Author: charnwoodstoves

How to Get Heat from Wood Stove to Other Rooms

charnwoodstoves
19 Jul 2023

The warmth you get from a wood burning stove is like no other, it truly is the epitome of comfort. But how do you get heat from your wood burning stove to fill your whole house and not just the one room? This article talks you through some of the most popular options…

 

Are you getting the best from your stove?

You want to be sure your wood burning stove is giving you its best and there are ways you can help it along. Keeping your stove and flue clean and maintained will help your system run efficiently, so be sure to sweep away any debris and excess ash (a couple of centimetres is fine), and you need to have your chimney swept at least once a year.

Be sure to use properly dried and seasoned wood (less than 20% moisture) and, when starting your fire, start with a bed of kindling, ensuring it is glowing hot before adding some small logs and then, later, a full load of wood. Take care not to overfill your stove as this can cause dangerously high temperatures and can cause damage to your stove. The inside of your stove should be between 260°C and 460°C.

You’ll also want to circulate the heat your wood burning stove produces, which we’ll cover in more detail a little later in this article.

Also learn more on how to use a wood-burning stove.

 

How much heat does a wood burning stove produce?

The heat from wood burning stoves is measured in kWh (kiloWatt hours) or BTUs (British Thermal Units), where 1kWh equals approximately 3,400 BTUs.

Wood burning stoves are often displayed with two heat output figures; the maximum heat output and the nominal heat output. The former is quite simply the maximum heat output you can achieve with that wood burning stove, while nominal output is the level of heat you can get out of it while running the wood burning stove as its efficiency rating.

Wood stoves can put out up to around 15kW (51,000 BTUs) of heat with their air vents wide open (assuming it is a 3 or 4-cubic-foot firebox and is well-stocked and running efficiently), while this can drop to around 4kW (14,000 BTUs) if the vents are closed and the wood smoulders rather than burns. How well your wood burning stove heats your room (or your house) will depend on your room size, house size and layout, and stove size and efficiency, although there are ways to improve how the heat warms your home.

 

Best tips for spreading heat from a wood burning stove around your home

There are a number of ways you can help spread the heat from your wood burner so it reaches more of your home. We discuss some of the best ways below.

 

Using a fan to circulate heat

Heat rises, pure and simple. It’s one of those immutable laws of the universe, but that doesn’t mean you can’t move it around. A fan sits on top of your wood burning stove and the heat from your stove will cause the fan to spin (no need to plug anything in!) and subsequently move the heat around the room. Because the fan helps the heat reach parts of your room more quickly, you can use less wood than you previously may have done to generate the same amount of heat, saving you money.

The best place to put your fan is on one of the back corners of the stove as the front of the fan will get the full effect of the heat from underneath while the back of the fan will be cooler; the heat difference will help move your fan blades more quickly and spread your stove heat further.

 

Directing heat to where it is needed

As we’ve already mentioned, heat rises, and you can use that to your advantage. Having your wood burning stove installed on the ground floor of your home means the heat will rise to the higher storey(s) in your house, warming your bedrooms.

You can help the heat get into your upstairs room by installing vents in the ceiling of the room where the stove is, and vents in the rooms you want to benefit from the stove’s heat.

You should consult a professional when adding vents to your home; this helps maximise the efficiency of the venting system and also helps you steer clear of any potential safety hazards.

Also explore our Wood-Burning Stove FAQs.

 

Adding duct for wood stove heat distribution

Having proper ducting installed from your wood stove to other parts of your house pulls cold air from those far-reaching rooms towards the stove, causing the stove to release warm air. This means the heat from the wood burner isn’t wasted on heating up the duct but instead uses the natural flow of hot and cold air to help warm the rooms further out from the stove.

Also explore the essential wood-burning stove tips.

 

Why choose us?

Charnwood has been committed to providing quality wood burning stoves since 1972 and we know all there is to know about wood burners. If you have any questions about heating your home with a wood burning stove, please get in touch

Wood-burning Stove Cooking: Everything you need know

charnwoodstoves
17 Jul 2023

A wood-burning stove is a great way to extend your cooking options. In this blog, we’ll share everything you need to know about wood-burning stove cooking, from what type of equipment you need to what kinds of recipes are best suited.

Wood-burning stove cooking tips

Here are a few tips to get you started:

– Keep a close eye on your stove while it’s in use, and don’t leave it unattended.

– Make sure the space around the stove is clear of flammable materials, such as curtains or furniture.

– Use heavy-duty cookware that conducts heat evenly.

– Keep an eye on the food as it’s cooking, as the wood-burning stove can fluctuate in temperature.

Finally, as always, use dry, well-seasoned wood. Wet wood produces smoke and creosote buildup in your chimney, which can cause a dangerous fire.

Wood-burning stove cooking

It’s important to use heavy-duty cookware that will conduct heat evenly – think Le Creuset, Crane or similar. A cast iron Dutch oven is a wonderfully versatile option and perfect for many recipes including the ones below!

