Category: Wood Burning Stove

Why burning the RIGHT wood saves you money & protects the environment!

charnwoodstoves
23 Jan 2023

With the cost-of-living crisis biting, we are all looking for ways to save money – particularly on our bills! If you own a wood-burning stove you are in a stronger position than most, however, we urge you not to cut corners and always use appropriate fuel. Following stove best practices are vital for the environment, your health and ultimately in the medium to long term, your pockets!

Read on to learn more about woodstove best practices and how following them saves you money!

Burning the right fuel

It is very important to only burn wood with a moisture content of 20% or less. This will keep harmful emissions to a minimum and significantly improve efficiency while protecting your stove and chimney – saving you money!

Look out for the Woodsure Ready to Burn label which guarantees a moisture content of 20% or less.

For a list of approved firewood sellers in your area click here.

What not to burn

Here are some of the key things to avoid burning. Please note this is not an exhaustive list.

-Unseasoned or wet wood (moisture content above 20%)

-Plywood offcuts, chipboard and MDF are not advised due to the glues used to make them.

-Avoid old/recovered wood that has been treated or old painted wood as these can be toxic.

-Do not burn rubbish.

-Printed papers are coated with chemicals and can cause troublesome ash deposits.

-Natural or synthetic fibres, such as fabric, burn too fast and can be toxic.

-Any solvents or chemicals and substrates potentially exposed to them.

How long does firewood usually take to season/dry?

Firewood takes approximately 12 months to season, however, there are ways (set out below) that can help reduce the time it takes.

How to speed up the seasoning/drying process

SPLIT wood into logs in a size to suit your stove no larger than 15cm (6”) in diameter. Split some smaller pieces to use as kindling.

STACK the wood in a place that gets plenty of sun and ventilation. An untidy pile of wood may rot before it has time to season, so make sure the logs are stacked in a way that allows air to circulate. Ideally, keep the stack off the ground and away from the house and stack the wood bark side down, except for the top row:

Never stack logs above head height to prevent injury from falling logs.

COVER the stack to protect it from rain and snow. You can cover just the top, or the sides as well – just make sure the air can get in and that moisture isn’t getting trapped.

STORE the wood for 18-24 months or until the moisture content is below 20% (you can test this with a Moisture Meter). It’s a good idea to bring wood inside two or three days before you intend to burn it to make sure it’s properly dried out and ready to use.

Caution – what not to do

Don’t stack wood against your wood-burning stove! Whilst it may look attractive, stacking wood to dry around or against your stove is a significant fire risk. It is vital that safety clearances to combustibles are maintained.

For all the required info please read: Setting Clearances & Installing Heat Shields for your fireplace.

Potential free sources of wood

1. After a storm

After a storm, fallen trees and branches become available which, with permission, you can collect. This would need to be seasoned before use.

2. Industrial woodworkers

Woodworkers, sawmills, and joiners near to your home are worth contacting to find out if they ever have any offcuts of wood that they need to get rid of. This is likely to be dryer than other sources with the potential to be used straight away.

3. Online

Whether it is leftover wood from a recent home improvement or a tree that had to be cut down, people often advertise free wood on websites like Gumtree and Freecycle if you are happy to collect it. Make sure to check it with a moisture meter before using.

What is the perfect wood-burning temperature?

The ideal wood-burning temperature range is between 140 and 240 degrees Celsius (284 to 464 degrees Fahrenheit) which avoids damage to the stove and potential creosote buildup.

How to adjust the fire temperature?

To reach a sufficient temperature, ensure a good draft, use seasoned wood and build the fire correctly ensuring your fire burns hot enough. To reduce the temperature of your fire when in use, you can close the air vents.

You can use a Flue Pipe Thermometer to make sure you are burning wood in the perfect temperature range.

