Stove Advice & Maintenance by CarolAug 22, 201911:24 am

The impact of a wood-burning stove on heating bills

As you will expect, we are asked many questions by customers looking to buy wood-burning stoves which of course we welcome. One of the most popular questions relates to how using a wood-burning stove might impact a customer’s heating bills. In reality, the impact that a woodburner may have on your heating bills will depend upon a variety of different issues.

Energy Saving Trust

The Energy Saving Trust is a well-respected body which has access to in-depth information regarding energy use across the UK. The simple advice from this body is that installing a wood-burning stove can reduce your energy bills by 10%. The situation will vary from customer to customer, from area to area with a lot of emphasis on how the machine is used.

Firewood and Fuel Tips by CarolAug 16, 20192:50 pm

What are the benefits of hardwood over softwood?

In this article we will compare and contrast the benefits of using hardwood over softwood on your stove. However, before we start with the article it is worth noting that some softwood does go against the rule of thumb and may compare favourably to their hardwood counterparts.

Storage space

You have probably never thought of this but when you buy wood for your stove you will likely buy it by the weight, usually the ton. As hardwood is denser than softwood it is heavier therefore takes up less storage space. This may seem like a fairly weak argument to some people but if you have limited storage space it is certainly something to consider. This reminds me of the old adage, what is heaviest, a ton of wood or a ton of feathers?

Stove Advice & Maintenance by CarolAug 16, 20191:58 pm

Is the stove industry doing enough to combat climate change?

Investing in a moisture meter could save you hundreds of pounds

For less than £25 you can buy a good quality moisture meter which will quite literally tell you the level of moisture in any material. In this instance it is worth its weight in gold when measuring moisture in wood for your stove. So, how could this relatively cheap item save you hundreds of pounds?

Wet and dry wood

Some people are under the misapprehension that you can literally burn anything on your wood-burning stove and it will work fine. This is especially relevant when discussing wet and dry wood and the heat value. While it is fairly obvious that dry wood will burn better than wet wood, do you know why this is the case?

Stove Advice & Maintenance by CarolAug 15, 201912:21 am

How to avoid smoke seeping into your room from your stove

The process of burning fuel on a wood-burning/multifuel stove has remained constant for many years. Yes, we have seen tweaks with the technology, additional services added but the idea of setting the fuel alight, letting the gases escape through the flue and enjoying the deep seated heat have not change. One issue that you will likely come across at some point is that of smoke seeping back into your room once you have fired up your stove.

Why would smoke seep back into the room?

There are a number of reasons why smoke may seep back into the room from your stove. These include:-

•   Pocket of air stuck in the flue (most common)
•   Strong winds
•   Poor draw
•   Lack of ventilation
•   Exposed location

We will take a look at the issues associated with a pocket of air stuck in the flue, what this will cause and how to avoid it.

Stove Advice & Maintenance by CarolAug 14, 201911:48 pm

Ensure that your wood-burning/multifuel stove is legal

There is a general misconception that wood-burning/multifuel stoves are a new phenomenon. In reality they have been used for hundreds of years and been popular in homes across the UK for a number of decades now. True, the design and the look of the modern day stove has been developed as have the regulations which company the installation and use of a wood-burning/multifuel stove. It is therefore very important that you stay on the right side of the law when installing and using your stove.

Building regulations, document J

Whether you install a stove yourself (not advised) or have it installed by a qualified installer (HETAS engineer) the installation will need to comply with document J of the building regulations. These are regulations which are managed by the local authorities although your stove can be signed-off by a HETAS engineer. If the installation was not carried out by a qualified engineer then it must be signed off by a member of the building department of your local authority.

Stove Advice & Maintenance by CarolJul 18, 201911:29 am

Why might your wood-burning grate warp or break?

It is fair to say that wood-burning and multifuel stoves are built to last, built to withstand significant heat and generally have a relatively long lifespan. However, from time to time you will come across issues where parts break or warp and sometimes you might wonder why. In this article we will look at why wood-burning grates warp or break and what you can do to stop this.

What might cause wood-burning grates to warp or break?

There are four main reasons why your grate may need replaced and while you can address the majority of these reasons, good old-fashioned wear and tear issues are part and parcel of life with a wood-burning stove.

Wear and tear

The position of the grate and the fact it has burning fuel sitting on top can over time lead to general wear and tear. This does not necessarily mean there was a fault with the part, it is just the intense heat will have an impact on the metal in the long run. The wear and tear could take literally years to become visible but you will likely see an ever reducing decline in efficiency. The good news, you can buy grates online with delivery direct to your doorstep. They are also one of the simplest spare parts to replace!

Stove Advice & Maintenance by CarolJul 11, 201910:45 am

What could cause your baffle plate to warp and bend?

It is safe to say that a baffle plate is situated in the most challenging and the hottest area of your stove. This piece of metal has a very tough job, deflecting and reflecting heat back into the firebox to build up the temperature. The key to a successful wood-burning/multifuel stove is the ability to maintain control of the heat and ensure that it is circulated in a controlled manner. So, what might cause your baffle plate to warp and bend?

How to spot a warped baffle plate

In some cases the bend/warp of a baffle plate might be relatively small and not always visible to the naked eye. However, once you take your baffle plate out to clean and then replace it, you might spot some tell-tale signs. These might include:-

•   A hole on the baffle plate itself
•   Difficulty refitting the baffle plate
•   An unevenness when moving the baffle plate

It is neither difficult nor expensive to replace a baffle plate but obviously you want to ensure that your spending on spares is minimal and you get the best value for money. So, what might cause a baffle plate to warp and bend?

Stove Advice & Maintenance by CarolJul 4, 201910:06 am

Differences between a wood-burning and multifuel stove

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?

Stove Advice & Maintenance by CarolJul 3, 20197:00 pm

Process of replacing broken stove door glass

While the body of each individual stove can be very different, in recent times we have seen spare parts applicable for many different stoves under the same brand. In order to maximise customer experience the process of fixing issues such as broken stove door glass is very simple. Even though many people will still utilise the skills of a qualified installer, a little bit of confidence and you can do this yourself.

Removing excess ash and dirt from the door

Before you even begin the process of removing the broken glass it is advisable to clean the inside and outside of your stove door (obviously waiting until the stove is cold). You will notice that the inside of the stove will have accumulated a fair amount of ash and potentially tar. In order to maximise efficiency going forward it is vital that these substances are removed. The best way to do this is by using a simple brush. There is no need to be overly vigourous during this process.

Stove Advice & Maintenance by CarolJul 3, 20196:14 pm

Narrowboats and solid fuel stoves

At first glance the idea of installing a wood-burning/multifuel stove on a canal boat/narrowboat may seem bizarre. Where is the space? Is it safe? Well, this type of location has been extremely popular amongst stove enthusiasts for many years. We will now take a look at some of the main matters to consider when looking at a wood-burning/multifuel stove for your narrowboat.

British standards for narrowboat stove installations

It will be no surprise to learn that historically, prior to the introduction of specific regulations for narrowboats, there were a number of fatalities amongst those using wood-burning/multifuel stoves on canal boats. There are obviously many issues to consider such as air circulation, carbon monoxide poisoning and the array of dangers associated with fire. Thankfully these standards are now appreciated by the vast majority of canal boat owners and those who install stoves in these unique locations.