There will be some trial and error required when testing out recipes to get timings spot on. Also, it’s important to remember to keep an eye on the food as it’s cooking, as the wood-burning stove can fluctuate in temperature. We recommend using a stove pipe thermometer to help your accuracy.

What is a wood-burning stove cooking plate?

 

A wood-burning stove cooking plate is a metal plate that sits on top of the stove. It helps to distribute heat evenly, reduce stove wear and tear and provides stability for pots and pans.

A Charnwood cooking plate is a cast iron plate that has conduction fins on the underside and can replace the blanking plate on a standard Charnwood stove.

The cooking plate is ideal for stoves installed into open-plan living areas where the boundaries of cooking, dining and lounging are merged. The set includes four cast iron trivets for versatility when cooking and the plate is available in two sizes; five or six inch outlet diameters to suit most Charnwood models in addition to the Island II.

Please note: the stove will need to be installed using the rear outlet to allow the cooking plate to be fitted on the stove top.

How to use a wood-burning stove toasting fork?

 

A wood-burning stove toasting fork is a long, metal fork that is used to toast bread with a wood-burning stove. The Charnwood toasting fork is a neat, highly effective stove accessory designed for use on all our models. The British-made fork and holder are made from stainless steel with a turned beech handle.

The magnetic holder suspends the fork in front of the glass, toasting bread, muffins or crumpets perfectly. The bread will start to toast quickly, so be sure to keep an eye on it. Once it’s done, simply remove from the fork and enjoy!

It’s the perfect gift for any stove fanatic!

What kinds of recipes can I make with a wood-burning stove?

Just about anything! Keep in mind, however, that a wood-burning stoves takes longer to heat up than a gas or electric stove. That means you’ll want to choose recipes that don’t require high heat or that can simmer for long periods of time. Some great examples include stews, soups, chili, pot roast, and casseroles.

3 simple wood-burning stove recipe ideas

 

1. Sausage and lentil Stew

Recipe: https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/sausage_and_lentil_stew_90967

2. Baked bread

Recipe: https://traditionalcookingschool.com/food-preparation/recipes/fresh-bread-on-a-woodstove/

3. Mulligatawny soup

Recipe: https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/soup

You can toast bread to go with it on your toasting fork!

Bonus super simple jacket potato recipe:

Prick some potatoes and wrap them in foil. Then carefully place in the embers of your fire (wear stove gloves). They’ll take approximately an hour to cook depending on the size of the potato.

while it is safe to cook with your wood-burning stove, please take care and do so at your own risk.

Also explore our log-burner cooking ideas on Valentines day.

_______________

Cooking delicious meals while heating your home is one of the great things about owning a Charnwood wood-burning stove. With a little bit of practice, you’ll be an expert at wood-burning stove cooking in no time!

Where to buy?

As well as excellent after-care, by purchasing through an official Charnwood stockist you will qualify for our dealer-backed 10-year guarantee.

Additionally explore our log-burner fireplace ideas.

 

Why Choose Us?

At Charnwood Stoves, we’re your trusted experts in wood-burning stoves and cooking. With decades of experience, our passion for quality and innovation shines through in every product. From efficient heating to delightful culinary experiences, our stoves offer the perfect blend of functionality and style.

Count on our reliable support and extensive knowledge to enhance your cooking journey. Join our community of satisfied customers who have embraced the charm and warmth of wood-burning stove cooking.

Contact our team today.

Green Update; Increased Solar Energy Capacity & More

charnwoodstoves
13 Jul 2023

A.J Wells & Charnwood are committed to sustainability and constantly seek innovative ways to reduce their carbon footprint and make positive progress towards Net Zero 2050. Our recent environmental-focused efforts, which we will discuss in this blog, have already started yielding impressive results – read on to learn more!

Solar panels
 

Another benefit of the summer sun is all the clean electricity being produced. We are happy to report that we have recently added 50kw of additional solar panels to the roofs of our factories, bringing us to 150kw in total. This has resulted in the generation of nearly 1 gigawatt-hour of clean energy to date and as there is still a little space left on our roofs we will likely add to our capacity in the future!

Charnwood Skye E700 update

 

Modern Ecodesign stoves are 90% more efficient than open fires and 80% more efficient than older stoves, however, there is still much more we can do. That is why we invested nearly £1,000,000 last year and continue to lead the industry in developing cutting-edge wood-burning technology.

A good stove with good fuel has always been possible to achieve. However, the user has until now been the weak point in achieving the best possible efficiencies. The Charnwood Skye E700 uses intelligent technology that automatically ensures your stove burns at the optimum temperature. Developed to be super easy to use – everything you need is just one button away on your stove or on our stove app which allows you to control from the comfort of the sofa.

We have taken time to optimize the stove and the software for maximum performance and have learned more about combustion than we have with any other stove. Electronic stoves are fascinating to work on as you can change a few parameters in the code which will translate into a completely different type of burn, flame pattern, performance and emissions. With the results we have achieved, we passionately believe that intelligent stoves are going to play a significant role in the near future.

The E700 is already available in the US and will be coming to Europe soon. Watch this space!

