Blog by Kent Stoves | Faversham Kent

Wood burning stove maintenance.

2nd June 2019/in Uncategorised /by Kent Stoves

I’m sure you are all pleased that this winter is now drawing to a close. If you are the proud owner of a wood stove no doubt it has served you and your home well over the cold months. Now is the time to get that heating machine serviced and cleaned ready for the next winter. Engineer’s at this time of year are generally less busy and therefore easier to book.

Wood burning stove maintenance and cleaning mostly consists of regular removal of the ashes which also boosts the stove’s efficiency. Occasional cleaning of the internal surfaces with a wire brush or scraper will also improve your stoves performance. You should always 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. Read more

So many benefits…..

2nd June 2019/in Uncategorised /by Kent Stoves

The first question you might ask is “Why would I want to install and use a stove in the first place?”

There are plenty of benefits of using a wood stove for your residential heat. The most obvious is the cleanliness of burning wood, which gives off less particulate matter and is a renewable resource, unlike gas-powered alternatives. Another chief benefit is the cost efficiency as wood can cost a great deal less than electricity and gas. Not to mention a professionally installed stove can add value 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 your home, perfect for warm cocoa on cold winter days. They also have the added bonus of saving you money on other utilities, like electricity. Read more

Wood burning stove, what actually is it?

12th May 2019/in Uncategorised /by Kent Stoves

A wood-burning stove is simply a home appliance that is used to heat the home. It is usually made of a metal such as cast iron or steel and generates heat by burning wood fuel in an enclosed fire chamber.

They can be placed in most rooms of a house and need to allow fumes and gases to be drawn away from the room and out through the flue.

Wood burners have been around for many years but have risen in popularity in recent times due to their efficiency and low running costs. Read more

Installing a new stove

6th May 2019/in Uncategorised /by Kent Stoves

We are always being asked the best place and way to install a new heating machine. Stoves can be installed almost anywhere in the home but as with most things some are better than others.

If it’s at all possible to install your new wood burning stove in the centre of your house this without doubt is the favoured option. Once the stove has been lite you will find your whole house will become much warmer very quickly as the central chimney warms up. We always get customers commenting how much warmer the whole house gets and therefore reduces central heating costs accordingly.

Make Sure You Season Your Firewood for the Proper Amount of Time

People tend to underestimate just how much moisture firewood contains. 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 in advance of when you actually plan to burn it, if you want to guarantee that it will be properly seasoned. Read more

Keep your stove working efficiently

23rd April 2019/in Uncategorised /by Kent Stoves

Wood burning stove maintenance and cleaning mostly consists of regular removal of the ashes which also boosts the stove’s efficiency. Occasional cleaning of the internal surfaces with a wire brush or scraper will also improve your stoves performance. You should always 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 is gets to remove the tar deposits. Always leave your stove to cool completely before you carry out any maintenance or cleaning chores.

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, or if you have any problems with the stove have them repaired immediately. Read more

Records broken in 2018

22nd April 2019/in Uncategorised /by Kent Stoves

Sales of wood burning stoves are increasing year on year but last year saw really exceptional growth with a massive 41% growth compared to the previous 12 months.

The increases are surely down to the looming Brexit situation and the weaker pound, with the weak pound any fuel imported costs a great deal more resulting in our heating bills increasing.

Homeowners have responded to these increases by looking for alternative forms of heating and a log burner is very high on the wish list.

A wood burning stove not only looks good and performs to exceptional levels it can increase the value of your property. Read more

Wood burning stove sales reach new peaks

22nd April 2019/in Uncategorised /by Kent Stoves

The sales of wood burning stoves have been rising for a good many years, but now sales are hitting all new levels. This year sales and installations to date are 58% higher than the same period last year. Increased sales are attributed to ever rising energy bills and the homeowner looking to reduce heating bills.

Wood burners also have other benefits including giving a room an ambience and correctly fitted could well increase the value of your property.

Stoves are more efficient

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! Read more

Select carefully and keep warmer

5th April 2019/in Uncategorised /by Kent Stoves

To enjoy using a log burner safely and responsibly, it’s important to do your research. Think first about the size of area that needs to be heated and the style of burner you would like. It’s a very good idea to check the size and cost of logs you’ll need and whether you can buy them locally. Please also remember you will require an area to store your logs, preferably outdoors and dry. Damp logs are simply no good for your burner and need to be air dried for at least 2 years, damp logs will cause soot build up and create extra cleaning.

Why are they so popular?

Wood-burners have become a sought-after design statement during the past decade.

They can provide a sense of charm and ambience to a property. Modern wood-burning stoves give your home that warm heart as you sit around with friends and family on winter evenings. Read more

What to look for when selecting your wood burner?

3rd April 2019/in Uncategorised /by Kent Stoves

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.

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. Read more

Updating your home?

17th March 2019/in Uncategorised /by Kent Stoves

If you’re considering creating or redesigning your home this year, have you researched which features are essential for you? Apart from the appeal of a super new home do think about how you could improve the heating and in turn reduce costs.

There is nothing more magical for the family than gathering up the wood and settling down on the sofa, feet up, as the fire burns long into the evening.

Sales of wooding burning stoves are going to reach record levels this year and the future looks very bright and very warm indeed. If you read all the reports energy prices are increasing and continue to do so as the Brexit talks linger on. The pound remains weak and all the experts say this could continue for months to come as the UK faces an uncertain future. Read more