Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the difference between a woodburner and a multifuel stove?
- What size woodburner should I go for?
- Can I burn coal on a multifuel stove?
- What wood can I burn on a woodburning or multifuel stove?
- What is the point of using a HETAS registered installer?
- What are Heatlogs?
What is the difference between a woodburner and a multifuel stove?
Simply put, a woodburner is designed to burn only seasoned logs or "heatlogs", whereas a multifuel stove can burn wood, heatlogs and smokeless fuel.
A woodburner cannot burn anything else, if it does, then it may get damaged and as a result void the manufacturers' warranty.
What size woodburner should I go for?
A very important issue, that must be considered when chosing a stove. The last thing that you want is to have a stove that is either too hot or too cold!
As a standard model, a normal home needs 1 kW of heat per 14 cubic metres of space. Therefore, to get an idea of what would suit your needs all you need to do is work out the volume of your room and divide that by 14.
e.g. 10m wide x 4m long x 2.5m high = 100
100 / 14 = 7kW
This will give an accurate idea of the stove size in kW that is needed.
It also must be noted that this equation does not take into account double glazing, cavity wall insulation, whether there is a boiler fitted to the stove or whether there is a vaulted ceiling or stairwell in the room. All of the showroom staff and our surveyor are happy to advise on this matter.
Can I burn coal on a multifuel stove?
Again, the simple answer is no. Only because it burns too hot for the stove to handle and can therefore severely damage the stove and affect the warranty.
What wood can I burn on a woodburning or multifuel stove?
We only recommend that you burn good quality, seasoned hardwood on your stove.
Do not burn unseasoned wet or green wood, it will just smoke, burn inefficiently and put a layer of tar on your stove glass and chimney. Which increases the chance of a chimney fire.
Do not burn driftwood, this contains salt which can damage both the stove and chimney.
If wood with a high moisture content is used then it will gradually decrease the performance of your stove.
Good wood = Ash, Beach, birch, Hazel, Oak
Poor Wood = Pine, Poplar, Larch, Wellingtonia
Click here to download a more extensive list of suitable and unsuitable wood
What is the point of using a HETAS registered installer?
In England and Wales, there are two routes to install a domestic solid fuel, wood or biomass burning appliance. These are:
Use a HETAS registered installer who can self certify that the work carried our complies with the relevant building regulations
or
The consumer applies to their local authority, through building control, for a building notice, paying the appropriate fee (which can be up to £300)
So looking at those two routes, it is basically a lot simpler to get a HETAS registered installer to certify the work, as well as leaving you with a certificate of compliance as a record of the job and confirming that it complies with building regulations. A copy of the certificate is then forwarded to HETAS who notify the local authority on your behalf.
Failure to notify the local authority of the work can lead to enforcement, as well as causing problems for future house sales if there is no certification.
What are Heatlogs?
These are the next generation in wood fuel, with many advantages over standard logs:
- Made entirely from sawdust with no additives. The natural resins in the sawdust bind the blocks together.
- Very dry - Heatlogs contain 8-10% moisture so less heat is wasted evaporating moisture.
- Very dense - each pack weighs approx 10 Kgs and contains 12 blocks. 1 tonne of Heatlogs only requiring 1.25 cubic meters of space.
- Efficient - 10 Kgs of Heatlogs produces 45 kWh of heat approx.
- Clean burning, producing less ash and cleaner flue gases.
- Consistent - every pack is the same. Firewood varies according to the type of wood.
- Convenient - no seasoning required. Can be used straight after purchase.
