Local Stove Installers

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Wood stoves are even more popular this year

In total, over 240,000 wood-burners were installed last year, according to the Stove Industry Alliance. This is up from 208,000 in 2022.

 Fuel costs as we all know are increasing rapidly with electricity and gas prices leading the way. Installing a wood burner will help keep these rises in check.

 Most important is to get professional advice

 Before selecting a wood burning stove for your home get expert advice (HETAS Registered) as to the correct model to suit your circumstances. Choosing the wrong stove will cost extra money and can be inefficient which let’s face it is just the opposite of what you are trying to achieve.

Increase the value of your property

 Wood-burners have risen in popularity for the last five years as more homes discover the benefits they have to offer. One benefit that generally goes un-noticed is how the value of your home will increase after you have installed the wood burner.

The wood you burn is vital!!

Obviously with a stove a good supply of wood to burn is essential. The drier the wood is the better it will burn so matured wood is a must for efficiency. Some of the best timber to burn is Ash, Oak or Cherry due to their low water content. Storage can be an issue so make sure you have a dry area big enough to store your supply.

Can we help?

If you are looking to install a new wood burning stove, please do make contact and one of our fully qualified (HETAS) advisers will be happy to assist.

 

Stove Installation

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Stove Installation. Installing a new wood stove can be quick and very easy.

If you have an existing chimney installing a wood stove is relatively easy. The fitter will usually insert a liner inside the existing chimney from the burner to the exit point. At Kent Stoves we cover the whole of Kent for wood stove installation.

For straight chimneys this can made up of sections of jointed metal pipe, which can be either single or double skinned. A double skin is more airtight and lasts longer than a single skin but of course costs more. For chimneys that aren’t perfectly straight, a flexible non-flammable liner is used.

It is important to note, chimneys should be swept at least once a year and twice if they are in heavy use. Otherwise, creosote (a by-product of inefficient combustion) builds up on the walls of the chimney to become a fire hazard. Creosote builds up gradually over time as fires burn less efficiently. When they are just getting started but can accumulate very rapidly if you burn unseasoned or damp wood.

Wood Stove Air vents used correctly will improve efficiency

Vents, usually mounted near the door, can be opened or closed to increase or decrease the airflow through the fire. When choosing your new stove do pay special attention to the airflow controls, a fitter will explain which fire would suit your home.

General Stove care

In addition to keeping your stove clean inside and outside, be sure to have it inspected by a registered fitter 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. Finally if you have any problems with the stove have it repaired immediately.

Can we help?

If you are thinking of installing a new burner or require your existing one serviced do make contact. One of our fitters will be happy to help.

HETAS Certified Stove Installer

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Hetas Certified Stove Installer. Efficient, safe, and eye catching into the bargain, what’s not to like?

A professionally fitted wood burning stove can save you hundreds on annual fuel bills.

Before having one installed be sure your new stove is suitable for your home, this is vital.

There are a large range of wood burning stoves to choose from. Ranging in price from £700 to more than £2,800.

Homes with a certified fitted wood stove can be worth a lot more money when selling, also bear in mind some insurance companies will not accept the risk unless the stove has been professionally fitted.

A HETAS registered fitter is fully trained.

A Hetas fitter can give advice as to the most suitable wood burning stove for the area to be heated.

One of the main reasons many people choose to install a wood burning stove is because they have a unique heat. This warmth feels cosy and more pleasant than other types of fuel.

Did you know that wood burners emit heat for a long time after it has actually gone out? Something that gas fires do not do. There is nothing like sitting in front of a wood burner to relaxing and enjoy the ambience.

As a bonus you will also see a noticeable reduction in your energy bills!!

As the cost of electricity, oil and gas remains sky high, heating a property can be extremely expensive.

Although the initial cost of a wood burner may be more than a gas fire, it will certainly save you money in the long run. When used efficiently, a kilowatt of heat per hour costs about one fifth of kWh of electricity and about one third of kWh of oil and gas.

Help required?

If you would like assistance selecting your new stove or require help with your existing one, please do make contact. 0ne of our qualified (HETAS registered) fitters will be happy to assist. 

