Wakefords Fireplaces and Stoves

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The Warming Efficiency of a Modern Stove

Wood burning stove installation Surrey

One of our engineers testing a newly installed stove

There is something mesmerising about the flames of a fire, making them comforting as well as warming. A stove is an incredibly efficient way to have the benefits of a fire in your own home. In fact, the average stove is over 70% efficient compared with 30% for an open fire*. This clean, cosy heat source has become increasingly popular and many UK homeowners who have installed them report savings on their central heating bills.

Ways to get the most from your stove

However, there has been some confusing press recently, reporting that stoves are bad for the environment and face a potential ban. To clear up the confusion, DEFRA have clearly stated that stoves will not be banned. As a sustainable energy source, a modern stove offers high heat efficiency and low carbon output. There are a number of things you can consider to ensure you are getting the most from your stove, whilst minimising the environmental impact.

  1. Ensure you have the right size stove for your space. If it is too small, it will struggle to create the necessary levels of heat. It’s also a common problem that people overestimate the heat they need and buy a stove that is too big and overpowers a room.
  2. Consider your fuel source carefully. Use smokeless coal on a dual fuel stove, and always go for ‘ready-to-burn’ a government backed scheme), seasoned logs. These should have a maximum of 20% moisture. Wet or new wood will not give off the same heat when burnt, despite burning through the wood faster. It can also blacken your stove and chimney. Hardwoods such as oak or ash will give you a slower burn and longer heat output. Having the right fuel will not only give you greater heat for less cost but will make your carbon footprint smaller.
  3. Have your chimney swept annually or twice a year to be sure it is clean and in good working order.

You can even install a new chimney fairly simply in many houses that do not already have one. Where a chimney already exists it can easily be refined and adapted to allow the correct flue for a stove. So with all the factors considered, you can sit back and enjoy the glow of a fantastic stove and all the ambience it brings.

We have a full range of dual fuel and wood burning stoves in our Surrey Showroom with a style to fit any type of home. Check out our stove page or pop into our showroom to really get a feel for them.

* (Source: http://www.stoveindustryalliance.com/energyefficiency/)

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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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4 Reasons Buying A Stove Online Might Not Be Right

Riva Plus Midi Wood burning stove

You may be tempted to buy a wood burning stove online.  After all, you’ve done all your research online and found out about all the different models and heat output. You’ve decided which manufacturers you like and researched the prices. You think you’re ready to buy.

But there are some good reasons why you shouldn’t make the final purchase online. We’ve outlined the four key reasons why buying a stove online might not be right.

1. Safety

The primary reason you shouldn’t purchase a stove online is safety. There is a good reason why stoves must be installed by a HETAS approved engineer and that’s because there are many things you need to understand to be able to install one (and use one!) correctly. Stoves and all the connecting parts are complicated bits of kit! Stoves and fires should always be certified by an accredited agency such as HETAS and only by buying through an approved retailer can you ensure the one you buy is safe.

We can’t stress enough how important safety is when you have a fire in your home. You need to ensure that the fire burns well and there are no noxious gasses or smoke being released into your home. Only by purchasing a stove from an experienced retailer can you be sure that your stove will be installed safely but also function safely. We can also give you advice on how to use your stove such as the best way to light it, the best type of fuel to use (you’d be amazed at the difference between the different types of wood!), and how to keep it clean.

2. Suitability for your home

If you buy a stove online without talking to an expert, you won’t know for sure if it will fit in your desired space.  There are several things to consider when deciding what size stove to buy and it isn’t just the size of the stove itself. There is also the flue to consider.

What you think are the right dimensions doesn’t mean the stove will fit well into your fireplace. Only a trained engineer can say for sure.  A trained engineer can also advise on the best heat output for your space.  It’s very common for people to choose a stove with the wrong heat output for the room they have the stove in, resulting in stoves that are far too hot for the room or ones that just don’t have enough heat output.

3. Availability of spare parts

You never know when you may need spare parts for your stove or advice if things are going as expected. If you buy it online, there’s no guarantee that the website you bought it from will have spares – and you definitely won’t be able to get in touch with them for advice! You may have trouble tracking them down, especially if your brand of stove is not commonly stocked.  If you buy from a reputable retailer, you can check that they also stock common spare parts.

