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Why install a wood burning stove? Wood burning stoves are very efficient and easy to use. They produce a high level of enjoyable heat and create a great warm feature inside any room. The proper installation of a quality stove will undoubtedly add value to your home. As a result of the high demand manufacturers of stoves have created many exciting and contemporary styles as well as improving the engineering and efficiency of more traditional stoves. As a result there is a stove to suit any room.What is the cost of a survey? A survey is part of the consultation process necessary for a tailored solution to your heating needs. We charge a fee of £35 for all surveys. This fee is deductable from the value of the works should they proceed as a result of the survey. A survey can be arranged by speaking to us. Call Stoveco on 01334 848913 Where does Stoveco carry out surveys and installations? Stoveco is based in Guardbridge, near St Andrews, in Fife, Scotland and for installation of wood burning stoves cover Fife, Dundee, Angus, Tayside, Perthshire, Stirling and Clackmannanshire. Supply only projects and commercial and biomass installations further afield will be considered. Please contact us to discuss your requirements. Are all the stoves available in woodburning and multifuel? Depending on manufacturer stoves will be available as wood only or multifuel. What are the specifications for fuel in multifuel stoves? Smokeless coal, wood, peat and some other solid fuels depending on manufacturer. Can wood be burned in a multifuel stove? Yes. What is the difference in the design of woodburning stoves and multifuel stoves? A wood burning stove has a flat bottom on which wood burns on a bed of wood ash. Wood certainly burns better in a woodburning stove than in a multi fuel stove. Multifuel stoves have a grate on which the fuel burns and an air inlet which allows air to enter from below this grate. An ash pan catches the ash as the fuel burns, so that it can be taken away. For stoves that are multifuel should I specify what I plan to burn when I purchase? It is a good idea to specify as certain stoves may be advertised as multifuel although in reality be best at burning wood. Further, some manufacturers use the optional retrofit multifuel grate which if not required will save money. What is an Airwash System? The airwash system passes hot air past the window of the stove to keep it clear of soot and other build-up. What of wood boilers and their carbon credentials? Wood burning boiler systems do emit carbon dioxide but because the wood fuel is cultivated, it absorbs the same amount of carbon dioxide during its growth as is later released when burnt and therefore does not actually increase the net amount of carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere. How often should the chimney sweep be called out for inspections? It really depends on the construction and type of your chimney, what fuel you are using, how well your wood fuel is seasoned, and how often you use your stove. At least sweep your chimney once each year. Where can one get wood for woodburning stoves? Stovecocan provide you with wood, and we can arrange for speedy delivery. What is the normal length of time between quote and the job being finished? From quote to job completion there is a quick turnaround driven by the customer of 4 – 8 weeks. What does the HETAS qualification mean? The HETAS qualification demonstrates that Stoveco and their engineers possess the necessary skills and knowhow to complete the task with the registration competencies. What are stoves made from? The stoves in the showroom are manufactured from cast iron and steel depending on the manufacturer. What are the pros and cons of cast iron versus steel? The stoves are manufactured to such a high quality in both cast iron and steel that the difference is very minimal. Traditionally cast iron stoves were thought of as superior but the difference is almost negligible these days. Are your stoves more efficient than traditional fire places? Traditional fireplaces give about 20-30% of heat to the room whereas woodburning/ multi-fuel stoves give 70-80%. Can flues have bends and does Stoveco fit bends in flues? Flues can have bends so there are numerous solutions for all households. Is there a difference between insert and inset stoves? No, there is no difference between an insert stove and an inset stove. The terms are interchangeable. What is woody biomass? Woody biomass fuel is suitable for use in woodburning appliances and is typically wood pellets, wood chips and wood logs. Can a stove be installed if the property does not have an existing chimney? A stove can indeed be installed without an existing chimney providing regulations are followed. Do you have any stoves made in the UK? Yes, the Dean Forge stoves are made in Devon in the UK; Charnwood stoves are made on the Isle of Wight, off the south coast of England, and Dowling Stoves are made in Newton Stewart in Scotland. How can I calculate the output required for my stove? If you multiply the room dimensions in meters – length x breadth x height, and divide by 14, you will get a number which is a nominal guide for your required stove output. Will the window of the stove become covered in tar? The single biggest factor in ensuring a clean and efficient burn is the moisture content of the fuel. Most modern stoves will have an air wash facility which if used with well seasoned logs will keep the glass clear. Well seasoned or oven ready logs will have a moisture content of 20% or less. Can I overnight burn in a woodburning stove? Wood is less energy dense than coal and so it can be hard to fit enough fuel into a wood burning stove to ensure an overnight firing without refuelling. Some stoves however will provide a large fire box and very effective air controls so that if well seasoned logs are used they will provide a low level of heat output overnight. How large does the hearth have to be? Building regulations require that the stove should be on a plinth of non-combustible material minimum 12mm thickness and extending at least 150mm at the sides and 300mm in front. As well as this the hearth must not be less than 840mm x 840mm. Some stoves will require more onerous hearth installations as they are technically classed as open fires due their specific design. Why do stoves need to be used at optimal efficiency? It is important to burn the fuel at a fast rate and high temperature in order to achieve optimal efficiency - running a wood burner in “tick over” mode can cause easily tarring of the flue. Why is soft wood not as good as hard wood? Soft wood can tar the flue pipe more easily and is less dense than hardwood so hard wood is preferable. Can you tell me more about wood boiler systems? Wood boilers can be fuelled by logs, wood pellets or wood chips and are available through us. Full information can be obtained through a consultation with Stoveco. Does the entire stove heat up when lit? Stoves conduct the heat they produce so heat up when lit. Some stoves use a convection system for heat output, other stoves work through radiating heat and some use a combination of both ideas. Can you tell me about using an existing chimney? An existing chimney may be used but it should be lined and insulated. Using an existing chimney without a liner and insulation can mean that the stove will not draw properly and the cooling smoke will condense causing soot, and more dangerously, tar deposits. Tar deposits are very hard for chimney sweeps to remove and cause chimney fires and you may get black tarry condensate leaking out through the bottom and sometimes even through the mortar joints of the chimney. Can a wood burning stove be installed in a home which does not currently have a chimney? Yes. How many BTUs to the Kilowatt? Stove boiler outputs are often given in BTU (British Thermal Units). Many heating engineers will be used to using BTU to calculate central heating requirements and loads. It is useful to be able to switch easily between BTU and kW. To convert BTU to KW simply multiply by 0.000293. To convert kW to BTU simply multiply by 3414. |
