The Feb editions of Homes & Gardens and Living Etc featured the  Bartello  in Agean Limestone & Lytton Highlight Cast Iron Insert Gallery Fireplace.  They also featured articles on easy decoration, affordable home investments and ways to add character to your home.

British Gas first to announce gas price cuts for over 7.5 million homes

British Gas today announced it will cut gas prices by 10% from 19 February 2009. The reduction will apply to all customers on British Gas’ standard tariff, benefiting more than 7.5million homes.

The price cut, which will save customers £84 on the average annual household gas bill, is the first standard gas tariff cut by a major energy supplier since 2007.

Managing Director, Phil Bentley, said: “We’re very pleased to be able to announce this price cut for our gas customers. At British Gas we understand energy bills are a significant cost and we are committed to providing the best possible prices for customers. This price cut will go some way to helping customers manage their budgets, and we will continue to do what we can, when we can.”

Over the last 12 months, the wholesale market has experienced unprecedented volatility. In 2008 the wholesale price almost doubled, but British Gas protected its customers from the full impact of this increase by buying wholesale gas in advance.

Mr Bentley explained: “Demand for gas is four times higher in winter than in summer. We buy gas months before it is used so we can make sure we always have enough for our customers, and can protect them from sudden rises in wholesale prices. The recent dispute between Russia and Ukraine demonstrates how important it is that we continue to do so, as it caused a sharp rise in wholesale prices which had fallen from last year’s peaks.”

On 19 February, British Gas will also introduce a ‘prompt payment discount’ of up to £15 per year for customers on standard gas tariffs who pay quarterly. For those standard tariff customers paying by direct debit, British Gas will automatically reduce their payments by 10% when the price cuts take effect.

These changes come on top of a recent price reduction for British Gas’ pre-payment customers and improved information about the company’s online product - making British Gas the first energy supplier to meet Ofgem’s key requirements following its recent probe into the UK energy market.

If you are looking for a Fireplace bargin this Jan/Feb then Gallery have even more offerings! So visit your local Gallery Fireplaces dealer and ask about the offer on Fire Baskets, Valencia , Centric, Kensington and Swans Nest.

Even more offers for you if you are hunting for a Fireplace bargin this Jan/Feb. So visit your local dealer and ask about all the Gallery Fireplace suite offers in Mirco Marble and Jurastone. The Copeland and The Dacre.

If you are hunting for a Fireplace bargin this Jan/Feb then Gallery have some offerings, so visit your local dealer and ask about the Marseilles, Palladio, Henlow, Lyon and Milano offers.

If you are hunting for a Fireplace bargin this Jan/Feb then Gallery have some offerings, so visit your local dealer and ask about the Fulham offer.

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”‘.

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.

And how does Father Christmas manage to keep his beard gleaming white after jumping down thousands/millions of chimeys in one night?!

Jokeing aside, keeping your chimney clean especially in winter is important.  A blocked chimney does not only create a lot of mess from soot fall and stop the fire working efficiently it can result in a chimney fire and contribute towards carbon monoxide poisoning.

If you are not sure who to contact you may find this link to The National Association of Chimey Sweeps useful.

If you do keep your chimney sweept but still experince a few problems with downdraft and soot and rain fall than there is something you can do, installation of a rain cap or chimney cowl will help protect the chimney pot from extreme weather conditions.