Category Archives: Multifuel Stoves

Wood Burning Stove or Multifuel Stove?

February 04, 2012   The Greener Company   No comments

Selecting the best type of stove

Wood burning stoves

It burns wood in airtight conditions. It has opening where air enters and has a chimney where the smoke is released. It can use wood from fuel and normally wood such as beech are good for use. Pines is not good since it does leave resin which maybe dangerous at the end. Use of unseasoned wood may also be problematic since it may cause tar formation in the chimney.

The wood burner is advantageous since it burns slowly releasing heat gradually. It is also less polluting to the environment since carbon dioxide produced is absorbed by the trees. Besides, wood is locally available and can be used when there is power blackout. In addition, they have romantic appeal.

However, wood cannot be efficient coal and tar can cause blocking and fire hazards. For tree, they have to be specific type and also be seasoned enough such that they are dry.

Multifuel stoves

They have mixed fuel such as wood and coal all burned on a grate with opening underneath it. It has also glass door where the fire is found and a chimney to expel smoke.

This is a flexible method that can utilize both wood and other materials to burn. When using coal, it burns efficiently such that no tar is formed. Since coal is usually ready as compared to wood which needs seasoning, then it is efficient.

However, use of cheap coal may proof to be unfriendly to the environment. Some of them give a lot of smoke and also coal is more expensive than wood.

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Wood Burning Stove Care and Maintenance

January 18, 2012   The Greener Company   No comments

Caring and maintaining your Wood Burning Stove

 For a Wood Burning Stove to function effectively, it is vital that one takes care of it. This is critical as it will boost it functioning and ensure safety. One way of taking care of your stove is using the services of a certified installer to carry out conventional repairs on a day to day routine. This may however, not be the case as these professionals may be expensive or hard to get given your environs. Below are some of the guidelines that can help you maintain your stove.

 

Chimneys 

Chimneys have a tendency of building up tar deposits, which can cause fire break-outs. It is thus essential to ensure that you sweep your chimney at least once a year. You can also prevent tar deposits from building up by ensuring that the chimney is well lined. The lining should preferable be made using corrugated stainless steel or pumice. If the chimney is not lined, then a ventilation shaft ought to be put into place and material such as lica should seal the gap found  between the shaft and the chimney for insulation. This ensures that the discharged gases stay hot till the time they are released thus preventing the formation of tar. Ensure also that the chimney is not leaking by using smoke pellets.

To further reduce the formation of tar, the wood to be used must be totally dried up having been dried preferably for a period of over one year. The chimney should be protected from getting wet more so from the rain water which posses a great threat. To avoid this, ensure the rain cap is not broken. The cap is also important as it prevents the chimney from other particles and objects falling from above.

 

Flues 

Tar formation is not exclusive to the chimney but also is a threat to the flue. It is thus advisable that you take care of the deposits as in the case of the chimney. It is also beneficial if there are no open spaces between the various pieces of the flue pipe.

 

Door 

Seals should be put on the door to the wooden stove. The stove will function more effectively if the door is airtight. Fitting the right size of the door seals and cementing them in place ensure that there is no leakage. It is essential that you confirm with an expert concerning the door seals and the suitable cement to use.

 

Paint and Enamel 

Paint that can withstand high temperatures is the most suitable to use to a wood burning stove. The paint helps enhance the outer appearance of the stove. Ensure areas that are not to be painted are covered up. For a factory enameled stove, an enamel filler kit should be used. The paint and the enamel should be obtained from a stove specialist.

 

Firebricks 

Firebricks may become destroyed prompting their replacement. It is important that similar firebricks are used.

Fire Grates 

The fire grate is the surface upon which the wood is placed for lighting. It lies at the bottom of the firebox. The grate is thus, subjected to very intense heat which can damage it. It should thus be replaced every time it is damaged. The new grate should be tested to ensure it perfectly fits onto the stove.

