Wood burning stoves are good for the environment.

The “green” benefits of burning wood are gaining wider and wider support every year. Burning wood cleanly only releases the same amount of CO2 into the atmosphere from a tree as 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.

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. As a result of these extra burning systems, as much of the combustible material as possible is used to generate heat. This also will reduce the amount of alternative gas or electricity you would have used which again is good for the environment. Read more

Are you thinking of installing one in your home? Sales of stoves this year have increased at a rate never seen before as homeowners strive to reduce their energy bills. These days stoves come in all shapes and sizes and you are sure to find one to meet your wishes.

One of the big mistakes new users make is the wood they burn, it is vital for efficiency to follow the guide below.

Seasoned logs

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

People have a tendency 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

Winter is now with us and a wood burning stove will heat your homes to the maximum.

The trouble is with our busy lifestyles we tend not to check what is important to us until it goes wrong. Here are some very easy ways to ensure your stove is giving you maximum efficiency.

Check Your Door Seal for Leakage

Your wood stove door should fit tightly to keep the heat of the fire concentrated inside. To check it, you can lay a five pound note across the door gasket lengthwise and then close the door with the note still in it. If you can pull your money out with a quick tug, your door is too loose and you will want to tighten the latch described in your manufacturer’s instruction manual. If your gasket shows signs of wear or damage, you will need to replace it immediately. Read more

Beautiful stoves

These days they come in shiny red with curves; sleek stainless steel and angular; anthracite; oval or asymmetrical. There’s even one shaped like Darth Vader!

Others gleam in white enamel. You can have them installed in existing fireplaces, free standing with their own flue, even slotted neatly into dividing walls with openings both sides, to heat two rooms simultaneously.

Manufacturers of these wonderful new age appliances have seen the rapid growth in sales and have re-acted in a positive manner both in design and cost saving. The average price of a mid-range burner has in real terms reduced by 11.4% over the last four years. Read more

Simply an upgrade

 

Is this you?

 

Last winter, we spent our weekends alternately freezing, coaxing a reluctant fire alight, opening all the doors to let the smoke out, freezing, and finally giving in and turning on the electric heater. Our house stank of charred logs and wood smoke. The grate was a sad black hole. And it was cold, despite the central heating. Read more