wood burning stove

Burning wood efficiently isn’t just about creating a warm, cosy atmosphere - it also has numerous benefits. It helps you save on fuel costs, keeps your chimney cleaner, and reduces harmful emissions. If you live in a Smoke Control Area, burning the right fuel can even help you avoid fines!

By following a few simple guidelines, you can enjoy a clean-burning fire while minimising pollution. It’s all about getting your fire up to the right temperature quickly and maintaining it for the best results. Here’s why it matters and how you can make sure you’re burning right:

1. Start with Quality Fuel: Use dry wood with a moisture content of 20% or less. Look for the ‘Ready to Burn’ logo when purchasing logs, and store them properly in a well-ventilated area.
2. Quick Fire Start: Use plenty of small kindling or firelighters to get the fire going fast. This helps your fire reach the right temperature efficiently.
3. Control

As the nights begin to grow colder, many of us look forward to the cosy warmth of wood-burning stoves and open fires during the winter months. However, before you light that first fire of the season, it’s crucial to remember the importance of having your chimney swept. Ensuring your chimney is clear of obstructions will allow it to function safely and efficiently.

Regular chimney sweeping is essential for removing soot, bird nests, cobwebs, and other blockages. It also eliminates creosote buildup, a highly flammable substance that can lead to dangerous chimney fires.

How Often Should You Sweep your Chimney

At a minimum, your chimney should be swept once a year to keep it clean and prevent buildup that becomes harder to remove over time. Many homeowners opt for a sweep at the end of summer, ensuring their chimney is ready for the colder weather ahead.

The frequency of sweeping also depends on how often

If you've always dreamed of having a wood burning or multi-fuel stove but lack a chimney, there's good news: you don't need one! A Twin Wall Insulated Flue System can create both indoor and outdoor flues, making it possible to install a stove in homes without pre-existing chimneys.

Why Choose a Twin Wall Insulated Flue System?

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless, tasteless, poisonous gas produced by incomplete burning of carbon-based fuels, including gas, oil, wood, and coal. Carbon-based fuels are safe to use. It is only when the fuel does not burn properly that excess CO is produced, which is poisonous.

You can’t see it. You can’t taste it. You can’t smell it, but carbon monoxide can kill without warning in just a few hours.

Many of us are embracing the warmth and charm that woodburning and multifuel stoves bring into our homes. However, improper use can lead to issues like blackened stove glass, wasted fuel, and environmental pollution. 

Blackened glass is caused by a buildup of soot, creosote, and other combustion byproducts. If the fire doesn’t burn hot enough or wood used is not seasoned properly, it can produce more creosote which caused the glass to blacken. 

Check out these essential tips to ensure your stove operates efficiently, while maintaining a clear glass window to enjoy those mesmerising flames.

As the Christmas season approaches, many of us are gearing up to deck the halls, and it's crucial to ensure that our fireplace decorations are both festive and secure. Transform your fireplace into a cosy focal point with these safety guidelines in mind.

Elevate your mantel and hearth with a visually stunning display, but always prioritise safety. Experts advise maintaining a minimum three-foot distance between the fireplace opening and any combustible materials, be it pillows, blankets, or seasonal decorations like stockings or garlands. Check the manufacturer's instructions for your stove to get specific guidance on safe distances from combustible materials, including Christmas decorations. 

Candles are a timeless addition to mantel decor, but they do require careful consideration, especially when mantels are made of flammable materials. Choose candles with appropriate containers or drip trays,

In these times of global crises and rising fuel poverty, wood-burning stoves have emerged as a crucial lifeline for many families. However, some newspapers have been quick to condemn this heat source, misrepresenting data and overlooking the positive impact it has on people's lives.

While it is undeniable that updating outdated open fires and wood-burning stoves can substantially reduce PM2.5 emissions, we urge a more nuanced examination of the facts. The UK's Clean Air Strategy by Defra suggests that domestic combustion is responsible for 38% of fine particulate matter, based on a 2015 government survey that overestimated wood burning in stoves and fireplaces.

A more extensive and independently verified 2019 survey of over 10,000 individuals revealed a much lower figure, around 13%, for domestic combustion. Furthermore,