Supporting environmental & humanitarian projects

 

This year we welcomed Joshua Omulongolo from rural Kenya for 5 months who came to our R&D lab. During this time, he introduced us to the delights of Ugali and together we developed a low-cost cook stove by molding ceramic based materials into a shape that maximized clean combustion and heat output and safely and cleanly exhausted flue gases outside. On his return to Kenya, he has continued the development and made a number of prototype cook stoves that he has tested at his home and his church. We are still in contact with him as he transitions this into a micro business that will help reduce the respiratory problems that are associated with indoor open fire cooking.

15 Ideas to reuse our packaging

As online shopping surges, packaging waste becomes even more of a concern. At A.J Wells, we understand the impact and have offered some innovative ideas to reuse and repurpose packaging materials. Explore our blog to discover at least 15 great ways to give your A.J Wells packaging a new lease of life while reducing waste. Read more here

Green roof

 

While our focus remains on significant initiatives like solar panels and energy-efficient equipment, we recognize that even small ideas can make a substantial impact. Initiatives such as bike-to-work schemes and tree planting programs have proven to be catalysts for change, not only for our carbon footprint but also for engaging our employees and community. These ideas go beyond their obvious environmental benefits, fostering a sense of environmental awareness and inspiring others to join us on our sustainability journey.

One such recent addition to our environmental efforts is the implementation of a green roof. Our green roof not only beautifies our premises but also provides numerous benefits, including improved air quality, enhanced insulation, and reduced stormwater runoff. By integrating nature into our infrastructure, we showcase our ongoing commitment to harmonizing with the environment and promoting a greener future. Read more here

Refurbished signage

 

Refurbishing old signs is a very cost-effective way to extend their lifespan, and our innovative approach involves stripping them down to the frame, examining the frame and trims, improving the decoration, and installing new illumination and acrylic faces. By doing this, we were able to restore these 17-year-old signs to their former glory. Reusing when possible is better than recycling as this saves even more energy. Read more here

Bunhill Energy Centre

We were pleased to manufacture and supply our Wellsclad vitreous enamel cladding panels for the TfL / Islington Council’s, New Bunhill 2 Energy Centre. The heat recovery centre takes excess heat from the London Underground, Northern Line and feeds it into the Islington Council’s district heating network to provide offices, leisure centres and over 1,350 homes with heat and hot water.

We continue to embrace projects that have a direct positive impact on the environment. Read more here

 

The Truth About Wood Burning Stoves. The REAL facts

charnwoodstoves
27 Jun 2023

The modern wood burning stoves of today ensure low emission and low carbon heating for our homes. However there have been a number of misleading reports circulating in the news recently suggesting stoves are responsible for contributing far more particulate emissions than they actually do.

It is important to say that some of the air pollution statistics that are quoted are not only incorrect but they lump modern, clean burning stoves together with all sorts of domestic fuels, older appliances and open fires.

The Stove Industry Alliance (SIA) have produced this short film to help dispel these reported myths around wood burning stoves with the real facts and address three of the major misconceptions that are being mis-quoted by the media.

1)‘Wood burning stoves are the biggest contributor in the UK of small particulate matter’.

This is not true. At the root of this myth is a statement from Defra’s Clean Air Strategy claiming that domestic combustion accounts for 38% of fine particulate matter. This number was based on a survey carried out by the government in 2015  which wrongly over-estimated the amount of wood being burnt in the UK on stoves and fireplaces. (1)

A much bigger survey carried out in 2019 by the SIA (2) showed the actual figure was less than a third of what the government quoted, making the percentage of PM.2.5 that could be attributed to domestic combustion closer to 13% and NOT 38%.

Subsequent figures recently published by Defra (3) corollate with the SIA’s findings and if their new wood fuel volume figures were combined with the correct emission factors, the real percentage of PM2.5 attributable to domestic wood burning would be less than 10%.

In addition to this the 38% figure was based on emissions from older stoves and open fires. It is proven that modern Ecodesign compliant wood burning stoves (which the majority of our Charnwood models conform to) produce 66% LESS emissions than these outdated appliances. Other sources of PM2.5 were also included in its overall estimation, including wildfires, bonfires, and incinerators which are unregulated sources of particulate matter and certainly not insignificant.

Find out how to clean a wood-burning stove correctly.

 

2) ‘Wood burning stoves create the same emissions as 18 diesel cars’.

This comes from test results interpreted by the Air Quality Expert Group (AQEG) but their comparison is extremely misleading and, as the SIA film points out, it is like comparing apples with oranges.

Firstly the comparison is between the appliances running at significantly different efficiency levels, by measuring a car exhaust emissions at an efficient run rate of 21mph and comparing them to all of the emissions at a full run rate for a stove. This completely ignores all the small particle emissions from the car’s brakes and tyres, when frequently the emissions from a car’s brakes and tyres are actually greater than the emissions from the exhaust pipe!