For more wood-burning stove tips please read:

https://www.charnwood.com/8-tips-wood-stove-users-holiday-season/

7 ways to maximise your wood-burning stove’s efficiency

charnwoodstoves
20 Dec 2022

At Charnwood, a key part of our mission is to maximise wood-burning efficiency. Our revolutionary Blu technology means our stoves achieve ClearSkies ratings of 5/5 stars, while easily outperforming Ecodesign regulation requirements. We believe this is vital work when considering all the myriad benefits wood burning offers the individual and society. Carbon neutrality, significant well-being benefits, heat security and perhaps most importantly right now, low-cost fuel.

If you’ve already upgraded to an Ecodesign stove but are still looking for ways to improve efficiency, then please read on. In this post, we will discuss 7 great ways to make your stove work even harder for you and the environment!

1. Use a stove pipe thermometer

A Stove or Flu pipe thermometer is an essential piece of equipment that allows you to accurately monitor your stove’s temperature. This helps burn wood efficiently, protecting your stove and chimney, while reducing emissions and maximising heat output.

“Makes it so much easier to see if my fire is working at optimum temperature and if I need to adjust the amount of wood/air flow.” Charnwood customer from the 2022 stove accessory survey

Additionally, we recommend keeping your stove glass clean so you can monitor your fire and gauge its intensity. As you become more experienced you will be able to better predict the necessary interventions for gaining maximum efficiency.

2. Burn only dry, seasoned wood for better combustion

It’s important to burn only dry, seasoned wood with a moisture content of 20% or below. Wet wood (anything above 20%) doesn’t burn as well, leading to low efficiency and more smoke and pollutants.

Seasoned wood is wood that has been cut and usually allowed to dry for at least 6-12 months. You can roughly estimate if wood is seasoned by its lighter weight when compared to wet wood and telltale cracks in the end grain. However, to be sure, we strongly recommend using a moisture meter to accurately check the moisture content.

Better still, you can purchase kiln-dried wood from an approved firewood seller. Click here to search in your area.

3. Use a heat shield to direct more heat into the room

You can reduce your stove’s clearances to combustibles and direct more heat back into the room with a Vlaze heatshield. Vlaze heat shields and hearth plates protect walls and floors from high temperatures and help reflect heat back into your room – they look great too!

4. Harness your stove’s heat for cooking and boiling the kettle

If you have a wood-burning stove, you can harness your stove’s heat for cooking with cast iron pots and pans. This is a fantastic way to save energy while heating your home! For everything you need to know about cooking with your stove click here.

5. Check the seals on your stove

It’s important to make sure that the seals on your stove are tight. If the seals become too loose, this will reduce the efficiency of your stove and could allow smoke into your home. To check the seals, simply look at the gasket (rope seal) around the door of your stove. If it’s not snug against the door, then it needs replacing. You should also check the seal around the chimney to prevent any escape. Taking just a few minutes to check the seals on your wood-burning stove, will help you keep your home safe and warm all winter long.

If you’re still not sure how to check the seals, consult your stove owner’s manual or contact a qualified technician.

6. Don’t overfill the stove – allow for air circulation

It’s important not to overfill the firebox of your wood-burning stove. This allows proper air circulation which is key to ensuring an even and efficient burn. A good rule of thumb is to fill the firebox no more than halfway so the wood gets enough oxygen to burn properly. If not wood will smoulder which can cause creosote buildup, a flammable substance that can cause chimney fires.

7. Regularly clean out ash and soot from inside the stove

It’s important to regularly clean out the ash and soot that builds up inside. This helps keep the stove looking clean and improves efficiency as ash and soot can block the airflow inside the stove, making it difficult for the fire to breathe.

How often you clean will depend on how often the stove is used, but generally, it is best to do a thorough cleaning once every couple of weeks.

We highly recommend using an ash carrier to make the process much easier and mess-free!

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Using a wood-burning stove is a great way to heat your home, cook meals, and save money on energy costs. However, it is important to take proper maintenance steps to ensure optimal performance. With these tips, you can enjoy the warmth of your fire this winter knowing you are being as efficient as possible!

