you enjoy using one safely. 

Make sure it’s fitted professionally
When you buy a log burner, you should think of it like any other heating appliance and only have it installed by a professional. They’ll be able to assess the correct size of log burner for your chimney, guarantee that it’s fitted correctly and will stick to building regulations to keep you and your home safe. 

Carry out regular maintenance 
To keep your log burner working at its best, you should regularly clean it. The timeframe for maintenance will depend on how often you use your burner, but it’s recommended you clear the ashpan every time you use it and, when it comes to the full unit, that you carry out a full clean every four to six weeks. 

You should also have your chimney swept at least once a year to keep it clean and at its safest. A chimney can easily get blocked or full of debris, especially if it’s in regular use. The best time to book the chimney sweep is after winter, when the weather’s more predictable. 

Use the right fuel
You can improve the efficiency of your log burner by using a more environmentally friendly fuel. Always make sure that the wood you’re burning is dry, as wet logs will release smoke that can contain harmful pollutants and gasses. Remember not to overload your fire, feed it regularly, rather than filling it up in one go. 

You should never use kerosene, gasoline or any other flammable liquid when you’re using your log burner. They can cause fireballs, make your fire less controllable and potentially damage your chimney. 

Install smoke detectors in your home 
You can safeguard against potential risks from a log burner by having fire safety protection professionally installed in your home. You should always check that when you leave your log burner unattended, the fire is under control. By having monitored smoke detectors fitted, you’ll be given plenty of warning if you’re at any risk from your fire. A log burner can also emit carbon monoxide, which is a poisonous, invisible gas. Although you might not be able to notice this threat, a carbon monoxide detector will and is an essential investment that could end up saving your life. 

What ADT life safety devices are available? 
ADT’s monitored smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are available as additional devices for your home alarm system. 

If you’ve decided to have these detectors installed with your security package, they will work in partnership with your alarm. The devices use PowerG wireless technology to connect to the intruder panel notifying both you and our Monitoring Centre if any problems arise. PowerG wireless technology is an adaptive transmission technology that continuously works with each device in your network, measuring the communication quality and automatically minimising its transmission power, maximising battery life. 
It features an advanced level of encryption to provide you with an added layer of professional protection. This provides a level of dependability that DIY life safety devices are unable to offer.  

What protection does an ADT smoke detector provide?
An ADT smoke alarm tests for smoke and heat at intervals of every seven to eight seconds and has a green LED light that flashes every 12 seconds to provide you with reassurance that sensors are working correctly. When an ADT smoke detector is triggered, it will sound an 85dB alarm buzzer and immediately start to flash an LED light for an instant warning for anyone inside your home. Our Monitoring Centre will also notify your local fire service, who will arrive to assist you. 

You won’t have to worry about remembering to replace the batteries. Your smoke detector is constantly monitored and maintained, which means we’ll know when it’s time to replace them – our smoke detector batteries have an average lifespan of three years. We’ll replace your battery as part of our all-inclusive service plan, which comes as standard, and will also carry out any repairs that need doing. 

What protection does an ADT carbon monoxide detector provide?
Protection against this invisible gas is almost immediate, thanks to the device’s early CO detection, which uses a sophisticated microprocessor to activate the alarm before dangerous levels are present. The ADT carbon monoxide detector is rigorously tested both automatically and manually, and it has a five-year lifespan, complete with an active expiration timer. You’ll receive a replacement detector free-of-charge, with our all-inclusive service plan. 

When your ADT carbon monoxide detector alarm is triggered, it uses a 95db buzzer (to get an idea of just how loud that is, a pneumatic drill is 91dB) and large flashing LED lights to grab your attention. Meanwhile, our Monitoring Centre will stay vigilant 24/7/365, to ensure that your alarm never goes ignored.

Want to find out about the fire safety services that ADT offer? Get in touch with a member of our team today to discuss your options.