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Arada Farringdon Catalyst Eco Stove

As regulations surrounding wood-burning stoves continue to tighten it is interesting to see the Arada Farringdon Catalyst Eco Stove already exceeds the European ecodesign standard, a standard which will become more prominent in years to come. At first glance the Arada Farringdon Catalyst Eco Stove looks like a stereotypical basic square shaped wood-burning stove. However, this is a very interesting addition to the Arada range of stoves.

Technical details of the Arada Farringdon Catalyst Eco Stove

The Arada Farringdon Catalyst Eco Stove is a wood-burning stove which is suitable for use in smoke control areas. The dimensions are width 615 mm, height 696 mm with a depth of 510 mm. The machine has an efficiency rating of 82.4% and is able to accommodate logs up to a maximum length of 500 mm – creating heat output of 11.4 kW. This is the type of stove which is suitable for medium to large rooms and the fact that it is an eco-friendly product should make it even more desirable.

The body of the stove comes with a lifetime guarantee and has a stainless steel ash pan and throat plate for easy maintenance. The 6 inch spigot is available as standard with alternative spigots also available free of charge. This stove is direct air compatible, has an externally controlled riddling grate, preheated airwash system to ensure the door glass is clean at all times and a rear heat shield which helps with positioning next to combustibles. The legs are adjustable, it comes with standard detachable handle or optional wooden handle and is available in matt black or grey.

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Competition Time

Free competition – win a bundle of stove products worth £180!

After the success of our recent Facebook competition we have put together an impressive bundle of stove related products for our next competition. The bundle includes:

Log Basket
Cast Iron Tool Set
Glass Cleaner
Black Polish
CO Alarm
Moisture Meter
Flue Thermometer
Leather Gloves
Natural Firelights
A bag of kindling
£35 gift voucher

You can spend the £35 gift voucher on any of our products, or put it towards a larger value purchase, the choice is yours.

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Stovax View 7 Inset Boiler Stove

As the cost of household energy continues to rise so we have seen an increase in demand for boiler stoves. The ability to create your own home water and heat your home under the umbrella of “environmentally friendly technology”, together with the cost savings, are starting to have a major impact on consumer spending patterns. The View 7 Inset Boiler Stove is the latest in a range of boiler stoves from Stovax which are extremely easy to fit, take up minimal ground space and use the latest combustion technology. It is not difficult to see by demand for this particular product is strong but what exactly does it have to offer?

View 7 Inset Boiler Stove features

As you will see from the images, the View 7 Inset Boiler Stove is inset into the wall leaving maximum free floorspace. The 5 mm heavy duty steel body ensures longevity and excellent value for money and a cast iron airtight door ensures that every element of heat created is used correctly. The installation of the View 7 Inset Boiler Stove involves a brick liner system to maximise the safety of the product and traditional safety elements such as the CO2 emitter are installed as standard. It is also worth noting that the stove operates at a maximum 30,000 Btu’s. Then, we get onto the benefits of the View 7 Inset Boiler Stove as a traditional stove!

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Dovre Rock 500 Stove

Dovre Rock 500 Wood Burning Stove

Whether you’re looking for contemporary or traditional wood-burning stoves there is no doubt you are spoilt for choice today. Whatever your budget, whatever style you’re looking for and whatever the level of heat output required, there will be something for you. However, in the midst of the often crowded contemporary stove market has emerged the Dovre Rock 500 wood burning stove, a stove we think is worth taking a second (third and fourth!) look at.

The look of a Dovre Rock 500 wood-burning stove

Dovre Rock 500 Stove
Look at the Dovre Rock 500 Stove

In an age where cylindrical, square and traditional shaped wood-burning stoves are still flying off the shelves, it is a relief to see the likes of Dovre looking away from the crowd towards something very different. As soon as you see an image of the Dovre Rock 500 wood-burning stove you will know exactly what we mean!

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Varde Lincoln wood-burning stove

Varde Lincoln wood-burning stove

The Varde Lincoln wood-burning stove (also available as a multifuel stove) is a little similar in shape and size to the popular Hwam wood-burning stoves. The cylindrical shape, extended viewing area and the general look and feel of the stove bode well for traditional or contemporary style decor. While there is no doubt that traditional wood-burning stoves, with their solid square shape, continue to sell extremely well, there is also no doubt demand for more contemporary and more adventurous stove designs is growing. So, the Varde Lincoln wood-burning stove is placed right in the middle of this particular range and we are sure it will do very well.

