Blog - Fireplaces, Stoves and Chimney Services in London

Wood Burning Stoves: What New Rules Need to Follow?

• A million houses in abroad use chimney stoves to heat their house. The warmth must always be maintained. In the current ratio around 38% of air pollution is due to wood burning stoves. Now that the government has started a strict control they are trying to reduce to 30% by the year 2030.

• The green standard stoves are also to be used. These help in many ways like they are denoted with an “eco-friendly” stickers. These stoves are to be made available in general stores. This is to have a good air circulation that burns fast and at a clean note.
• If there is the sticker then it is approved to be used in houses but the capability and ejaculation estimation must be calculated and updated.
• In London, if you are located in the control belt then the buying stove must be DEFRA-approved smoke exempt. This is tested at all stages of operations.
• The few top manufacturers are Stovax, Charlton & Jenrick, Charnwood, and Jøtul. So all stoves that are 10 years old are to be replaced with this eco-friendly model.
• In the present scenario where around 90 percent of emission is controlled than open fires. The emission is 80% less than 10 years old stove.
• These wood stoves are used more than 60% in 2008 and then on the usage has increased gradually. Though it is tough to manage a clean olden wood stove London as the new upgrading is not proved to be a success.
• Rather we can just add filters, that is an electrostatic filter which would cut fine particle emission up to 92 percent.
What does a filter do?
Filter ionizes the particulates and magnets it to the flue wall, then moves to the surrounding ecosystem and only the residues are left which can be cleaned with a chimney sweeps help.
• Then we can burn dry wood. If it is wet the fire ignition time is delayed also the area to be used is very vast. The dry wood emits less smoke and is considered environmentally friendly. In recent times there are ‘Ready-to-use’ woods available in the market that is most commonly preferred by the general public as the exposure to smoke is very much less when compared to regular woods.
• It is very much necessary to sweep the chimneys regularly. Since the government is planning to reduce the smoke emission by 2030. Due to this, there are smoke control areas and those areas it is very much necessary to use a proven stove on less smoke. At the same time, the availability of such stoves has increased as it is available in the market and few outside shops too other than the government sector.
• Points to check our air quality, home improvement, wood burning stoves emission range, wood stove materials used.

Ways to Use Your Wood-burning Stove Correctly

From good old days, wood-burning stoves or popularly known as wood burner or log burner in the UK, are heating appliance capable of burning wood fuel and wood-derived biomass fuel.

In pole regions, the coldness becomes adversely high and cannot be tolerated with normal. This is used due to the reason that the wood burning stoves are very economical in pricing and can tolerate any amount of cold climate if the wood is set with fire near us.

This fire ignition also has procedures and techniques to use the materials in less quantity but the fire stays for a long time. This control is worrying for many but the pollution caused by long chimneys is very high, as already the vehicles and factories emit a lot of fuel.

Burn dry wood on the stove:

It is always good to burn fresh and dry wood on the stove so that the carbon formation and the creosote formation is also less. If we use wet wood, the sooty deposits will also be more as it takes a longer time to burn the wood. You can use a self-dried wood which is free of moisture known as seasoning. Never burn a wood that is treated for example a broken wood piece from furniture. It lets off many toxic chemicals.

Smokeless fuel usage.

It is always better to use smokeless fuel. There are fuels such as coals etc which always emits a lot of smoke and creates a lot of ash. This will often require cleaning and maintenance. In this busy world, we cannot do so on a regular basis or on a daily basis. Anthracite coal is one most famous and common smokeless coal used in burning stove. The control rule over smoke is to be extended all over the world so it is better to adapt to such techniques to have a safe and healthy life. Anthracite coal is also manufactured and naturally acquired.

Do not let you vent kept closed
It is important to keep your oxygen supply at a good level to reduce the soot build up which would restrict the waste gasses emission.
leave the door ajar and air vents open
Constant temperature and fire maintenance. The flue must stay at a stable level.
No overloaded sooty deposit is to be seen in the chimney.

Thus, these techniques ensure you to use a less amount of fuel and better ways to use stove correctly. The efficiency of fuel must be reduced to 80% by 2022. These pave way for home improvement. Fireplace installations must be assured properly and must be done by the chimney installers. These installers are well trained and are certified. They are also well equipped.

Benefits of Having a Clean Fireplace & Chimney

Wood burning fireplaces have been traditionally used for producing warmth and coziness throughout the cooler seasons. These are economical as compared to the modern-day air heating systems. But one notoriously predominant issue with fireplace is they cause a lot of pollution in terms of smoke, carbon micro particles and poisonous carbon monoxide. A well operational chimney is entitled to take care of these problems provided you plan your Chimney Sweep beforehand. Chimney created an air pressure difference called ‘draft’ to send the products of combustion out in the air.

