Category: Stove Advice & Maintenance

Stove Advice & Maintenance by CarolJan 23, 20209:02 pm

Planning your stove purchase, installation and maintenance in the summer

Holiday cottages, wood-burning stoves and a great experience

There is no doubt that holiday cottages with wood-burning stoves attract much more traffic and much more custom. It is therefore no surprise to see that many holiday let landlords put wood-burning stoves front and central of their advertising campaigns. This prompts the question, why are wood-burning stoves so popular with holidaymakers?

Back to nature

Looking at a wood-burning stove for the first time it is difficult to guess the myriad of combustion technology under the surface. What may look traditional and rustic on the outside will contain systems which burn, re-burn and burn again all emissions. This has led to a significant increase in the efficiency of modern day wood-burning stoves while still managing to maintain that rustic, old world back to nature feel. So what else attracts holidaymakers to wood-burning stoves?

Stove Advice & Maintenance by CarolJan 2, 202011:51 pm

What is the purpose of a firebrick?

If you have a wood-burning or multifuel stove you will no doubt have come across the term firebrick. You will probably have bought one, maybe even installed one yourself but what is the actual purpose of a firebrick? What do they do? Do they need replaced? What are the signs of wear and tear?

Protection and added heat

The key to the performance of firebricks is the fact that even under the most intense heat the outer surface always remains cool. If you take a look at your stove you will see that the firebricks are used to line the inner area of the firebox which is traditionally made of steel or cast iron. This prompts the question, if the firebox is made of such tough metal then why does it require the protection of firebricks?

Stove Advice & Maintenance by CarolJan 2, 20205:27 pm

Do I need a chimney/flue liner for my stove?

There are many different issues to consider when installing a wood-burning/multifuel stove. For many people the decision whether to install a chimney/flue liner will be relatively straightforward. However, before you venture down the route of […]

Stove Advice & Maintenance by CarolJan 2, 20203:49 pm

Why won’t my baffle plate sit properly?

We regularly take phone calls from clients concerned why their baffle plate will not sit correctly in the stove or wondering why it is “wonky”. As we have touched on in our other articles about baffle plates – a stove baffle plate is positioned in one of the hottest areas of your machine. While made of extremely tough metal they can in certain circumstances begin to warp and in extreme cases you may find holes beginning to appear.

What causes warping of a baffle plate?

Even though this piece of equipment is placed in one of the hottest areas of your stove, it is built to last and it is built to take extreme heat. The problem is when users over fire their wood-burning stove thereby creating excessive heat which will eventually impact the dimensions of the stove baffle plate.

Stove Advice & Maintenance by CarolDec 19, 20194:23 pm

Planning your stove purchase, installation and maintenance in the summer

At first glance the idea planning a stove purchase, installation or even maintenance of an existing machine in the summer might seem bizarre? Who uses a stove in the summertime? Why on earth would you even begin planning a purchase, installation or maintenance of an existing stove in the hot summer months? Well………………..

Planning ahead

Many people seem to assume that once you purchase a stove it can be installed immediately and hey presto, job done. The reality is very different, even the process of choosing a stove relevant to you is not easy. There are many factors to take into consideration such as:-

•   What kind of stove would fit your room?
•   What heat capacity do you require?
•   Are there restrictive regulations in your area?
•   Have you budgeted for the cost of installation?
•   Are you looking for a contemporary or traditional design?

These are relatively simple questions, but sometimes it is best to see them written down to focus your mind. It is highly advisable to approach your local stove retailer at the earliest opportunity so you are not wasting time looking at stoves when it may not be possible due to your building shape, size, etc.

Stove Advice & Maintenance by CarolOct 24, 20193:32 pm

Buy: Hunter Herald 6 Double-Sided Double Depth Stove

Step-by-step guide to cleaning your cast iron stove

While there are many different types of stoves available today, made from many different materials, old-fashioned cast iron stoves are still extremely popular. This is because the material is perfect for storing and then slowly radiating heat throughout your room over a prolonged period of time. However, unless you clean your cast iron stove on a regular basis you will see a buildup of residue which can impact the efficiency as well as the amount of fuel required.

