Energy Efficient Stoves.  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%. This means that you’re not losing much heat at all. In fact 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 75-80% of the heat through the chimney. As such making them incredibly inefficient at heating homes.

Older stoves will also 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. You will be 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?

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

 

Air Controls on Woodburners. Following a lot of interest in last week’s news blog we expand on the air control system within you existing or new stove.

Wood burners have two main operating features which will help you make your stove very efficient indeed.

 Convection Air

Many log burners include a convection system. These are designed to distribute heat a lot more evenly around the room. The cool air within the room is drawn into the stove and as it begins to heat up, it rises before easing out into the room. This makes the entire space more enjoyable and comfortable. The hot air rising inside the stove draws more cool air into the stove, setting up a continuous flow. This ultimately means exceptional heating efficiency.

Primary Air

This is the air that’s drawn in. For most designs, and this is especially the case with classic log burners, the primary air enters through a control on the front. This can then be adjusted to modify the amount of air entering the firebox, which in turn allows you to decide on just how intense you want the fire to be, or not to be.

Wood stoves – Hardwood is a must for efficiency.

Season your wood for at least 24 months if freshly cut!!

Hardwoods are denser woods that burn hotter and longer than softwoods. As such you will 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.

Can we help?

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

 

Lower Heating Bills. Wood burning stoves continue gaining ground in the race for cheaper heating.

Wood burning stove installations are increasing annually and over the last 2 years we have seen huge strides towards solving environmental issues.

Usually at this time of year interest increases due to colder weather, but this year has seen unprecedented increases like never before!!

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.

Don’t sit on the fence get advice NOW!!

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.

 

Safe & Efficient Stoves, and eye catching into the bargain.

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 £500 to more than £5,000. 

Years ago, you had to live in the countryside to enjoy a wood burner, but technological improvements mean they can also provide a great heating solution in many town and city homes.

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.

Cut 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. As such, when used efficiently, a kilowatt of heat per hour costs about one fifth of kWh of electricity. Additionally about one third of kWh of oil and gas.

One of the main reasons many people choose to install a 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.

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.   

Help required?

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

Wood burners are in demand!!

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.

A professionally installed burner can increase the value of your home. Estate agents will tell you that a home with a log burner is very sought after.

Ever more popular this year.

In total, over 300,000 wood-burners have been installed this year, according to the Stove Industry Alliance. This is up from 247,000 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.

HETAS approval

Poorly installed stoves do pose very real risks from carbon monoxide poisoning to house fires and smoke inhalation. All of which can have devastating and fatal consequences.

It is recommended to use a HETAS qualified fitter to install any wood burning appliance for safety and insurance purposes.

Long term maintenance

A stove is not a “fit and forget” product. As such the burner itself may need very little maintenance but without regular cleaning soot builds up in the flue. This can cause chimney fires. It is highly recommended to have your burner cleaned and serviced at least once a year for safety and peace of mind.

Help?

If you require some assistance with your current or new stove, please do make contact and one of our fully trained fitters will be pleased to guide you.