Any issues in the fireplace and chimney would produce excessive smoke and the combustion gases to a large extent. It is recommended to maintain a clean fireplace. Just start hunting by “Chimney Sweep near me” on the internet search engine and you will find a list of professional Chimney Sweep service providers. An authentic and professional Chimney Sweep is well qualified to clean the smoke chamber, chimney flue and fireplace. In the warmer seasons, you might have used the fireplace cabinet as a storage space. Similarly, the chimney is exposed to wind and heat. So, there might be some potential issues with structure and operations of your Chimney. Hand it over to the professional Chimney Sweep and he would clean the chimney and fireplace. Also, he these people are trained to meticulously inspect and ensure the potential hazards with your fireplace.

Some homeowners would prefer cleaning by themselves. It is not a big deal to solve small problems with your fireplace but when it comes to deal with major issues, it is recommended to take help from professional Chimney Sweep. For example, you can’t fix the structural damages and install a new Chimney lining. It must be done by an expert. Also, sometimes the homeowners complain about smelling paint. This happens when you start the fire in new or newly painted wood stove. In addition to this, the modern homes are tightly sealed which restricts entry of outside air into house. This causes excessive smoke and small carbon particles in your house. Many such details can be identified easily by a Chimney Sweep and they help them maintain a clean fireplace.

The wood burning fireplaces can cause a major house fire, if not installed, inspected and maintained properly. Smoke is not good for your respiratory system and must be avoided. Due to continuously wood burning stoves London for months, the creosote is formed on inner walls of Chimney walls. Creosote is prone to cause accidental house fires as it is highly flammable substance. Do keep a check on the activities done by your Chimney Sweep. He will ensure safe and efficient operation of the fireplace. Don’t forget to collect a valid inspection and cleaning certificate from him and keep it on record.

In a nutshell, chimney and fireplace are a complex system and needs periodic checks and inspection. If you find an unconventional behavior of your system, don’t panic. Just reach out to the best Chimney Sweep and be assured of your safety.

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How to prepare your wood burning stove for winter

“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home”- Edith Sitwell

As the season switches from summer to winter, it is time to inspect the heating system. Over the centuries, the Wood-Burning Stove has been a convenient and reliable choice for producing House Warmth. There are a few important points which need to be considered while preparing your Wood Stoves for winter.

Clean the Stove– Remember, the wood burning stove has been idle for quite some time. It is obvious to have dust, bird nests, and creosote in the flue. Embark on a cleaning mission with whatever preliminary cleaning you could do with available resources. In warmer seasons, some people make use of the wood stoves as an extended storage space. Do check for the condition of stove for loss of any spares or structural damage.

Hire a chimney sweep– Next step is to get the chimney swept by a professional. Last winter has probably left the flue with creosote. Creosote is the result of wood burnt all over the season, which is flammable. It must be removed while preparing the wood stoves for winter. It is necessary to get a professional to do so as they are well versed in chimney operations.

Check Damper Condition– Damper is a device, used to block off the air flow going out. Put a damper in an open position when starting the stove. Precautionary measures must be taken as you can’t compromise checking it’s working condition. Dysfunctional damper can cause over fire or under fire. Also,your wood stove might consume more fuel than it needs to, and in some cases, send most of the excess heat generated, straight out through the flue system.

Get the Wood Stove inspected– As these are the fireplaces, the Wood Stoves are entitled for causing potential health hazards. The Home Insurance and a Wood Stove inspection by a certified inspector are interdependent.Get it checked and be safe on legal front. Safety comes first. You must meet the minimum clearance from the wood stove in all the directions. Standard distance is already in place and you must achieve the same.

Get the cords– Estimate the cords you would need this winter. It is okay to get an extra portion of wood. It is winter, and you don’t want to take chances. Also, it’s good to refresh your basics and choose the right wood available in the market. Hardwood and Softwood are the two major types which are further classified in to more detailed types. Know the pros and cons of both.

Finishing Touches– Now that you have all the things checked, spend few times in painting and improving the aesthetic appearance of wood stove London. A fireplace is a treat to eye which assures warmth and coziness. Avoid keeping any flammable items nearby. While assuring warmth to your family, keep safety first, on your mind.

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Buy an Environmental Stove, Upgrade To An Eco-Friendly Model

We are in the world with modern technologies which are growing in its way day by day. In addition to that, the general public’s also become more aware of the economic concerns and trying to move to an eco-friendly way of life.

