What is the difference between a wood burning stove and a multifuel stove?
A wood burning stove is exactly what it says on the tin, you can burn wood logs on these stoves that will produce carbon neutral energy. A multi fuel stove offers you more options for what you can burn in them such as wooden logs, peat or turf briquettes and coal, all of these, apart from wooden logs, are known as smokeless fuels which mean they are eligible to be used in smoke control areas.
Will I need to have my chimney lined?
There are no building regulations that insist on a chimney needing to be lined, however, it is extremely recommended to ensure that there are no consequences such as Carbon Monoxide entering your home or a chimney fire.
How big should my stove be?
To achieve a comfortable room temperature you will require approximately 1kW of heat output for every 14 cubic metres of space. You will need to measure the length, width and height of the room and multiply these three figures together, you will then need to divide the sum by 14. For example, a room that is 7 metres long, 4 metres wide and 2.5 metres tall equals 70 cubic meter of space, if you divide this by 14 it means that you will require a 5kW stove.
Should I buy a wood burning or multi fuel stove?
First of all you need to assess what type of fuel you would want to burn and which one you have easiest access too. Research has shown that 77% of people that have a multi fuel stove only ever burn wood in them so if this is going to be the case for you then getting a dedicated wood burning stove would be more advisable. On the other hand if you don’t have regular access to wood or you are keen to burn wood, smokeless fuel and coal then a multi fuel stove would be the best option for you.
What are the advantages of a stove?
One of the main arguments for installing a stove is that they can offer up to 80% efficiency meaning that you will use less fuel in your stove and in return get more heat from it. With a wood burning stove you are also using a renewable energy source which is largely carbon neutral. A stove is also extremely eye catching and is not just a stove but is part of your room décor.
Who can install my stove?
We would always advise that you get an experienced HETAS approved installer to fit your stove for you. Here at Bolney Stoves we only ever employ HETAS qualified installers and we will be more than happy to install your stove for you.
Can I install my stove myself?
Of course, if you have the knowledge to be able to fit a stove then you could fit one yourself, however we would always advise that you get a HETAS qualified installer to install your stove. A new stove needs to be certified which can only be done by your local building control officer or a HETAS qualified installer to certify that the installation complies with the regulations (you will need this certificate if you ever sell your house). Having your stove installed by a qualified and knowledgeable installer means that your stove will be fitted correctly to ensure maximum efficiency.
How often will I need to get my chimney swept?
If you are going to be burning wood then we would advise that you get your chimney swept at least twice a year, however this can be reduced to once a year if you have a multi fuel stove. We would recommend that you book your chimney sweep just before you want to start using your stove on a regular basis again, this is even more important if you haven’t used your stove for some time.
Does my stove need ventilation?
If you live in a new build property or a property that is likely to be as airtight then you MUST have a permanently open air vent in the room that is venting to outside, you should not be able to close this vent and it should not be located in a place where it can be covered up. The size of the vent depends on the KW output from the stove, the size of which can be approximately the size of a 50 pence piece per kilowatt, so if you have a 5kw stove you will require an air vent the size of approximately 5x50p pieces. If you live in an older property which isn’t deemed as particularly airtight the same rule applies apart from the fact you get the first 5kw free, so if you have a 5kw stove then no air vent is required, whilst if you had a 6kw stove you need a vent the size of one 50 pence piece, a 7kw stove would require a vent the size of 2x50 pence pieces etc.
Is running a stove economical?
A stove is a highly efficient method of heating your home and can provide in excess of 80% efficiency in many cases and although there is no set equation as to how much money a wood burning stove will save you they have been proven to shave off a significant amount off heating bills. They have also been proven to add up to 5% on your home’s asking price.
Do I need a chimney for my stove?
No, you don’t need a chimney to install a stove in your home, however you will need to install a twin wall flue pipe system.
Do I need planning permission to install a stove?
