Author: Carol

Stove Advice & Maintenance by CarolAug 16, 201810:49 am

Do I need a register plate for my stove?

If you are looking to install a wood-burning or multifuel stove you will no doubt come across the term “register plate”. While a relatively small element of any stove installation it is difficult to underplay the importance. So, what is a register plate, will you need one for your new stove and what exactly does it do?

What does a register plate do?

Too many people a register plate is just a simple way to box off the chimney and position your flue pipe as the gases escape up into the air. However, there is a lot more to a register plate than this!

Retaining heat in the room

If you think about it, a relatively large open chimney with a flue allowing the gases to escape is extremely inefficient. As heat rises, an enormous amount of heat which should be radiated throughout the room will simply rise up through the chimney and be lost. This has two basic effects, the core temperature in the room will be lower as a consequence of excessive heat loss and fuel bills will be higher in order to maintain a comfortable environment.

Stove Advice & Maintenance by CarolAug 9, 20184:42 pm

Why is my stove glass turning black?

One of the major benefits of using a wood-burning or multifuel stove is to watch the flickering flames and the burning embers. This is an experience that you will not forget, the deep seated heat from your stove, the relaxed ambience which encourages you to drift off to sleep and forget your woes. However, from time to time you might experience difficulty seeing through your stove door glass which can sometimes turn black.

So, what might you be doing wrong? What can you do to ensure clear glass?

Some soot or dark patches on your glass are normal

When you bear in mind the atmosphere in which the glass operates, excessive heat for a prolonged period of time, you may well see periods of dark patches on your viewing area glass. In the majority of cases you can simply use a traditional stove glass cleaning fluid (when the stove is cold) and hey presto, the area is clear again. However, there are some common mistakes made by stove users which can lead to long-term visual impairment.

Latest Stoves by CarolAug 9, 20183:00 pm

How do I stop smoke coming out of my stove?

Have you seen the new Sheraton 5 stove range?

Stovax has a range of stoves which is way ahead of their competitors in terms of style, cost and heat output. So, it is no surprise to learn that the company has recently launched the Sheraton 5 stove range which comes in both wood-burning and multifuel variations together with a widescreen option. What should you expect from the Sheraton 5 stove range?

Sheraton 5 Woodburning/Multifuel Stove

The standard Sheraton 5 Stove comes in wood-burning and multifuel variations and while just launched by the company it is certainly grabbing the attention of stove enthusiasts. The stove has a nominal 5 kW output (varying from 2.5 kW up to 7 kW) and while this is not the widescreen variation even the standard machine offers a much larger viewing area than the vast majority of stoves.

The stove dimensions are width 472 mm, height 615 mm with a depth of 372 mm. However, there is the option to acquire the extended legs which will increase the height up to 660 mm. The wood-burning stove has an efficiency rating of 78% while the multifuel version has a rating of 80%. The wood-burning stove weighs around 83 kg with the multifuel stove coming in at a slightly heavier 95 kg.

Spare Parts & Accessories by CarolAug 2, 20181:31 pm

Morso stove replacement glass

Morso is one of the better-known brands names in the UK although there are a number of new emerging competitors. Due to the company’s success, there are literally thousands of Morso stoves in the UK many of which will need replacement glass at some point. While the company supplies a range of branded Morso stove replacement glass, are there any other options?

Do you pay for the brand name?

There is an ongoing debate as to whether you pay more for the brand name than you would if a glass manufacturer was able to cut glass to your exact stove size. The reality is that branded products are cut by third parties for the likes of Morso stoves. As consequence, there is a cost to the company when buying in these products and they obviously need to add their markup when selling to the retailer/customer. However, when acquiring glass direct from the glass manufacturer/customised glass provider this misses out the middleman and therefore a layer of markup is removed.

Buying trusted replacement glass

If you buy a Morso stove then it goes without saying that you feel more comfortable acquiring spare parts and replacement products direct from the manufacturer. In years gone by there were limited options when looking towards replacement glass but the introduction of the Internet and advancements in technology have reduced the cost base of glass manufacturers/custom glass cutters. As a consequence, they are able to provide identical replacement glass cut to your exact measurements and shape.

Latest Stoves by CarolAug 2, 201812:19 pm

Is it safe to buy ex-showroom stoves?

Whether looking at an ex-showroom wood-burning or multifuel stove, many people seem to be concerned about safety. It is obviously a valid question because where wood-burning and multifuel stoves are concerned there is an obvious need to be as safe as possible. So, what are the main worries with regards to ex-showroom stoves?

The appearance

While some ex-showroom stoves will have the odd bump and scrape, in the vast majority of cases these will not be visible from a distance. It is also worth reminding ourselves, once you install your wood-burning/multifuel stove it becomes part of the furniture and it is unlikely to remain in perfect working order for very long! Where there may be some visual damage there are an array of products available to “touch up” the stove to make it look like new. So, in reality there are very rarely any major issues with the appearance of an ex-showroom stove – after all, these are showroom examples of what customers can buy, they need to be perfect.

The durability

When people question the durability of ex-showroom stoves this does sound a little bizarre when you think consider this subject from a distance. These stoves would have been installed from new and in many cases they are simply being sold to make way for newer products. We regularly hear stories of stoves lasting 20, 30, 40 and more years. So, if at worst a showroom stove has been on show for two years this is but a fraction of its full working life. Durability is therefore not an issue.

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.