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The Ultimate Guide to Wood Burning Stoves – everything you need to know

Wood burning stove installation Surrey

Are you considering buying a wood burning stove? A stove can be a stunning addition to your property – watching logs burning makes for a very cosy winter night. But it is important to understand the type of stove that is right for you home, as well as the regulations surrounding your options.

With that in mind, we present our ultimate guide to wood burning stoves, complete with details on how to use wood burners, the best fuels to use, and a guide to choosing the right size of stove for your property.

Why buy a wood burning stove?

Wood burning stoves are a fantastic choice for your home – many customers select them as a handsome piece to add character to their property; but they are so much more. As well as adding warmth, charm, and a cosy feeling to any room, stoves are energy efficient and can help you save money on your energy bills.

Wood burning stove cost

The cost of wood burning stoves varies enormously depending on a range of factors, including the size of the stove, the type of fuel, and the needs of your property. Small simple models can be purchased for between £500-£1,000 – while more elaborate options are available for considerably more.

It’s a great idea to talk through your needs with our experts – they can help you to understand which type of stove is right for you.

How to use a wood burner

To use a wood burning stove effectively, there are a number of steps that you need to follow. It is important that you use your stove in a safe and efficient manner – these steps will allow you to do that.

  • Prepare your stove – ensure that the fire has had a previous air supply. Some models may have an indicator to let you know
  • Make a fire bed – you should place your firelighters or paper and dry kindling wood on your fire bed. You will need to have plenty of kindling in order to create a successful fire – don’t assume you can do without it
  • Lighting your fire – you should wait for the kindling to catch fire and then allow it to begin to burn. It’s important to have a log guard, as this will keep all the burning fuel inside and away from the glass
  • Leave the door slightly open – a small detail but can be a crucial one – leaving the door slightly open helps the flue pull and actually helps you to light the fire. It also avoids the build up of condensation on the front of the glass. In some cases, however, it is better to shut the door as this reduces the amount of airflow so speeds up the air that does come through and this can help get the fire going.
  • Add larger pieces gradually – as soon as the kindling is burning well you should add larger pieces of split wood. However, do not add full logs immediately – you need to build up the fire gradually and ensure that you do not smother it
  • Monitor Air Flow – Most wood burners have multiple ways to adjust the airflow. Once the fire is burning well, you can reduce the amount of airflow. This will prevent the wood from burning too fast. But only slow the airflow once the fire is burning well. As the fire gets hotter and more established you can slow the air right down which will mean the wood burns slowly and efficiently. if you slow the air too soon it could kill the fire so monitor it carefully.

How to clean wood burner glass

It is a common concern that a wood burning stove will get very dirty and be difficult to clean – this probably comes from the fact that people may be used to seeing older models that weren’t always designed with practicality in mind. Modern wood burning stoves are generally very easy to clean, often built with self-cleaning glass, meaning there’s no need to scrub them to remove dirt.

Even those without this technology are quick and easy to clean meaning that it doesn’t take much to keep them in excellent condition. One great tip for cleaning the glass is to use ash from the stove – use a moist cloth and pick up fresh ash to clean soot from the glass.

On the outside, however, you should never you a wet or damp cloth, as this can cause the metal to rust. Instead, you can use a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment.

Are wood burning stoves bad for your health?

When they are maintained and used correctly, wood burning stoves do not pose a serious danger to your health. It is true that smoke from a stove is a pollutant and breathing in the fumes can cause coughing and shortness of breath. However, when they are used with a well-maintained chimney or flue, this should never be a problem.

Modern stoves are much more efficient and safer to use than older models. If you have any concerns it is always best to replace an old model with an efficient modern wood burner.

Wood burning stove regulations

All wood burning stoves must meet UK building regulations. There are specifics regarding how the flue is fitted, the size of the hearth, and the distance of the stove from combustibles. These can all affect the type of stove that is suitable for your property – that is why it is vital that you should speak to our professional stove installers before purchasing.

A stove must stand on a non-combustible hearth which extending at least 225mm in front and at least 150mm at the sides. If the hearth is on a floor that is combustible, it should be at least 250mm thick. Additionally, any stove which has an output of 5kws or higher requires a permanently open vent.