Are Stoves Economic To Use

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Are Stoves Economic? Keep warmer and reduce those horrible heating bills

With the colder weather beginning to hit the UK, how do you stay warm? I am sure you will be like the majority and turn up the thermostat on the central heating system. However, a growing number of people are opting for renewable heating sources instead such as wood burning stoves.

 After purchase and fitting of your new stove can you really make savings?

 A lot of experts estimate after installation and purchase costs households will start to see savings within 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 5%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

  • 82% cheaper to run than an electric fire
  • 46% cheaper per kw than a gas effect fire
  • 80% 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. Imagine if you could source your own logs from a local forest free – how much you could potentially save a year?

Can we help?

If you would like to know more, please do contact us. One of our fully qualified fitters will be happy to assist.

save money 136-griselade ideal moisture content

Most Economic Heating

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Most Economic Heating. Wood stoves are the economical heating solution AND they will reduce your heating bills!!

Wood-burning stoves have been riding the crest of the wave in the past few years and have proved extremely popular in the UK and Europe alike.

Both efficient and practical, stoves have become a really viable heating solution. Their owners are also able to make real energy savings.

Did you know?

It is also a fact that a property with a professionally fitted wood stove can be worth up to 5% more.

Use a HETAS registered fitter to install your stove and ensure most economic eating.

A professionally fitted wood burning stove can save you hundreds on annual fuel bills but do make sure your new burner is suitable for your home.

One thing is for sure, if you have a stove fitted and you are selling your property the buyer is likely to want to see a certified certificate for the installation of the stove.

Wood stoves can be used as an alternative to the main heating system in a home, they really are an excellent supplementary system.

Using a wood stove as back up heating is a great deal cheaper than plugging in an electric heater especially if you can source your own wood supply.

Unique and stylish

As well as giving you a wonderful source of heat which is ideal during those colder months, wood burning stoves also look great. When you add one to your room, you’ll find that the wood burner becomes a new focal point, adding character and style to the living space.

Can we assist?

If you are looking to install a new wood burning stove, please do make contact. One of our qualified fitters (HETAS registered) will be happy to guide you.

Burn Hardwood for Heat Efficiency

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Burn Hardwood in Wood stoves – Hardwood is a must for heat efficiency

For the serious fire lover, you may want to invest in hardwoods like oak, ash, hickory, walnut, and fruit trees such as apple or cherry.

Seasoning your wood

Hardwoods are denser woods that burn hotter and longer than softwoods, but you’ll need to let them season for up to 2 years.  (Ash is an exception and can be burnt a bit earlier although the wood burns best when seasoned.)

There is absolutely no point in burning unseasoned wood as you will be boiling water, and this is just inefficient and bad for the environment. Plus, your hard-earned money will be wasted.

You will find that hardwood is more expensive to purchase than softwood like pine and fir. But the hardwood burns longer so you’ll need less wood and in turn save money.

Heat efficiency

Seasoned wood burns better than green wood, 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.

You can tell if 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. Therefore burn hardwood. New wood, on the other hand, looks like it came fresh from the timber mill with the same colour throughout the wood.

Can we assist?

If you would like help selecting and installing a new wood burning stove, please do make contact. We have fully qualified (HETAS) fitters and advisers waiting to take your enquiry.

 

Stove Season is Back

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Stove Season Is Back. We Love Our Stoves

Sales of stoves continue to increase month on month. And as the UK public look for ways to reduce their heating bills.

When you have your stove installed you will instantly notice after being cold your home becomes much warmer and cosier.

Always remember NEVER burn damp wood. Indeed or any timber that has been painted or stained as this will give off dangerous fumes!!

Manage the air

As far as your stove is concerned, air comes in two flavours. Primary air feeds the bed of the fire, and secondary air feeds the flames above it. Nearly all the energy from wood comes from burning gases released when it is heated – which means that secondary air is much more important than primary. The golden rules are:

  • Never completely close the secondary air vent. It’s the easiest way to create soot and tar and completely coat the glass on the front of your stove with gunk (a technical term)
  • Remember you’re always looking for a hot, fast burn, as this will be the cleanest, most efficient way of running the stove. A small hot fire is much more efficient than a large slow burning one.

