Whether you have a wood-burning stove or a multi-fuel stove at some point it is likely that the glass in the stove door will need replaced. While we often take these things for granted, we can only imagine the pressure and heat which this glass is exposed to on a daily basis. The constant heating and cooling process will eventually weaken the glass and on rare occasions accidental damage will occur. However, if you start to see cracks emerging in the glass then you should replace it as soon as possible.

Once the cracks start to emerge then it is only a matter of time before the stove door glass will need to be replaced. While it is sometimes tempting to put off replacement of the glass when they are relatively small cracks, not only will these eventually enlarge but during that period your stove will become less efficient. This is simply because of the fact the heat will not be retained within the stove to the same degree which means it will be radiated in an uncontrolled manner – likely leading to an eventual increase in fuel costs. So, what is the safest way to replace glass in your multi-fuel or wood-burning stove door?

If you begin to look at the installation of a wood-burning or multifuel stove you will come across the term “flue liner”. It is a vital element of any stove installation and while frequently mentioned many people are still not fully aware of what a flue liner does. In simple terms it is a clay, ceramic or metal “pipe” inside the chimney which extracts gases created during the combustion process and releases them into the atmosphere. They can seem relatively expensive but as we will cover in this article, they are a vital safety element.

Dangerous chimneys

Over the years there have been various surveys carried out across the UK with regards to the safety of old-fashioned chimneys. Many have seen deterioration in their safety and it got to such a point that unlined chimneys were often described as “little less than criminal”. This prompted a significant change in the building regulations and today things are very different. Safety is paramount, new regulations offer new protections and those looking to install wood-burning and multifuel stoves need to be HETAS qualified or the installation signed off by local authority building control departments.

With more and more people looking at installing a wood-burning stove in their homes it is perhaps time to look at common mistakes in this area. While the regulations are perfectly clear we have seen occasions where people installing stoves have tried to cut corners and cut costs to the detriment and potential safety of the customer. You would automatically assume in this day and age that installers would stick rigidly to the regulations although unfortunately this is not always the case.

Combustible materials

The register plate is a vital element of any stove installation because it is literally a failsafe mechanism which will stop leaked gases from entering your room. It is also there to collect any debris which may fall down your chimney to the potential detriment of your stove and your safety. While the vast majority of stove installations will have a flue liner as standard there will be occasions where there is no flue liner. In the event of gas leaks it is imperative that the register plate, commonly made of steel, is secure.