Ask a hundred stove owners how to light a fire and chances are you’ll receive a hundred different answers. From rustic traditionalists who chop and season their own fuel to modern subscribers to the Swedish lifestyle of Hygge (they’ve read a book don’t you know), the science behind starting a fire has of course never […]
Technical Information
How to Clean a Fireplace in a Few Easy Steps
As the nights grow shorter and the temperatures start to rise, it finally feels like we’ve left the snowy conditions and the depths of winter behind us. Although it will still be a month or so until the leaves return to the trees and the daffodils start to bloom, it’s definitely time to start thinking […]
How to Light a Multi-fuel Stove with Coal
Lighting a multi-fuel stove with coal is pretty similar to light any fire, only with the addition to the wood needed to start it. This easy, step-by-step guide will show you how to light your multi-fuel stove in no time at all and show you how easy it is to achieve. Step One: Prepare the […]
Why Doesn’t My Stove Work? – Spring & Autumn Syndrome
There are a multitude of common misconceptions surrounding how a stove operates and in this series of Why Doesn’t My Stove Work? articles, we hope to dispel the myths and clearly underline the actual causes and simple solutions. First and foremost, it is essential to recognise that the flue (chimney) is the engine that powers […]
Do I Need to Insulate My Flexible Flue Liner?
What is flexible flue liner? Richard takes you through what flexible flue liner is and whether you need it. There is NO Building Regulation that says you must insulate around a flexible flue liner, within a chimney stack. However building regulations do state that gases must be safely taken away from the building and by […]
The Purpose of a Roof Flashing
When a flue system passes through the roof of a property, the hole that must be cut in the surface will always be larger than the overall diameter of the flue pipe due to safe clearances to combustible materials. For example, a twin wall pipe with an overall diameter of 200mm will typically require a […]
Chimneys in Thatched Properties
The installation of a log burner and flue system into a property with a thatched roof can be a cause for concern for many consumers due to the highly combustible nature of the thatch and sadly, in recent years, the number of chimney related, thatched roof fires have slowly but steadily increased. The two leading […]
Replacing a Rope Seal on your Stove Door and Glass
Why Does my Stove Have a Rope Seal? It is a common misconception that a newly installed stove should be 100% airtight and although this is a near impossibility due to the nature of cast iron and steel, securing a rope seal along the interior edge of the stove door and glass will get you […]
Why Do I Need a Stove Thermometer?
Unlike many forms of heating, a wood burning or multi fuel stove has no readout informing you what temperature your appliance is actually operating at. Although this may not seem like an issue at first, having no way to determine how hot your stove is running will lead to either over- or under- fuelling. Over […]
Stove Fans
You’ve installed your beautiful new stove and its roaring away but do you suspect you may not be basking in the direct heat you had hoped for? This can be a side effect of radiant stoves due to the natural cycle of hot air rising off the stove only to be replaced by cooler air […]
Stove Sizing Guide
It is incredibly important when selecting your new wood burning or multi-fuel stove to consider the Kw output in terms of is it appropriate for the size of your room and will it meet the needs of you and your home? Failure to precisely calculate the appropriate stove size will result in issues such as […]
Safe Distances to Combustible Materials
Due to the levels of heat emitted from flue pipes and stoves, it is essential these are installed at a safe distance from any combustible material which could catch on fire from heat transfer (typically wood, carpets and soft furnishings). Commonly referred to as ‘clearance or distance to combustibles’, this measurement varies from Single Wall […]
Defra & Smoke Control Areas
BRIEF BACKGROUND For centuries we have burned coal in our homes with little impact on the environment. With the birth of the industrial revolution came increased levels of coal burning by heavy industry which inevitably led to pollution on a scale never before seen in our towns and cities. Over time this led to poor […]
Tech Fuels
Selecting the appropriate fuel for your stove is an essential ingredient for it to achieve its maximum potential. The fuel chosen must be suitable for the task, efficient and in some cases, approved for use (Smokeless Zones, RHI etc.). This is the most traditional source of economical fuel used in Britain today and is essential […]
Air Supply And Ventilation
It is an essential requirement that your wood burning or multi-fuel stove has an adequate air supply to ensure that complete combustion of fuel occurs and your chimney functions as it should. The primary source of this air supply for a stove comes via a permanent air vent positioned within the room. This is in […]
Carbon Monoxide (CO)
We come into contact with low levels of carbon monoxide in our every day lives from vehicle exhaust fumes to cigarette smoke and paint fumes but these impact the environment much more than they impact us directly. As the owner of a solid fuel stove, what concerns us is the unavoidable production of carbon monoxide […]
Flue Diameters
The internal diameter of a flue system is one of the most crucial measurements that needs to be considered when planning your installation. Go too large and a draw may never get going or worse, it won’t fit down your chimney. Go too small and you restrict the flow of gases, cooling them down causing […]
Hearth Regulations
The Building Regulations concerning hearths can be an area of confusion with different thicknesses, materials and terms such as constructional and superimposed to consider. By breaking these regulations down to what is relevant to you, we hope this simple guide clears the mystery surrounding hearths. Firstly, what is the purpose of a hearth? A hearth […]
Flue Heights | Glowing Embers
As one of the main purposes of a flue system is to remove the products of combustion from your home, it stands to reason that your chimney must be of a certain length and height to safely distribute these fumes up into the sky and not into your neighbour’s upstairs window. Additionally, proper chimney capping […]