The regulations for having your stove installed can be more complex if your property is a listed building.

What size wood burning stove do I need?

Having a stove in your home is about so much more than the way it looks. And the most vital aspect of choosing a stove is to select one that is the right size for your property. Too small, and the stove won’t be able to heat the space properly. But it is actually more common for buyers to overestimate their warming needs, and buy a stove that is too big for the needs of their property.

In this case, the stove will pump out too much heat, which is inefficient and the room that the stove is in is overpowered with heat. Once again, the most important step here is to take advice from experienced professionals.

Can you burn coal in a wood burning stove?

Wood burning stoves are designed to be used with wood – not coal. The issue is in the design: stoves for burning wood have a flat plate. This is because wood only requires air from above in order to burn. Coal needs to be burned on a raised grate as it requires air from above, as well as an escape route, especially to stop the ash accumulating.

Any kind of wood can be burned on your stove, but it is really important to only burn seasoned wood. This is wood that is at least a year old and has been allowed to dry out.

You can, or course buy multi-fuel stoves that are able to burn coal and wood. These can be a very popular choice and give you flexibility when thinking about fuel. Coal can burn for a long time and produce a lot of heat and it can also be stored in a small space. A bag of coal can be kept in a garage and can produce a lot of heat. Wood is less efficient and obviously needs to be stored correctly. The flip side of this is that some people are unhappy about the way coal is mined and burnt.

Will a wood burning stove heat the whole house?

In some cases, this may well be possible. Once again, it is important to recognise that the type of wood burner you have will affect its performance. However, with a back boiler, it is very possible for a wood burning stove to heat a property in its entirety and do so efficiently. A back boiler is a system where the heat from the fire is used to heat water which can then be used in a central heating system. There are a number of ways this can work including just hot water for a water tank to fully integrated heating systems that work alongside a traditional boiler.  Stoves are able to spread the heat far further around the house than you might expect from an open fire.

Can you have a wood burning stove with no chimney?

Whilst it is possible to have a wood burning stove installed if you do not have a chimney, it will require some extra work to carry it out safely. You can have a flue installed (called a twin wall flue system)in your property in order to use your wood burning stove. These systems are not a great deal of money and can be installed through the roof or on the outside of the building depending on a number of factors. This does mean you can still have a wood burner even if you do not have a chimney.

If you would like any advice on the type of stove best suited to your home, fuels, installation, brands and more then get in touch with us today.

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Lighting Your Fire for the First Time This Autumn

For some, the autumn means and end to warm evenings, and an end to holiday fun and so much more…but these people clearly don’t have a lovely real fire or log burner because for those of us that do there is always a frisson of excitement when it gets cold enough to bring up the question “shall we light the fire?”. If you have a fire or stove you will be well aware of this wonderful consolation for the summer going. Already people are chatting about it at the school gates or in the pub “have you had yours on yet?”.

However, before lighting the fire for the first time this autumn here are a few important tips that might make things run a little smoother. A room full of smoke is not uncommon for people lighting their fire for the first time in the autumn so follow these tips and avoid the pitfalls!

autumn leaves

Do I Need My Chimney Swept Every Year?

The basic answer here is yes. It is always best practice to have it swept once a year before you start using it. It is not ideal to have it swept in the spring and not checked again because birds can nest in chimneys over the summer, debris can find its way in there among other things. Speak to your local chimney sweep about your fire and how you use it, and they will advise you on the best course of action. Remember, book early, chimney sweeps get very busy in the autumn and you may find you can’t get an appointment until well into the winter.

Lighting the Fire for the First Time

Now you know your chimney is clear it is time to light your fire or stove. As always, make sure you have some high quality well seasoned or kiln dried wood to burn as well as some good kindling and newspaper.

Warming the flue

This is really important and will help get the fire working well the first time. There are a few ways to do this but the main aim here is to get the flue warm so the warm air can travel up properly creating a draw at the bottom and feeding the fire properly. A cold flue will not work as well and can cause smoke to come back into the room. You can use a fire lighter just left to burn out or a small pile of kindling. ideally, let something small burn for a good 10-30 mins to really get that flue warm.

