Show home heating hints by john barclay heating expert dont shake down low fire give fresh coal good start then shake grates gently T THERES HERES a little fault with the firing method ot of quite a few homeowners home owners that I 1 should like to correct they have a mistaken idea that when a fire is low all they have to do is to shake the grates vigorously and the fire will flare up again nothing could be further from the tact fact A shallow half burned out fire cannot be revived by shaking most of the remaining coals into the the simple way to revive it is to add a sprinkling of fresh coal giving it time to ignite when it is burning well shake the grates gently stopping when the first red glow shows in the then refuel the fire remembering to fill the firebox to the level of the bottom of the fire door this will provide a deep fire which is considerably more economical than a shallow one for it burns less coal and lasts a longer period of time also it minimizes the attention you have to give a shallow fire in trying to revive it service |