Grab A Summer Stove Bargain. Summertime is here, not so warm yet but….

In the summer months most homeowners try to forget the cold times and those large fuel bills. However this is the time to act as there are many very good offers available. Fitting engineers are far less busy than the winter months. No is the perfect time to grab a summer stove bargain offer.

Installing a wood burning stove in your home will:

• Reduce energy bills
• Likely increase the value of your property
• Give you more control on heating your home

Managing the airflow to gain extra heat

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. Additionally nearly all the energy from wood comes from burning gases released when it is heated. This means that secondary air is much more important than primary.

Vital rules you should always follow

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). Also remember you’re always looking for a hot fast burn. This will be the cleanest, most efficient way of running the stove. Also consider a small hot fire is much more efficient than a large slow burning one.

Never burn green damp wood!!

This is the most fundamental thing to get right when you’re burning wood. As such 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.

Can we help?

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

How Much Does It Cost To Install A Stove ?

A stove installation will again vary depending on the siting of the new stove. Do get professional advice (HETAS registered) as this could save you money both in the short and long term.

As an example, if you already have a chimney, that will make it cheaper. Aas one won’t need to be built. However, it might need to be relined to make sure it won’t let any gases escape into your home.

You can also have a freestanding stove, which doesn’t need a chimney. But you will still need to have the flue (effectively acting as the chimney) fed outside somewhere, which will involve construction work on your home.

When installing a new wood stove, it is recommended to 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.

Why install and use a stove in the first place?

There are many benefits of using a wood stove for your residential heat.

The most obvious is the cleanliness of burning wood. Clean dry wood gives off less particulate matter and is a renewable resource. This contrasts with gas powered alternatives.

Another major benefit is the cost efficiency as wood can cost a great deal less than electricity and gas.

Can we help?

If you are thinking of installing a wood burning stove, please contact us and one of our fully qualified (HETAS Registered) advisers will be happy to assist.

Plan Ahead For A Stove

Your wood stove, planning ahead now for the next season!

If you plan ahead for a stove for your home, it should be fairly straight forward. But there are a few steps you should take to keep it efficient and safe.

Be sure to only burn seasoned wood. This will ensure the soot build up over time is minimal and ensure efficiency which equals good heat output.

To keep your stove in good working order, the Stove Industry recommends that you have your chimney swept at the beginning and the end of the winter to avoid a build-up of 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.

One sweep should cost no more than £75 and this will be money very well spent.

It’s also worth getting a carbon monoxide alarm to alert you to the presence of the dangerous gas in your home.

Carbon monoxide detectors only cost around £25-30 and monitor whether any carbon monoxide. This is tasteless and odourless and highly poisonous and being expelled. It’s also worth installing a smoke alarm in the room where the stove will be fitted.

Stove cleaning and servicing

Wood burners are becoming very popular, the summer months are usually very quiet for qualified fitters, but this is no longer the case. This year has seen a large rise in installations and here at Kent Stoves we are booked well in advance.

If you would like to have your current stove serviced, we would recommend getting it booked in sooner rather than later.

Talk to an expert?

If you require assistance with a new stove or want your existing one serviced, please make contact. One of our fully qualified fitters (HETAS Registered) will be pleased to help.

Heat Efficiency and the secret to a good fire which produces constant heat. Firstly most importantly, wood that has been seasoned for more than a year. In the case of oak, you’ll want to season the wood at least two years, sometimes longer. Much of the wood for sale these days is green and needs another year at least to season correctly.

Seasoned wood burns much better than green wood. This is 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 which has a high-water content.

You can tell if the 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.

New wood, on the other hand looks like it came fresh from the timber mill. Also new wood will be same colour throughout the wood.

How to save money consistently with Heat Efficiency.

There are two main types of stoves: multi fuel or wood burning. On average 58% of people own a wood burning stove, and 42% a multi fuel stove.

Multi fuel stoves can burn pellets and coal as well as wood. But bear in mind pellet tends to be more expensive. Additionally new eco design stoves offer superior heat efficiency.

Wood can be free. For example, collecting fallen branches from your garden or local woods. But you will need to have space and time to dry the wood out. As such wet wood will burn far less efficiently. Burning wood in a multi fuel stove is also possible. But because these fuels burn differently, stoves are often optimised for one type.

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 and one of our fully qualified (HETAS registered) fitters. Finally we will be happy to assist and discuss and questions you have without any obligation and even arrange a free install survey

Fit A Stove Summer is on the way.

This time of year is normally quiet in the stove industry but that is NOT the case these days! Homeowners are getting wise to the savings installing a wood burning stove can have on the family budget.

If you are looking to install this summer be sure the stove meets your needs. Choose a HETAS approved one, which comes from an experienced manufacturer. Apart from the safety element, wood burner stoves have improved so much of late. Therefore it’s vital to select the correct one for your home.

If you choose professional help the fitter will consider your lifestyle and the type of property you reside in. An open-plan, well insulated home for example can use a stove to cut down fuel bills. Also the fitter will explain all the advantages and savings that can be made.

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. The burner itself may need very little maintenance but without regular cleaning soot builds up in the flue and 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.

Log Burner Stove Help?

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