Setting the Fire

Normally you may set a fire in a certain way but because you have been warming the flue you must be careful when setting the full fire. Newspaper is always good as are firelighters. Place them where the initially small fire was and light, you may not need to do this as there may be enough heat to get it going. Ideally, the newspaper balled up or twisted into tight lengths can sit in the grate without catching straight away. Place some kindling in a cone or pyramid shape over them and light with a long match. Make sure there is plenty of room for air to come through to get to the fuel.

Stepping it up a gear

As is always the case, add more wood or coal carefully and slowly. There is no reason why the fire should burn any slower than usual but as it is the first time since the Winter it is important to take it easy. Consider the weather conditions too, if there is little or no wind it may make things a bit harder and you might be a bit out of practice too! If the fire doesn’t take you can leave it to cool then start again or try adding some more kindling that will burn easier. Sometimes people use left over wood from the previous season and it may have got wet so check before using.

Keeping the Fire Healthy in the Autumn and Beyond

After the first successful and no doubt very satisfying fire it is well worth clearing out the ash and giving the fire a good check over. It is important to keep the ask pans clear but it is even more so at this stage as you will be able to see any issues or areas they may need attention.

Remember – don’t burn rubbish on your fire, don’t burn green/unseasoned wood and treat your fire with respect! The summer may have seen a few new ornaments being placed near the fire, make sure you check the surrounding area and remove anything that should not be close to the heat.

If you find any issues with the fire burning or smoke coming back into the room call your chimney sweep. If there are any issues with the fire or stove itself then give us a call, and we can help.

…and remember, don’t be sad about the end of summer, look forward to all those cosy nights by the fire other people miss out on.

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A Book About Wood for Stoves

As wood burning stove experts, you’d expect us to be lovers of wood but this is an understatement. We love wood! The smell, the sound of it burning, the texture and colour of the bark, the variety of different woods and the myriad of ways in which they burn – even the type of heat they kick out.

With this in mind, we’ve put together a guide to all the different types of wood you can use in your stove or fire.

Seasoned wood burns better

One thing before we start – seasoned wood burns better. When we say seasoned, we mean wood that has been allowed to dry.  You shouldn’t burn wet or green wood.  Not only does it give off a lot of smoke but it also doesn’t provide much heat and makes for a very disappointing fire. Unseasoned wood also can also cause a build up of soot in your flue and end up clogging your flue system and cowl. It will also dirty the glass in your stove.

Seasoned wood is defined as wood with a moisture content of less than 20%. If it’s been seasoned naturally, you would expect it to be outdoors for 18-24 months.

Hardwoods are better than softwoods

Hardwoods are those from long-lived deciduous trees such as Oak and Birch. Because they grow slowly over the course of their lifespan, the wood is denser than the wood from faster growing evergreen trees. Higher density means they burn slower and are more fuel efficient.

As a rule, the heavier the wood, the greater the heat and longer the burn time.

Now we’ve got that out of the way, here’s your guide in order of popularity:

Hardwoods

Oak

Oak is the backbone of this country! It is one of the most popular woods to not only to build with but to burn and is widely available to buy.  It burns very slowly and produces long-lasting heat, even down to the embers. The only downside is that oak needs to be seasoned for at least 2 years because of its high moisture content.

Ash

Ash is another great hardwood as it burns without much smoke and has a high heat output. Ash is abundant in the UK and because it has a low moisture content, it doesn’t have to be seasoned as long as other hardwoods. Other advantages of ash are that it is very easy to split and saw. A note of caution though – because Ash Dieback has impacted the trees in the UK, the movement of some Ash logs for firewood has been restricted. Please therefore ensure you buy your Ash from a reputable source.

Beech

Beech is another hardwood that burns well. However, like Oak, because of its high water content it takes a long time to season properly.

Birch

Birch and Silver birch logs burn more quickly than other hardwoods but provide good heat output. They are best combined with slower burning logs.

Elm

Elm is another hardwood that burns slowly. It can be difficult to establish a fire purely consisting of Elm but once going, it gives out long-lasting heat. Elm has a high moisture content so needs a long time to season well.

Apple

Some people love apple wood as it burns slowly with a decent amount of heat. The flames aren’t the best but it makes up for this with a lovely scent! Those of us with apple trees in our gardens also have a free source of wood!

