| Firstly, before you purchase a woodburning stove | | | | tested by an authorities body for combustion and |
| contact a qualified fitter in your area for an idea | | | | emissions. In the case of taller contemporary |
| of the installation cost. Check out heta's website | | | | modern steel convector stoves look for the Din+ |
| for more information on qualified fitters. The cost | | | | approval which means it has acquired the high |
| should be affordable if you already have an | | | | German standards for combustion and emissions. |
| existing masonry clay lined chimney in the home | | | | Many manufacturers to-day have there castings |
| that is in use and in good condition, although this | | | | made abroad in places like Poland, Hungary, |
| may require a twin wall flexible stainless steel liner | | | | Bosnia, Bulgaria, India etc and the well known one |
| for solid fuel should the clay liner have a cross | | | | China. Remember China is the home of castings |
| sectional area greater than 20% of the | | | | and although I have seen some poor excuses for |
| woodburning stove flue pipe. Your qualified fitter | | | | stoves emanating from China in the past, I have |
| can advise you on this. | | | | more recently seen some well made, quality |
| In the case of a woodburning stove into a new | | | | traditional cast-iron multifuel and contemporary |
| situation in the home with no existing chimney, a | | | | steel stoves that have been tested and carry full |
| twin wall rigid and insulated stainless steel class1 | | | | CE approvals for combustion and emissions. |
| flue for solid fuel will need to be fitted. Once again | | | | Prices may vary greatly form manufacturer to |
| the qualified fitter can advise on this. Other | | | | manufacturer but many woodburning stove |
| requirements such as the building of a masonry | | | | suppliers now buy directly from countries like |
| clay lined chimney instead of a twin walled rigid | | | | China so you should find these competitively |
| and insulated stainless steel flue system will | | | | priced. How long this will last no-one knows but as |
| require the services of a builder. Bear in mind in | | | | the quality and standards improve from China and |
| both of the above cases you will need to consult | | | | the employees standards of living and wages rise |
| your local building control and possibly planning in | | | | it will not be long before their prices are close or |
| the case of a masonry chimney before carrying | | | | even on a par with Europe. |
| out any work. Please see one of our other | | | | While you are carrying out your research why not |
| articles on Ventilation and fitting of woodburning | | | | also consider a multifuel stove as opposed to a |
| stoves with references to building control | | | | woodburning only stove . These stoves will burn |
| regulations. | | | | coal, smokeless fuel, dry peat and can easily be |
| Now let us get down to the matter in hand. | | | | converted into a dedicated woodburner if you |
| Ensure you can get a good supply of seasoned | | | | have a good and steady supply of seasoned |
| wood so the woodburning stove will combust as | | | | wood. |
| designed and give high efficiency.There are many | | | | It is a simple case in many of the traditional |
| wood farms in the market place to-day that | | | | multifuel stoves of removing the grate and |
| provide this service. Ensure you buy from a | | | | ashpan, and placing a layer of sand on the |
| company that uses a tree replanting programme, | | | | cast-iron internal base for insulation. It is a good |
| thereby helping the balance of nature. | | | | idea to place a retention bar between the burning |
| Many people when purchasing a traditional stove | | | | wood and the door so that the stove can be |
| prefer cast-iron because of its lifespan, looks and | | | | re-filled safely when lit, without the concerns of |
| long heat retention. The heat output of a cast-iron | | | | burning wood embers falling from the stove when |
| woodburning or multifuel traditional style stove will | | | | the door is opened. The seasoned wood then |
| be much greater than the same size of a steel | | | | burns directly on top of sand covered base with |
| traditional style stove. Nowadays traditional looking | | | | the primary air vent at the base of the stove |
| steel stoves although plainer in looks are very well | | | | door kept closed and the air vent above the door |
| insulated with scamalux fireboard and the doors | | | | used to control the burning. The reason for this is |
| along with the internal grate systems are usually | | | | that coal and other fossil fuels need a good air |
| made of cast-iron. | | | | source under the fire bed to aid combustion |
| There are a multitude of woodburning stoves in | | | | whereas seasoned wood burns best with an air |
| the marketplace to-day, made from cast-iron or | | | | flow over the top of the wood. Wood ash can be |
| steel and claiming high efficiency and clean | | | | left for several days before emptying . Always |
| combustion. | | | | leave a good bed of ash under the wood when |
| Ensure that the woodburning stove carries a C E | | | | re-lighting the stove. |
| approval stamp which shows that it has been | | | | |