Finally the difference in the dispersal point of particulate matter from wood burning stoves to cars is ignored completely. A car outputs its emissions at face level for a child and therefore there is very little dispersal before it is breathed in, whereas a woodburning stove sends its emissions out of the top of the chimney and there is considerable dispersal of emissions before they even reach human height.

Find out what you can burn in a wood-burning stove.

 

3) ‘Wood burning stoves and fireplaces are harmful’.

Chair of the Stove Industry Alliance, Morley Sage, explains why this is one of the more concerning misconceptions:

“This view fails to take into account the huge advances that have been made by the woodburning stove industry in recent years. Many critics of woodburning stoves base their assumptions on data linked to open fires, older stoves and poor-quality wood fuel. The SIA would be one of the first organisations to point out that burning wet wood on an open fire, a practice that is still very common today, is one of the least efficient and most highly polluting ways to heat your home. By stark contrast, a modern wood burning stove emits up to 90% less emissions than an open fire and up to 80% less than a stove that is 10 or more years old.”

Members of the SIA (including us at Charnwood) were among the first manufacturers to develop ultra clean burn technology within our appliances to achieve the forthcoming 2022 Ecodesign Regulations (SIA Ecodesign Ready). More recently the SIA has supported and initiated the launch of clearSkies, an independent emissions and energy performance certification scheme for solid fuel stoves and fireplaces. Appliances that are certified under clearSkies will not only meet the performance levels set out under Ecodesign, but also many go a significant way beyond. The majority of our Charnwood stoves achieve highest clearSkies certification: Level 5.

Far from being the problem, modern wood burning stoves are actually the solution to a low carbon, sustainable future domestic heating strategy.

The REAL facts about modern woodburning stoves are that they are a future proof, highly efficient, very low carbon and sustainable way of heating our homes and keeping our families warm, and that is something to be truly proud of.

For further information visit www.stoveindustryalliance.com

 

1) The BEIS Domestic Wood Survey using a sample size of 1,206

2) SIA independently verified research carried out in 2019 using sample size of 10,620 using same questions as BEIS survey

3) The Emission of Air Pollutants in the UK 1970 to 2019 and Defra Research Burning in UK Homes & Gardens Report  

 

Why Choose Us?

At Charnwood Stoves, we pride ourselves on being your trusted partner in wood-burning stoves. With years of experience and a commitment to quality, we offer the finest selection of stoves that combine timeless design with eco-friendly technology.

Our team of experts is dedicated to providing you with honest and reliable information, ensuring you have all the facts you need to make an informed decision. Choose Charnwood Stoves for a reliable, efficient, and sustainable heating solution that will transform your home while minimising your impact on the environment.

Contact us today.

 

How to clean wood burner glass

charnwoodstoves
25 Jun 2023

With the sudden drop in temperature and an autumn chill in the air, nothing beats a cosy evening nestled by your wood burning stove.

But as we head towards the winter months, your wood burner could need some TLC before its ready to be used more regularly.

To help keep your wood burner well maintained in readiness for those long winter nights, we’ve compiled our tips on how to clean wood burner glass alongside other upkeep advice.

 

How to keep wood burner glass clean

Your wood burner is not only a source of warmth, it is also a focal point within your home. Many modern generally feature clean-burn air wash which naturally keep the glass clean. However when used regularly, soot may build up on the glass door, which can drastically reduce the view of the fire. The most common cause of this is when wood with a moisture content higher than 20% is burnt or if a burning log is touching the glass.

Here are some do’s and don’ts on how to keep wood burner glass clean.

Do…

• Use a damp crumpled paper towel or newspaper, dip it in fine wood ash and use this to rub the stove glass clean.

• If there is substantial build up on the glass, burn a high temperature fire in the wood burning stove before you try to clean the glass. Ensure you have plenty of well-seasoned wood in your wood burner to create a fire of a high temperature.

• Make sure you use a wood stove glass cleaner, or a ceramic stove top cleaner.

• Ensure you wait until the wood burner glass is cool before you attempt to clean it.

• Clean your wood burner glass on a regular basis to prevent a build-up of soot.

Don’t…

• Never attempt to clean your wood burner glass when there is a fire burning inside the stove or the surface is hot.

• Avoid spraying water on hot wood burner glass – this could cause the glass to crack or shatter.

• Never use sharp objects or abrasive cleaners to clean your wood burner glass – these could damage and scratch the surface of the glass.

 

How to clean a wood burner

When it comes to cleaning your wood burner, there are many interior and exterior elements to consider.

Ensure exterior surfaces are cleaned with a soft brush, damp cloth or a vacuum cleaner. These will effectively remove any soot and dirt when the stove is cool.

Take the time to empty out the ash pan and firebox completely when your wood burner is not being used. Inspect the rope seals on the doors and flue, as it is not uncommon for these to become damaged through everyday wear and tear.

Find out more wood burning stove cleaning tips and tricks in our blog: How to clean your wood burning stove.

 

Why is my wood burner smoking?

