The Stove Revolution Continues

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The Stove revolution continues

Sales of wood burning stoves continue to increase month on month as the UK public look for ways to reduce their heating bills. Never before has the industry seen such rapid growth, especially in the summer months. The figures go to prove without doubt that the British public are taking very seriously the increased costs of heating their homes. Facts are energy costs can only go upwards with the weakened pound and the pending Brexit talks.

Whether you’re the proud owner of a shiny new stove, or your thinking of installing one, there are a few things that you need to know to really get the most out of that heating monster in the fireplace.

Get professional advice

Before selecting a wood burning stove for your home get expert advice as to the correct model to suit your circumstances. Choosing the wrong stove will cost extra money and can be inefficient which let’s face it is just the opposite of what you are trying to achieve. Read more

Wood stoves and the environment

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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

Heating bills set to increase again this winter

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It is being muted that fuel bills are set to rise significantly in the near future. The Brexit talks are under way and the pound remains at a low ebb, this means imported fuels cost more and you can guess who has to foot the bill!!

The price rises are expected to be in the region of between 6% and 10%, at least for electricity, which means your energy bills could take a definite hit. The impact on a typical household bill could be an extra £100 plus a year.

Research shows that an average family are spending over £150 per month just heating a 3-bedroomed house, just imagine this increasing by 10% and how that will affect your family budget.

A wood burning stove could be the answer to reducing these potential rises, stove sales are at the highest we have ever seen for this time of year as homeowners prepare for the future. Read more

Fully qualified fitter to install your new efficient stove

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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

Getting the best from your stove

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The popularity of wood burning stoves and appliances has grown rapidly over the last few years, mostly due to rising energy costs. If you are contemplating investing this summer in a new wood burning stove here are a few pointers to follow.

  • Registered installer

The installation of a wood burning stove 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.

  • Check the chimney

The chimney may need to be lined before the wood burner can be installed.

Homes dating from the 1960s onwards should have had a concrete or clay chimney liner fitted when they were built, but get a qualified installer to check out the chimney whatever the age of your home. Read more

Stove sales sky rocket. Is it time to buy that stove?

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2016 saw the largest increase in wood burning stove sales ever recorded. It’s worth noting 2017 could very well exceed these figures as the public look for cheaper heating methods.

As we all know heating bills are rising month on month, thank goodness we all get a break during the summer months!

The worrying thing is that fuel prices are lightly to continue to increase in the foreseeable future due to the weak pound and the Brexit talks. It seems everybody looks to blame the “Bexit talks” but the fact is this really is effecting the value of the pound and therefore increases the cost of imported fuel.

A wood burning stove could go a long way to help you reduce your energy bills, for the most part wood burning stoves are environmentally friendly. Read more

Cheaper way to heat your home

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Summer is the time to act.

Energy costs have rocketed in the last 12 months, with the average energy bill rising by £145 per year in the last 6 months according to the latest figures just released. Could a wood-burning stove be a cheaper way to heat your home?

DIY super stores around the country certainly think so, revealing a 227% increase in sales for solid fuel burners over the last six months.

You can see why – the idea of escaping the clutches of the energy providers and being able to literally grow your own fuel would appeal to most of us.

How much does a solid fuel stove cost?

A standard 5kW stove sells for £350 to £800, although it can be far higher depending on the model. You need to have it installed by a qualified fitter for safety and insurance purposes and the chimney will probably need to be lined. This installation cost will vary due to individual requirements. Read more

Installing a wood stove into an existing chimney

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Installing a wood stove

If you have an existing chimney installing a wood stove is relatively easy. The fitter will usually insert a liner inside the existing chimney from the burner to the exit point. For straight chimneys this can made up of sections of jointed metal pipe, which can be either single or double skinned. A double skin is more airtight and lasts longer than a single skin but of course costs more.

For chimneys that aren’t perfectly straight, a flexible non-flammable liner is used. It is important to note, chimneys should be swept at least once a year and twice if they are in heavy use. Otherwise, creosote (a by-product of inefficient combustion) builds up on the walls of the chimney to become a fire hazard. Creosote builds up gradually over time as fires burn less efficiently when they are just getting started, but can accumulate very rapidly if you burn unseasoned or damp wood. Read more

Good stove maintenance

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Wood burning stove maintenance and cleaning mostly consists of regular removal of the ashes which also boosts the stove’s efficiency. Occasional cleaning of the internal surfaces with a wire brush or scraper will also improve your stoves performance. You should always 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 is gets to remove the tar deposits. Always leave your stove to cool completely before you carry out any maintenance or cleaning chores.

In addition to keeping your stove clean inside and outside, be sure to have it inspected by a registered fitter 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 have them repaired immediately. Read more

What are the plus points of Wood burning stove

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Plus points:

The market for wood burning stoves has increased month on month over the last 5 years. Usually at this time of year interest wanes, but due to rising fuel bills homeowners are frantically looking for alternative heating options.

Wood burning stoves are a real alternative and 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. Read more