Firewood and Fuel Tips by CarolJun 6, 20174:54 pm

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

What use is a stove thermometer?

At some point you will no doubt have come across the magnetic stove thermometers which change colour depending upon the temperature. These are placed on stove flue pipes, a minimum of 300 mm above the stove, and are visible from a distance. When you bear in mind that you can feel the heat coming from your stove it does beg the question, what use is a stove thermometer?

Over fueling

It seems bizarre to suggest that you can over fuel your wood-burning stove but you would be surprised to learn how many people fall into this trap. The idea that you can literally plough was much wood into your stove as possible in order to increase the heat output is inefficient at best and a waste of money at worst.

A stove thermometer will alert you to overheating because quite simply your stove is manufactured to create a specific amount of heat kilowatts. You can pile as much wood into the stove as you want but this will not increase the heat output but it will increase the gas escaping up your chimney – increasing the temperature of the flue and potentially damaging the liner. There is also a danger that it could reduce the lifespan of your stove because put simply it is not manufactured to go above a certain kilowatt output.

Stove Advice & Maintenance by CarolMay 30, 20178:43 am

Use your stove properly for greater efficiency

Regular maintenance of your stove delivers greater efficiencies

The wood-burning and multifuel stoves which we see today are extremely durable, built to last but from time to time they will experience general wear and tear and parts will need to be replaced. It is therefore vital that you carry out regular maintenance checks on your stove because even the smallest issue can have an impact upon efficiency and ultimately lead to increased fuel costs as you attempt to maintain the same level of heat output.

Simple checks

There are many simple checks which you can carry out at least annually to ensure that your stove is performing as it should do. These include: –

Fire bricks

Fire bricks are an important part of any stove because they line the inner body of the combustion chamber and ensure that as much heat as possible is reflected back into the body. Due to the thermal make-up of fire bricks they do not absorb heat therefore they also offer protection to the outer casing of the combustion chamber. It is easy to check your fire bricks to ensure there are no cracks or defects which might impact their performance.

Stove Advice & Maintenance by CarolMay 21, 20178:42 pm

Is there an argument for buying second-hand stoves?

We all know that the modern day wood-burning and multifuel stove is manufactured to last and is extremely durable. It is unlikely that you will have to replace any parts due to wear and tear in the early days and even further down the line the cost of maintenance will be minimal. However, more and more people are now looking towards second-hand stoves but do they really make sense from an economic standpoint? Is there better value towards the lower end of the new purchase market?

General wear and tear

It will obviously depend upon what type of stove you are looking to acquire but some second-hand stoves might not be in production anymore and it could be difficult to obtain spare parts. Stove companies will do their best to ensure a constant line of spare parts/replacement parts but if a particular stove is for example 10 to 15 years old it is difficult to justify manufacturing spare parts as the size of the market falls.

Stove Advice & Maintenance by CarolMay 17, 20174:04 pm

Do you need a chimney to install a wood-burning stove?

The vast majority of older properties already have a chimney therefore installing a wood-burning stove is made that much easier. The situation is a little different for more modern houses where there is no chimney, yet the occupants would like to install a wood-burning stove. At first glance you may automatically assume it is not possible, but it is, there are ways and means of installing a wood-burning stove in a property without a traditional chimney.

Installing an insulated steel flue

An insulated steel flue is also referred to as a twin wall flue which is to all intents and purposes a steel chimney. This is added to your property and where possible the most common installation process involves the flue passing through the nearest outside wall and up the outside of the building. This ensures that the gases are removed from the room as soon as possible and directed up into the atmosphere. Ideally there would be 4.5m of straight flue pipe (available in black as well as stainless steel) up the side of the building for the steel chimney to work at its best.

Gas and Electric Stoves by PeterMay 13, 20172:26 pm

Flues and Chimneys for Gas Stoves

We recently blogged about whether people would prefer a gas stove to a wood burning stove. And to follow on from this blog and keep on the same subject, we wanted to provide our followers with […]

Gas and Electric Stoves by CarolMay 13, 201712:12 pm

Gazco Studio 1 Electric Fire

Whether you have researched electric fires are not it is not difficult to see why the Gazco Studio 1 Electric Fire is proving particularly popular. Even though the Gazco Studio 1 Electric Fire is the smaller of the Gazco Studio Electric Fire range this just means it is more suitable to small, medium or large size rooms. There are three landscape design options as well as one portrait design which will literally take your breath away. The designs include the E-Motiv, Glass, Verve, Evolve and a design similar to the Studio Electric 22.

