Aside from the traditional means of maintaining your stove’s efficiency, such as using the correct fuel, there are other ways in which you can ensure maximum efficiency going forward. As with the vast majority of efficiency tips, they are relatively simple but the cumulative impact can be significant, increasing heat output and saving you money.

Cleaning your stove

Whether you have a wood-burning stove or multifuel stove, it is imperative that you keep the inside and the outside clean. We know from experience that soot can very quickly build up in areas such as the throat plate, fire bricks and the gasket doors. It is therefore helpful to clean these on a regular basis and replace elements which have been worn or damaged.

There has been a lot of media coverage in relation to wood burning/multifuel stoves and what it is safe to burn. The UK government has launched a new clean air strategy and highlighted an array of different pollution sources. The simple fact is that burning any material creates heat but can also create an array of different pollutants.

The stove industry has improved the efficiency of both wood-burning and multifuel stoves enormously over the last decade. So far as to say, used correctly and burning the appropriate fuel, a modern day stove can be in excess of 80% efficient. It will also create 80% less air pollutants than stoves from just 10 years ago. In summary you should only use the following fuels:

While the UK weather is difficult to predict (to say the least!) there are a number of simple safety checks you can carry out on your wood-burning stove. These will ensure that you squeeze maximum efficiency from your stove which can cumulatively have a significant impact on your fuel bills.

Sweep your chimney

The general consensus seems to be that you should have your chimney swept at least once a year, if not twice a year, to ensure everything is okay. If issues are found at a relatively early stage they can be rectified while those left can eventually cause serious damage. Any blockages can also lead to potentially fatal gas escaping into your room although thankfully carbon monoxide metres are now commonplace.

Over the last couple of years we have seen politicians and environmental groups looking to tarnish the reputation of wood-burning stoves. Granted, any combustion process will release particles into the atmosphere, many of the real benefits of wood-burning stoves have been lost in recent press comment. So, we thought it might be useful to remind ourselves of the benefits of a wood-burning stove and exactly what they have to offer.

Deep seated heat

In reality, until you have experienced the deep seated heat created by a wood-burning stove, you have not lived! This is a heat which literally warms you to your bones and creates an atmosphere which is extremely relaxing. There is nothing better after a hard day at the office than coming back, kicking off your shoes and drifting off to sleep in this special kind of heat and atmosphere.