Are Stoves A Good Home Improvement ?

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Are Stoves A Good Home Improvement?

Are you making home improvements this summer?

It’s that time of year again when we all start thinking about home improvements. All DIY superstores will tell you May equals a significant increase in sales.

One thing on all homeowner’s minds is reducing their energy bills, so, if you are thinking of changing things at home do consider installing a wood burning stove. Doing this one thing will in the long term save you a great deal of money on your Gas and Electricity bills.

Wood burning stoves always make great focal points for interiors. They are cleaner and more efficient than open fireplaces. Also they will save you money on your heating bills. Install one and get ready for your life in the winter months to get a whole lot better and warmer.

If you’re thinking of installing one you should start your planning now. Sales are booming, fitters do have much longer waiting lists than ever before.

A wood stove can add value and ambience to your property.

There are some more peripheral benefits about heating your home with a wood-fuelled stove. Wood burning stoves can be used as additional cooking surfaces in the home, perfect for warm cocoa.

They also have the added bonus of saving you money on other utilities, like electricity which as we all know is expensive.

There are many things to consider when selecting stove to meet your home’s needs. Two of the most important ones. Siting of the stove and the kw required to heat your defined area, get these right and you will save a lot of money!

Can we assist?

If you would like to know more about heating with a wood burner, please make contact and one of our fully qualified fitters (HETAS registered) will be happy to help.

heat efficiency 1532579 log burner stove

Heat Efficiency

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Heat Efficiency and the secret to a good fire which produces constant heat. Firstly most importantly, wood that has been seasoned for more than a year. In the case of oak, you’ll want to season the wood at least two years, sometimes longer. Much of the wood for sale these days is green and needs another year at least to season correctly.

Seasoned wood burns much better than green wood. This is because it produces more heat and less creosote build-up in the fireplace and chimney. Green or unseasoned wood, on the other hand, is hard to light and difficult to keep burning. If your wood smoulders and burns poorly with little heat, it’s probably green wood which has a high-water content.

You can tell if the wood is seasoned by looking at it. On the outside, seasoned wood probably looks grey and dusty from sitting around for a while. But on the inside, it’s often dry and white, usually lighter than on the outside.

New wood, on the other hand looks like it came fresh from the timber mill. Also new wood will be same colour throughout the wood.

How to save money consistently with Heat Efficiency.

There are two main types of stoves: multi fuel or wood burning. On average 58% of people own a wood burning stove, and 42% a multi fuel stove.

Multi fuel stoves can burn pellets and coal as well as wood. But bear in mind pellet tends to be more expensive. Additionally new eco design stoves offer superior heat efficiency.

Wood can be free. For example, collecting fallen branches from your garden or local woods. But you will need to have space and time to dry the wood out. As such wet wood will burn far less efficiently. Burning wood in a multi fuel stove is also possible. But because these fuels burn differently, stoves are often optimised for one type.

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 (HETAS registered) fitters. Finally we will be happy to assist and discuss and questions you have without any obligation and even arrange a free install survey

 

save money 136-griselade ideal moisture content

Ideal Moisture Content For Logs

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Ideal Moisture Content and sourcing your wood for the next season.

To make sure you get the most out of your wood-burning stove, and don’t create additional pollution to the atmosphere. It’s important to use the right kind of wood.

Now is the time to source the logs. Stack them correctly and get prepared for the next season. When storing your wood ensure air can flow around. Also this will aid the drying process and produce more heat when burning.

First and foremost.

You need to burn wood that is as dry as possible. It should only contain less than 20% moisture.

Important – You can reduce the moisture content of freshly cut wood by drying it yourself. This is called seasoning. To do this, it’s best to store the wood in a dry place for at least a year, preferably two. To help you work out how dry your wood is, you can also buy a moisture meter. These cost around £20 and are readily available.

For the best results, the wood should be left on a dry surface protected from rain. Leave the sides exposed to air and wind, as it will speed up the drying process. Additionally can buy dedicated wood stores to help with this.

Wood stoves and the environment.

One very important question our fitters are always asked is how environmentally friendly are they?  As such the green benefits of burning wood are gaining wider and wider support. Burning wood cleanly only releases the same amount of CO2 into the atmosphere as from a tree. This is when it is left to rot naturally as it would do at the end of its lifecycle. Furthermore, harvested trees are replaced with new trees, which in turn absorb CO2 in the process of photosynthesis as they grow.

Can we help?

When thinking of installing a wood burning stove, please contact us. One of our fully qualified (HETAS Registered) advisers will be happy to assist and discuss ideal moisture content.

Fit a Stove this Summer

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Fit A Stove Summer is on the way.

This time of year is normally quiet in the stove industry but that is NOT the case these days! Homeowners are getting wise to the savings installing a wood burning stove can have on the family budget.

If you are looking to install this summer be sure the stove meets your needs. Choose a HETAS approved one, which comes from an experienced manufacturer. Apart from the safety element, wood burner stoves have improved so much of late. Therefore it’s vital to select the correct one for your home.

If you choose professional help the fitter will consider your lifestyle and the type of property you reside in. An open-plan, well insulated home for example can use a stove to cut down fuel bills. Also the fitter will explain all the advantages and savings that can be made.

HETAS approval

Poorly installed stoves do pose very real risks from carbon monoxide poisoning to house fires and smoke inhalation, all of which can have devastating and fatal consequences.

It is recommended to use a HETAS qualified fitter to install any wood burning appliance for safety and insurance purposes.

Long term maintenance

A stove is not a “fit and forget” product. The burner itself may need very little maintenance but without regular cleaning soot builds up in the flue and this can cause chimney fires. It is highly recommended to have your burner cleaned and serviced at least once a year for safety and peace of mind.

Log Burner Stove Help?

If you require some assistance with your current or new stove, please do make contact and one of our fully trained (HETAS) registered fitters will be pleased to guide you.