Merry Christmas from Charnwood & A.J Wells

charnwoodstoves
19 Dec 2022

Every year we send a limited-edition Charnwood calendar to each of our fantastic Charnwood stockists. It has become something of a tradition and a nice way to share some beautiful artwork and our latest wood-burning stove images.

We are delighted that the wonderful author/illustrator, Rachel Bright, has generously given us a beautiful graphic poem to take pride of place on this year’s front cover.

It’s so wonderful, in fact, that we just had to share it with you.

Meet me by the fire at midnight 

by Rachel Bright

Doesn’t it just capture the imagination? It weaves a story that surely resonates with anyone lucky enough to own a wood-burning stove – it really makes you want to light the fire and snuggle!

Most of us have our own magical stories that were only possible due to the warm and cosy focal point the fire provides. Bone warming heat and mesmerizing flames that draw loved ones together and into orbit around the woodstove on a cold winter’s night.

And to some peoples’ surprise, many of us actually look forward to winter precisely because of the joy our wood-burning stove brings.

With all the uncertainty in the world, it’s truly comforting to sit back on a cold night with a warm fire blazing. Knowing that you can depend on it whatever the weather and circumstances in the wider world. This is a huge motivator for us to continue creating the latest, most efficient stoves on the market and contribute to a more sustainable future.

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All of us here at Charnwood and A.J Wells & Sons wish you a very merry, warm and toasty Christmas.

Chief Medical Officer’s Annual Report Supports EcoDesign Stoves

charnwoodstoves
19 Dec 2022

Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty, well known to us all from our lockdown television screens, has just released an annual report on air quality in the UK. The Stove Industry Association (SIA) made a significant contribution, and the resulting report provides a fair and balanced appraisal. The findings confirm much of what the wood-burning stove community has been saying for some years now. 

The report highlights the issues with open fires and old woodstoves and endorses the use of modern Ecodesign wood-burning stoves and encourages the use of best wood-burning stove practices. 

Air pollution emissions can be significantly reduced “…using modern, less polluting stoves and burning wood that is dry”. Additionally, “For air pollution emissions, there is substantial difference between the different open fire and stove designs, the age of the appliance and how well maintained it is, and the moisture content of the wood, for those who want to burn wood.” 

Chair of the SIA, Andy Hill, commented: “In this Report the CMO and his team have considered a wide range of contributors to air pollution from industry, transport, and transboundary sources, as well as domestic solid fuel heating. We are pleased that the report recognises the huge advances in stove appliance technology that have been driven by the Ecodesign regulations and that it calls for the Clean Air Act requirements for smoke control areas to be properly adhered to. The report also highlights potentially ground-breaking new technology in some industries, and, similarly, the stove industry continues to develop and invest in new technology to reduce emissions even further.” 

The myriad benefits of wood burning 

 

The report recognises that the reasons for burning solid fuel in the home are varied with Professor Whitty noting that these include “aesthetic as well as practical, ecological or economic reasons”. 

This line is important and acknowledges the unique qualities wood-burning stoves possess. It is something that we feel should be more fully recognised when making evaluations and comparing the overall impact of each home heating solution. 

The myriad benefits wood burning offers the individual and society cannot be fully replicated by any other heating solution. Wood-burning stoves offer potential carbon neutrality, significant well-being benefits, heat security and perhaps most importantly right now, low-cost fuel.  

Wood burning – the past, present and the future 

With the recent positive progress of nuclear fission in the news, there is real hope on the far horizon for an energy source that transforms our society. However, even when this possibility is realized, likely many decades into the future, there will still be a strong argument for wood burning stoves. Perhaps not as a main source of domestic heating, but as a tool for connection and social bonding, while offering a supplementary heat source for when inevitable interruptions of supply occur.  

Until then, wood-burning stoves have a key role to play in helping families through the challenging times we all face. No other heat solution can provide such a range of benefits that help so directly with the cost-of-living crisis and contribute to the environmental goal of Net Zero 2050. 