We have put together a step-by-step guide to cleaning your cast iron stove, the do’s, the don’ts and ways in which you can increase efficiency and improve the longevity of your stove.

Stove Advice & Maintenance by CarolOct 17, 20195:28 pm

How to light a wood-burning stove

Those who have not yet had the chance to light a wood-burning stove might automatically think it is very easy. Throw in a few logs, the odd fire lighter and hey presto you have a bonfire in seconds. Keep throwing on those big logs and you will create that perfect ambience, that deep seated heat and be able to sit back and relax. In practice it is very different although it is just a case of getting used to what feeds your fire and what starves your fire. So, we will now take a look at the process of lighting a wood-burning stove and the dos and don’ts.

What do you need to light a wood-burning stove?

Surprisingly, the real key (but not the secret ingredient) to lighting a wood-burning stove is the kindling, how you light it, where you position it and ensuring that it is able to light the larger logs. However, there are other elements that you will need with the full list below:-

Firelighters

There are many different types of firelighters you can buy some of which are specifically manufactured for stoves. They are often wood byproducts and do not contain the nasty chemicals that many firelighters burnt in the past. It is also possible to make your own firelighters which may be something as simple as small strips of newspaper. However, to get the right hold, to build up the right heat and get things going, manufactured firelighters work best.

Stove Advice & Maintenance by CarolOct 10, 201911:45 am

We have revamped our stove accessories section

When should you start using your wood-burning / multifuel stove?

The first thing to say is there is no set time/period during which you should use your wood-burning/multifuel stove. There are a lot of factors to consider with the most obvious being the weather. Due to climate warming, changing seasons or simply cyclical temperature changes across the globe, the start, end and duration of stove firing season has changed lately. So, when is it most popular to start using your wood-burning/multifuel stove?

September appears to be the most popular month

We carried out a straw poll on the Arbtalk forum and while only a small number of members responded, we found that around 67% of those who use stoves will start to light up again in September. This is when the summer comes to an end and the autumn begins with a significant change in weather, temperature and wind. As you will see below, there have been some significant variations in British monthly temperatures which tend to dictate when wood-burning/multifuel stoves are brought out of hibernation!

Stove Advice & Maintenance by CarolSep 26, 20195:42 pm

Review: Firefox 8.1 Wood-Burning and Multifuel Stove

Compare and contrast wood, multifuel, gas and electric stoves

For the last few years there has been a significant increase in demand for gas and electric stoves. Only just now are many people learning of the significant advances in technology and the design of gas and electric stoves. We have companies such as Hunter Stoves utilising their award-winning wood-burning/multifuel stove designs in the gas and electric ranges. However, have you stopped to think of the individual pros and cons of wood/multifuel, gas and electric stoves?

Wood-burning/multifuel stoves

You will no doubt have heard much about the pros and cons of wood-burning/multifuel stoves in recent times. The government is attempting to discuss these heating options with the likes of open coal fires which are significantly less efficient. So, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of wood/multifuel stoves.

Stove Advice & Maintenance by CarolSep 26, 20191:17 pm

Best-selling carbon monoxide meters

There is no doubt that progress has been made with regards to carbon monoxide meters and their role in the stove installation process. It is now illegal to install a stove without a carbon monoxide meter and we can only speculate at the number of lives this has already saved. For those not aware of carbon monoxide, this is an odourless and colourless gas which can literally kill.

What does carbon monoxide do to the body?

Exposure to excessive levels of carbon monoxide will have an impact on the lives of healthy and unhealthy people. In simple terms, carbon monoxide reduces the amount of oxygen carried around the body by the haemoglobin in red blood cells. As oxygen is vital for the brain, heart, nervous tissues and other vital organs, this can cause serious complications.

Levels in excess of 2.5% carbon monoxide in haemoglobin will begin to have a noticeable impact on an individual’s health. Small increases in carbon monoxide levels in the body will see a person having trouble concentrating, becoming clumsy as if they are drunk and a feeling of excessive tiredness. As the levels begin to rise, up to 40%, this will impact the vital organs of the body. Those with heart disease will be at greater risk of a heart attack and children/unborn babies are at particular risk because they are still growing and developing.