What are the benefits of having a solid fuel stove over a traditional fireplace?
Solid fuels are 40-50% more efficient than an open fire with the ability to control the rate of burn and heat output to the room. Approximately 70% of the heat from an open fire will escape up the chimney compared to three-quarters of the heat entering the room with a stove, therefore, being more economical and money saving.
Can I install a stove myself?
We don’t recommend that customers attempt to install their stove by themselves mainly due to the health and safety aspects behind this; death by carbon monoxide poisoning or by smoke inhalation are just an example. However, if you do decide to do this yourself, then we advise you to purchase your flue components from a retailer who can provide expert advice, thus ensuring products are safely installed.
Can I install a stove without a chimney?
Yes, the majority of new homes now are built without chimneys. There is a simple solution to this called a twin wall flue. A twin wall flue system is made up of numerous components that slot together. These two options depend on how the system will be routed, through the wall thus meaning the majority of the pipe is outside of the building. The second option is to run the flue system internally through the ceilings of each floor.
Generally, twin wall flue comes in a stainless steel finish as standard; however, some customers prefer a coloured finish; black or ivory being the most requested colours. This is achieved by powder coating the flue to provide a finish that is durable and resistant to heat and corrosion.
Who is HETAS and why do I need a certificate?
Heating Equipment Testing & Approval Scheme’ is a governing body of solid fuel domestic heating appliances, fuels and service and are solely responsible for the registration of installers and businesses. A HETAS certificate demonstrates that your installer has been carried out by a fully trained and competent installer as well a complying with building regulations.
What output should my stove be?
We generally use the calculations in KiloWatts. The method we use for this is Height x Width x Depth of your room divided by 0.1 if working in metres, or divided by 500 if working in feet.
These measurements are only an estimate, and other factors need to be taken into consideration.
Why line my chimney?
The chimney is the key apparatus of the stove. If it is not correct, your stove will not work correctly.
The majority of the time the chimney needs lining for a number of reasons, not just one. Firstly, many chimneys have clay liners. Clay is not the best material for retaining the heat. It is essential that the chimney stays nice and warm when the stove is running. Secondly, the size of the liners or chimney is often a lot bigger than the opening on the top of the chosen stove. If the flue is too big the likelihood is that the output of the stove to the room will be decreased and your glass will become blackened. Thirdly, your chimney pots or stack could be old and/or leaking and therefore may require a liner.
Every property is different, and we recommend that the property is surveyed to check suitability. For a free survey call us on 01726 66412 or pop in and arrange a time.
What maintenance does a stove require?
It is well worth looking after your stove as it will then last you for many years and give relatively trouble free service. If high-quality fuel is burnt and the stove is used efficiently, then there should be very little maintenance required by the home owner other than occasional replacement of “sacrificial” parts.
Keep the glass clean, do this little and often to stop the build-up of soot and tar deposits.
Obviously, you will need to remove the ash as and when is necessary. It is worth retaining a decent bed of ash (say at least 1”) when burning wood in order to trap the embers. This helps to retain the fire’s heart meaning you are burning wood much more efficiently. If you are burning solid fuel, then the ash pan must be emptied at least once a day. If the glowing clinkers in the ash pan rise high enough to make contact with the grate bars, you will find they turn banana shaped before too long!
Why use Kiln Dried Logs?
For wood burning stoves, the drier the wood the better. Using fresh logs with high moisture content will reduce your stove’s heat output as you’ll waste energy burning off the water, so you’ll need to use more to warm the room. Kiln dried logs are perfect for our stoves and will save you money and energy.