 

The Making of a Charnwood C-Four Stove

charnwoodstoves
23 Nov 2022

latest cutting-edge equipment and exceptional craftsmanship. In this blog, we will share with you some of the processes involved in making a Charnwood Stove from our UK-based factory on the Isle of Wight.

Metal fabrication

 

To create a high-performing and durable stove, we select the best of British sheet steel as the base metal substrate. The steel meets BS EN 10209 standards.

Laser cutting the steel

 

Our high-tech laser cutter is then used to produce accurately shaped component parts. The tolerance of this system is 0.2 mm with the ability to cut materials from 0.5mm up to 25 mm in thickness. This level of accuracy allows us to achieve sleek finishing touches on even the smallest details.

Shaping the metal

 

The stove’s body panels are formed to the required shapes and sizes with just a 2mm margin of error.

Welding the metal

 

Our welding process involves cutting-edge robotics as well as our extremely experienced and skilled team members, who have a combined 50 years of experience in the manufacturing industry.

Refining components

 

Smaller components receive finishing touches by hand.

Spraying high-temperature stove paint

 

After rinsing and neutralising the metal, our skilled team uses a spray gun to apply even coats of our specially formulated high-temperature stove paint. In addition to the standard Charnwood Black, we also offer you a choice of seven other beautiful shades.

Drilling & Assembly

 

After the drilling is complete, we move on to assembly. We carefully put all the pieces together, making sure that everything is aligned correctly and functioning optimally. Once the stove is assembled, we conduct a series of tests to ensure that it meets our high standards.

Packing & Shipping

 

Each stove is signed off by one of our experts before being processed for shipping. We continue to look for ways to reduce excess packaging while aiming to use environmentally friendly materials and encouraging reuse where possible. You can read more here.

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We take great pride in the products we produce at Charnwood. That’s why every one of our wood-burning stoves is handcrafted with care and precision. We hope that this behind-the-scenes look at how we make our stoves has given you a better understanding of the love, care and attention that goes into every Charnwood Stove.

If you are interested in finding out more, we highly recommend contacting an official Charnwood stockist.

Ideal Home Show Christmas Event 2022 (London Olympia Nov 23-27)

charnwoodstoves
08 Nov 2022

Our favourite time of the year is fast approaching! For some it’s watching ELF, others their first advent calendar window, for us the festive season kicks off at the Ideal Home Show Christmas event! From the 23–27 November at Olympia London, this wonderful Christmas shopping extravaganza provides everything you need to prepare your home for the festive season.

You can browse and shop from hundreds of brands across 4 Christmas themed show sections; Gifts, Pets, Home and Decorations. There’s live entertainment, expert demos, celebrity chefs, and thousands of festive gift, home and food ideas that will leave you feeling festive and ready for the season ahead!

Christmas Past (2021)

 

Last year a Charnwood ‘Bembridge’ wood-burning stove took centre stage in Good Homes Magazines ‘Updated Heritage’ roomset. The team also gave a talk on the Interiors Stage discussing all the latest Charnwood developments as well as the introduction of EcoDesign regulations. It was wonderful to meet so many of you to chat and answer your questions.

Good Homes Christmas Roomsets

The Good Homes style team return with 4 beautiful roomsets each with their own distinctive decorating scheme. Created in association with Next Home, they are called Scandi Luxe, Arctic Shimmer, Winter Berry and Woodland Jewel.

It’s a showcase that delivers for a range of tastes, each providing inspiration to help you fill your home with festive spirit in line with the latest trends. A Charnwood Island I and Aire 5 were selected for two roomsets and the sneak peek photos below indicate a perfect setting for the warmth of a Charnwood wood-burning stove.

Arctic Shimmer x Charnwood Island I

 

Photo: Next Home

A Charnwood Island I will feature in a serene Arctic Shimmer roomset with winter whites, soft greys and sparkling silver alongside a host of tactile materials.
 

