Create a stunning focal point for your home; ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

AS darker nights approach, our thoughts turn to pulling on the curtains and settling down in front of a cosy fire.

Liam Clough (pictured) at the new Leeds Road showroom and below examples of the stoves, fires and fireplaces now on displayHe said: "We take care of everything from start to finish with our team of experienced fire and fireplace installers.'' Liam, who has worked in the industry for a number of years before setting up on his own, says his priority is always to meet the specific needs of his customers.For a great choice of stoves, fires and fireplaces, it's well worth taking a look at the newly opened Yorkshire Stoves & Fireplaces in Leeds Road, Huddersfield."Whether you want a focal point, an efficient fireplace to heat your room, or a combination of both, Yorkshire Stoves & Fireplaces will aim to provide you with a solution,'' he said.If the focal point of your sitting room is in need of an update, now is a great time to take a look at fires and fireplaces and organise a date for installation before cooler days arrive in autumn and winter.Liam said: "At the moment stoves are really popular, mainly because they are multi-fuel and will burn coal or wood etc. Homeowners are buying them to save money as gas prices continue to rise.'' Products and services offered by Liam and his team also include repair and service of gas fires and stoves, repair of stone fireplaces, surveys, advice and consultation, fireguards and bespoke fireplaces.The Leeds Road showroom is open seven days a week, Monday to Friday 9.30am to 6pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am to 4pm.The showroom is situated next to the Topps Tiles showroom and there is customer parking outside.Yorkshire Stoves & Fireplaces also stocks contemporary hole-in-the-wall fire designs.CAPTION(S):Opened by Liam Clough just over a month ago, the showroom is already attracting a lot of interest from local homeowners keen to find a new focal point for their home.A range of about 30 fires and stoves are always on display in the Leeds Road showroom along with a range of fireplaces in various designs using marble, wood, granite and limestone.Take a look at the website www.yorkshirestovesandfireplaces.

Liam Clough (pictured) at the new Leeds Road showroom and below examples of the stoves, fires and fireplaces now on display

Chimney Safety Institute of America Recommends These Simple Steps to Ensure Post-Irene Home Heating Safety

PLAINFIELD, Ind. -- Though the immediate threat of Hurricane Irene is past, millions of homeowners in the Northeast will deal with water and wind damage for weeks, if not months, to come. The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) offers these simple steps to help ensure safer home heating after the storm:

Chimney inspections and preventative chimney maintenance is best left to a qualified chimney professional, like a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep. Find a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep and learn more about caring for your chimney and home heating system online at www.CSIA.org.The Chimney Safety Institute of America is a non-profit, educational organization dedicated to chimney and venting system safety. CSIA is committed to the elimination of residential chimney fires, carbon monoxide intrusion and other chimney-related hazards that result in the loss of lives and property. To achieve these goals, CSIA devotes its resources to educating the public, chimney and venting professionals and other fire prevention specialists about the prevention and correction of chimney and venting system hazards.Replace Damaged Appliances: Any electrical wiring or fans associated with your fireplace or furnace’s operation must also be replaced if they have become water-logged. Just like your kitchen’s refrigerator and stove, your home heating appliances need to be inspected and potentially replaced, depending on the level of water damage.Replace Gas Logs: Fireplaces that are fitted to burn gas logs pose one of the most dangerous problems because small pieces of debris and/or damage to the gas control valve might not be obvious until the risk of blockage and rapid deterioration of the components become an issue.CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps have earned the chimney and venting industry's most respected credential by passing an intensive examination based on fire codes, clearances and standards for the construction and maintenance of chimney and venting systems. They are also well versed in the characteristics of fuels available for home heating such as wood, gas and oil. This knowledge allows them to expertly diagnose and solve chimney and venting problems.

The Chimney Safety Institute of America is a non-profit, educational organization dedicated to chimney and venting system safety. CSIA is committed to the elimination of residential chimney fires, carbon monoxide intrusion and other chimney-related hazards that result in the loss of lives and property. To achieve these goals, CSIA devotes its resources to educating the public, chimney and venting professionals and other fire prevention specialists about the prevention and correction of chimney and venting system hazards.

Prepare for winter ahead of time

It is time to think about winter-proofing your home. Many supplies are less expensive in the off months. You will save more money if you implement changes before the cold strikes because changes work well to keep homes cool in warmer months, too.

They are just really huge pieces of polar fleece sewn into sheets. Anyone could easily make their own with a little elastic and a serger or sewing machine. But I think you would have to order the special extra-wide (usually 60 inches) polar fleece online because I have never seen it in a store. -- Vail, WashingtonThe first reader tip suggests another way to stay warm.Sara Noel is the owner of Frugal Village (www.frugalvillage.com), a website that offers practical, money-saving strategies for everyday living. To send tips, comments or questions, write to Sara Noel, c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, Mo., 64106, or email sara frugalvillage.com.Save time: When I need stuff from Sam's Club, I use the click- and-pull. You go to the website and just make a list of everything you need and order it. The store pulls it within 24 hours, and it is waiting on you when you get there! This saves me money because I don't walk through and see this or that thing that I just can't live without. -- Lorene, North CarolinaStay warm this winter: Polar fleece sheets will easily allow you to turn off the heat in your house at night. And you can find them at Costco, Walmart and Cabela's. I like the Cabela's ones as they are thicker, better quality polar fleece, but they are more expensive. I am one of those people who is always cold. I tend to wear socks to bed, and now I don't have to.A few examples include blocking drafts, adding insulation, installing a programmable thermostat, servicing your furnace and buying wood if you own a fireplace. Here are a few more ideas to prepare for winter: www.frugalvillage.com/2010/10/27/prepare-for- winter.Quick corn: I cook corn-on-the-cob in my microwave. Put it in a microwave dish and cover. One ear takes only 3 or 4 minutes unless it is frozen. It also is good when cooked in the shucks. When cooked in the microwave, you find out how sweet it is. Cooking it in water removes the taste. I also bake my potatoes in the microwave. Prick a few holes in the potatoes with a fork and grease them with butter or oil. -- Martha Y., emailThese are the best sheets ever! If you use them during the summer, they also help to keep you cool. -- Debbie, Minnesota

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