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Heating
If needed, the house should have been heated for your arrival and the heating will run on a pre-set cycle for the duration of your stay. If you wish to change the heating time or temperature, simply dial the required temperature into the Nest device located on the shelf in the upper sitting room (located between the Greyhound Room and the stairs). The device will remember the changes made but only for that day of the week so you may need to make the same adjustment the next day if needed.
Fireplace
The log burner in the living room can be a very effective way to heat the ground floor. A basket of logs and some kindling will have been provided when you arrive but if you need more supplies both can be purchased from the greengrocer in Greyhound Yard (come out of Old Red Lion Yard and turn left, then turn left down the second yard you come to and the greengrocers is just after the Greyhound pub). Homebase also sells logs (postcode DT11 9LQ) as do many other stores or petrol stations in the area.
A few key pointers:
- Please only burn wood or wood briquettes in the stove. House coal or anthracite can cause damage to the stove and the flue lining.
- The wood needs to be dry. Damp wood will cause soot to accumulate on the glass and damage the door seal.
- Please don’t use lighter fuel, oils or any other liquid fuel in the stove at any time.
- The stove gets very hot. Please don’t place anything on stop of the stove or near the sides; the heat may cause them to combust.
- The door handle does get hot. Please use the glove provided to open the door to reload wood.
- Wood likes to burn on a bed of ash so there shouldn’t be a need to clean the stove out each time you use it.
To light the stove:
- Place some scrunched up newspaper at the base of the stove and stack kindling on top in 1 or 2 layers leaving gaps in between. Place 1 log on the kindling. This is all you need to get the stove going.
- Fully open the air control (the silver lever beneath the door) by pushing it to the right. Light the paper and leave the door slightly ajar to allow air to enter and the fire to establish.
- With plenty of air the flames will burn brightly and quickly warm the stove and chimney
- After 10-15 minutes close the door.
- To control the burn rate use the air control. The manufacturers recommend burning the first load with the slider fully open.
- 40-50 minutes after lighting there should be a bed of red hot embers; more fuel can now be added.
- Place 1-2 logs (depending on size) on the embers and open the air control to allow the wood to light (normally this takes 2-3 minutes). Then adjust the airslider for optimum combustion.