Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to line my chimney?

An existing chimney must firstly be given a visual inspection,and make sure it is of a suitable size,a smoke test should be carried out to make sure it is clear of obstruction and check for gas tightness,your chimney should be swept before installing a new appliance,do not attempt to fit a liner without firstly sweeping the chimney,if your chimney passes the the visual inspection and passes the smoke test,it is deemed sound and not a legal requirement to line,lining your chimney has advantages such as increased draw and better efficiency,reduces the risk of chimney fire,and piece of mind having a sealed system

Can I have an extractor fan in the same room?

Any domestic solid fuel appliance i.e wood burning stove,multi fuel stove will only work efficiently when connected to a chimney system capable of generating adequate up draught to induce sufficient air for efficient combustion and to overcome any frictional resistance associated with the system.The natural (up) draught on the chimney will depend on a number of factors.

The use of a mechanical extractor fan in any room will creat a depression,if this depression is greater than the up draught generated by an open flued appliance installed in the same room the products of combustion will be drawn into the room 

Long time experience confirms the above risks 

Additional research has also indicated that the "natural ventilation" created by a continuous burning open flued appliance will greatly reduce the risk of condensation occurring within the room inwhich the appliance is installed 

THEREFORE THE USE OF MECHANICAL VENTILATION IN THE SAME ROOM AS ANY OPEN FLUED APPLIANCE MUST BE AVOIDED

What wood to burn on wood burning stoves?

ALDER_gives a poor heat 
APPLE_has a steady slow burn when dry,a good heat output with a pleasant odour 
ASH_excellant burning wood,gives great heat output and flame,best heat output when dry 
BEECH_good heat output when dry,only fair when wood is green,prone to shoot embers 
BIRCH_the heat is good but burns quickly,a pleasant odour is produced 
CEDAR_produces little flame,but great heat and wonderfull odour 
CHERRY_a slow burning wood and produces good heat and pleasant odour 
CHESTNUT_produces small flames,prone to shoot embers 
DOUGLAS FIR_poor little flame or heat 
ELDER_generates a lot of smoke,burns quickly poor heat 
ELM_commonly offered for sale,to burn well it has to be seasoned for 2 years,even when dry liable to smoke 
EUCALYPTUS_good dense hardwood,should be properly seasoned before use,will produce good heat 
HAZEL_good 
HOLLY_best when fully seasoned 
HORNBEAM_compared to beech 
LABURNUM_totally poisonous tree,acrid smoke,best avoided altogether 
LARCH_crackly,scented,fairly good for heat 
LAURAL_brilliant flame 
LIME_poor 
MAPLE_good 
OAK_very poor flame,smoke is acrid,but dry old oak is excellent for heat 
PEAR_provides good heat,pleasant scent 
PINE_splended flame but liable to split 
PLANE_burns pleasantly,liable to spark if very dry 
PLUMB_good heat and aromatic 
POPLAR_not recommended 
RHODODENDRON_very tough,burns well 
SYCAMORE_good flame,moderate heat,useless green 
SPRUCE_burns fast,creates many sparks
THORNE_one of the best woods,burns slow,great heat,very little smoke 
WALNUT_good,very aromatic wood 
WILLOW_poor 
YEW_good,pleasant scent,slow burn,great heat

What not to burn on wood burning stoves?

The following should be avoided,as combustion of these materials can give off unpleasant odours,and can also generate emissions that damage the environment and be harmfull to health 

WHAT NOT TO BURN ON A WOOD BURNING STOVE 

Varnished Or Plastic Coated Wood 
Wood Treated With Wood Preservatives 
Household Waste 

What are hearth requirements?

A wood burning stove and multi fuel stove must stand on a non combustable hearth,extending a minimum of 225mm in front and 150mm out from the side of the stove,if the hearth is on a combustable floor it must be at least 250mm thick,some stove manufacturers have models that have been designed and tested to have a hearth temperature not exceeding 100 degrees centigrade,in this case a 12mm hearth can be used,

Please note that if  you are using an appliance that is designed to run with the doors open,then you must have at least 300mm in front of the stove.

We previously mentioned that the hearth must be at least 250mm thick,( unless the stove is approved for 12mm hearth )if you are installing the hearth on to a non combustable floor e.g concrete floor,then the overall thickness can be 250mm,for example if the non combustable floor is made up of 100mm of concrete,then you have hearth of 150mm to make up the 250mm required  

HEARTHS FOR FREE STANDING STOVES

If you are planning to install a stove into a room with no chimney,then you must ensure that the hearth is a minimum of 840mm x 840mm,while this is a minimum if you have a large stove,then you must still follow the rules we stated at the start of the page e.g 225mm in front and 150mm each side of stove 

ADVICE 

When laying a hearth etc never install a hearth as one piece ! always create a hearth out of at least 2 sections,due to the heat produced by the stove,if you create a hearth out of a single piece it is possible that it can crack as there is no movement available 

Do I require extra room ventilation?

Wood Burning Stoves and Multi Fuel Stoves use air from within the room for combustion,any solid fuel stove which has an output higher than 5kw requires a permanently open air vent,with a cross sectional area of at least 550sqmm for every kw above 5,when installing a permanent air vent,it must be non adjustable,and ventilators should be installed to ensure the occupants are not provoked into blocking the air vents up to stop noise and draughts.

WHERE TO POSITION A PERMANENT AIR VENT 

You can install a permanent air vent anywhere in the room,as long as it has direct ventilation to the outside  

Why burn kiln dried logs?

The benefits of kiln dried logs are considerable,generates greater heat output,better fuel efficiency,more economical,minimum stove and flue problems,they make a huge difference as they don't split,so safe for children,burn much hotter and give off very little smoke

Why use wood?

Wood from sustainable sources is a renewable,environmentally friendly energy resource.It considered carbon nuetral,in that the CO2 released during combustion balances the C02 that was absorbed during its growth.As conventional energy prices continue to increase,the use of  wood becomes more and more attractive 

How do wood burning stoves work?

Wood burning stoves provide heat by burning wood,as the stove burns the heat comes from the top and the sides of the appliance,you can open and close the air flow to the the stove to control the rate of combustion,when a fire is first built it needs more air,after been burning for a period the air intakes can be closed to slow down the burning,which makes the fuel last longer

History of wood burning stoves?

A foundry in Lynn,Massachusetts was the first to construct a cast iron Wood Burning Stove,the invention was introduced in 1642

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