Reports by the British Retail Consortium show a pretty bleak profit for the average high street retailer this Christmas, whilst reports on internet sellers actually show growth!

It is tempting for all of us (during this credit crunch) to push for more discount and to look for the cheapest buying option.  However, buying a Fireplace or Stoves is not generally a simple purchase, although it is easy to find internet shops that will sell them to you must be aware that advice about the product before you purchase is vital.  You need to know that the Fireplace/ Fires/Stoves is suitable for your property (believe me it is a lot more complicated than you probably realise) and advice, fitting and good aftercare service is essential throughout your purchase. If you want to ensure peace of mind and good aftercare you should purchase your products through the Independent Fireplace Retailer.  In addition you will be showing support for your local business during a difficult time for them!

The National Fireplace Assosiation recently released this article:

Many internet retailers fail to point out to their purchasers that the installation of their new wood-burning stove is governed by the Building Regulations. To paraphrase Approved Document J of the Building Regulations 2002, purchasers of solid fuel stoves (those burning wood fuels or coal based fuels) must either apply to their local authority building inspectorate for a Building Notice or use a registered member of a ‘Competent Persons’ scheme for solid fuels. The only competent persons scheme for solid fuel is run by HETAS, a not-for-profit company which approves solid fuel appliances and fuels as well as operating this ‘Competent Person’s’ scheme in England and Wales. The HETAS’ web site as at www.hetas.co.uk.

With little or no information received by purchasers from internet stove sellers, many try to install these stoves themselves unaware of the Building Regulation requirements or the possible danger of fire or carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning if these products are not installed properly. The National Fireplace Association, which is the trade body for the wider fireplace industry (fires, fireplaces and stoves powered by all types of fuel), would like to see each stove accompanied by a sheet spelling out the purchaser’s duty to have the stove installed safely in line with both the Building Regulations and the manufacturer’s instructions.

The household name corgi is due to change to Capita.  This will mean a change for all gas installations such as boilers and fires etc.  Currently any gas appliance must be installed and serviced by a corgi engineer (don’t forget to check your gas appliance installer is always corgi registered), the changes are due to come into effect during spring 2009.

HSE picks Capita as gas scheme provider

‘A few months ago The Health and Safety Executive (HSE)  announced Capita as its preferred bidder to provide a new gas installer registration scheme and new scheme starts on April 1, 2009 replacing the existing scheme operated by CORGI. 

A spokesman for the HSE said “What made Capita the preferred bidder was Capita’s ideas for promoting gas safety and delivering the new brand. They introduced certain new ideas to the scheme”‘.

Christmas is made perfect when you are sitting by a real open fire with the family and when your relaxing on your own after the festivities finishing off the mulled wine, but can you tell the difference between gas and real burning coal?

My friends can’t, we enjoyed a relaxing drink by the river yesterday in a kind of romantic old pub with big woodern fireplaces and cast iron tiled inserts with gas fires inside. I popped off to the toilet and four friends (and one husband) started up the conversation of how wonderful a real fire is and a gas fire is simply no comparison and could never look as good as these fires.  I then pointed out the gas pipe at the side!

The Low fireplace suite is chic and contemporary and ideal for modern apartment living when you don’t want the fireplace to dominate the room.  Crafted in stunning Agean Limestone the suite is compact (1160 mm wide by 725mm high) and versatile because it can be fitted with a verity of Gallery Fire baskets and Firebowls from the Capital Fireplaces range. Plus its ideal is you want to put your plasma TV above on the wall.

  Shown above with the Capital Fireboxx.

Shown above with The Gallery Zen Basket.

Winter is well & truly upon us and the central heating is on, and if there was ever a time that the boiler was going to break down it would be now when outside temperatures are below 5 degrees!

Most of us would know who to call and the majority of us have a service contract for our gas boiler with the yearly service taken care of, but don’t forget that your gas fire requires a service once a year too.  So to ensure your warranty is valid for the up and coming years and that your fire is going to be working on those cosy Christmas mornings you could contact homeserve or British Gas.

Also to find out about gas safety and why you should always use a corgi engineer for fitting and servicing gas appliances it is worth taking a look at the Corgi Gas Safety website.