Technical aspects

As we touched on above, while the Varde Lincoln wood-burning stove version is more popular, there is also a multifuel option. Classed as contemporary in style it has dimensions of height 1000 mm, width 510 mm and a depth of 450 mm.

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Five must have items if you own a wood-burning stove

What is a flue liner and what does it do?

If you begin to look at the installation of a wood-burning or multifuel stove you will come across the term “flue liner”. It is a vital element of any stove installation and while frequently mentioned many people are still not fully aware of what a flue liner does. In simple terms it is a clay, ceramic or metal “pipe” inside the chimney which extracts gases created during the combustion process and releases them into the atmosphere. They can seem relatively expensive but as we will cover in this article, they are a vital safety element.

Dangerous chimneys

Over the years there have been various surveys carried out across the UK with regards to the safety of old-fashioned chimneys. Many have seen deterioration in their safety and it got to such a point that unlined chimneys were often described as “little less than criminal”. This prompted a significant change in the building regulations and today things are very different. Safety is paramount, new regulations offer new protections and those looking to install wood-burning and multifuel stoves need to be HETAS qualified or the installation signed off by local authority building control departments.

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Common mistakes when installing a wood-burning stove

With more and more people looking at installing a wood-burning stove in their homes it is perhaps time to look at common mistakes in this area. While the regulations are perfectly clear we have seen occasions where people installing stoves have tried to cut corners and cut costs to the detriment and potential safety of the customer. You would automatically assume in this day and age that installers would stick rigidly to the regulations although unfortunately this is not always the case.

Combustible materials

The register plate is a vital element of any stove installation because it is literally a failsafe mechanism which will stop leaked gases from entering your room. It is also there to collect any debris which may fall down your chimney to the potential detriment of your stove and your safety. While the vast majority of stove installations will have a flue liner as standard there will be occasions where there is no flue liner. In the event of gas leaks it is imperative that the register plate, commonly made of steel, is secure.

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Wood-burning stoves, maximising heat output

Should the UK government incentivise the use of wood-burning stoves?

Whether or not you believe the UK government should further incentivise the use of wood-burning stoves, this is certainly a growing industry. The difference between traditional energy costs and fuel for wood-burning stoves (and multifuel stoves) continues to grow. However, there is a growing opinion that the UK government should do more to incentivise the use of wood-burning stoves.

Wood fuel subsidy

Before we begin to look at potential ways the UK government could help the wood-burning stove industry, it is worth noting that wood for stoves attracts a reduced VAT rate of just 5%. Historically there have also been tax advantages for those maintaining forestry although these are nowhere near as generous today as they were in years gone by. So, the UK government is doing something to assist the wood-burning stove industry but surely more could be done?

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Is it time to upgrade your stove?

How do they measure the efficiency of a wood-burning stove?

The efficiency of a wood-burning stove is a very useful indicator as to how much fuel will be used and how much will be “wasted”. For the modern day stove we see figures approaching 80% and while these do give an indication of an efficient machine how do they actually calculate the efficiency of a wood-burning stove?

Calculating the efficiency rating

First of all it is vital that you do not confuse the heat output figure, which is quoted in kilowatts, against the efficiency rating which is quoted in percentage terms. These are two very different figures as the heat output figure takes into account the lowest and the highest output from the machine.

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Franco Belge Seba wood burning stove

Check out the Franco Belge Seba wood burning stove

Those who follow the wood-burning stove industry will be well aware that Franco Belge is a name which many thought had disappeared. It may have changed ownership in recent years, it may have been subjected to untrue rumours but there is no doubt the company is back with the launch of the Franco Belge Seba wood burning stove. Just one of three new launches by the company, slowly but surely its reputation is being rebuilt and stove enthusiasts are starting to warm to the Franco Belge name again.

Contemporary in style

As you can see from the image this is not your stereotypical traditional wood-burning stove but more of a contemporary meets new technology. The Franco Belge Seba wood burning stove will certainly turn heads, catch the attention of passers-by and it is a perfect conversation starter for a party. This is the type of style which is perfect for a contemporary decor but it will fit in just as well with a traditional styled room. Many people will associate the Franco Belge of years gone by with this particular style and this particular type of stove. So, let’s now take a look at the technical detail.