Stove Advice & Maintenance by CarolJan 18, 20181:17 pm

Wood-burning stoves, maximising heat output

Perfecting the draw on your wood-burning stove

Many people will notice that it can sometimes be difficult to light your wood-burning stove in the mornings. We have heard of instances where the stove fills with smoke, which is released into the room often causing breathing difficulties. When lighting your stove in the morning there is a very simple technique which will ensure that the hot gases escape out of the flue into the open air. Before we look at this simple technique, it is worth having a quick recap of the mechanics behind the modern day wood-burning/multifuel stove and exactly how it works.

Constant airflow is the key

In order for any fire to burn one of the key elements is fresh air which encourages the flames and ignites the fuel. If we look at the mechanics in layman’s terms, as the fuel burns within the stove this creates heat which is released into the room while the excess gases are rerouted through the flue and into the atmosphere. The simple way in which these gases are encouraged to escape from the flue revolves around the fact that hot air rises.

Stove Advice & Maintenance by CarolJan 18, 20181:10 pm

Should I insulate my flexible flue liner?

While building regulations are vital when looking to install a wood burning or multifuel stove, there are areas in which the guidelines/regulations are a little vague. One such area is the potential insulating of a flexible flue liner within a chimney stack. We know that the flexible flue liner plays a vital role in the efficient use of any wood-burning or multifuel stove, but do you need to insulate the flexible flue liner?

Controlling hot gases

The flexible flue liner is used to funnel hot gases out of your wood-burning/multifuel stove, up the chimney stack and into the atmosphere. This not only ensures there is no buildup of potentially dangerous gases but it creates the vital vacuum in the fuel combustion process which is filled by fresh cold air. This area is pivotal to the efficient burning of fuel therefore creating not only a constant flow of heat to release back into the room but also hot gases to escape out of the flexible flue liner.

Stove Advice & Maintenance by CarolJan 11, 20183:14 pm

Four reasons to install a wood-burning stove

The attractions of a wood-burning stove

The idea that a wood-burning stove is something of an expensive piece of furniture is a myth which was busted many years ago. The modern day wood-burning stove, while similar in look to counterparts of years gone by, is much more efficient, much more technologically advanced and altogether more productive. So, what are the attractions of a wood-burning stove?

Highly efficient

Those who hanker for their own wood-burning stove probably enjoy the deep seated heat which is created by a traditional coal fire. This is very relaxing and creates a heat which is very different to that of a central heating system. The problem is that a coal fire is anywhere between 20% and 30% efficient which means up to 80% of fuel burned is not enjoyed by the household. The vast majority of heat created by a coal fire simply escapes up the chimney.

Stove Advice & Maintenance by CarolJan 5, 20185:23 pm

How to replace cracked glass in your stove door

Eye-catching contemporary stoves

There are so many different types of woodburning and multifuel contemporary stoves to choose from that many of us fail to appreciate what they have to offer. There are some absolutely stunning contemporary stoves on the market today which are not always as expensive as you might assume. We will now take a look at some of the more popular contemporary stoves and what they have to offer.

Hwam 7150 woodburning stove

As you can see from the image, the Hwam 7150 woodburning stove is a classic amongst classics when it comes to contemporary stoves. Not only is the cylindrical shape of the stove extremely eye-catching, but the soapstone surround will literally take your breath away. Many people automatically assume that the soapstone surround is for visual purposes only when in fact soapstone is a fascinating material. It is one of the most absorbent materials you will find, which allows the heat from your woodburning stove to be radiated into your room many many hours after the stove has burnt out.

Stove Advice & Maintenance by CarolJan 4, 20184:43 pm

New Year’s resolutions for a stove enthusiast

As the number of stove enthusiast continues to grow up and down the UK, and we say goodbye to 2017 and hello to 2018, what better time to put your stove related New Year’s resolutions to the test? We know there are many stoves out there which are highly efficient but there are also many older stoves which have been overtaken by the latest technology. There are ways and means to improve the efficiency, increase your financial savings and basically get the best out of your woodburning or multifuel stove.

Install your stove today

Stoves are obviously more popular in the colder periods of the year and as a consequence towards the end of 2017 and early 2018 means you will need to plan ahead to install your stove as soon as possible. It is possible to catch the second half of the UK winter and the colder elements of spring to lock in some welcome fuel savings in the short term. There will also be periods of the summer time when the cold nights will prompt you to fire up your stove but by far and away the most cost savings are up for grabs in the cold winter period.

