Real Fires..how do you do yours?

[barb1314]

Am struggling to lay a fire and keep it going! Only recently moved into a house with one. I use paper knots,on top of a couple of firelighters,some kindling criss crossed and a few pieces of coal on top. Once the coal is glowing I add a little more and a log. Some times it's fine and many times it just goes out. What am I doing wrong? Surely this should be easy? I seem to be going through so much kindling.Can anyone tell me what they do to get a good fire started? Thanks very much.

[clipclop1]

I find its better to lay some coal down first, then put your firelighters on top, light them, wait for then to take light fully THEN add more coal to the top of that and cover them so that you have lots of smoke coming out from underneath... maybe you could scatter some paper knots on your bottom layer of coal too to really get them going, but as long as you have the coal covered and lots of smoke coming out then they'll soon catch and you'll be all cosy and warm! O and remember to clean out the bottom of it regularly, it needs oxygen underneath for it to work properly! good luck!

[Naomicorlett]

2 firelighters, criss cross of kindling and wait for that to catch before throwing coal on. Mine goes like a train but am blessed with a really good chimney that we had built 4 years ago ( Victorian house that had had all chimneys taken down in 70's) Have you a good draught up your chimney does it need sweeping ? We have ours done once a year .

[madmaggot]

It sounds as if your chimney may not be drawing properly. Have you had it swept? You can get a smoke bomb that will show if the smoke is going up properly or you could get your sweep to test it.
I do exactly what you do, except that I use only one firelighter and it burns well. Try putting the log first instead of the coal then add coal when it is burning well.
Good luck.

[tamborine]

screw up 3page newspaper add 2-3 polythene bottles, or shoe, or video. Light paper, add logs or coal.

Add all combustibles from bin - save land sites.

[Myriad2112]

pour petrol on it!!!

[B00]

I know Myriad's reply is a joke (least I think it is!) But I did used to put a VERY small sprinkling of white spirit on my assembled fire- it didn't half go woof and occasionally 'trimmed' your eyebrows for you, but the thing never ever went out!

(I just know someone's going to come along and tell you not to listen to my advice...lol)

[heathfield]

I have this same problem - but only when I use those 10kg plastic bags of 'House Coal' from convenience stores or DIY outlets. Really, the coal in them is awful stuff, and is almost impossible to light and to keep going. I don't think it's meant for open fires, but it's like the stuff we used to get for a closed-front stove we had years ago. Lately, I've been getting coal from a local coal merchant instead - big, shiny, brittle lumps in 50kg sacks. It burns beautifully, looks so much better, and is dead easy to light using only newspaper donuts.

[barb1314]

Thanks everyone.Might give the petrol and white spirit a miss! I get coal from local merchant in big bags so think that's ok. My chimney was swept the week we moved in. I've not heard about putting coal at bottom. Might try that. It's funny that some times it's great and other times,just dies.Think maybe I'm too impatient and add extra coal when it's not quite hot enough.Will keep trying.I'll get it one day.Thanks again.

[dothawkes31]

you need to pull the damper down, well we used to have to do that as kids, whatever that was for, it was a round metal thing hanbging down from the chimney, no idea what it did, I lived there til I was 21 but never asked what it was for lol

[MOUCHA]

You must have a draught to make the fire draw. If the room is too insulated it will be difficult to keep the fire alight. Try opening a door or window sufficiently to assist the draught and you should have no further problems

[dizmouk2009]

Petrol lol, I can just imagin someone doing that. Get yourself a 'fire drawing thing', I'm not actually sure what you call it but it's just something that covers the front of the fire when initially lit to help 'draw the fire'. I made one out of steel, 2 pieces of wood and some metal tubing, it works wonders. You can alternatively just use newspaper to block the front but the chances are it will just set on fire. Madmaggot had a good point though, the chimney might need a good sweep!

[lucca]

I don't like the idea of getting loads of smoke belching into the room or the petrol/plastic methods. My coal fire is a very welcome "top-up" to central heating and my method has never failed. Definitely a bed of coal (smaller rather than larger bits) with one firelighter in middle, kindling on top, with smallish coal around and on top. Don't make "bottom" coal a solid mass - you need some air underneath to help fire draw. Resist adding stuff or jabbing about with a poker until it's established - then add bigger bits and/or log. Takes minutes and it's brilliant in every way.

[danchip]

fill the bottom of the grate with loosely crumpled newspaper, add kindling on top of that and a little coal to start with ( the kindling and coal can collapse when the paper has burnt hence the reason for a little coal) once the kindling is well alight add more coal, dont add logs until the fire is well established,

I agree with previous posts about burning rubbish in your fire, although you have to be very selective on what you burn,

[barb1314]

Thanks so much for all your answers. I have tried a way similar to what 'lucca' described and the fire is burning a treat. Lovely and toasty.

[lucca]

Glad to hear it. Hope it works each time! Enjoy.