Thinking of joining the crowd?

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If you are thinking of installing a wood burner in your home like so many others, here are a few things to take note of.

If you have a new stove installed it’s likely to increase the value of your property due to the current demand but remember it must be fitted by a registered installer.

Efficiency

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!

Use a registered installer

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. Read more

Steel or cast iron?

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Wood burning stoves bring the rich scent of burning wood and the cosy crackle of a warm fire to indoor living spaces. When shopping for a wood burning stove, you can choose from just a few common materials, including traditional cast iron and more modern steel units.

Consider factors such as maintenance, appearance, construction, and operation when comparing these materials to narrow your selection and find the right model for your home.

It is highly recommended to speak to a qualified fitter who can explain all the pros and cons of each metal.

Care and maintenance of your stove Read more

Wood stoves are clean and efficient

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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 lifecycle. What is more, harvested trees are replaced with new trees, which in turn absorb CO2 in the process of photosynthesis as they grow.

Most importantly, burning wood with a moisture level of below 20% will give twice the heat output of freshly felled timber and will also help to reduce a build-up of tar in your chimney and the environment. To achieve this correct moisture level, the wood should be seasoned or matured for approximately two years. Storage should ideally be outside and be stacked to let the air flow around the timber, this will then dry naturally.

Wood burning stoves can be used as an excellent alternative to the main central heating system in your home. Instead of turning up the thermostat try lighting the burner and you will be able to reduce the thermostat in a cold spell. If your home is well insulated and draught free you could even leave doors open and the log burner will heat assist all-round the house. Read more

The right fuel for your stove

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Stove owners often make mistakes when selecting wood to be burnt in their living room pride and joy. If you have paid out good money for your new stove plus having it fitted you will want to get the best results.

If you burn softwood as opposed to hardwood the heat you will achieve can be up to 50% less. Burning softwood can be expensive in the long run and your burner will not be working to its full capacity.

If you are contemplating installing a new wood burner do check in your area wood suppliers and what timber they normally supply.

The best logs are

Oak     –           Very dense, long burning, minimum drying 18 months 5*

Maple  –           Hot burner, long-lasting, efficient, minimum drying 18 months 5*

Cherry –           Medium hot burner, good starter log, minimum drying 18 months 4* Read more

The savings can be huge!

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A stove can cost varying amounts to buy and install. A recent survey of stove owners taken to establish whether it’s really worth the initial outlay discovered that 64% said their stove saves them money. The cost of a stove can vary wildly, ranging from £400 to more than £2,000, and that’s before you’ve factored in the installation costs.

Stove installation costs

A stove installation will again vary depending on the siting of the new stove, do get professional advice as this could save you money. For example, if you already have a chimney, that will make it cheaper, as 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.

Savings

Will depend on how efficient the stove is and the fuel you use. Burning wood with 20% or less moisture will minimise pollutants and increase efficiency. Kiln-dried wood has less than 20% moisture, but is more expensive than seasoned logs. Most stove owners burn seasoned logs, and 13% of owners told us they collect free wood. Read more

Redesigning your home this year?

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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.

Already you can see the benefit, but you will also save money by turning down the central heating that is for certain. Another hidden benefit is that your home will become more valuable with a professionally fitter burner, in some cases adding up to £10,000 in value!

As well as providing ambiance, a wood burner is a great aesthetic feature for your lovely abode, adding a quintessential charm.

In addition, they serve their fundamental purpose of providing warmth. The British weather can be unpredictable at times and the evenings can be known for being a little on the chilly side. The lure of gathering around a warm wood burner and being cuddled up with your loved ones could secure the conversion for newly designed home. Read more

Saving money?

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Christmas and New year is now over and we are all looking for ways to save money in the coming year. Fuel bills keep rising and this keeps hitting the monthly budget, so can a wood burner help reduce this cost?

While the initial outlay can be expensive, they can reduce your fuel bills significantly, while at the same time being a fashionable addition to your home.

Can they save you money?

At first glance it would appear that installing a wood-burner is a costly exercise, with owners spending typically around £1500+ to get one supplied and installed. However, the long-term financial benefits are far more appealing as they can result in reducing the cost of other fuel sources. In this way, they can be compared to installing solar panels, which have a large upfront cost that can be recouped through lower heating bills in the years that follow. Read more

New year resolution – treat your home in 2018

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Wood-burners have risen in popularity for the last ten years as more homes discover the benefits and beauty they have to offer.

One benefit that always goes unnoticed is how the value of your home will increase after you have installed the burner. Ask any estate agent and they will tell you a home with a wood stove that has been professionally installed is far more desirable than one without. The value of your home could increase by as much as £10000.

Wood-burners not only look fabulous, they have plenty of practical benefits too. They provide a great deal of heat for relatively little cost and are highly efficient in comparison to open fires. With energy costs rising daily it is little wonder these super forms of heating continue to rise in popularity.

If you are reviewing alternative forms of heating in your home you should most definitely give wood burning stoves due consideration.   Read more

Make sure you are getting value from your stove

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Wood burning stove maintenance and cleaning mostly consist of regular removal of the ashes which also boosts the stove’s efficiency. You should occasionally clean the internal surfaces with a wire brush or scraper and at the same time 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 it gets to remove the tar deposits. Always leave your stove to cool completely before you carry out any maintenance or cleaning chores and make sure that the ash is completely cold before you dispose of it.

In addition to keeping your stove clean inside and outside, be sure to have it inspected by a licensed professional (HETAS) 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 do have them repaired immediately.

You are also highly recommended to have your chimney cleaned and checked by a chimney sweep at least once a year or more often if you use your wood burning stove on a regular basis. Poorly maintained or blocked chimneys pose a serious safety risk because they can cause carbon monoxide poisoning and chimney fires.

Can we help?

If you require any assistance with your wood burner, please make contact and one of our qualified fitters will be happy to assist.

It’s getting colder

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If you have as log burning stove you will no doubt see the full benefit this form of heating has to offer.

Wood burning stoves are becoming more popular by the day as sales increase on an unprecedented scale. More households around the country are trying to reduce their heating bills and installing a stove can certainly help towards this aim.

One very big mistake a lot owners make is not using correctly matured timber to burn, damp logs can be dangerous and cause chimney fires.

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 and a half in advance of when you actually plan to burn it.

Seasoning.

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.

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 fitters will be happy to assist.