 

Baffle Plates 

Baffles plates made from steel cast iron or ceramic are an essential part of the wood burning stove placed inside the firebox. They are subjected to intense heat from the flames thus are in danger of being worn out. It is necessary to replace them with fresh plates obtained from qualified persons.

 

 

Based on above facts, it can be concluded that carrying out regular checkups on your stove will give it a longer live. Obtaining spare parts and advice from professionals regarding stoves such as the manufacturers will help in boosting its efficiency. Also, ensure the stove has cooled down before making any repairs.

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Sweeping Your Chimney

January 11, 2012   The Greener Company   No comments

Chimney Sweeps and Sweeping Your Chimney

 

 

Chimney sweeping is the process of cleaning the chimney to prevent a chimney fire and maintain a good combustion in your wood burning stove. You can clean your chimney yourself, but it is recommended that you hire professionals such as a NACS or Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps chimney sweep. You may be thinking why you would hire a professional for this job, but this is a very important job and this profession is not new, the chimney sweeping profession is too old to remember and has been going since at least the 16th century.

 

But this does not mean you cannot clean your chimney yourself. Whether you do yourself or hire professional sweepers, in both ways you want to have the job done in the manner that gets the right results, according to the high standards prevailing in the market. The main purpose of cleaning the chimney is to prevent fire. So the cleaning process either by you or the profession sweeper should be performed skillfully and thoroughly.

 

Chimney sweeping is not the only process in cleaning; you need to remove dust on the wall of the chimney too.

Chimney process does not involve the clearing the soot or dust, but need to remove creosote building gradually.

There are some specific tools needed in the process of cleaning chimneys, if you are doing the work yourself.

 

These tools will help you in the whole cleaning process.

 

The tools you will need – Chimney Sweeping Brushes, Covers, Tape, Tarp, Metal Bucket, Mirror, Vacuum, Shovel and broom, Light, Ladder, and Dust Mask.

 

You can either sweep your chimney from the bottom up or from the top down. Cleaning from the top down is the most efficient, but cleaning from the bottom up is the safest!

 

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Defra Approved Wood Burning Stoves

January 10, 2012   The Greener Company   No comments

DEFRA is a department in the United Kingdom and it regulates the smoke emission in the air. The role of this department is very important and crucial because it approves various types of stoves and heating equipments. You should know that DEFRA approval is very necessary for any kind of stove because you cannot sale and purchase any kind of stove without their approval. This department checks the quality of stoves and then gives permission to sale the product. Therefore DEFRA approved products are preferred in the whole world. Similarly these products also considered safe to use. You should know that wood is a very essential part of these stoves. There are many benefits of DEFRA stoves some are listed below

  • These are economical with reduced bills than gas stoves
  • Very low emission of carbon and ammonia and low use of energy
  • Less pollution and very safe for environment
  • Very safe to use practically by the people
  • longer warranties often come with DEFRA approved stoves
  • A lot of designs are available in the market of approved stoves
  • You can operate these stoves with peace of mind in smoke control areas

These are major benefits of using approved stoves. Most of the people prefer and use approves stoves because it is beneficial for them.

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Wood Only Stoves versus Multifuel Stoves

January 09, 2012   The Greener Company   No comments

Many of us want to know the difference between the wood stoves and multi fuel stoves. Further reading will tell you the difference in an easy way.  There is not much difference in between wood only and multi fuel stoves, if you look from outside. But if you open the stove’s door then you will understand more obviously that what the main difference is between the said two is.  If precisely said the main difference in the above two is that the wood stoves are perfectly designed to burn the wood only and the Multi-fuel stoves are specially designed for the use of other fuels, can be coal or other burnable fuels that are smokeless.

 

In the wood burning stoves it is seen that woods are burned on the surface of the burner, and the ashes build up there on the floor of the wood only stoves. Unlike this, multi fuel stoves ashes stores in the pan lying underneath the stove’s grate and should be removed regularly.