You do not require planning permission to install a stove in to your home under the provision that your property is not classed as a listed building or place or a potential listed building or place and that you aren’t introducing a new external flue/chimney.
What maintenance will my stove need?
Maintaining your stove mostly consists of regular cleaning such as removal of ashes which will help boost the efficiency of the stove, an occasional clean of the internal surfaces using a wire brush or a scraper and regularly checking for potential problems such as holes, cracks, rust spots or any other signs that may indicate there is damage to your stove. We would also advise that you clean the glass on a regular basis as it gets harder to clean the glass the longer the tar deposits are left to build up. We would advise that you get your stove inspected by a qualified professional at least once a year to ensure that your stove is working perfectly.
How do I light my stove?
Firstly, you will need to prepare your stove, make sure you open the airwash and primary air controls as this ensures that the fire will get the correct air supply it needs for it to function properly. You may also find that many appliances will have a secondary air control that will allow for a cleaner burn and greater thermal efficiency.
Secondly, you will need to create a fire bed by placing firelighters or paper and dry kindling wood on the grate if it is a multifuel fire or on the fire bed if you have a wood burning stove. A successful fire will require plenty of initial kindling to help establish a hot firebox, this will also help to warm the chimney which in turn will aid flue performance.
Thirdly, light the paper or firelighters and wait for the kindling to catch alight and start burning vigorously. Once you have done this leave the door slightly open as this will increase the flue pull which will help with lighting the fire and will avoid any condensation building up on the inside of the glass.
Lastly, once the kindling has started to burn well you may then add larger pieces of wood to create a more stable fire bed. We would advise to use split logs to begin with rather than full sized logs at this stage, instead build up gradually in size. Don’t use too many logs as this will smother the fire and for safety and efficiency reasons do not load any fuel above the log guard or the secondary combustion air inlets. Once you have done this you may then shut the door and add any larger pieces of wood when necessary.
Why is my new stove giving off a chemical smell?
A chemical smell from your new wood burner is completely normal, this is due to the stove paint still needing to cure when the stove is first heated. The paint curing causes the chemical structure of the paint to change which will leave the desired finish to the stove but will also creating a chemical smell. The smell should go away once the stove has been used around 3 or 4 times.
Why is my stove not getting hot enough?
There can be a couple of reasons why you may not be getting enough heat from your stove and although this is usually a rare problem there are a couple of common and easily rectified causes.
Damp fuel will not be able to give off a great deal of heat and damp wood will give off steam. Logs should always be seasoned (air dried) for at least a year before you burn them. Although you will often buy wood as being seasoned this sometimes isn’t the case and may need to be left to air dry for a while longer.
Another issue could be that heated air may be struggling to circulate if the stove has been installed too tight to the fireplace, this can easily be solved by pushing your stove forward in to the room slightly to allow more airflow and preventing heat loss up the chimney.
Losing heat up the chimney can be a common problem which is solved by rear venting your stove or to use a metallic register plate that has a reflective surface to block the chimney breast area. The register plate should be made from either reflective steel or zinc to act as a draught excluder and a reflective surface to reflect the heat downwards.
If your stove has been put on a raised hearth the height may be detracting the heat from the core area of your room simply because heat rises and it will be heating the higher up areas of the room rather than the lower area where you are likely to be sat.
Why is the stove glass going black?
First of all, a slight bit of soot or cloudiness in the glass is completely normal but if you find it is going very black then there are a few possible reasons for this, such as:
What kind of hearth is required?
A hearth is designed to protect the area surrounding your stove appliance and it needs to be a big enough size to ensure that any burning fuels or hot embers are unable to fall on any flammable surfaces such as floorboards, carpets or rugs. The hearth needs to be made out of a non-combustible material. Homes with a chimney will usually already have a constructional hearth built in so the need for a hearth usually comes when the room you wish to place your stove in has no chimney or fireplace.