The Island I is the smallest stove in the Island collection, delivering an output of 2-7kW of heat. Its uncomplicated looks and gentle curves ensure it sits well in any situation, be it modern or traditional. This stove meets Clean Air Act requirements with excellent efficiency of over 85% and an extremely low smoke particle level of 9mg/m3 (the Ecodesign limit is 40mg/m3).

Woodland Jewel x Charnwood Aire 5

 

Photo: Next Home

A Charnwood Aire 5 has been chosen to feature in the elegant Woodland Jewel roomset. Comprised of rich colours from dark evergreen hues to on-trend amber paired with tortoiseshell accessories and sumptuous soft furnishings.
 

The Charnwood’s iconic Aire 5 wood burning stove has been designed to maximise the view of the fire. The minimal styling of the Aire 5 fits comfortably into virtually any fireside situation whether it be freestanding or within a traditional fireplace. The stove delivers a comfortable 2-5kW of heat to the room with a crystal clear burn – a wonderful focal point for the room.

The Aire 5 incorporates Charnwood’s unique BLU burning technology. Not only a vast improvement on the new 2022 Ecodesign standards, BLU also meets with Defra exemption limits; allowing wood to be burnt cleanly and safely in smoke control areas.

Vlaze Hearths

Vlaze Hearths will be used to create a clean, modern platform on which to stand our stoves. Vlaze is our sister company and are experts in using porcelain enamel for the living environment and creating luxury fireside products.

The smooth gloss surface finish is heat and fire-resistant, easy to clean and available in a wide range of colours & designer finishes. The hearth plates are available in 5 sizes to suit most stoves and boast a 12mm depth conforming to UK building regulations for non-constructional hearths.

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As with Vlaze, the quality of Charnwood Stoves can only be fully appreciated in person. To book your tickets and discover a world of festive delights click here – we hope to see you there!

If you can’t make it to the Ideal Home Show Christmas, then we recommend searching for your local official Charnwood stockist here.

Writer’s Shed x Charnwood C-Four

charnwoodstoves
22 Sep 2022

At the bottom of a garden in Hackney, London, lives this striking, modern, geometric ‘Writer’s Shed’ by British architects Weston, Surman & Deane. It was designed as a writing retreat for an author and acts as his city sanctuary where he immerses himself in his work. A Charnwood C-Four was selected to feature prominently in the design from both a visual and functional perspective.

Read on to learn why Charnwood was the ideal choice for these designers

The shed’s design responds to the client’s passion for literature and mythology. Outside, the glowing cedar façade, shingle cladding, log store and chimney invite you into its world. Inside, a large skylight floods the workspace with natural light. The bookcase on the gable wall is carefully crafted around the Charnwood C-Four wood-burning stove situated in the heart of the space.

The Writer’s Shed was shortlisted for the architect’s journal small projects competition 2014 and won the Hackney design award and Hackney People’s Choice award in 2015.

Charnwood C-Four

The C-Four, with its large picture window, benefits from Charnwood’s latest Cleanburn technology and delivers a heat output of between 2 to 5.5kW. It’s a classically styled wood-burning stove that features one single air control and an integrated inlet for ducting external air to improve performance and efficiency. This stove meets Clean Air Act requirements and allows you to burn wood in smoke control zones in London and other densely populated areas.

Key Features:

-Cleanburn airwash technology

-Drop down throat plate enabling the chimney to be swept through the stove

-DEFRA exempt for burning wood in smoke control areas

-The stove can take logs up to 282mm (11”)

Relaxation & focus

The crackle and warmth produced by fire creates a perfect creative, scholarly and stress-free environment. It blocks out and reduces the need for distractions allowing you to be present and focused on the task at hand. Below are some quotes from our customers from a recent well-being survey that highlights how a stove can be an antidote to the digital age and help create an ideal workspace.

“Helps to switch off from the technology that takes over our everyday lives. You feel a sense of achievement when the first sparks ignite.”

“It’s extremely relaxing to sit by the fire and watch the flames dance away. So much so in fact, that we opted to cancel our Netflix subscription and we simply don’t watch it any longer. We’d much rather sit and watch the fire instead!”

