New year resolution – treat your home in 2018

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Wood-burners have risen in popularity for the last ten years as more homes discover the benefits and beauty they have to offer.

One benefit that always goes unnoticed is how the value of your home will increase after you have installed the burner. Ask any estate agent and they will tell you a home with a wood stove that has been professionally installed is far more desirable than one without. The value of your home could increase by as much as £10000.

Wood-burners not only look fabulous, they have plenty of practical benefits too. They provide a great deal of heat for relatively little cost and are highly efficient in comparison to open fires. With energy costs rising daily it is little wonder these super forms of heating continue to rise in popularity.

If you are reviewing alternative forms of heating in your home you should most definitely give wood burning stoves due consideration.   Read more

Make sure you are getting value from your stove

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Wood burning stove maintenance and cleaning mostly consist of regular removal of the ashes which also boosts the stove’s efficiency. You should occasionally clean the internal surfaces with a wire brush or scraper and at the same time keep a close eye on potential problems such as holes in the ash pan, cracks, spots of rust on the finish and other unusual signs that may indicate damage.

It is also advisable to clean the glass on a regular basis because the longer you postpone the cleaning the harder it gets to remove the tar deposits. Always leave your stove to cool completely before you carry out any maintenance or cleaning chores and make sure that the ash is completely cold before you dispose of it.

In addition to keeping your stove clean inside and outside, be sure to have it inspected by a licensed professional (HETAS) at least once a year to make sure that everything is working perfectly.

If there are any signs of damage such as cracks, leaks or warping, or if you have any problems with the stove do have them repaired immediately.

You are also highly recommended to have your chimney cleaned and checked by a chimney sweep at least once a year or more often if you use your wood burning stove on a regular basis. Poorly maintained or blocked chimneys pose a serious safety risk because they can cause carbon monoxide poisoning and chimney fires.

Can we help?

If you require any assistance with your wood burner, please make contact and one of our qualified fitters will be happy to assist.

It’s getting colder

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If you have as log burning stove you will no doubt see the full benefit this form of heating has to offer.

Wood burning stoves are becoming more popular by the day as sales increase on an unprecedented scale. More households around the country are trying to reduce their heating bills and installing a stove can certainly help towards this aim.

One very big mistake a lot owners make is not using correctly matured timber to burn, damp logs can be dangerous and cause chimney fires.

Nothing will cause your stove to function less efficiently than to fill it with green wood, so to avoid the problem you should begin the seasoning process in the early spring if you want your wood to be ready by the next winter. If you plan to use any wood that is larger than normal, you will need to set it out to dry even earlier than that. Essentially, you should be harvesting your wood about a year and a half in advance of when you actually plan to burn it.

Seasoning.

Wood being dried should be stacked in open areas under cover where it will be exposed to the sun and the wind. If you put it in a shed, garage, or outdoors in the shade, you will inhibit the seasoning process significantly. Having said this if you are buying pre-seasoned wood from a supplier then any form of dry storage will normally be fine.

Can we help?

If you are thinking of installing a new wood stove please do get expert advice as fitting the incorrect stove could prove costly. Should you require assistance please do make contact and one of our fully qualified fitters will be happy to assist.