A wood burning stove is exactly what it says on the tin, you can burn wood logs on these stoves that will produce carbon neutral energy. A multi fuel stove offers you more options for what you can burn in them such as wooden logs, peat or turf briquettes and coal, all of these, apart from wooden logs, are known as smokeless fuels which mean they are eligible to be used in smoke control areas.
Will I need to have my chimney lined?
There are no building regulations that insist on a chimney needing to be lined, however, it is extremely recommended to ensure that there are no consequences such as Carbon Monoxide entering your home or a chimney fire.
How big should my stove be?
To achieve a comfortable room temperature you will require approximately 1kW of heat output for every 14 cubic metres of space. You will need to measure the length, width and height of the room and multiply these three figures together, you will then need to divide the sum by 14. For example, a room that is 7 metres long, 4 metres wide and 2.5 metres tall equals 70 cubic meter of space, if you divide this by 14 it means that you will require a 5kW stove.
Should I buy a wood burning or multi fuel stove?
First of all you need to assess what type of fuel you would want to burn and which one you have easiest access too. Research has shown that 77% of people that have a multi fuel stove only ever burn wood in them so if this is going to be the case for you then getting a dedicated wood burning stove would be more advisable. On the other hand if you don’t have regular access to wood or you are keen to burn wood, smokeless fuel and coal then a multi fuel stove would be the best option for you.
What are the advantages of a stove?
One of the main arguments for installing a stove is that they can offer up to 80% efficiency meaning that you will use less fuel in your stove and in return get more heat from it. With a wood burning stove you are also using a renewable energy source which is largely carbon neutral. A stove is also extremely eye catching and is not just a stove but is part of your room décor.
Who can install my stove?
We would always advise that you get an experienced HETAS approved installer to fit your stove for you. Here at Bolney Stoves we only ever employ HETAS qualified installers and we will be more than happy to install your stove for you.
Can I install my stove myself?
Of course, if you have the knowledge to be able to fit a stove then you could fit one yourself, however we would always advise that you get a HETAS qualified installer to install your stove. A new stove needs to be certified which can only be done by your local building control officer or a HETAS qualified installer to certify that the installation complies with the regulations (you will need this certificate if you ever sell your house). Having your stove installed by a qualified and knowledgeable installer means that your stove will be fitted correctly to ensure maximum efficiency.
How often will I need to get my chimney swept?
If you are going to be burning wood then we would advise that you get your chimney swept at least twice a year, however this can be reduced to once a year if you have a multi fuel stove. We would recommend that you book your chimney sweep just before you want to start using your stove on a regular basis again, this is even more important if you haven’t used your stove for some time.
Does my stove need ventilation?
If you live in a new build property or a property that is likely to be as airtight then you MUST have a permanently open air vent in the room that is venting to outside, you should not be able to close this vent and it should not be located in a place where it can be covered up. The size of the vent depends on the KW output from the stove, the size of which can be approximately the size of a 50 pence piece per kilowatt, so if you have a 5kw stove you will require an air vent the size of approximately 5x50p pieces. If you live in an older property which isn’t deemed as particularly airtight the same rule applies apart from the fact you get the first 5kw free, so if you have a 5kw stove then no air vent is required, whilst if you had a 6kw stove you need a vent the size of one 50 pence piece, a 7kw stove would require a vent the size of 2x50 pence pieces etc.
Is running a stove economical?
A stove is a highly efficient method of heating your home and can provide in excess of 80% efficiency in many cases and although there is no set equation as to how much money a wood burning stove will save you they have been proven to shave off a significant amount off heating bills. They have also been proven to add up to 5% on your home’s asking price.
Do I need a chimney for my stove?
No, you don’t need a chimney to install a stove in your home, however you will need to install a twin wall flue pipe system.
Do I need planning permission to install a stove?
You do not require planning permission to install a stove in to your home under the provision that your property is not classed as a listed building or place or a potential listed building or place and that you aren’t introducing a new external flue/chimney.
What maintenance will my stove need?