“Sitting round the fire has become a special tradition. We’ve removed our technology from the living room and now have the fire and bookcase”

“We watch the flames not the TV (even the dog likes to sit and stare)”

“I sit on the sofa watching the flames. It’s better than watching tv”

“Mesmerising flame watching takes us away from our worries and concerns. The room has a focus that isn’t a screen and gives warmth with it.”

Read more about our customers’ experience with their log-burner and how it helps their wellbeing! 

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.

Willow Cottage x Charnwood Island I

charnwoodstoves
22 Sep 2022

Willow Cottage is both a photography/film location and a unique homestay. Its charming interiors have featured in publications such as Conde Nast Traveller and Country Homes & Interiors as well as attracting visitors from near and far. Charnwood were delighted to supply our Island I wood-burning stove which brings real warmth and comfort to this gorgeous little cabin.

Read on to learn more about Willow Cottage and why Charnwood fits perfectly.

This gorgeous rustic little cabin is located at the bottom of the garden on the grounds of Foster House in Rye, South East England. It is self-contained behind a picket fence and elegant New England Style gates. A luxurious ‘shabby chic’ interior with a rough wooden floor and a small Everhot Aga-style cooker is complemented by a Charnwood Island I wood-burning stove.

At the back, it opens onto a secret garden with decked and shingled areas and flower-filled raised beds. A conservatory and hot tub allow guests to absorb the peace and tranquility of this magical secluded retreat.

It’s such an evocative location and one can imagine lazy mornings with breakfast in the magnificent 4-poster bed, sunlight pouring in, the sounds of nature and of course a roaring fire in the evening after a blissful day.

Well-being well and truly restored.

Charnwood Island I

The all-new Island I is the smallest stove in the Island collection and is perfectly suited to the space at Willow Cottage.

Its uncomplicated looks and gentle curves ensure it sits well in any situation; be it modern or traditional. It can take a log length of up to 370mm (14.5”) and with a rated output of 5kW the Island I, in certain situations, can be installed without the need for external air. This stove meets Clean Air Act requirements and boasts an efficiency of over 85% and an extremely low smoke particle level of 9mg/m3 (the Ecodesign limit is 40mg/m3).

With groundbreaking new burn technology, the Island I not only meets Defra exemption limits (allowing wood to be burnt cleanly in smoke control areas) but vastly exceeds the new 2022 Ecodesign standards.

Cultivating a deeper connection to nature

Much like taking a trip to the Rye countryside, using a woodstove gives its owners a deeper connection to nature. Collecting firewood, chopping and preparing a stove feels primal and awakens a natural sensibility.

Below are some quotes from our customers from a recent well-being survey that highlights this connection.

“Worked in forestry for 36 years, just a natural thing to do, can’t beat a real fire.”

“Chopping and stacking wood is very calming and lets my mind focus on that one task. Building, lighting and getting the fire to the perfect temperature does the same and gives a real sense of achievement. It all makes me feel closer to nature.”

“For me, sitting around a real fire has a deep connection to something ancient.”

“There’s something deeply Primeval about lighting a fire and benefiting from its heat. Every time you light it there is a deep sense of satisfaction”

“Splitting logs gets me outside and keeps me active, which is good for my body and mind. There’s also a great sense of satisfaction in getting the wood pile ready for winter, and I’ve also learned a lot about different types of wood and how to manage trees sustainably.”

“Watching the stove in full display is almost hypnotic and has great relaxing properties. It also has a back-to-nature feel and without any electrical devices in the room is perfect for de-stressing.”

Ready to take the next step?

Whether you’re ready to buy or just want to discuss your options, we strongly recommend that you contact an official Charnwood stockist, where the before and after-sales support will be of a standard approved by us.

 

If you wish to stay at the cottage you can make a booking here!

Your Wood Burning Stove Questions Answered

charnwoodstoves
17 Feb 2022

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 burner 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 wood-burning stove, as well as the body and flue system.

