Month: July 2018

Stove Advice & Maintenance by CarolJul 26, 20182:44 pm

Can I really damage my stove by overheating?

The fact that the body of any wood-burning/multifuel stove is made from cast iron or similarly durable materials tends to give the impression they are in effect “bombproof”. Many people automatically assume they can throw in as much wood or solid fuel as they like with no repercussions, simply greater heat output. However, this is a common misconception and overheating can prove to be extremely costly in the long term.

Optimum efficiency

Each stove will have an optimum efficiency which relates to a specific temperature within the combustion chamber. The fact that the majority of stoves today have primary, secondary and tertiary combustion phases means that all excess material/gas is burnt and burnt again to create more heat. If you use the analogy of a car, your vehicle will be more efficient at for example 70 miles an hour on a motorway than if you were speeding at 100 miles an hour. The faster your speed above 70 miles an hour the less efficient the vehicle becomes and the chance of greater wear and tear and need for replacement parts. The situation is no different for a wood-burning or multifuel stove.

Spare Parts & Accessories by CarolJul 26, 20181:14 pm

Fake stove spare parts are dangerous and a false economy

Unfortunately, in many ways we live in a world today where cost is everything and the quality of materials and products is not as prominent in the mind of consumers as it should be. The wood-burning and multifuel stove industry is a prime example where unscrupulous parties offer extremely cheap spare parts for a variety of different stoves. In the back of our minds there has to be a nagging doubt about the quality of the spare parts, whether branded or not, but it is easy to assume that unsafe fake stove spare parts would never make their way into the market today. Oh how wrong that is!

Fake stove spare parts

Whether imported from overseas, or manufactured in the UK, the amount of fake stove spare parts available on websites such as eBay is staggering. These parts are packaged like the real deal, often have the correct signage and branding, and look the part. It is only when you compare fake stove spare parts with the bona fide parts that you can see the difference. The difference in weight, the difference in quality and in some cases the difference in size.

Stove Advice & Maintenance by CarolJul 26, 201812:10 pm

Budget wood burning stoves, are they worth the money?

For many people it can be a jump too far from not having a stove to investing potentially thousands of pounds into installing a machine. This has led to a significant expansion of the budget stove market with particular emphasis on wood-burning machines. The term “budget stove” is perhaps a little unfair to the machines available today which may be relatively cheap compared to their counterparts but this in no way reflects on their performance and value for money.

Budget stove brands

There are many types of budget stove available today including the likes of the Tiger stoves, Firefox stoves and Hamlet stove range. There are some “starter machines” available for less than £500 although there is also the cost of installing on top of that. Historically, the UK market was flooded with a range of substandard budget stoves which were effectively not fit for purpose. While many people still look for budget stoves today, the experience of some in years gone by has, how should we put it, not cast a positive light on the industry.

Stove Advice & Maintenance by CarolJul 26, 201811:31 am

How long should a wood burning stove last?

One of the more common questions asked in relation to wood-burning stoves is how long they should last. This is not a subject covered in any great detail on the Internet but it is one which may surprise many people. So, after investing what can be a significant amount of money into your new wood-burning stove, how long should you expect it to last?

Stove body warranty

Whether you have a traditional or a contemporary wood-burning stove it is no surprise to learn that the body of your stove is the most durable part. This is why wood-burning stove manufacturers offer an extended warranty on the body of your stove with the majority of replacement parts not covered. Some people may be a little worried that it is only the body of your stove which is included in the extended warranty but there is no reason to be concerned.

Latest Stoves by CarolJul 18, 20186:32 pm

New Hamlet Solution 5 Widescreen Stove

For many years now the Hamlet range of wood-burning and multifuel stoves have been described as “entry-level” products which is a little unfair. That label tends to give the impression they are cheap and cheerful and a way to test the market before buying something more expensive. However, this is certainly not the case and the new Hamlet solution 5 widescreen stove has caught the attention and imagination of many stove enthusiasts.

Features of the Hamlet solution 5 widescreen stove

First of all, it is worth noting that the Hamlet solution 5 widescreen stove comes in seven different colours which are Anthracite, Devon Cream, Grey, Shimmering Rose, Pewter, Metallic Bronze and Skyblue. So, before you even begin to look at the features and the technical specifications, you can already see this is a stove which has received significant investment and attention from the Arada Group.