Maintaining your stove mostly consists of regular cleaning such as removal of ashes which will help boost the efficiency of the stove, an occasional clean of the internal surfaces using a wire brush or a scraper and regularly checking for potential problems such as holes, cracks, rust spots or any other signs that may indicate there is damage to your stove. We would also advise that you clean the glass on a regular basis as it gets harder to clean the glass the longer the tar deposits are left to build up. We would advise that you get your stove inspected by a qualified professional at least once a year to ensure that your stove is working perfectly.
How do I light my stove?
Firstly, you will need to prepare your stove, make sure you open the airwash and primary air controls as this ensures that the fire will get the correct air supply it needs for it to function properly. You may also find that many appliances will have a secondary air control that will allow for a cleaner burn and greater thermal efficiency.
Secondly, you will need to create a fire bed by placing firelighters or paper and dry kindling wood on the grate if it is a multifuel fire or on the fire bed if you have a wood burning stove. A successful fire will require plenty of initial kindling to help establish a hot firebox, this will also help to warm the chimney which in turn will aid flue performance.
Thirdly, light the paper or firelighters and wait for the kindling to catch alight and start burning vigorously. Once you have done this leave the door slightly open as this will increase the flue pull which will help with lighting the fire and will avoid any condensation building up on the inside of the glass.
Lastly, once the kindling has started to burn well you may then add larger pieces of wood to create a more stable fire bed. We would advise to use split logs to begin with rather than full sized logs at this stage, instead build up gradually in size. Don’t use too many logs as this will smother the fire and for safety and efficiency reasons do not load any fuel above the log guard or the secondary combustion air inlets. Once you have done this you may then shut the door and add any larger pieces of wood when necessary.
Why is my new stove giving off a chemical smell?
A chemical smell from your new wood burner is completely normal, this is due to the stove paint still needing to cure when the stove is first heated. The paint curing causes the chemical structure of the paint to change which will leave the desired finish to the stove but will also creating a chemical smell. The smell should go away once the stove has been used around 3 or 4 times.
Why is my stove not getting hot enough?
There can be a couple of reasons why you may not be getting enough heat from your stove and although this is usually a rare problem there are a couple of common and easily rectified causes.
Damp fuel will not be able to give off a great deal of heat and damp wood will give off steam. Logs should always be seasoned (air dried) for at least a year before you burn them. Although you will often buy wood as being seasoned this sometimes isn’t the case and may need to be left to air dry for a while longer.
Another issue could be that heated air may be struggling to circulate if the stove has been installed too tight to the fireplace, this can easily be solved by pushing your stove forward in to the room slightly to allow more airflow and preventing heat loss up the chimney.
Losing heat up the chimney can be a common problem which is solved by rear venting your stove or to use a metallic register plate that has a reflective surface to block the chimney breast area. The register plate should be made from either reflective steel or zinc to act as a draught excluder and a reflective surface to reflect the heat downwards.
If your stove has been put on a raised hearth the height may be detracting the heat from the core area of your room simply because heat rises and it will be heating the higher up areas of the room rather than the lower area where you are likely to be sat.
Why is the stove glass going black?
First of all, a slight bit of soot or cloudiness in the glass is completely normal but if you find it is going very black then there are a few possible reasons for this, such as:
- Burning unseasoned wood
- Incorrect use of the airwash
- The fuel is touching the glass
- Burning regular household coal rather than smokeless fuels.
- The stove is not burning hot enough
- Poor draw, in other words the movement of air from your room, into the stove an up the chimney is not powerful enough
What kind of hearth is required?
A hearth is designed to protect the area surrounding your stove appliance and it needs to be a big enough size to ensure that any burning fuels or hot embers are unable to fall on any flammable surfaces such as floorboards, carpets or rugs. The hearth needs to be made out of a non-combustible material. Homes with a chimney will usually already have a constructional hearth built in so the need for a hearth usually comes when the room you wish to place your stove in has no chimney or fireplace.