If your wood burner is smoking, there could be several reasons, including:

• A blocked chimney

• The wrong fuel is being used

• An issue with the air pressure in the room

• A problem with the draw of your chimney

• A cold weather snap

To stop your wood burner from smoking, you need to ensure you have the correct air pressure, no chimney blockages and are burning the correct fuel. If you have any further questions about your smoking wood burner, contact us today.

Find out everything you need to know about having your wood burner in your house.

 

Why does my wood burner smell?

If your wood burner is emitting an unpleasant smell, it is unlikely that this is coming from the wood burner or stove itself. The smell is more likely being caused by other factors, including:

• The stove is new and requires a ‘break in’ period

• The fire is releasing too much smoke

• Burning damp wood which contains too much moisture

• Burning polluted wood

• The fire isn’t hot enough

• Blocked chimney or flue

• Insufficient chimney size which cannot easily remove waste smoke and gases

• Wet weather

• If the weather is much lower than usual and smoke and gases cannot leave the home properly

• Reduced airflow

 

Find out how to light a wood burner.

 

Why is my wood burner not getting hot?

If your wood burner is not getting hot, this could be due to a variety of reasons:

• The draft on the stove is poor – draft on the stove is needed to suck air from the stove out of your home. If the waste gas is unable to escape, fresh air won’t be getting to the fire and this will prevent the stove from heating. Test the draft by lighting a piece of paper on one end and placing it under the flue outlet inside your stove. If the smoke disappears, the draft should work effectively when the fire starts.

• The air vents need opening – if the air vents aren’t open enough, it will prevent oxygen getting to the fire. Open up the air vents and create a larger supply of oxygen to enable to the fire to burn through the wood more quickly.

• The air vents are open too much – if the air vents are opened too much, the stove may not get hot. While the air vents should be opened fully when the fire is being lit to maximise oxygen levels, these can be gradually closed down as the fire gets hotter to ensure too much air isn’t getting to the fire.

• Lack of secondary combustion – this process involves maximising heat from burning wood by burning off waste gases from the fire. Secondary combustion will only occur when a higher temperature is reached.

• Fire incorrectly lit/built – if a fire is built and lit incorrectly, it will prevent the stove from getting hot. Lay crumpled pieces of paper on the bed of the stove to help encourage the fire to spread to the wood. Softwood kindling can then be placed on top of the newspaper, followed by smaller logs once the fire has caught.

• Wet wood – if your wood is too wet, the excess moisture will prevent your wood burner from getting hot. We recommend a 20 per cent or lower moisture content threshold for firewood. If your wood contains more moisture than this, it will need to be dried out for a further season before if can be used.

Find out more in our blog: How to use a wood burning stove.

How often should I sweep my wood burner chimney?

We recommend that wood burner chimneys are cleaned at least once a year. This should take place when the temperature drops in the cooler months before the wood burner is used more regularly.

 

Contact Charnwood today

To find out more about keeping your wood burner well maintained, contact Charnwood today. Our friendly, expert team are on hand and more than happy to answer any queries you may have.

 

Why Choose Us?

At Charnwood Stoves, we understand the importance of keeping your wood burner glass clean and clear for optimal enjoyment. With our extensive experience in the industry, we offer a range of high-quality cleaning products specifically designed for wood burners.

Our innovative solutions effectively remove soot, tar, and residue, restoring the beauty of your stove. Trust us to provide you with reliable and eco-friendly products that make maintenance effortless, allowing you to focus on cozy moments by the fire. Choose Charnwood for superior glass cleaning solutions tailored to your needs.

Contact our team today.

What can you burn in a wood burning stove?

charnwoodstoves
19 Jun 2023

When it comes to choosing fuel for your wood burning stove, it’s important that you burn the right wood. This will not only ensure that your stove burns stronger and for longer, but it will also help reduce your fuel costs as a result.

Burning the wrong type of wood can increase fuel costs and damage the internal parts of your stove. In some cases, it can even cause irreparable damage to the stove body or flue system, so it’s important you understand what type of wood will work with your appliance.

Here’s a closer look at what you should burn in your wood burning stove.

Hardwood firewood

Hardwood is a great fuel for wood burning stoves. With a variety of different types available, including ash, birch, maple and oak, as well as the wood from the vast majority of fruit trees, hardwood firewood is renowned for burning for longer periods, while generating lots of heat.

Another advantage of hardwoods is that they are generally cleaner to handle, making them a great option for your stove.

Softwood firewood

A lot cheaper than hardwood, softwood can also be used in your wood burning stove. Fir is the most popular choice, although there are plenty of other options, including balsam, pine, spruce, cedar, alder, tamarack and poplar.

Find out what other types of firewood we offer.

How do softwoods burn compared to hardwood?

Softwoods tend to burn faster than hardwood and leave a finer ash behind. They can also be messy to handle and are renowned for causing a build-up of tar in your chimney. Spruce, pine and balsam can be particularly difficult to handle.

Find out how to clean your wood burning stove.

What’s the best firewood for generating heat energy?