Stove Advice & Maintenance by CarolJan 3, 20184:04 pm

Choosing the best chimney cowl

While a basic chimney cowl is used to increase the draft of a chimney, prevent back flow as well as rainwater from entering your flue pipe, they come in an array of different shapes and sizes. Though all provide a basic necessity it can sometimes be difficult to choose the best chimney cowl for your particular situation. However, if you live in the UK there is no doubt you will need to appreciate rainfall when choosing!

Bird guard chimney cowls

It is unfortunate that birds can often find a way down your chimney and into your flue pipe. When you bear in mind the heat created by a wood-burning or multi-fuel stove, this can obviously be distressing for the birds as well as the householders. There are also specific dangers if birds manage to nest in your flue pipe which can not only increase the risk of a chimney fire but also of carbon monoxide leaks into your room. These are perhaps the most basic of chimney cowls but they do a job and they do it well.

Stove Advice & Maintenance by CarolDec 28, 20173:18 pm

Choosing a stove for your room

If you are looking to buy a wood-burning or multifuel stove for the first time it can be difficult to know what to look for. Do you go for a big machine which pumps out more than enough heat for your room? Do you go for a traditional wood-burning stove or a contemporary multifuel stove? In reality the options are endless because the stove market today bears little or no resemblance to that of a decade ago. So, where do you start?

Buying the right stove for your room

There are numerous room calculators out there which will advise you about the optimum heat output required for your room dimensions. These are only estimates because it is not only down to the dimensions of your room but also the position of the stove amongst other things. So, while the room calculators give you an idea of what heat capacity is required we recommend speaking to an expert for specific advice. It is also worth noting that the published heat capacity for a stove is the median heat capacity meaning it can be higher or lower depending upon the way it is setup.

Stove Advice & Maintenance by CarolDec 21, 201712:19 pm

How to keep your stove clean for maximum efficiency

We keep our windows clean to ensure maximum sunlight enters our homes, many regularly run petrol tank cleaner through their car systems so it goes without saying that keeping your stove clean ensures maximum efficiency. On the surface the modern day woodburning and multifuel stove may seem like a “big machine” but under the surface it is extremely finely tuned. An extra layer of ash, dirty fire bricks and other general deposits can and do have a significant impact upon your stove’s efficiency. The less efficient your stove is the less heat it will pump out and the more it will cost you in fuel. So, how can you keep your stove clean to ensure maximum efficiency?

Here are a few tips when cleaning your woodburning and multifuel stove to ensure you get the best value for money.

Never clean a hot stove

Aside from the fact it is dangerous, you should never clean your stove until it has cooled down and is no longer hot. At times it is difficult enough to get into the nooks and crannies to clean your stove but even more difficult if it is hot.

Spare Parts & Accessories by CarolDec 14, 20173:17 pm

How to keep your stove clean for maximum efficiency

Find spare parts for Morso stoves

The Morso stoves company has been around for many years now and is well recognised as one of the leading stove companies in Europe and the world. The company has a history which goes back many years to its Danish roots although the UK stove market has been particularly successful for the group in recent times. This is a stove company which manufactures an array of traditional and contemporary stoves with heat output suitable for small rooms up to large rooms as well as boiler systems. We have access to the full range of Morso spare parts and are more than happy to advise you on any issues you may be experiencing.

Morso 04 spare parts

While perhaps not the best known of the Morso range of stoves, the Morso 06 stove is popular with those who like value for money options and relatively slim dimensions. We have access to the full range of Morso 06 replacement spare parts including everything from replacement glass to fire bricks, from door handles to riddling grates and everything else.

Stove Advice & Maintenance by CarolDec 14, 20179:07 am

Frayed rope, stove door seals and wasted fuel

The modern day wood-burning and multifuel stove looks like a very basic machine from the outside but inside it is optimised to perfection, designed with efficiency in mind and something as simple as frayed rope on a door seal can have a significant impact. While many stove owners spend time checking for cracks, replacing broken elements and trying to maintain the optimum temperature, something as simple as a frayed rope could be costing you money. How?

Stove door seals

When you bear in mind the extreme temperatures created within a modern-day wood-burning and multifuel stove, it is no surprise to learn that certain areas of a stove are subjected to enormous temperature swings. One such area is the stove door seal which is a relatively simple rope like material which is glued in position between the glass and the door to ensure a perfect seal. This relatively simple element of your stove not only maintains the position of the glass in your door but also ensures as much heat as possible is retained within the body of the machine.