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Electric fire baskets come complete with a cable and standard three pin plug. However, normal practice for permanent installations is to bury the cable in the wall for a neat finish and get an electrician to connect the fire to a fused spur. It is important to place the electric fire basket on a level surface, and to follow any directions given by the manufacturer regarding space around the fire.It is normal for fan heaters to generate a small amount of noise, but this should be unobtrusive. Make sure the fire basket is positioned on a level surface and that any fixings are secure, as most noise problems are linked to the unit vibrating too much when in use. Some people are so sensitive to noise they find the normal sounds of a fan heater unpleasant – if this applies it is best to look at other types of fire instead.Fire baskets come in all shapes and sizes – when we supply electric fires with new fire baskets we work from lists of product codes to identify which model of electric fire goes with which fire basket. If you are trying to source an electric fire for an old fire basket, the best thing to do is visit a local fireplace shop, with either the fire basket or a template, and see if they hav

Logs are the most commonly used form of wood fuel in the UK, used for both open fires and wood burning stoves. Most people source logs locally, for example through tree surgeons, farmers or coal merchants. However some fuel suppliers offer nationwide delivery of logs either by the pallet or in large bags.
It can be difficult to work out whether you are getting a good deal when buying firewood. Unlike coal and smokeless fuel, which must be sold in defined weights under the Weights and Measures Act, wood is usually sold by the bag or by lorryload. This makes it difficult to compare prices between suppliers. In addition, the performance of logs as a fuel varies a lot depending on moisture content and the type of wood.As a general guide hardwoods make better firewood than softwoods. Hardwood comes from slow growing broadleaf trees such as oak or ash, while softwood comes from fast growing conifers such as pine. While hardwood and softwood give out similar amounts of heat per kilogramme burned, a hardwood log can be up to twice as heavy as a similar sized softwood log. This means that to get the same amount of heat you would have to buy and store twice as much softwood as hardwood. Hardwood and softwood logs burn differently as well - hardwood gives a steady, sustained burn while softwood gives a quick surge of intense heat then dies down. This means that you will have to refuel your wood stove more often if you burn softwood.

If you buy wood locally from tree surgeons or farmers it is likely to be green, with a high moisture content. Green wood can be bought at bargain prices, but you should be prepared to buy it well in advance of using it. If not already cut into usable logs, you will need to chop it up then stack it somewhere with good air circulation to dry out for up to two years.Seasoned logs have been air dried naturally over a long period until the moisture content has dropped to 30-50%. Wood with this moisture content isn't really ready yet for burning in a wood stove, but this is a good value option which gives you logs pre-cut to a standard size without requiring long storage times.Kiln dried firewood is first air dried, then the drying process is completed in large kilns to give an average moisture content of around 20%. Kiln dried firewood is ready for immediate use on your woodburner, and will give a good heat output and efficient burn.Wood waste can be tempting as an inexpensive or free source of fuel. You should never burn painted or treated wood (including MDF and chipboard) as this gives off chemicals which can be harmful to your health, your woodburner and the environment. Wood chips should only be used on a wood stove which has been designed to burn them.