More than one million British families make use of wood stoves to warm their cockles during the winter season. But, the recent announcement says that the government has announced a plan to regulate wood burning stoves as part of its wide clean air strategy. In addition to that, the government will also ban the sale of wood stoves which don’t meet the environmental standards.

The government says that all these rules are made in order to reduce the harmful emission of gases from the stoves which may lead to cut in pollution and save lives.

So, what will be the solution to warm the houses in the winter season? The message says that there is a solution along with the permit of the government to burn the right wood on the right appliances. Here are some of the new guidelines for the wood stove owners under the new rules.

It’s time to buy the Environmental Stove

With improved in quality and efficiency, the government has introduced a certification for the shoves that meet green standards. The latest environmental stoves will be available in stores soon which are labelled with ecodesign sticker which burns more cleanly without any emission of harmful gases to the environment.

There are available with different type of environmental stoves with different efficiency ratings. According to the efficiency ratings and emission levels of the wood stoves, you can buy the environmental stove which suits the best for your area.

You should upgrade to an eco-friendly model

If you are using your wood burning stoves more than 10 years, then it’s seriously advised to replace it. The latest environmental stove available in the market emits 90 per cent fewer emission than open fires and 80 per cent fewer than the wood stoves which are used more than 10 years.

In addition to that, the newly designed stoves are more efficient than the existing ones and you will definitely get more heat for your money.

It’s advised to burn dry wood

There are two ways to make your existing wood-burning stoves more environmentally friendly. Before that, you should ensure that your stoves installation is made according to the latest guidelines by the government.

To make your wood stoves more environmentally friendly, it is advised to burn dry woods. By burning good and dry woods, it will produce more heat with less emission of smoke in the environment.

There are some of the government approved stores which consist of ready to burn woods and it only consists of 20 per cent moisture. Try to get it to make your wood stoves environmentally friendly.

Regular chimney sweeping is compulsory

There are about 7000 chimney fires are occurring in England every year due to unmaintained chimneys. So, it is advised to clean the soot out of chimneys which helps you to keep your house cleaner and fresher without smoke.

It is advised to clean your chimney twice a year and compulsorily before the start of the heating season. It is recommended to clean your chimney twice a year to avoid unnecessary fire accidents. You can also take up the advice from the professional chimney sweeps before making your decision to buy the best Environmental Stove or to make your already owned wood stoves more environmentally friendly.

Buying A Clean Burning Wood Stoves In London

Wood stoves have remained a controversial subject for quite some time now. The revised regulations of the EPA ban have banned the production and sale of wood stoves. The soot from the wood smoke when inhaled becomes very lethal. Apart from this, there is also an underlying danger of getting frozen when the mercury level drops below the normal level. There is no denying that wood smoke is highly dangerous to health and their danger causing ability is determined by the size of the particles they contain. Clean burning wood stoves will reduce the emission of harmful particles and carbon monoxide by about 70% and 65% respectively.

The new wood-burning stoves are more efficient and will help the underprivileged people who rely on wood heat. The stove manufacturers have designed these in such a way that they deliver more heat with lesser pollution. The burning stoves are constructed with many firebox insulation that facilitate complete combustion and a longer path for the exhaust which remains hot for a long time resulting in the greater burning of the particles. These modified stoves require a little more maintenance than the conventional ones.

Wood is a renewable and easily affordable source. There is no doubt that wood stoves are largely preferred by people who cannot afford more modern stoves, especially in the rural areas. The new regulation also ensures that people do not get cheated by the sub-standard and cheap imported stoves from China. If the stoves are clean, the renewable wood will be the best source of fuel. The advanced and modern techniques have resulted in the super-efficient wood stove that produces insignificant amounts of soot that cannot cause any harm to the users. The smart stoves are driven by smart electronics helps the users alternate to a product that doesn’t cause any pollution. Conventional wood stoves absorb more air that escapes out of the chimney as smoke.

There is no way to control the amount of air entering the fire which results in the unrestricted pollution in the form of smoke. The best way to convert conventional wood stoves to the new revised clean-burning stoves is by controlling the air so that the stoves burn clean. The modern wood burning stoves, Milkier uses a fan to regulate air through the system resulting in the fire to burn completely and purely. There is a small control system inside the stove that gauges heat and adjusts the fan in accordance with the heat so that the fire keeps going as required.

The wood stove installations are also easier and faster as against the conventional ones that ate complex and time-consuming. It is easy to keep the fire going continuously resulting in a hassle- free performance. Also, wood is better for the environment if the soot is kept in check. Wood stoves are safer for the environment than a heater running on coal or gas resulting in higher carbon monoxide emissions. Clean burning stoves have become a trend now.

