Wood burning stoves are incredibly popular, with many people using them to heat their homes. It is estimated that around 2.5 million households in the UK have them.
If you’re thinking of joining them and investing in a wood burning stove, you’ve probably got some questions. We’re here to help.
Here are some of the questions we are most frequently asked:
What to put behind a wood burning stove?
Because wood burning stoves must be kept away from combustible objects and materials, it’s important to only place fire-resistant materials behind them. As a result, brick, stone, and tiles are commonly used behind wood burning stoves.
If the stove backs onto the wall, many people choose to use firebacks or heat shields – decorative features that are placed behind the stove to protect the wall.
How to install a wood burning stove?
Your wood burning stove must be installed by a registered HETAS engineer or fitted in line with Building Regulations (document J) before being signed off by Building Control.
If you’re buying a Charnwood Stove, your official stockist will offer full installation, or recommend a registered installer – find out more here.
How to light a wood burning stove?
To follow your wood burning stove, follow these steps:
1. First, clear the grate of ash, then place 2-3 smaller logs on the stove bed.
2. On top of the logs, build a stack of 6-8 kindling sticks, before placing a natural firelighter inside.
3. Open the air control fully to allow for maximum air intake. This should enable quick and easy ignition.
4. Next, light the firelighter.
5. Close the door to the stove, but leave it slightly ajar to help heat the chimney flue for a clean burn.
6. Once the fire is burning well, close the door and reduce the air control.
7. Every time you add a log to the fire, open the air control again until the fire is burning well, then return it to normal.
To run your stove at maximum efficiency, with minimum emissions, try to refuel little and often.
Find more tips for lighting and using your wood burning stove here.
How to use a wood burning stove?
Before using your wood burning stove, make sure you familiarise yourself with the instructions and user guide, so you know what you’re doing from the start.
Next, you’ll need to choose the right fuel – either hardwood or softwood. Failure to do this will impact how long the fire burns, increase fuel costs and potentially damage internal parts of the stove, as well as the body and flue system.
When you’ve chosen your fuel, light the stove, following our guide.
Finally, once you’ve finished using the stove, make sure you clean it to keep it in optimum condition.
How much does it cost to install a wood burning stove?
Your wood burning stove must be installed by a qualified, HETAS registered fitter. The cost of installation will depend on a number of factors, including the installer you use, the scale of the job, and whether you are using an existing flue or not.
As a general guide, in 2022 a wood burning stove will cost around £2,000 to install.
When you buy a wood burning stove from Charnwood, your supplier will either provide installation or recommend an installer. They will be able to provide a quote.
How to clean a wood burning stove?
If you want to keep your wood burning stove performing efficiently and looking its best, it’s important you keep it clean.
Here are some tips for keeping your wood burning stove clean:
• Clean the exterior surface using a soft brush, damp cloth and vacuum cleaner, when the stove is cool and not in use.
• Empty the ash pan and firebox when the stove is not in use (although keep in mind that in the colder months, it’s easier to light your fire on a bed of ash).
• Inspect the rope seals on the doors and flue to ensure they are working properly.
• If your stove is looking tired, give it a fresh spray of paint.
Find out more about cleaning your wood burning stove here.
How to clean wood burning stove glass?
If you use your wood burner regularly, soot can build up on the glass door, reducing your view of the fire. To avoid this build-up and keep your stove looking its best, follow these tips:
• Take a damp paper towel or newspaper, crumple it up, and dip it in the fine wood ash. Use this to rub the stove glass clean.
• To remove significant build-up, burn a fire at a high temperature before you clean the glass.
• Always wait until the glass is cool before you clean it, spraying water on the glass when it’s hot can lead to cracking.
Get more tips for cleaning the glass of your wood burning stove here.
How much is a wood burning stove?
The cost of wood burning stoves varies from model to model. Explore our range of stoves and look for a stockist near you who will be able to provide a quote.
Are wood burning stoves bad for the environment?
There are lots of myths circulating about wood burning stoves being bad for the environment. But they simply aren’t accurate.
While it’s true that wood burners can give off fumes containing microscopic specks of soot, which can lead to air pollution, using approved fuels significantly reduces the risk of this. As of January 2022 all stoves sold must now meet with Ecodesign regulation which ensures a much cleaner burn. If you are burning wood correctly, it can become part of a carbon-neutral process, being balanced out by the carbon absorbed by the tree.
It’s also important to keep in mind that, as long as trees are replanted and woodland is properly managed, using wood for fuel can be part of a sustainable energy process.
Find out more about the environmental impact of wood burning stoves here.
How to fit a wood burning stove?
When it comes to fitting a wood burning stove, there are a host of things to consider, including whether you have a chimney breast or fireplace, the distance from any combustible materials, the size of the room, and the age of the property.
Your wood burning stove must be fitted correctly. If you’re in the UK, that means it must be fitted by a registered HETAS engineer or fitted in line with Building Regulations (document J) before being signed off by Building Control.
When you buy a Charnwood Stove, your supplier will offer full installation, or recommend a registered installer. Find out more here.
We hope we’ve answered your wood burning stove questions. If you didn’t find the information you were looking for, please get in touch.
Your wood burning stove questions answered