To get the best heating results from your stove hardwoods are generally better for burning than softwoods. As a rule of thumb hardwoods are produced by slow-growing deciduous trees and therefore the logs have a greater density than the faster growing softwoods from evergreen trees.

Since hardwood logs are heavier than the same sized softwood logs they will provide you with much more heat output – up to 50%.

For the stove owner, using hardwood logs means having to fill the stove up less often than they would with softwood logs.

Most important: Only ever use dried, fully seasoned chopped wood logs with a moisture content of less than 20%. Always check with your supplier when the wood was cut and how long has it been drying: This should be a minimum of 2 years. Read more

To install 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. Next contact a qualified fitter to ensure the model you are looking at will “do the job efficiently”. It’s also a very good idea to research the size and cost of logs you’ll need and whether you can buy them locally.

Wood burning stoves always make great focal points for interiors, they are cleaner and more efficient than open fireplaces, and can save you money on your heating bills. Install one and get ready for your friend’s positive comments, as they will be plentiful!

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

Wood burners are a great way of bringing the comfort of a real fire into your home, even if you don’t have a vast amount of space. If you live in an urban area that is smoke-controlled, you’ll need to check the stove you are buying is approved by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) or go for one that has the option of burning smokeless fuels as an alternative.

Expert advice and fitting

For your protection and safety, you should always have a fully qualified professional install your wood/pellet burning appliance. At Kent Stoves, we will evaluate everything for you to ensure your safety and maximise efficiency.

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

 

Summer is here and we all forget about our lovely cozy stoves which keep us warm in the winter. Summer is the right time to do all the maintenance jobs to keep them functioning properly.

If you choose the right stove, it should be 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 Industry recommends that you have your chimney swept at the beginning and the end of the winter to avoid a build-up of tar and soot, which could damage the chimney and stove when not in use. From a safety point of view, blocked chimneys can also cause deadly carbon monoxide and fires. One sweep should only cost £30-£70.

Use matured logs only

Wet or unseasoned logs will leave more sooty deposits and could increase the number of sweeps you need, so it’s best to use seasoned or kiln-dried wood to cut down on maintenance (minimum 2 years old). Read more

This summer we are seeing more people installing wood stoves than ever before. Mainly due to the cost savings they can provide. One question our fitters are always asked is how good are stoves for the environment?  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 life cycle. 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 for the environment, they are good!

The important aspect of this argument is that the wood is burnt correctly, using a modern efficient stove that employs secondary and even tertiary burning. Read more

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 (as a rule of thumb, 1kW of heat output for every 14 cubic metres of space is needed to make your room 21C when it’s 1C outside).

It is also crucial to have you new or replaced stove installed by a fully qualified fitter for insurance and safety reasons. A fitter will ensure all aspects of your stove are fitted and functioning to the highest standards and therefore heating your room efficiently.

Stoves are a fantastic way to enhance the beauty of your home and give you on those cold nights warmth and comfort. It also is a proven fact that a professionally installed stove will increase the value of your property which can offset any fitting costs. Read more