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5 Things to Know Before You Buying a Wood Burning Stove

It is efficient to remember a few points beforehand purchasing a wood burning stove. The first and foremost is the woodstove types are to be noted, fireplaces insert, boiler, Franklin stove, rocket mass heater, many more each one differs in the location of set-up and the amount of use. Smokeless stoves had to be used for less creosote accumulation, the chimney cap, and material used. It must be easy to remove ash bins. Enough space between furnaces and furniture.

What is the size of the chimney, stoves installations? Definitely it should be a relaxing room temperature of around 21ºC when the external air temperature is at freezing (0ºC) required around 1kW of heat output for 14 m³ of space. The need may be an enormous range, but it is better to conserve creosote formation. Heat loss had to be less on both insides, outside the burning.

The fuel must be less when the effectiveness of the higher. The fuel consumption must also be less. This fuel emission is calculated by DEFRA exempted. To make the deposition of the residue in a lesser amount, the DEFRA favours UK people select the wooden burning stove accordingly.

In the UK, there are smoke restricted areas, thus, these DEFRA, DIC will all be favouring such locality people to check out and purchase the wooden burning stove London aptly.

The stove must be controlled automatically for better efficiency than manual. This favours economy and continuous flame must be produced to maintain the temperature.

The airwash mechanism must be favourable to prevent soot formation on the surfaces of stove and chimney services. The glass that is present along the stove diverts the soot by burning sooty particles through the hot air down along the front surface. Albeit the dry woods must be used sometimes, we try with wet woods still the temperature is dropping and the adeptness reduces drastically.

Heat retention must always be goods as the stove must retain the heat even after a few seconds of cutting out the flame.

All these lines indicate only five things

Fuel used- dry wood.
Effectiveness of heat
DEFRA rates
DCI
Adequate area of space

Cost less

If the above factors are satisfied, then, the wood stoves can be checked for cost effectiveness plays the final also most important part of buying the wooden stoves. Compare the brands and then purchase the correct quantity of the stove that is apt for your requirement. Never let loose on any points for a better selection of wooden stoves.

As for how you prefer specific branding from clothes to house these also must be crystal clear before and after selecting the burning stoves without any kind of hassle. Always remember to have an eye wink over it while using and do regular maintenance works for every six months to once a year by proper company people.

Always earlier knowledge of such goods has been very good both for you and the buyer.

Pros and Cons of wood burning stoves

There are a lot of Pros and Cons of wood burning stoves. In our horse and buggy times, in our houses, we used the wood stove to radiate a sauna temperature in the room while all the other places were full of freezing cold temperature. In the first winter, to fight against the cool and produce insulation, not to be costly, fuel charge must not eat us, to fetch a snug and excellent ambiance. We were in search of some material that would fit all these above-mentioned characters. So, we chose wood. As London is a place smoke protected area, Defra had to approve your burning of wood. Since it became more and more popular the negative aspects also started. Let us check on the following importance in the use of wood.

Wood stoves are of multiple types, that is, a box or chunk stove, air-tight box stoves, front-burning stoves and these works by adding the fuel in the lesser amount and with a lit of fire leading to a big ramp of fire producing the best environment to fight against the external cold. Wood stoves installation is based on the manufacturer’s guidance in relation to the distance in lighting the fire that is placed on the plastic board or also said as the timber stud wall, quantity and the dimension regarding the height and width of the fireplace is to be decided based on the requirement. At the same time, the manufacturers to measure all the above and specify their review opposing to on the technical specifications of the stove. Along with all, there are holes that are to be cut on the roof of your house favouring some safety issues, thus it is better to call upon a professional installer who is certified to do such works. For any kind of wood stove installation across London, its based on the HETAS registered installers are to be in service.

Each stove is installed in different ways, albeit there are pros and cons of wood burning stoves, they help people manage with the external environment. Also, all kinds of installing is done according to industry standards. Thus, as previously mentioned Defra accepts the wood stove only if it’s in your limit and we guide you to fetch that acceptance. Every six months to one year the chimney has to be maintained to prevent the carbon monoxide residue formation and its health-hazardous smoke relieved through the walls. Most of the manufacturers also keep their range within Defra limit.

Thus, a good family time in the place and makes it lively and gives rise to a healthy family. The positive is the heat generated is more than any gas stove or fireplace and energy usage is also less. When we think about the cost, then this is also cheaper when compared to others. Sometimes it is more electricity consuming, break easily as it has no big support, finding the pellets really very tough.

So in Urban Area wood burning stoves are not the environment friendly choice!