Can we help?

Finally If you would like some assistance this stove season, please do contact us. One of our qualified (HETAS) registered fitters will be happy to help.

Ways to Save Using a Wood Stove

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Ways To Save Using A Wood Stove. There are two main types of stoves: multi fuel or wood burning. As such 58% of the people we asked own a wood burning stove, and 42% a multi fuel stove.

Multi fuel stoves can burn pellets as well as wood, but pellet tends to be more expensive.

You can also get wood for free – for example, if you’re able to collect fallen branches from your garden or local wood. But you will need to have space and time to dry the wood out, as wet wood will burn far less efficiently. Burning wood in a multi fuel stove is possible. But because these fuels burn differently, stoves are often optimised for one type. So some can’t burn both wood and pellet efficiently.

A HETAS registered fitter is fully trained in fitting and able to give advice as to the most suitable wood burning stove for the area to be heated.

Ways To Save with a wood burning stove.

  • The net fuel cost is cheaper than heating oil, natural gas, and electricity.
  • Wood sourced locally can be free
  • Fuel in the form of logs, wood chips, brush clippings is renewable, and sustainable.
  • Professionally installed stove will add value to your property

Seasoning your wood.

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. Just some ways to save with a wood stove.

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. One of our fully qualified (HETAS registered) fitters will be happy to assist.

Heating Bills Increase Yet Again

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Heating Bills Increase Yet Again. It is a fact that fuel bills are set to rise significantly in the near future.

The price rises are expected to be in the region of between 8% and 15%. This is at least for electricity, which means your energy bills could take a definite hit.

The impact on a typical household bill could be an extra £200-£500 plus a year.

Research shows that an average family are spending over £180 per month just heating a 3-bedroomed house, just imagine this increasing by 10% and how that will affect your family budget.

Explore the alternatives and save money

A wood burning stove could be the answer to reducing these potential rises, stove sales are at the highest we have ever seen for this time of year as homeowners prepare for the future.

A wood burning stove is a highly efficient source of heat delivering over 80% economy in many cases.

The new generation of stoves are clean and extremely easy to use making them a must for the majority of homes. A wood burner can be up to 75% cheaper to run than an electric heater and 29% cheaper than a gas effect fire.

Installing a stove can obviously save you money and is something to consider for the future. Make sure you do your homework before deciding as selecting the wrong model for your home could have a detrimental effect.

Can we assist?

Finally If you are looking to install a new wood burning appliance, please do make contact. One of our qualified fitters (HETAS registered) will be happy to guide you.

 

Eco-Design ready stoves

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Why invest in a wood stove??

Research estimates that between a quarter and a third of all London’s fine-particle pollution comes from domestic wood burning. Eco-design Ready stoves are even better for the environment. However, it turns out that 70% of wood burning emissions comes from open fireplaces, not stoves!

While most modern wood burners are greener than their ageing counterparts, Eco-design Ready stoves are even better for the environment.

All wood burning stoves must comply with the eco-design European directive in a bid to tackle air pollution and particulate emissions. Many stove manufacturers are beating the directive to the punch and producing Eco design Ready stoves that exceed the directive by as much as 75%.

Advantages of a wood burning stove are numerous!

  • The net fuel cost is cheaper than heating oil, natural gas, and electricity.
  • Wood sourced locally can be free.
  • Fuel in the form of logs, wood chips, brush clippings is renewable, and sustainable.
  • Wood supply prices are relatively stable and have been for years.
  • Professionally installed stove will add value to your property.

If you combine these advantages with the elegance a wood burner brings to your home its worth considering without a doubt.

Due to rising fuel bills homeowners are seeking alternative cost-effective heating options.

Wood burning stoves are a real alternative, these days they really do offer an impressive range of options to meet your home’s needs. Long gone are the days when wood burners were seen as an ugly and dirty heating source.

Help needed?

If you would like to explore your heating options, please do make contact and one of our qualified fitters (HETAS registered) will be happy to assist.