 

Every kind of fuel is burned there in the stove and ash drops into the underlying pan.

 

Nowadays wood only stoves are used rarely, because the number selling stove is taken by multi fuel stoves. You can burn easily on the multi fuel stoves what ever you want to burn in a flexible way.

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Inset Wood Burning Stoves

January 08, 2012   The Greener Company   No comments

Do you know about inset stoves? It is very similar to a free standing stove but the main difference between them is that inset stoves usually fit inside the chimney or wall where freestanding stoves can be used anywhere.

The function and objective of both stoves is similar to each other because both provide warmth inside the room. The main advantage of inset stoves is that they can removes cold air outside of the room and brings warm air inside. It maintains the favorable temperature inside the room or house. The main components of inset stove includes glass door, baffle and convection box.

An Inset or insert stove is beneficial because it requires much less space than freestanding stove and looks much more aesthetically pleasing.

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Install a Wood Burning Stove into a Thatched Cottage

January 07, 2012   The Greener Company   No comments

Installing stoves in thatched cottages is not as easy as you think. These stoves are not like the other prevails in the market to install. These are specially designed for the thatched cottages, and are useful only in the cottages said. If you are installing the stove in your thatched cottage, then take care of some important instructions given below. And make sure you will follow these instructions carefully.

 

Stove installation is governed by the Building Regulation Approved Department.

 

Notify the said department regarding the installation of the stoves in any kind of thatched cottages or used an approved HETAS stove installer.

 

You can also install yourself, if only when you have the experience related the fitting of stoves in cottages, it is not recommended otherwise.

 

If you don’t have any experience, then you can find any company providing services for installing of stoves, who will provide you with the installation of the stoves according to the standards of installing the stoves.

 

HETAS registered companies will provide you with the best installation of the stoves and give you the certificate of the final position of stoves, which is self produced, and can challenged anywhere else.

 

However if you prefer yourself, if you can fit, then it is also appreciated and will not make any difference legally.

 

But Building Regulation Approved Department should be informed about the work carried out by you. Which ever way of installation you opt just be careful.

 

But if you hire any HETAS Registered Company and he performs the heat related work for you then it is a must for the HETAS Registered Company to send the HETAS certificate off to your local building control department. Make sure this is done as some HETAS registered companies do not do the duty regarding the rule and regulations.

 

All settings of stoves are set by the company you will hire, nothing to worry about, and after the workers departure. You will not have any kind of trouble after them. If happens then you can call back them. However when having a stove installed in a thatched cottage, extra care must be taken and make sure that the installer uses a Spark Arrester Cowl to stop any sparks from settling on the thatched roof.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Stove CE Approval

January 06, 2012   The Greener Company   No comments

CE approval or CE mark indicates that the appliance has cleared the tests of operational safety and effectiveness and heat exhaust both are tested independently. Nearly all the countries in Europe require CE approval for most of the appliances in homes and industries. CE approval is clearly affirmed by the maker or their officially authorised delegate that, in their view, the appliance has passed all the necessities of the regulations including significant compliance evaluation procedures.

These approvals are not mandatory for the stoves fitted before 2006. Wood Burning Stoves must be tested and approved by the authorities according to the new regulations in order to fit a new or used stove. In case of fire, your home insurance can be cancelled if you fitted a stove which was not approved by the authorities. Engineers registered with HETAS should not fit Wood Burning Stoves manufactured before 2002 and should not go for Building Control Inspection.

A stove must be created in a way that, it should behave normally when used, no volatility, no insecurity, no alteration in working, in short it should work safely. It should be engineered and built as to lessen the chances of detonation while in operation. Wood Burning Stoves should be made in a way that improper air circulation and water into the gas area may not occur. Gas exhaust during ignition, after fire flame annihilation and during re-ignition is controlled and restricted so that harmful gases may not accumulate in the stove and all processes should be very smooth. The material used for the stove should be suitable and must endure the chemical, mechanical and thermal environment. The source or the provider of the material for manufacturing of stoves must assure its durability, stability and performance. The material should not contain any metal or substance that is hazardous to human health. The stove should not release combustion gases in harmful quantity into that particular room.

