Those with an interest in wood-burning and multifuel stoves obviously know there is a difference but what are the specific differences. This is probably one of those stove related questions you would like to ask but it may be sound so simple that you don’t want to.

Basic difference between multifuel and wood-burning stoves

The most obvious difference is in the name, multifuel indicates you can use more than one type of fuel while a wood-burning stove denotes you can only burn wood. There are subtle differences in the make-up of the different types of stove and it is also worth noting that the multifuel stove can burn wood. So, in theory, a multifuel stove offers the best of both worlds?

We are asked many questions about wood-burning stoves (and multifuel stoves) but one of the most common is about stove paint and why it can start flaking off at a relatively early stage. Many people are obviously concerned about the flaking paint but it is often part of the curing process and extremely easy to rectify.

What causes paint to flak off a wood burner?

When you buy a brand-new wood-burning stove it is obviously the finished article but there is still one last thing, a curing process for the paint. This is specialist paint which is resistant to extremely high temperatures but with a new stove there will still be liquid in the paint. You will notice that over the first three or four days of using your new wood-burning stove there will be a chemical reaction within the paint. This is known as “curing” and is quite simply the process by which remaining liquids within the paint evaporate due to the extreme heat created by your stove.

A wood burner (also referred to as a wood-burning stove) is an efficient way of burning wood fuel to create heat. The wood-burning stove is made from metal (cast iron or steel) and one of the main components is the combustion area which is surrounded by fire bricks. We often have clients asking the question – do wood-burning stoves save money?

Maximising use of your wood-burning stove

Surprisingly, the vast majority of people who buy wood burners tend not to focus on the potential cost savings but more on carbon emissions and the look and feel of a wood burner. There is no doubt that they create a very homely and a very cosy atmosphere and the heat is certainly deep-seated. There are a number of ways in which you can maximise the use of your wood-burning stove and the wood fuel:-

•    Heat your living room in the evening
•    Open doors to the rest of your home at night time
•    Use your wood-burning stove of as opposed to central heating in the wintertime
•    Consider using larger wood burners to heat your water and radiators

A recent survey covering the stove industry has uncovered a number of issues which consumers would appear to experience on a regular basis. The survey took in 1500 stove owners and came up with some interesting facts which we will cover in detail.

How to use your stove

A staggering 25% of stove owners were not issued with any guidance about using their stoves upon purchase. This can have a significant impact upon safety, efficiency and value for money going forward. Here at Bowland Stoves we take our responsibilities extremely seriously and issue guidance on all equipment sold.

Using the correct fuel

This is concerning with a third of those questioned not advised of the best fuels to use for their stove. It would also appear that 43% were not even advised of the fuel types they should avoid thereby placing themselves in potential danger. We have numerous blog posts and are available for guidance at any time – we also regularly publish informative posts on our social media channels.

Over the years we have seen many queries from customers concerned about smoking seeping into their rooms either through air vents or the stove door. This is obviously a concern because there are potential health implications not to mention the smell and particles this can leave. In reality, there may be a number of reasons why smoke is seeping into your room and there are ways and means of stopping this immediately.

Exceptionally windy weather

It may sound strange but if you experience smoke seeping into your room on a one-off basis, or regularly, it may simply be down to exceptionally windy weather. It has been known for smoke to be blown back down the chimney and into the room via your stove. If you do begin to experience this on a regular basis then you should make a note of the weather conditions at the time. If it does become a major problem then it might be sensible to look at adding a different type of cowl to your chimney.