FAQs

Stoves

Q. What is the difference between a woodburner and a multifuel stove?

A woodburner can only burn well seasoned logs, and the wood is burnt on the base of the stove.
A multifuel stove comes with a grate where you can burn both smokeless fuel and well seasoned logs. There is an ashpan beneath the grate for easy ash removal.

Q. Can I have a multifuel or woodburning stove if I live in a smokeless zone?

Yes so long as it is DEFRA Approved to allow you to legally burn wood in a smokeless zone. 
If you live in a smokeless zone we can point out exactly which stove models are suitable when you visit us.

Q. What are the benefits of a stove?

A woodburning stove has environmental advantages in that the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere is the same as that absorbed by the tree during growth. Wood is also a renewable source of energy particularly when derived from cultivated woodland.

Many people choose a stove as an alternative source of heat that is independent from other sources such as gas and electricity.

Stoves are also very efficient, often around 70 – 80%

Q. What size stove do I need?

The heat output of the stove is measured in kilowatts. The output you require is dependent on the size of the room to be heated – calculate the volume of the room by multiplying the length, width and height of the room in metres, and then divide by 14. This will give you the size of stove in kW that you will need to heat the room, although it is a rough guide and we would recommend that you call in and speak to us about your requirements.

Q. Who can install my stove?

A HETAS registered installer should fit a woodburning or multifuel stove, whilst a gas stove should be installed by a Gas Safe registered engineer.  Our engineers are both HETAS and Gas Safe registered.


Fires

Q. What is the difference between an inset and an outset gas fire?

Inset fires are designed to sit inside the fireplace providing a near flush finish and are particularly suitable for installation with a fire surround and back panel. Outset fires sit forward of the fireplace and connect to the flue using a closure plate.

Q. What are the different types of flue/chimney?

Traditional Brick/Stone Chimney – Class 1

Usually referred to as conventional chimneys, these are easily recognisable as the chimney stack rises well above the roofline and is topped by a traditional chimney pot or terminal.

Pre-Fabricated Flues – Class 1 & 2

Normally, these chimneys come with a metal flue cowl on the roof. Some are all metal while others terminate through a short rectangular pot (but without a chimney stack).

Pre-Cast Flues – Class 2

These are commonly found in many modern homes and can be identified by either a metal flue cowl or a raised ridge terminal on the roof. These flues tend to be very shallow in depth so a slimmer fire is often required, although deep appliances may be installed with the use of either a spacer kit or deeper rebate into the fireplace.

Balanced Flue – No chimney required

Balanced flue fires can be either glass fronted or wall heaters. Both provide excellent heating performance. The appliance is completely sealed from the room to which it is installed and a twin-wall pipe vents directly to an outside wall.

Flueless Fires – No chimney required

Flueless fires are glass fronted, 100% efficient and do not have to be installed on an outside wall.

Electric Fires – No chimney required

All electric fires do not require a chimney or flue of any kind.