Stove Brands by CarolJul 16, 201812:38 pm

The full range of Yeoman CL Stoves

While each month seems to bring an array of new wood-burning and multifuel stoves to the marketplace, the Yeoman range of CL Stoves is still as popular today as it ever has been. A growing focus on stoves which can be used in smoke control areas has played into the hands of companies such as Yeoman Stoves who recognised the shifting trend many years ago.

We will now take a look at the full range of Yeoman CL stoves and see exactly what they have to offer.

Yeoman CL5 Midline Wood-Burning and Multifuel Stove

The Yeoman CL5 Midline stove comes in wood-burning and multifuel variations and the first thing you will notice is the integration of the a very useful log store. This not only allows you to store sufficient logs to see you through the day but it also raises the body of the stove improving the viewing area and minimising space requirements.

Stove Advice & Maintenance by CarolJul 16, 201810:51 am

Different types of material used with wood-burning and multifuel stoves

Are older stoves a victim of their own success?

There is concern and confusion in equal measures regarding proposed changes to the stove industry although ultimately they will end up being minor tweaks to the current system. Some reason the authorities seem to group together modern day wood-burning/multifuel stoves which are highly efficient with their older counterparts of years gone by. However, there is a growing belief that older stoves are in many ways a victim of their own success.

Built to last

We regularly hear stories of people installing stoves literally decades ago which need minor repairs and relatively little ongoing maintenance. In fairness, there may well have been a reduction in their level of efficiency from the date of installation but the fact that many are still going literally decades later shows these machines were built to last. In some ways older wood-burning/multifuel stoves may well become a victim of their own success amid calls for a stove scrappage/replacement scheme.

Stove Advice & Maintenance by CarolJul 12, 201811:45 am

Is it time for a stove scrappage scheme?

Over the years we have seen various stove scrappage schemes discussed and implemented although not always nationwide. There has been particular focus on boiler stoves, where great strides have been made in terms of new technology, but perhaps it is time to look at stoves in general?

New technology versus durability

It is something of a double edged sword when you bear in mind that the vast majority of new and old stoves are built to last. Relatively minor maintenance and the replacement of less durable parts can see a stove last 10 or 20 years. So, unless there is an incentive for those with older, perhaps less efficient, stoves to replace them why would they commit themselves to what can be a significant financial outlay?

Primary, secondary and tertiary combustion

Those who follow the wood-burning and multifuel stove market will be well aware of great advances in technology. We now have many stoves offering net efficiency ratings in excess of 80% and the number of stoves authorised by DEFRA has increased significantly. Technology such has improved primary, secondary and tertiary combustion processes meaning that more fuel, gas and emissions are burnt and burnt again to maximise heat output. This also minimises the emission of excess gases and particles into the atmosphere, something which the UK government is focusing on at the moment.

Stove Advice & Maintenance by CarolJul 12, 201811:01 am

Signs of a substandard stove installation

What is a stove baffle plate and why might it need replaced?

There are many relatively simple elements of a wood-burning/multifuel stove which make a massive difference to the efficiency and the durability of the stove in question. You will likely hear people discussing baffle plates on a regular basis but what is a baffle plate and what exactly does it do?

If you would like to contact us directly feel free to call on 01706 813393 or email us at sales@bowlandstoves.co.uk

What does a baffle plate do?

The simplest way to describe a baffle plate, which is placed at the top of the fire chamber, is a deflector shield which reflects heat back into the combustion chamber. This ensures that as much heat as possible is retained in the stove and emitted into the room in a controlled manner. If there was no baffle plate, which is simply a curved part made of cast iron, heavy steel, stainless steel or vermiculite, then heat would be lost through the flue system and not circulated around the room.

Stove Brands by CarolJul 5, 201812:44 pm

Arada stove brand names

The Arada stove brand name has developed over the years and now takes in the Aarrow stoves brand-name as well. Those who follow Arada will be well aware that the company has reorganised its offerings in recent times which now take in the Ecoburn stove, Farringdon stove, Hamlet stove, I Series stove and the Villager stove. While some companies tend to focus on either traditional or contemporary stoves, Arada has been able to develop offerings on both sides of the fence which are going down extremely well with consumers.

Ecoburn stoves

The Ecoburn stove range is an interesting mix of vaguely traditional shape with a very contemporary look. Ranging from the 4 kW Ecoburn Plus 4 stove up to the 11 kW Ecoburn Plus 11 stove it is fair to say this range of stoves covers the vast majority of heating requirements. Aside from the obvious quality and investment which has gone into the design and look of this particular range, there is one thing that stands out, the enlarged viewing area on all machines.