When you’ve chosen your fuel, light the stove, following our guide on fitting a wood burning stove.

Finally, once you’ve finished using the stove, make sure you clean it to keep it in optimum condition.

Explore how to successfully clean a wood burning stove.

 

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 burner 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 wood for wood burning stove 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.

What are the Wellbeing Benefits of Log Burners?

charnwoodstoves
21 Sep 2021

We recently released the fascinating results of the Charnwood Wellbeing Study 2021 which revealed 93% of 1227 wood-burning stove users recognise their stove’s positive impact on wellbeing. A further 6% answered maybe with only 1% replying no. The study also gave additional detailed insight into how these wellbeing benefits are experienced and this blog will take a closer look at these findings.

Relaxation

Lighting your stove is the perfect way to draw a line in the sand from the stresses of the day. It can become almost a ritual that readies the body and mind for repose. There is documentation of the power of fire playing this roll since the dawn of time. Studies have shown how hearth and campfires can influence arterial blood pressure and defray the costs of the social brain through fireside relaxation. Here is a section from the study:

‘Results indicated consistent blood pressure decreases in the fire-with-sound condition, particularly with a longer duration of stimulus, and enhancing effects of absorption and prosociality. Findings confirm that hearth and campfires induce relaxation as part of a multisensory, absorptive, and social experience.’

So, in short, science supports what our survey participants reported below.

“I find the process of building and lighting the fire therapeutic and sitting watching the flames is very relaxing.”

A fire promotes feelings of safety and security which helps relaxation. Tension is often held in the body and the warmth of the fire seems to have a physiological effect as well as a psychological one. The heat relaxes the muscles, and the mind follows.

“It helps me to switch off after work and also to consider things more clearly and calmly. It seems to warm my soul as well as my feet!”

“We love our log burner. It makes us feel warm, safe and secure. It helps heat the whole house, which has proved an asset in power cuts. Nothing beats sitting in the living room with the warmth of the fire in the depths of winter.”

“It’s extremely relaxing to sit by the fire and watch the flames dance away. So much so in fact, that we opted to cancel our Netflix subscription and we simply don’t watch it any longer. We’d much rather sit and watch the fire instead!”

Stress release

With stress widely regarded as one of the unhealthiest components of our lives, it is encouraging to know that a fire can change these negative states of being.

“You can just gaze into the fire and be taken away from the stresses of work. It gives opportunity for the family to come together and talk. Talking just seems to come easier when siting around the stove.”

“Chopping wood is a great way to relieve stress! Everyone congregates around the fire and the children like to help with the kindling etc. It just creates a special atmosphere.”

“All my problems seem very manageable when I feel the fires warmth, realising that life is good and that I shouldn’t stress out about the small stuff.”

Improves mood

 

Mood and happiness are intertwined and while we all have strategies to improve our mood, some are better for us than others. Lighting your stove is arguably one of the better ways to improve your mood and one that can be depended upon time and time again.

“The world seems much better with a stove! It has huge mental health benefit, particularly during pandemic “
Again, whether that is improving from a negative state or enhancing an already wonderful occasion, it appears a significant proportion of participants recognise a strong effect from their wood-burning experience on their mood.

“Really effective on cold winter afternoons with few outdoor options.
Definitely a mood lifter.”

“My stove helps with relaxation & mood improvement. It helps to unwind after a day’s exertions at work.”

Promotes Family Bonding

With more of our lives being played out online, those of us who remember life before social media, recognise the negative impact on in-person interaction and connection. One can be in the same house, room or even at the same dinner table as others and still feel detached from the person gazing at their phone. As an antidote, a wood-burning stove can provide a focal point for the home, encouraging people to share space and spark conversation. Time shared in this way often leads to a deeper sense of connection and a tighter family unit.

“You can just gaze into the fire and be taken away from the stresses of work. It gives opportunity for the family to come together and talk. Talking just seems to come easier when siting around the stove.”

“Something the whole family enjoy doing together and it makes us all feel incredibly relaxed and happy.”