4. No after sales care

Stoves are a bit like cars. You don’t just buy one and that’s that. Stoves and flues need regular maintenance You may also encounter issues with your stove, especially in the early days.  If you buy your stove online, you won’t get any after sales care. We pride ourselves on the advice we offer our clients all the way through the buying process, not least after installation.

For advice on buying a stove, we’re here to help. Don’t hesitate to contact us to chat through your requirements.

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Fires Choices for Homes Without Chimneys

chimneyless fire

One question we get asked a lot is “what type of fire can I have when my house doesn’t have a chimney?”. The answer is often surprising and very positive, there are actually a few options for homes that do not have a chimney and there is no reason why you cannot enjoy the benefits of a stunning fireplace just like any other home.

Electric Fires

The first and fairly obvious choice of fire for chimney-less homes is an electric fire. These fires do not need any kind of flue as they do not produce any kind of smoke or gas. The range of very realistic electric fires these days is huge and for a lot of people, this is a very viable option. 

Twin Walled Flue Fires

If you do not have a chimney you can have a flue installed that goes up an external wall or up through the roof and out. The twin walled aspect is simply the construction of the flue itself. If you want a real wood burning stove then this kind of option allows you to have that. The flue can even be built into a fake chimney stack outside the house if the idea of exposed metal work isn’t suitable. This type of system does depend on having access to an external wall.

Flueless Gas Fires

Yes, you can have a gas fire without a flue. These rather clever fires can either use an in built catalytic converter to filter any gases. Flueless gas fires are a very interesting option for people with no access to an external wall. Of course, this type of fire needs a gas supply in the room in question. 

Balanced Flue Gas Fires

These very clever fires simply use two small pipes to exchange the gases and pull in air from outside. Once again, access to an outside wall is needed as is a gas supply. However, given those two things, these can be a very good option for having a real gas fire in a home with no chimney. 

If you are looking at your options in regards to, getting a fire installed in your Surrey home and you do not have a chimney please get in touch and our friendly team can help work through the choices with you. 

 

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The Pros and Cons of Electric Fires

electric fire

 

There is no doubt modern electric fires are a million miles away from those many people will remember from the 80s and 90s. Gone are the cheesy plastic fake coals and the all too obvious fluttering strips of material behind a screen. While they may have been OK in days gone by they would not cut the mustard now and that’s a very good thing. Electric fires are now a very serious option for a number of reasons but one of the really big ones is that they look amazing.

Flexible Installation and Low Running Costs

One of the big advantages of choosing an electric fire is that you do not need a chimney, which is handy when it comes to flats and new build homes. This means they can be installed in different places without being constrained by a flue. They are also normally simpler to install in general so can be a cheaper option depending on where you want it and what may need to be done to fit the fireplace. 

The actual cost of heating will be looked at later but the running costs of electric fires are low. By running costs we mean maintenance and upkeep. They do not need to be cleaned and swept like a real fire, they do not need the same level of servicing as gas fires and with modern LED lighting, the bulbs don’t need to be changed for a very long time either. Keeping an electric fire looking good is as simple as dusting and cleaning anything other items in your home. 

Cost Of Heating 

As we continue to move towards a greener and greener energy culture an electric fire can be a great choice. They can be run with no heat so you can enjoy the visual effect for a tiny amount of money. But they can also be used to give warmth very efficiently. If you were to choose a renewable energy supplier you could, in fact, heat your lounge in an almost totally sustainable way. 

Cons of Electric Fires

There really aren’t any real negative aspects to an electric fire but there is, perhaps, some personal taste involved. At the end of the day, an electric fire does not use a real flame. This, for some people, means they may look at Gas or a real fire. But we often find that when people come into our Surrey showroom they are blown away by the realism of the electric fires we stock and quite often the pros soon outweigh this small negative. 

As with most types of fire, there are a lot of different design choices so why not get in touch and speak to our friendly team or pop into the showroom and find out more.