HETAS Registered Installers
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about stoves, installation, maintenance and more.
We hope you find the following information useful and informative. If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for, please get in touch and our team will be happy to help.
STOVES & FUEL
About Your Stove
In short, No. There is no ban on wood burning stoves. You can read more about this on the HETAS website which covers Defra’s Clean Air Strategy in detail.
Essentially it’s the type of grate they use. For burning wood, a flat grate is required with air directed into the top of the fire. For solid fuel, air must be directed through the fuel from underneath. Multi-fuel stoves can burn both wood and solid fuel.
Stoves are either designed for wood burning, solid fuel burning, or both. They have a burning grate specifically designed for the fuel type. Those stoves that can burn both wood and solid fuel are usually known as multi-fuel stoves.
Make sure you’re buying good seasoned firewood. If you live in a smokeless zone, you must only burn smokeless fuels or have a DEFRA approved stove. Ensure the wood was cut and split at least a year ago and stored so that air and sun can dry it out. Look for cracks in the end grain of the logs — this is a good sign the wood is properly seasoned.
Air-wash is achieved by drawing air across the doors to create a barrier between the burning fire and the glass. By preheating this air, the overall temperature of combustion is increased, keeping the door glass cleaner during operation.
Heat output is measured in kilowatts (kW) and ranges from 3kW to over 15kW. As a rough guide, multiply the height, width and length of your room together and divide by 14 to get a gauge of what size stove you need. Getting the right size is important — too powerful and you’ll overheat; too small and it won’t warm the room effectively.
INSTALLATION
Getting Your Stove Installed
You are strongly advised to use a HETAS Registered installer. All appliances must be installed by a competent person who understands safety and Building Regulations. A HETAS registered installer will notify the work to your Local Authority as required by law. Failure to use a registered installer may void the manufacturer’s guarantee and invalidate your home insurance.
From April 2005, it became a legal requirement to notify all new or replacement appliance installations to your Local Authority. However, this is now done automatically on your behalf by the HETAS registered installer.
It’s OK if you don’t have a chimney. Prefabricated stainless steel systems (twin wall systems) can be the answer where there is no chimney or the existing chimney is inadequate. These can be fixed to the outside of a building or installed internally.
If you have a standard masonry chimney, it is highly advisable to fit a stainless steel flexible flue liner. When a stove is fitted, there is less heat going up the chimney than an open fire, which can cause tar condensation and incorrect draught. A liner also prevents smoke and fumes from leaking into other rooms.
Yes, it is a Building Regulation requirement. The hearth must overlap the footprint of the stove by at least 150mm around the back and sides, and 300mm in front of the stove.
Installation costs can vary depending on the complexity of the work required. However, having our own installers allows us to keep our costs competitive. Contact us for a free survey and quotation.
MAINTENANCE & CARE
Looking After Your Stove
A wood burning stove benefits from having a bed of ash, so depending on use, will probably need cleaning out no more than once a week. In contrast, a solid fuel stove should be riddled and the ash removed daily.
It is recommended to fit a rain cap. When the stove is not in use and it is raining, you are likely to collect rainwater in the stove body if you do not have one fitted.
Ideally you should have your chimney swept at least once a year, but this can be done more frequently if you notice changes in the draw from your chimney or if you use your stove heavily.
No. The efficiency rating of a stove indicates how much heat is retained versus lost up the chimney. If a stove states 70% efficiency, the remaining 30% is lost. However, some of this ‘loss’ may be essential to keep the chimney or flue operating correctly.
Yes, a stove has parts that will need maintaining and replacing over time due to wear and tear. Common parts include the fire grate, firebricks, baffle plate, rope seals, and glass. Regular servicing will identify when parts need attention.