In order to avoid any accident and environmental pollution everyone should install stoves approved by the concerned authorities and it should be bought through the authorised dealers.

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Stove Smoke Problems?

January 05, 2012   The Greener Company   No comments

How to Remedy Draw Problems

Smoke leaking from your fireplace into your room? Feeling that blurry and choking effect? Know that as the old adage goes ‘where there is smoke there is fire’ it is obvious there is fire in your fireplace, but, eh, there is another fire – A sign of danger to your health.  You’ve got to do something whenever your fireplace draws out smoke into the room more than expected because doing so could save your eyes and lungs and generally, your health.

No smoke without fire, and therefore, no leakage without a cause. Take steps to detect the cause of this smoke drawing out. These steps include drawing observations to the following;

  • Is it as a result of windy season? If so, probably it is a weather situation, otherwise it could be as a result of a shorter-than-expected chimney. You can solve this by either extending the chimney or fitting a wind deflecting cap or both.
  • Effects of other mechanical devices in the house such as a running fan either as a standalone fan or a fan fixed on clothes dryers could cause a low pressure in a poorly ventilated house thus forcing air in through the chimney which changes the flow of smoke to inwards. In this case, the best remedy is to open up ventilations such as doors and other vents that allow air passage to offset the suction effect of low pressure.
  • Check your attic. A leaking attic could suck air out forcing the chimney to let air in to offset the low pressure caused by this suction effect. You can remedy this by sealing all loopholes in the attic.
  • Check the stove’s flue, is it proportional to the fireplace area? A disproportionately smaller flue length and width may serve to chock outflow of smoke thus forcing it to find alternative route which is to flow into the room. You can remedy this by seeking expert advice from stove manual or stove/chimney installers. Remedies to this problem may include redesigning the fireplace if the flue is already large enough or lengthening the flue or replacing it with a larger one or installing a chimney fan.

Keen observation, analysis and remedial action can save you from the hazardous effects of smoke drawing into your room.

 

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Stove Maintenance and Servicing

January 05, 2012   The Greener Company   No comments

Stove Maintenance and Servicing

A stove, like any other device requires your tender care in order to deliver excellent service. This is what you have to reward it for keeping you warm. This tender care may involve a day to day care or occasional maintenance.

Day to day care involves the following simple routine procedures;

  • Check the burn pot daily to ascertain that the air inlets are not clogged by ash or remnant pellets.
  • Always empty the ash container each and every time you want to make new fire.
  • Regularly clean off soot from the flue of the stove
  • Always keep the glass on your stove clean and specifically clean when the glass is completely cool to avoid breakages due to rapid temperature change. There are many brands of glass cleaner to choose from to help you do this work

Occasional maintenance involves the following check up;

  • Always taken a keen look on the grate tray if your stove is a multi-fuel one, a broken grate needs to be replaced immediately.
  • If the burn pot is lined with firebricks always check for cracks and replace those broken ones immediately. Failure to do so may result into the cast iron which forms the walls of the stove being deformed or broken.
  • Check the ashtray to confirm that it is not punctured. A punctured ashtray may cause fire accident if left unattended, in case the ash contains some glowing specks of fuel. This may burn the floor carpet or fall on any material such as paper which may ignite flame
  • Replace deformed or broken fire-rope seals found around the glass and door contacts.
  • Gaps between the side and top plates of cast iron stove should be resealed immediately with fire cement.
  • Always guard your cast iron stove against rusting by re-painting with a heat resistant paint whenever you realize that the paint is wearing out.
  • Ensure that the glass is not cracked. If the glass is cracked it may need to be replaced to avoid any accidental eventuality.

 

Following the above outlined simple steps will ensure that you continue to enjoy quality and undisrupted service from your stove.

 

 

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