Cherry

This is another lovely fruit tree to burn as it burns slowly with good heat output. Like apple, it also has a lovely smell.

Pear

Like apple, pear wood burns well with a decent amount of heat but not a great flame. That said, it smells lovely!

Hawthorn

Although a very traditional firewood, hawthorn wood is not that common because it’s so thorny. If you manage to get hold of hawthorn logs, they burn well with a good heat output.

Horse chestnut

This wood burns well, producing a good flame and strong heat output.

Hazel

Because of its lower density hazel burns quite quickly so you’ll need to keep topping up your fire. However, the heat output is good.

Sycamore

Sycamore and other Maples burn well. They have with a moderate heat output and good flame.

Softwoods

Softwoods are generally from faster growing evergreen trees. As they burn quickly, softwoods can be great for getting a fire started before moving onto hardwoods to keep the fire going.

Pine

Pine contains a high resin content and burns quickly with a bright flame. It makes great kindling, especially as a lot of pine is available as builders off cuts. Make sure you burn it quickly and mix with hardwoods.

Holly

Holly burns quickly and produces little heat so isn’t great for wood burning stoves

Larch

This conifer burns quickly and produces a decent amount of heat. However, like pine, it has a high resin content which can produce oily and sticky deposits. Not great for the health of your stove! It is therefore best mixed with other woods.

Spruce

This softwood burns very quickly with a low heat. It also produces a lot of smoke so is only really good for getting a fire going.

If you want any advice on the type of wood to burn in your stove, please don’t hesitate to contact us.  Happy wood hunting!

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Burning Solid Fuel and the Environment

With ever more focus on the health of our environment and clean air, many of our customers ask about the different types of fuel you can burn in stoves and which ones we should be using.

The government is focusing increasingly on air pollution and their Clean Air Strategy states that air pollution is the top environmental risk to health in the UK.  While a lot of the air pollution in the UK is caused by diesel and petrol engines and industry, heating our homes is also a factor. The burning of solid fuels has come under scrutiny in recent years so here’s the low down on what you should know.

What are solid fuels?

Put simply, solid fuels are any solid material that can be burnt to release heat.  Solid fuels commonly used in our homes (stoves and fires) include:

  • Traditional coal – this is what most people think of when we say the term ‘solid fuel’
  • Smokeless coal or anthracite
  • Manufactured solid fuels made from coal products that have low smoke emissions
  • Wet wood – this is newly felled wood that has a high moisture content and creates a lot of smoke when burned
  • Seasoned wood – wood that has been left for at least 2 years to dry naturally
  • Kiln dried wood – wood that has been dried in a kiln to below 20% moisture
  • Wood pellets

What impact do solid fuels have on the environment?

The burning of solid fuels releases tiny particles of ash and soot into the air. These tiny particles are known as PM2.5.  PM stands for ‘particulate matter’ and the 2.5 means these particles have a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres. Certain types of solid fuel release more of these particles into the air and it’s this that the government is starting to legislate against.

High concentrations of PM2.5 can be harmful to health as well as causing haze or smog.

How to use solid fuels safely

Now we’ve got the negative part out of the way, using certain types of solid fuel can be a great way of heating your home. Not only can it be cost effective compared to gas central heating, but renewable fuels such as wood are also a great alternative to burning fossil fuels. Wood is considered to be a carbon neutral fuel because carbon dioxide is absorbed from the atmosphere as the tree grows and is then released when the wood is burnt.

The simplest way to burn solid fuel is in an open fireplace. However, this is not an efficient way to heat your home as most of the heat is lost up the chimney!  The good news is that stoves burn fuel far more efficiently and kick out a lot more heat. Stoves also provide heat for a single room rather than the whole house (heating rooms that aren’t being used).

Stoves are the best way to burn solid fuel

Wood burning stoves are by far the best way to burn solid fuel. New regulations which come into effect in February 2021 mean that coal and wet wood will no longer be allowed. However dry wood – whether air dried or kiln dried – will still be permitted.  More good news is that dry wood is cheaper than coal and coal alternatives.

Aside from the romance of having a wood burning stove in your home and the wonderful warmth they exude, the reasons listed above mean they can be a great alternative to gas central heating.

If you’d like advice on stoves, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us for more information.

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