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How to use wood burning stove effectively and Eco- friendly

Wood burning stove is a heating appliance capable of generating heat through wood fuel or wood generated biomass fuel such as wood pellets. It is usually made up of a strong metal such as cast iron or stainless steel. It has a closed fire chamber, brick base and air controller. The 1^st wood burning stove was patented in the year 1557.

Types of wood used in wood burning stoves

The wood used in the wood burning stove is measured in the unit of Cord. A cord is a measure of 128 cubic feet. It is like tightly packed wood in the 4’*4’*8’ height, width and depth respectively. Both hardwood and softwood can be used for wood burning stove. However hardwood derived from trees such as oak will burn at a slower rate and thus are sustained for a longer period of time making it economically viable also. On the other hand the softwood derived from the conifers burn at a faster rate and generates little higher heat output making it more popular. However the softwood creates more soot and creosote in the wood stove, chimney and flue thereby asking more maintenance. Due to its different properties its usability is different. Hardwood is more popular in heating whereas softwood in cooking.

Safety measure while using wood burning stoves

Correct air flow and proper ventilation are a crucial part to make wood burning stoves efficient and safe. Besides regular maintenance of the wood burning stove is required to ensure safety and preventing fire to spread out. Regular maintenance of wood burning stove includes emptying the ash tray below the wooden grate, cleaning the stove pipes as well as the chimney.

Is wood burning stove environment friendly?

So the question arises should we burn wood or should we not. The Wood burning stove provides green energy but it does have adverse effect on the environment.

The wood burning stove provides a carbon friendly option of heating home using the fossil fuels. The wood burning generates carbon dioxide which is released in the environment. This carbon dioxide is absorbed by the trees in making food and thus the end result is zero carbon.

However along with carbon dioxide the wood produces a large quantity of soot, particles similar to that emitted by diesel cars. This has side effects like causing cancer in human beings along with breathing problems.

In some places like South America, Central America and Caribbean the Wood burning stoves are built inside the house without proper ventilation. The smoke released from the stove stays inside the house and the same is breathed by its inmates causing breathing problems and sometimes even cancer. Reports by the World Health Organisation say nearly 2 million people are killed each year due to indoor air pollution caused by open fire cooking. besides cutting of the large amount of trees for firewood also endangers the ecosystem causing unexpected changes in the atmosphere and natural calamities like hurricanes and cyclones.

So in Urban Area wood burning stoves are not the environment friendly choice!

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How to use a Wood Burning Stove

A wood stove is a comfortably cosy place in our homes, thanks to the lit-up area or a fireplace.

But having a wood burning place or a wood burning stove is not sufficient, using it is a crucial task, and it becomes a headache if not optimized properly. If you have never done it before, here is a guide for you on how to use a Wood Burning Stove for the first time or we can say for the beginners. The necessary things to recollect are that you just need a hot and quick fireplace where you can spend a quality time with your family as well as guests. There are many types of fireplaces you can own at homes but a classic wood burning over or a wood burning stove has its unique and classy ambience as well as smell. Its utmost necessary that you just never leave a hearth unattended, let’s see how can you use a wood burning stove at your home…

Follow the instructions

Yes, you need to read the user manual by your wood burning stove’s manufacturer. They almost cover all the necessary and precautionary instructions on how to start as well as maintain your wood burning stove. Follow the step by step guide on how to put all the pieces together and most important thing to remember, place your wood burning stove in a safe place preferably in your living area, where kids won’t play with fire and future risks are avoided, plus it gives an advantage of a classy look to your living room when guest are invited for a dinner.

Right Fuel

It is important thing that should not be neglected, using a right quality and quantity of wood is important to avoid wastage and fire. Green wood might waste the fuel because 50% of the wood is s occupied by water and burning water is against chemistry laws, you won’t find it helpful, plus it will cause a lot of smoke in your chimney as well as in your living room, and believe us, you won’t want that. One thing you can do with green wood is take it and dry it yourself, it is the most cheap way to handle green and damp logs of wood at your home, we recommend you give at least a summer to dry these logs by themselves in hot air and clean sunlight. Another thing you can do is to find a supplier that gives home delivery for dried and clean fuel for your wood stove.

Clean Air

Basic chemistry and physics laws are taught in our schools, fire needs proper breathing and it should be controlled when we require it to be, open all the controls on your wood burning stove and make way for air, clean and fresh air from your living room will save you time and money, use proper instructions and guide to control fire if it goes out of your hands.

Start the fire by putting old newspapers inside the stove.

Take proper care

You leave your loved ones near fireplace, it’s important to take care while you do this, installation of proper fire extinguishing fire equipment within reachable area of your fireplace is a good way to keep you safe from uninvited fire.