| Wood burning stoves are very much in demand | | | | automatic fuel loading hopper (for wood pellets or |
| these days for two of the most compelling | | | | sometimes wood chips) then it is even more |
| reasons since the dawn of time: money and good | | | | important that the fuel store be located in |
| looks. | | | | proximity to the burner. |
| First there is potential to make serious savings | | | | Point 3 |
| compared to conventional fuel sources, and | | | | A wood burning stove requires a flue lined with a |
| second nothing ever quite pushes the warm 'n | | | | vent material suitable for burning wood fuel. If |
| cosy buttons like a real fireplace. Whether you like | | | | you already have a chimney then it is possible to |
| your cost savings dressed as stylish and ultra | | | | have this fitted with a lined flue suitable for a |
| modern or prefer them wrapped up in the guise | | | | wood burner, but factor in this extra cost. If you |
| of a traditional country kitchen range there's a | | | | don't have a suitable chimney then you will need |
| wood burning stove that's just perfect for you. | | | | to consider where you might be able to have a |
| But wood burners are not for everyone. The | | | | flue installed, bearing in mind that you might well |
| cost savings can indeed be very significant, but | | | | need to also comply with planning and building |
| only if your circumstances are suited to owning a | | | | regulations. |
| wood burning stove. Also there is that matter of | | | | Point 4 |
| "installation" to consider. Here then is a guide | | | | Wood burning stoves are most efficient when |
| through some of the many points you need to | | | | working at full capacity, in other words burning |
| check if you are contemplating installing a wood | | | | fuel at a fast rate rather than gently smouldering. |
| burner. | | | | This presents an obvious dilemma in that a fast |
| Point 1 | | | | burn will typically produce more heat than you |
| Is there a reliable and cost effective supply of | | | | really need or desire, but shutting the fire down |
| solid fuel local to you? What type of fuel is it | | | | then means that no heat is being generated. |
| exactly? Wood burners can accept well-seasoned | | | | A common solution to this is installing an |
| logs and other form of solid wood, wood chips | | | | "accumulator" tank - basically an insulated hot |
| and/or wood pellets. But some wood burning | | | | water cylinder on steroids. This plays the role of a |
| stoves are better suited (or sometimes | | | | "heat battery" that accumulates the excess heat |
| restricted) to particular types of fuel. | | | | from a fast burn so that it can be released as |
| You must understand how you plan to fuel your | | | | required over several days in the form of hot |
| burner before choosing a particular make to install | | | | water to the household radiators and for bathing. |
| or even going ahead with the project at all. Solid | | | | |
| fuel is heavy and bulky and the costs to transport | | | | As a side note, many people who install solar |
| it any distance can quickly mount up to the point | | | | power and heat collection also install an |
| where any potential cost savings have vanished. | | | | accumulator tank to trap useful heat in the same |
| | | | way as they store solar electricity using deep |
| For information: seasoned wood has been left to | | | | cycle batteries. The two systems, solar and |
| dry naturally for at least a year; wood chips are | | | | woodburner, can easily share an accumulator in |
| small pieces of wood such as what comes out of | | | | order to optimise energy savings. |
| those wood chippers that tree surgeons use; | | | | Point 5 |
| wood pellets are manufactured as uniformly sized | | | | There are more regulations and items of |
| small blocks of compressed sawdust. | | | | legislation covering the issue of domestic heating |
| Point 2 | | | | than you could shake a stick at. Then there are |
| You will need somewhere dry, easily accessible | | | | the carrots - the grants and assorted incentive |
| and fairly spacious to store your wood fuel. Ideally | | | | schemes that could significantly reduce your |
| it should also be close to the wood burner itself | | | | installation costs if you know what's available and |
| (lugging logs from the shed at the bottom of the | | | | how to apply. |
| garden wouldn't count as ideal). If plan on using an | | | | |