While the design options will take centre stage for many people let’s not forget the technology behind the face. Unfortunately, many people have a vision of electric fires going back 20 or 30 years to which the modern day electric fire bears no resemblance. We guarantee that if you were to see a Gazco Studio 1 Electric Fire in full working order you would be a little bit more than pleasantly surprised!

Gas and Electric Stoves by CarolMay 12, 201712:27 pm

Gazco Studio 2 Electric Fire

Sometimes it can be difficult to know where to start with a new product which is groundbreaking in itself but not necessarily yet in the public eye. Thankfully, this is not problem with the Gazco Studio 2 Electric Fire because this is quite literally a fire which speaks for itself. As soon as you see a live, in use Gazco Studio 2 Electric Fire you will know exactly what we mean. Even though the modern day electric fire is perhaps not for everybody, you will still be more than pleasantly surprised when you see one!

Wall mounted electric fires

If you were to see the term “wall mounted electric fires” you may have difficulty getting your head around exactly what this means. Automatically you perhaps get the impression it is a rather cumbersome electric fire which will protrude from your wall and not necessarily look the part. The reality with a Gazco Studio 2 Electric Fire is very different because this particular model has frame dimensions of 1320 x 675 x 118 which means the protrusion from your wall is minimal to say the least. At first glance it is difficult to understand how the latest electric fire technology is contained within this fairly small framework. However, once you flick the switch you will know exactly what this latest electric fire is about.

Gas and Electric Stoves by CarolMay 11, 201712:12 pm

Gazco Studio 3 Electric Fire

Sometimes it is difficult to know where to start with the modern day electric fire because many people automatically assume they are similar to the electric fires of 20 or 30 years ago. The fact is that the modern day electric fire bears no resemblance whatsoever to those from yesteryear and the Gazco Studio 3 Electric Fire is a perfect example of why they are becoming so popular. The reality is that those looking to buy a modern day electric fire are not necessarily buying it for the heat but more for the look and the presence it brings.

What DO you get with a Gazco Studio 3 Electric Fire?

The Gazco Studio 3 Electric Fire is the largest of the three in the Gazco Studio Electric Fire range at 1710 mm x 675 mm x 118 mm. These are extremely efficient glass wall mounted fires which are so shallow in depth that they only protrude minimally into your room. These are also the type of electric fires which need to be seen to be believed because it is a mystery how the latest technology can be hidden away in a device which is so shallow in depth.

Gas and Electric Stoves by CarolMay 10, 20179:56 pm

Gazco Studio 22 Electric Fire

There are very few electric fires from the Gazco range which do not catch your eye but we have to say that the Gazco Studio 22 Electric Fire is the most eye-catching of this particular range. This model is a vertical style electric fire which comes with an array of different frames.

First of all we have the Glass frame which may sound basic but it gives an absolutely exquisite look to your electric fire. Then we have the Verve style which is a little more bold and eye-catching while not going over the top. You then have the choice of the stylish two-part design frames offered by the E-motiv look which is flush against your wall (using elements of wood and glass) where the other designs offer the option of an extended front. Then finally there is the Evolve which takes in steel and wood fronts as well as other infill options.

There is no doubt that the Gazco Studio 22 Electric Fire range is by far the most comprehensive from a design front. While the designs incorporate the same Gazco Studio 22 Electric Fire there are certainly options available whatever style of room and decor you have incorporated.

Gas and Electric Stoves by CarolMay 9, 201710:08 pm

Gazco Riva2 670 Electric Fire

Over the years there have been some major developments in the area of electric fires and the electric fires you see today bear no resemblance to those of 20 or 30 years ago. The Gazco Riva2 670 Electric Fire is proving to be an extremely popular electric fire brought to the market by Gazco, a company with many years experience in this sector. It is a little surprising that more people have not looked further into the electric fires of today because they are stunning, eye-catching and very quickly become a focal point of any room.

What does the Gazco Riva2 670 Electric Fire offer?

The Gazco Riva2 670 Electric Fire is described as a contemporary range of electric fires which comes in an array of different designs. The basic model is the same but there are different installation options and surrounds available. This particular model is so flexible that it can be installed in a pre-constructed hole in your wall, hearth mounted into a traditional fireplace and there is also the option to use a wall mounting box to hang the electric fire on your wall. This is the type of flexibility you get with the Gazco Riva2 670 Electric Fire and hopefully consumers will become more aware in the future.