“After a day of sledging and building snowmen and having snowball fights with the family it was very relaxing and comforting for us all to warm up in front of the fire.”

“Having the fire going brings everyone to the same room. This helps with family bonding and discussions in general. With our digital lives, it is so easy to just stay in your room and get distracted. However, the fire brings us together and we can even share a warm drink together!”

Homely atmosphere

Now this one didn’t surprise us too much, gaining the most votes out of any of the options available. Relating to family bonding, the fireplace has long been the centre of the home and we are hardwired to respond positively to its influence.

“Winter evenings with friends. Whenever we have visitors during the winter, we always make sure the stove is running as this usually ensures nobody will request the television be turned on, leading to an altogether much nicer atmosphere with people actually chatting and engaging much more, rather than staring at the screen.”

“Chopping wood is a great way to relieve stress! Everyone congregates around the fire and the children like to help with the kindling etc. It just creates a special atmosphere.”

“Christmas especially. The stove just provides a much-needed atmosphere on a cold winter’s night. You feel relaxed, cosy and there is something about it that just welcomes you into the living room. I couldn’t live without it.”

Meditative

The recognition of meditation’s utility in our modern lives has grown exponentially over recent years. Online meditation apps, sound meditations as well as more traditional forms have all been widely adopted. Despite these great tools, it can still be very challenging to unlock the benefits of meditation through a strict dedicated practice.

Perhaps equally beneficial and certainly more accessible are those everyday acts/experiences that encourage something approaching a meditative state. Hobbies, music, walks in nature etc. can, from anecdotal evidence, bring about these states to greater or lesser degrees. Wood-burning is also certainly on that list. A full sensory experience that allows the mind to detach from thoughts more easily, replacing with a spaciousness that is restorative. Detaching from thoughts and stilling the mind is so much easier when one has a focus, be it the breath, a mantra, or a fire…

“It draws the family (and pets) into the room, warms the atmosphere and the space and watching the flames is meditative too. “

“You can just gaze into the fire and be taken away from the stresses of work. It gives opportunity for the family to come together and talk. Talking just seems to come easier when siting around the stove.”

“Watching the stove in full display is almost hypnotic and has great relaxing properties. It also has a back to nature feel and without any electrical devices in the room is perfect for de-stressing.”

“Mesmerising flame watching takes us away from our worries and concerns. The room has a focus that isn’t a screen and gives warmth with it.”

Escapism

The process of lighting a fire taps into the more primal part of our brain and somehow allows us to switch off from the everyday stresses and escape from worry. A warm fire signifies access to cooking, warmth, and shelter and when these primary needs are catered for, we instinctively feel better about life.

“Fire is deep within the human psyche and sits in a happy place in our limbic brain. You get lost from the day to day in a fire – it’s a little bit of wilderness in the order of the day to day.”

“I’ve long felt a disconnect between earning money in the corporate world and home life. Here is something with a direct connection – the family stay warm through my simple effort.”

“Helps to switch off from the technology that takes over our everyday lives. You feel a sense of achievement when the first sparks ignite.”

Other

There are too many incredible quotes to list them all. To give a feel for the full range of benefits that a log burner can bring to wellbeing, here’s a list of the most used words and phrases in the ‘Other’ category:

Safety, protection, memories, therapeutic, comforting, unwind, switch off, tradition, better than tv, mesmerising, warmth, warm my soul, nicer atmosphere, joyful experience, encourages chatting, stove is a catalyst, congregates, less vulnerable, natural, sense of achievement, hypnotic, cosy, ritual, magical, toasting marshmallows, contentment, building a memory…

The results of the Charnwood Wellbeing Survey are the first of its kind. Whilst offering many fascinating insights into life with a log burner, as with many things in life, seeing is believing. Perhaps we can modify this expression to ‘experiencing is believing’ as far more than one sense is stimulated when nestling down in front of a toasty fire on a cold winters evening.

Read More:

Wood Burning Stoves – Wellbeing Benefits