Help and advice
Stove types
There are two main types of solid fuel stove.
1) wood only
2) multifuel (suitable for wood and smokeless fuel)
Multifuel stoves can normally be identified by having both a primary and secondary air control. They will also have a raised grate with holes or slots in to allow air to flow in underneath the smokeless fuel. Wood only stoves do not have a raised grate with air holes or slots and will most likely only have the upper air control.
Lighting a fire
Tried lighting a fire but it keeps going out? Large amounts of smoke pour out when you start up the stove?
Maybe you need to look at how you start a fire .
Follow the guidance from Burnright from the link below and you should be able to start a fire efficiently and also without producing excessive amounts of pollution.
Wood Burning
Good quality fuel is essential for effective and clean burning. Fuel should have a low moisture content (20% moisture or below) and can be checked with a moisture meter.
Good quality woods can be hard or soft wood and available as kiln dried or air dried.
Green wood is freshly cut, full of moisture and should be split, stored and fully dried before use.
Buying wood that displays the Woodsure logo ensures you are using a good quality, dry fuel.
Multifuel stoves are designed to burn wood or smokeless fuels but please note that you should only burn one or the other at one time - never mix fuels
Smokeless Fuels
Are similar in appearance to coal or barbeque briquettes. It is a sythetic material designed to burn cleanly. It should not be mistaken for coal which is not permitted for use in smoke control areas and in many modern solid fuel appliances.
Multifuel stoves are designed to burn wood or smokeless fuels but please note that you should only burn one or the other at one time - never mix fuels
Fuel storage
Fuel storage is very important, logs can be stored outside but should be kept off the ground (ideally raised by 150mm or more to stop damp and water from the ground penetrating the wood).
The store should be covered from the rain but allow air to flow through the store. This allows the moisture from the logs to escape.
Covering a store completely in plastic will protect from rain but prevent moisture from escaping so always allow for air flow through the stack.
Safety
A working carbon monoxide alarm is essential in EVERY room that has an appliance (stove, cooker, boiler etc).
Carbon monoxide alarms will only work if they are correctly placed. Please refer to the illustration provided by HETAS on the correct alarm positions.
Alarms should also be tested regularly. It's easy to forget but if you follow Mark Fenton Sweep Services on facebook we send out weekly reminders with our "Test it Tuesday" posts.
Smoke Control Areas
Do you live in a smoke control area?
If so there may be specific restrictions on the fuel
and specification of appliances that you should use.
Follow the link to find out more