There are lots of different types of firewood and many of them can be categorised based on their performance. For example, the following types of firewood typically generate the best amount of heat energy:

• Apple
• Birch (Yellow)
• Red oak
• White ash
• Maple (Sugar)
• White oak
• Beech (American)
• Hickory (Shagbark)
• Ironwood

Whether you opt for hardwood or softwood, always make sure that it is totally dry before you use it. Never attempt to burn green wood as it will produce less heat and a lot more smoke.

Make sure your wood is dried, seasoned and stored correctly so you can enjoy optimum heat with low fuel costs. Your wood should always be stacked in a cool dry place with efficient air circulation and covered on the top only. If you can, rotate your wood as much as possible and always burn older, dryer wood first.

As a general rule of thumb, hardwood and softwood should have a moisture content of less than 20 percent if it’s being used for burning.

Find out how to install a wood-burning stove correctly.

If you have any questions about your Charnwood wood burning stove, please get in touch.

 

Why Choose Us?

At Charnwood Stoves, we provide the finest wood-burning stoves for your home. With our extensive expertise and commitment to quality, we offer unrivaled performance, efficiency, and style. Our stoves are designed to maximize heat output while minimising environmental impact.

Choose Charnwood Stoves for an eco-friendly and aesthetically pleasing heating solution that will transform your space. Trust in our heritage of craftsmanship and innovation to bring warmth and charm to your home, all while enjoying the natural beauty and comforting ambiance of a wood-burning stove.

Get in touch with our team today.

 

How Wood is a Sustainable and Renewable Fuel – Everything You Need to Know

charnwoodstoves
02 Jun 2023

Wood has long been used as a source of fuel, providing heat and energy for centuries. However, concerns about air pollution and sustainability have cast a shadow on its use as a viable energy option. By managing and choosing wood correctly, we can address these concerns and reclaim the case for burning wood as a sustainable and renewable fuel.

Air Pollution

Concerns about air pollution have cast a shadow on the use of burning wood as a viable energy option. This is an important environmental issue and it is necessary to understand its relationship with burning wood.

When wood with high moisture content is burned, it produces more smoke and harmful emissions, including particulate matter and volatile organic compounds which can have adverse effects on human health and the environment.

However, burning dry, seasoned wood with less than 20% moisture content significantly reduces these emissions, making wood-burning cleaner and more environmentally friendly. Wood that has been properly seasoned produces significantly less smoke and carbon monoxide; it also has less creosote build-up and prevents the growth of mould on the logs. The seasoning process, by removing these toxins, makes the wood much cleaner to burn.

Learn about the wood seasoning process.

 

Renewability and Sustainability

Wood is a renewable fuel source because the trees it comes from can be replanted and regrown. Trees are a part of the natural carbon cycle, absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as they grow. When burned, wood releases this stored carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere. However, as long as new trees are planted to replace the harvested ones, the carbon dioxide emitted during wood burning is effectively reabsorbed by the growing trees, resulting in a closed carbon loop.

By using sustainably managed woodlands where trees are harvested and replaced in a responsible manner, we can ensure a continuous supply of renewable wood fuel. It is crucial to support and promote sustainable forestry practices to maintain healthy forests, preserve biodiversity, and mitigate climate change.

Explore alternative sources of wood fuel, such as wood pellets or briquettes made from wood waste or by-products. These can provide a more efficient and consistent fuel source while reducing waste and promoting circular economy principles.

Explore the best firewood to burn chart in the UK here.

 

Responsible woodland management

If you have access to woodland, implement responsible management practices. This may include planting new trees, managing invasive species, and ensuring proper harvesting techniques to maintain the health and biodiversity of the forest ecosystem.

For those that don’t have access to woodland, it’s important to seek out wood that carries certification from recognised forestry programs, such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). These certifications ensure responsible forest management practices and contribute to the overall sustainability of wood fuel.

Properly managed woodlands are vital to our ecosystem and our wildlife. As well as being home to many plant and animal species, they also play a vital role in water resource management – minimising flood impact and regulating water availability. Forests also play a massive role in climate regulation through carbon dioxide absorption.

 

Local Communities

Buying wood locally is a key part of responsible wood burning as it reduces the transportation emissions associated with long-distance shipping. Supporting local communities also helps boost the regional economy and encourages sustainable forest management practices.

Choosing local wood suppliers provides an opportunity to establish direct connections with producers, ensuring transparency and accountability in the sourcing process. It allows consumers to enquire about the origin of the wood, ensuring it comes from sustainably managed forests and promoting ethical practices within the industry.

 

Five Steps to Choosing Wood Correctly

To maximise the sustainability and efficiency of wood burning, here are five steps to help you choose and manage wood correctly.

1/ Source locally.

2/ Opt for seasoned wood.

3/ Look for certification.

4/ Consider alternatives, such as wood pellets or briquettes.

5/ Practice responsible woodland management.

Wood is a sustainable and renewable fuel option when managed and chosen correctly. By burning dry, seasoned wood with low moisture content, purchasing locally sourced wood, supporting sustainable forestry, and following responsible woodland management practices, we can harness the benefits of wood fuel while minimising its environmental impact.

