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WOOD BURNING STOVES
Using and maintaining a stove in the
correct way will contribute to its
efficiency and longevity and maximise
the beneficial effect that its use will have
on the environment.
FUEL
It is essential that you burn seasoned
dry firewood with a moisture content
of less than 20%. Burning wet wood
will adversely affect the performance
of your stove, creating tar deposits in
the chimney and causing the glass in the
stove door to blacken. Use of a moisture
meter will allow you to check that the
moisture content of any wood that you
are intending to purchase is satisfactory.
If you are supplying your own firewood,
it should be stored for at least a year
after cutting and splitting to enable it to
dry out. Storage should be in a dry well
aired location. Hardwood will generally
burn for longer than softwood and the
latter will make better kindling as it
lights easily. Sources of wood such as
decking, fencing, demolition materials,
painted or treated wood, driftwood or
rubbish should under no circumstances
HOW TO GET THE BEST FROM
A WOOD BURNING STOVE
be used as fuel for your stove. See The
National Energy Foundation website
(www.nef.org.uk/logpile) for a database
of wood fuel suppliers.
We would strongly recommend that for
environmental reasons wood is used as
the fuel for your stove.
CHIMNEY DRAUGHT
A good chimney draught is essential
if you are to obtain the optimum
performance from your stove. There
are many variable factors that affect
the performance of a chimney and
your local Chesneys stockist will be
able to advise you on the suitability
of your chimney for use with a stove.
If you do not have a chimney it is
possible to have a prefabricated
chimney system installed. It is
important that you have your chimney
cleaned once a year by a NACS
(National Association of Chimney
Sweeps) registered sweep.
We strongly recommend that your stove
is installed with a flue liner as this will
ensure maximum efficiency and that
there is no carbon monoxide leakage
from your chimney.
MAINTENANCE
The door seals of the stove should be
regularly checked to ensure that there
is an airtight seal. If the sealing rope
is not intact it will result in draughts
entering the stove which affect its
combustion efficiency. The fireproof
bricks that line the stove should also
be checked for signs that they may be
starting to crumble. It is acceptable
for cracking to be seen but not
disintegration of the bricks as this will
reduce the insulation in the firebox
leading to low temperatures and
inefficient combustion.
PROVISION OF VENTILATION
All stoves require air for combustion.
To comply with Building Regulations
(Document J 2010) any stove with a
maximum heat output of over five
kilowatts will require its own dedicated
supply of air by means of an air vent.
The 5WS and 8WS wood burning
stoves are available with an air kit which
draws all the air for combustion and
refuelling from outside, for a room-
sealed appliance.
INSTALLATION
Your stove and flue must be installed
by a member of a government
approved Competent Person Scheme
that is authorised to install solid fuel
and wood burning appliances, such
as HETAS. HETAS is the governing
body for the installation of wood
burning and solid fuel appliances
and its approved installers have all
completed the training course
necessary to obtain accreditation.