November 2024 | Kent Stoves

Pointers to look out for when selecting your new wood stove!

A stove that is too small for the room will not be powerful enough to heat the room adequately, on the other hand, if you have a stove that is too large it will need constant attention to keep the temperature down.

A result of this is the combustion within the stove will not be complete and you will quickly have a build-up of soot not just on the glass, but up the chimney as well.

With this in mind, when calculating the required output, a slightly greater output should be considered (no more than 1.5kW), as there will be a greater need for rapid heating in the long dark cold months of winter.

Always fit where possible in a central position in the property.

As you are making a large investment within your home installing a new stove it really will pay to get expert help (HETAS registered) when selecting the stove to meet your needs.

Wood stoves are cleaner and more efficient than you think.

Open fireplaces are great, but they are not very energy efficient at approximately 20%. Wood burning stoves are much more efficient, at around 80%, so you get all the benefits of a real fire without most of your money going up the chimney in smoke!

Only burn mature logs – Vital information for heat and efficiency.

Wood is a far more environmentally friendly fuel than oil, gas and electricity – and subject to far less price rises. Freshly cut wood contains a lot of water, so you should dry it out before you can burn it. This can take as long as 18-24 months.

It is very unwise to burn wet or unseasoned wood as this will cause a soot build up in your chimney and make your burner very dirty.

Can we help?

If you would like assistance selecting and installing a new log burner, please get in touch and one of our HETAS qualified fitters will be happy to help.

Energy Efficient Stove New Options. Efficiency is vital, especially nowadays with heating costs being at a premium

As lovely as open fires are they are not energy efficient and only give approximately 20% output. Wood burning stoves are much more efficient, at around 70-90%.

Therefore you get all the benefits of a real fire without most of your money going up the chimney!

Wood burning stoves can reduce your carbon footprint with an energy efficient stove.

We all know the British weather can be very damp and cold as we are now experiencing, this is when you need a wood burner the most.

A professionally fitted wood stove will also reduce your home’s carbon footprint by at least 21% as burning wood is environmentally neutral and renewable energy. Just make sure you only burn the correct wood as recommended by your supplier.

Save money on your heating bill

Installing a wood burner in your home could save you in the long term a great deal of money. The savings will depend on how efficient your new stove is and the fuel you use.

Crucial – Burning wood with 20% or less moisture will minimise pollutants and increase efficiency. Kiln-dried wood has less than 20% moisture but is more expensive than seasoned logs. Most stove owners burn seasoned logs, and 23% of the owners told us they collect free wood from local resources!!

If you can source your own supply of wood free that is even better but you should always stack it and allow it to mature for 18-24 months. Stack in the open air if possible and allow the air to flow, best just to cover the top with a waterproof covering.

Can we help?

Finally if you are thinking of installing a wood burning stove please contact us. One of our fully qualified (HETAS Registered) advisers will be happy to assist.