save money 136-griselade ideal moisture content

HETAS Registered Stove Fitter

/in /by

When installing a new wood stove use a registered fitter!

The installation of a wood burner must comply with building regulations and the easiest way to do this is to use a qualified fitter.

HETAS-registered installers deal with wood, solid-fuel and biomass domestic heating appliances and can self-certify that their work complies with building regulations, so it’s safe and legal.

Benefits of using a registered fitter

  • Safety and guaranteed standard of installation
  • Easier to insure your home
  • Peace of mind
  • Total burner efficiency

Efficiency

As great 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%, so you get all the benefits of a real fire without most of your money going up the chimney!

Wood stoves and the environment

More people than ever before are installing wood stoves. Mainly due to the cost savings they can provide. One question our fitters are always asked is how environmentally friendly are they?

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 when it is left to rot naturally as it would do at the end of its lifecycle.

What is more, harvested trees are replaced with new trees, which in turn absorb CO2 in the process of photosynthesis as they grow. So, in short, good!

Can we help?

If you would like advice concerning your new or existing wood stove, please make contact and one of our fully qualified (HETAS) registered fitters will be happy to assist.

 

Maximum Heat for Minimum Cost

/in /by

Maximum Heat For Minimum Cost. Getting the best from your wood stove after installation

Whether you’ve just bought a stove, are thinking of getting one, or have inherited one with a home you’ve moved into, there are several things to consider so you can make the most of your stove.

To make sure you get the most out of your wood burning stove, it’s vital to use the right kind of wood. First and foremost, it’s important that you burn as dry wood as possible – ideally it should only contain less than 20% moisture. In other words, wood that has been drying for at least 18 months.

Ensure you clean your stove on a regular basis and have your chimney cleaned at least once a year but preferably twice.

These two factors alone will ensure your stove produces heat efficiently!

Using fresh logs with a high moisture content of around 60% to 90% will reduce your stove’s heat output.  This is because you’ll waste energy burning off the water, so you’ll need to use more to warm the room. It will also leave more build-up in your chimney, create more smoke and potentially harmful air pollution.

If you choose the right stove, it should be very easy to maintain. But there are a few steps you should take to keep it efficient and safe. To keep your stove in good working order, the Stove Industry Alliance recommends that you have your chimney swept. Ideally at the beginning and the end of the winter to avoid a build-up of tar and soot. Otherwise this could damage the chimney and stove when not in use. From a safety point of view, blocked chimneys can also cause deadly carbon monoxide. One sweep should cost between £50-£100.

Can we help?

If you are looking for assistance choosing a new or simply need help with your existing burner, please make contact. One of our qualified fitters (HETAS) registered who will be happy to assist.

Can I Save Money With A Stove

/in /by

Can I save money with a stove? After purchase and fitting can you really make savings with a wood stove?

A lot of experts estimate after installation and purchase costs households will start to see savings within 2-3 years.

There has been a big increase in sales of wood burning stoves lately, both for adding character to a home and adding value to your property – some estate agents say a certificated wood stove could add as much 7%to the sale price. 

A stove is a highly efficient source of heat – delivering more than 80% efficiency in many cases. The current generation of stoves are clean and very easy to use and control.

Estimated savings of a wood stove

  • 78% cheaper to run than an electric fire.
  • 39% cheaper per kw than a gas effect fire
  • 79% cheaper than oil filled heater.

It is very important to note you must always only burn fully dried wood logs and these should have matured for 18-24 months.

Wood burning stoves, important information.

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.

Expert advice

For your protection and safety, you should always have a fully qualified professional install your wood/pellet burning appliance.

At Kent Stoves (HETAS registered) we will evaluate everything for you to ensure your safety and maximise efficiency. 

Can we help?

If you require assistance, please do make contact and one of our fully qualified fitters will be happy to help.

 

Cost Efficient Heating

/in /by

Cost Efficient Heating & High efficiency levels and getting better all the time!

Firstly Not only are wood stoves becoming more eco-friendly, but they’re also becoming a lot more efficient. This means that more heat is used to heat your home rather than being expelled up the chimney.

Many wood burners these days have an efficiency level of over 80% plus. This means that you’re not losing much heat at all. Only 20% is being lost through the chimney and the rest goes into making your home nice and toasty.

An open fire loses as much as 80% of the heat through the chimney. Thus making them incredibly inefficient at heating homes.

Older stoves over 10 years less cost efficient heating.

Older stoves will have a lower efficiency rating. So if you want to ensure you’re getting more heat into your home, then a new stove would be a wise move. Not only is a more efficient stove better for your wallet as you’re spending less on fuel, but it’s also better for the environment.

Very fast quality heating

The biggest advantage homeowners have with a wood burning stove is the quality of heat the burner will give off. Woods stoves operate on the principal of radiant heat. This warms an area faster and more efficiently than warm air being blown through a home’s vent system. Fitted in a central position in your home you will be amazed how the rest of your house suddenly gets a whole lot warmer. In turn you will reduce any other heating bills you may have as the thermostat controlling your central heating remains off.

Can we help?

Finally If you would like assistance in selecting and installing your new log burner, please get in touch. One of our qualified fitters (HETAS reg) will be happy to help.

Best Stove Installer Kent

/in /by

Best Stove Installer Kent. Sales of wood stoves this year are phenomenal!

Sales of stoves continue to increase seemingly every month as the UK public look for ways to reduce their heating bills. Whether you are the proud owner of a shiny new stove, or you’re thinking to install one, there are a few things that you need to know to really get the most out of that heat generator in the fireplace.

 One thing you must only burn fully matured timber.

 This is the most fundamental thing to get right when you’re burning wood. It might be surprising, but green wood is around 45% water. That means that for every kg of green wood you add to the fire, you’re effectively adding around 500ml (a pint) of water. This means that you will need to make sure that your fuel has been dried properly.

Find a good supplier. Ask before delivery how long the logs have been maturing (minimum 18 months as a rule).

Are woodstoves good for the environment?

 Compared with using fossil fuels for heat (natural gas, propane, coal, etc.) wood is eco-friendlier. It’s considered “carbon-neutral,” which means when it burns, it doesn’t add additional carbon dioxide to the environment. This is because in its natural state as a tree, wood absorbs carbon dioxide that is in the atmosphere. During combustion, a balance is maintained.

 Can we help?

 If you would like some assistance, please do contact us. One of our HETAS qualified fitters will be happy to help.