For many, choosing a brand new stove comes with many questions, so here at Town & Country Fires, we want to help answer those frequently asked questions and ensure you come away with the perfect stove for you.
Why should I opt for a wood-burning stove over an open fire?
Open fires are incredibly inefficient at storing and maintaining heat. An open fire burns many more logs for the same result and therefore generates higher running costs. With a wood-burning stove you can save up to two-thirds of the logs (and therefore two-thirds of the money) whilst being able to control the temperature much more than an open fire.
Is there a difference between multi-fuel stoves and wood-burning stoves?
- Whilst similar in design and appearance, a multifuel stove burns not only wood but a variety of multi-fuels, whereas a wood-burning stove is made to just burn wood
- The difference between the two is on a practical level, with multi-fuel stoves having a removable ash pan and a grate for the fire to burn on, whereas, with a wood-burning stove, it has a metal fire box with air controls.
Are stoves safe and easy to use?
When you get your stove installed to your home, there will also be an expert explanation about how to maintain the stove, and how to use it safely. This is why using a good installer is so important.
Compared to open fires, stoves are much easier to use as they light much more quickly and easily. Another aspect that makes stoves much easier to navigate is the fact you are in much more control of the heat. Stoves also produce much less ash than an open fire, and the ash is contained behind the secure door.
It is recommended that a chimney system operating with a solid fuel appliance is swept at least once a year prior to the heating season. In the UK this is only a recommendation not a requirement. Ideally the flue should be checked and swept twice a year.
Can I burn any type of wood?
Wood ought not to be burnt on a stove if it is not seasoned and dry, you pollute the atmosphere, tar up your chimney, and chimney fires are caused.
Wood needs to be no more than 20% moisture content, and when buying wood straight from a local log supplier, they will not usually be dried and seasoned.
Logs don’t dry in a garage, they need to be out in the open, preferably with just a roof or cover over them. When seasoned wood is burnt on a very efficient stove, you can produce over 5kW of heat per hour using only 1.5kg of wood – which is the equivalent of two hardwood logs, roughly 6” long x 3” diameter.
How do I decide what size stove to go for?
Before purchasing a stove, you should verify the heat requirement for its intended location. Speak to your local stockist to help you decide which stove is right for the space. Buying the wrong size stove will prove problematic due to over firing or more commonly under running the appliance which is potentially more damaging to the stove, flue and the environment. If you are limited in space, then take a look at our Best Stoves for Small Spaces article here.
Where can I install my stove?
We have a range of freestanding stoves available, meaning that there are many available options in the home for positioning your stove. By locating a stove against a wall, in an existing fireplace or in the centre of an open-plan room, your flue can be fitted through a wall or ceiling. Insert stoves can be fitted flush into a wall, a dividing wall or an old fireplace opening which makes quite the statement.
Do you need planning permission/building control sign off?
The installation of your stove must comply with the requirements of Building Regulation Approved Document J 2010 with the 2013 amendments, which all of our stoves do. Your stove must be fitted by a suitably qualified engineer, such as a HETAS registered installer who is authorised to commission and sign off the installation. This is usually the simplest and most cost-effective method. Alternatively, the stove may be fitted by a competent person who must notify a building control body.
See all of our stoves here.