Do I need a flue liner ?

Its not always necessary. We can survey your chimney and do a smoke test. If its not up to standard we can supply and fit a stainless steel flexible liner. We keep labour and material costs to a minimum and we only fit a liner if your existing chimney is unsuitable. As a general rule off thumb guide, if your house was built before 1965 then your most definitely going to need a flue liner fitted.

How often should I have my chimney swept ?

It is very  important to have it swept at least once a year, if you're using your stove on a regular basis get your chimney swept twice a year. Wood stove Fitters provide a chimney sweeping service

Can I burn wood  in a smoke control zone ?

Being in a smoke control zones means you can burn smokeless fuel on your stove or open fire but if you want to burn wood you shall need a ‘smoke exempt’ compliant model.

If you live near a town or city then there is a good chance that you live in a 'smoke control zone' which means that there are restrictions on what you can burn on your appliance

Please have check with Defra for more information. Cheltenham is the nearest local town which has smoke control zones in the Wood Stove Fitters service area.

What size wood burning stove do I need ?

The heat output of a stove is measured in kilowatts (kw).The output of the stove needed depends on the size of the room. The numbers of doors, windows or draft sources as well as general insulation shall affect the stoves ability to heat the room .

As an approximate guide to determine the heat out put (kw) required to heat a room, you simply multiply the height of the room in meters by its width, then its length.Then divide by 14.

Height meters x width x length ÷ 14 = approximate required output for a stove kw

If your wood burner is mainly used for heating we recommend you chose one with a slightly larger heat out put than is needed to heat the room. Bearing in mind that a stove isn't going to be run at full capacity all the time. For example a room which requires 3.5 kw to heat it could have 5 kw stove fitted.

If you want your stove mainly for display we recommend you chose a stove with a slightly smaller output than the heat output needed for the room, this shall ensure the stove is working hard at all times giving a good flame picture. A stove which is too large may cause you to run it at a low out put resulting in poor efficiency. This could create flue problems such as creosote build up and condensation problems,also tarred up glass due to an under performing air wash.

What is the main difference between a wood burner and multifuel stove ?

The main difference is the grate. A multifuel stove has moving parts this is called the 'riddling grate'. Its designed for burning smokeless coal, this requires a stream of air to circulate underneath the fuel for complete combustion. The grate is riddled and the ashes are caught in the pan below. Obviously you do have the option of burning wood on your multifuel stove. A wood burners grate is static i.e no moving parts because wood burns best on a bed off ash.

I don't have a chimney but I want a stove fitted is that a problem ? 

Wood Stove Fitters can build a prefabricated insulated flue system that runs up the outside of your house or one which runs up through the house and penetrates through the the roof .

Why do i need an air vent for my wood burning stove ?

All multifuel and wood burning stoves with a heat out put more than 5 kw need to be fitted with an air vent in the room

An adequate supply of air is needed for combustion other wise the stove won't operate properly and could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning from the inadequate expulsion of combustion fumes.

How efficient is a wood stove compared  to an open fire ? 

An open fire operates at about 25% efficiency or less. A modern wood stove will operate with an efficiency level between 65-85%.

Can I fit my own wood burner or multifuel stove ?

Hetas is the official government recognized body to approve domestic solid fuel heating appliances, fuels and services. This includes the the registration of competent installers and maintenance businesses.

You can fit your own stove but you must have it inspected by the local councils building regulations officer. The inspection can cost up to £300. We advise you to check the cost with your local council before you do it yourself.

A HETAS engineer can self certify their installation. They inform HETAS who shall notify your local council. They know the job inside and out and shall complete the job quickly and safely.

Failure to do the above could invalidate your stoves guarantee with the manufacturer and your house hold insurance.

My stove has a five inch flue outlet why does it need a six inch flue liner to connect to the stove and not a five inch one?

The reason being is due to safety and flue performance.  A flue liner which is 6 inches in diameter can take a lot more creosote and sooty deposit build up than a 5 inch stainless steel flue liner. The six inch flue diameter rule also applies to twin wall installations. Having said this, upon my my travels I seen complete 5 inch flue systems which have been well designed and maintained, they can work fine. However most 5 inch flue collared DEFRA, smoke exempt appliances are allowed 5 inch liners because they have a clean burn system & don't soot up the liner easily.