 

Why Choose Us?

Charnwood has been committed to providing quality wood burning stoves since 1972 and we know all there is to know about wood burners and responsibly using wood as a fuel source. If you have any questions about heating your home with a wood burning stove, please get in touch.

 

How to Use Vents on Multi-fuel Stoves

charnwoodstoves
02 Jun 2023

Multi-fuel stoves offer the flexibility to burn a variety of fuels, including wood, smokeless fuels and briquettes, and are popular heating appliances thanks to their versatility and efficiency. To optimise their performance and ensure clean combustion, multi-fuel stoves use air vents that regulate the air supply.

 

What are Stove Air Vents?

Stove air vents, also known as air inlets or dampers, are openings built into the structure of a multi-fuel stove that allows controlled amounts of air into the combustion chamber. These vents facilitate the incineration process by regulating the oxygen supply, ensuring an efficient and controlled burn.

At Charnwood we have incorporated a single air control on all our multi-fuel stoves that simplify the burning process so you don’t need be concerned about adjusting numerous controls. Just pull out to burn harder or push in to slow the burn down.

 

How Do Stove Air Vents Work?

As you know, a fire needs three things to survive: fuel, heat and oxygen; this is often referred to as the “fire triangle”. Stove air vents control how much air (and subsequently, oxygen) gets to the fire. When starting a fire, you want as much oxygen as possible so the fire can light. Once the fire is self-sustaining, you want to reduce the amount of oxygen for a steady and more efficient burn.

 

Air Supplies in Stoves

The air supplies in stoves are categorised into three main types: primary, secondary, and tertiary air supplies. On a Charnwood stove all three vents are incorporated into an air box that is fitted to the base of the stove and controlled by one slider.

 

Primary Air Supply

The primary air supply is the main source of oxygen for initial combustion and it is typically regulated by a primary air vent at the stove’s base or front. Controlling the primary air supply allows users to ignite and establish a fire. Adjusting this vent allows users to increase or reduce the amount of oxygen available to the fire, influencing the burn rate and heat output.

 

Secondary Air Supply

Once the fire is established, secondary air becomes essential for complete combustion. The secondary air vents are strategically placed in the upper part or sides of the stove to introduce fresh, pre-heated air into the combustion chamber above the fuel bed. This additional oxygen helps burn off any unburned gases, reducing emissions and promoting a cleaner, more efficient burn.

 

Tertiary Air Supply

The tertiary air supply is an advanced feature found in all our multi-fuel stoves; it introduces a controlled amount of air into the flue gases. The tertiary air vents are once again incorporated into the airbox  and are designed to inject air into the path of the exhaust gases. This additional oxygen promotes the secondary combustion of any remaining gases, increasing efficiency and reducing particulate emissions.

 

How to Use Stove Air Vents

Step 1: Preparing your stove

Before starting a fire in your stove, it is essential to check that your air control is pulled out fully – this allows for a sufficient supply of oxygen to ignite and establish the fire.

 

Step 2: Starting your fire

Once you have added kindling and are ready to light the fire, ignite the kindling as you would normally. It is important to leave the control fully open during this stage. The unrestricted flow of oxygen will facilitate the ignition and rapid development of the fire. Allow the kindling to burn until it has taken hold and is burning steadily.

 

Step 3: Closing your vents

As the fire takes hold of the kindling and starts burning steadily, it is time to add some larger wood and start adjusting the control. Begin by gradually closing the primary air vent by pushing in the button. By reducing the primary air supply, you control the amount of oxygen reaching the fire, regulating the burn rate and heat output. Monitor the fire closely and make incremental adjustments to the control until you achieve a desired balance between heat production and fuel consumption.

 

Step 4: Adjusting your vents

As the fire spreads beyond the initial kindling and begins burning the wood, you can fine-tune the heat output by adjusting the single control further. Increasing the secondary air supply promotes combustion, reducing emissions and increasing efficiency. Adjust the control to find the optimal balance that provides sufficient oxygen for clean burning while maintaining the desired heat output.

Explore our types of firewood here.

 

Why Choose Us?

Charnwood has been committed to providing quality wood-burning stoves since 1972 and we know all there is to know about wood burners, and how to get the most out of the wood you burn. If you have any questions about heating your home with a wood-burning stove, please get in touch.

 

New Welding Investment; increased capacity, performance & capabilities

charnwoodstoves
29 May 2023

A.J Wells fabricates a wide range of products from a variety of high-quality materials across our businesses. Our fantastic team are skilled in a range of processes utilising state-of-the-art technology to achieve our exceptionally high standards. With demand for our market-leading Charnwood Stoves growing year on year, we have recently invested almost a million pounds in expanding and improving our welding capacity.

Read on to learn about our upgraded welding bays as well as our state-of-the-art robot welding arms.

Welding Bays

 

While redesigning the factory the Charnwood production manager and team leaders came together to develop a new design aiming to create the ‘perfect’ welding bay for the space. A modular, flat-pack approach was agreed upon with individual bays being standardised and optimised for comfort and efficiency.

One of the main improvements involved putting a roof canopy on each bay with extraction from the top. This stops welding fumes leaking out and massively improves the whole factory environment.

In the bay, the placement of all elements were optimised including tools such as grinders, our existing lifting tables, shelfs for clamps and even the radio etc. This was all with a view to maximise comfort for our great team of welders who work long hours in the bays.

Once ideas had been gathered, a prototype was built and the welders tested it out and provided feedback and suggested any changes they’d like made.

Some of the feedback included increasing the height, changing the air inlets, and improving the temperature and the lighting. A significant depth of detail was considered, even analysing shadows being cast and adjusting things accordingly.

The aim was to standardise the bays so that all workers would be familiar with any bay they worked in.

Space for another 5 welding bays to be installed in the near future has been allocated.

Upgraded Equipment

 

Here are some of the standout features that convinced the team to choose the Lincoln welders supplied by our friends at Rapid Welding:

– They enable our team to achieve high-quality welding finishes

– They are energy saving

– Have helpful preset settings

– Are easy to teach employees

– Lincoln are a high-quality, reliable, brand

What the upgrades provide

These welding bays and new equipment have significantly improved the working environment of the whole factory. Improving the comfort of our hard-working welders and also providing some significant efficiency benefits.

Some quotes from our team of welders now the bays are up and running:

“Nice and bright, the light is a lot better than the old welding bays.“

“Nice and compact for what we produce – everything is close to hand.”

“Easy access to bring in your work and remove a complete stove from the lifting table using a sack truck. A lot better than the old welding bays.”

“The extraction helps so much. It keeps the fumes away from people in the rest of the fabrication shop.”

New Robot Arms

 

In addition to our upgraded welding bays we have invested in two more cutting-edge robot welding arms.

This has doubled our robot welder capacity from 2 to 4 robot arms and is allowing us to produce stoves at a much more efficient rate. Our skilled robot operators have been working intensively, learning to program new models and learning how these machines work to maximise their output.

These robots produce less spatter with pulse welding, removing the need to spray the stoves with anti-spatter products. This has decreased the amount of processing needed post-weld significantly, which is an incredible boost to productivity, cutting energy consumption, and making it an improved place to work.

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A.J Wells continues to look for new ways to improve the business for our wonderful customers, our fantastic team of hard-working employees and the environment. Our latest investment manages to positively impact all these areas and the size of the investment is testament to the significant growth of the business for which we are truly grateful. Watch this space for the next steps in A.J Wells’ journey!

You can get in touch here to discuss your project.

Enhance your fireplace with a wood stove heat shield

charnwoodstoves
26 May 2023

A primary consideration when getting a wood-burning stove will be making sure it is installed and situated safely. If you have limited room, a heat shield can play an important role in protecting your surrounding space. Furthermore, a wood stove heat shield offers a great opportunity to elevate the visual appeal of your fireplace to even greater heights.

 

The importance of a wood stove heat shield

Without adequate clearance from your stove, a combustible wall or object can overheat, dry out and present a fire hazard. The Fire Protection Association recommends that in general the common radiant-type stove maintain 900mm of space from a combustible surface. When this is not possible a heat shield is your only option. Situated between your stove and the exposed surface, a heat shield can reduce the required distance for safety. For more information on the minimum standards for heat shields and their installation, HETAS provides a comprehensive guide.

Additionally, to learn about our 8 tips wood stove users should do during the holiday season, view here.

 

VLAZE Heat Shields

 

3-images-of-wood-stove-heat-shields
3 stunning heat shield options from VLAZE

VLAZE, our sister company, fabricate heat shields from vitreous enamel, a superior material known for its many outstanding properties. It is heat-resistant up to 650°C, which allows you to reduce the distance between your stove and another surface to 95mm. For Charnwood stoves that reduces even further, to just 75mm – a vast improvement on HETAS regulations. This allows you to maximise space, providing greater flexibility when configuring your room layout. VLAZE’s heat shields are easy to install and available in 3 sizes and 30 luxurious glazes – ample options to match your fireplace dimensions and your style.

 

Design

The images above show the potential of heat shields to add a splash of colour, texture, and designer flair to your fireplace surround. VLAZE have developed a wide range of styles drawing on both historical and contemporary references.

Heat shields are available in a wide range of flat colours, subtle textures or with screen-printed graphics. Once fired in the furnace, the surface is colour-fast, meaning the colours and artwork will never fade. Working alongside several designers, they have created many beautiful options catering for both modern and classic tastes. From statement patterns to minimalist hues, there are plenty of options available to accent or blend with your existing colour scheme.

To also find out about how to get heat from a wood-burning stove to other rooms, view here.

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A wood-burning stove, whether alight or not, is something that draws the eyes of whoever is in the room. With such a beautiful piece of craftsmanship providing the focal point of your home, it makes sense to give equal consideration to the other elements that will complement it.

For more information on VLAZE Heat Shields click here. To keep up to date with the latest news follow us @charwoodstoves.