1. Sweep Every Year

Sweep your chimney at least once a year. Dirty chimneys cause fires and carbon monoxide. A chimney fire can ruin a flue liner, often meaning a total replacement. Protect your investment.

2. Beat the "Crazy Season"

Book your sweep and Service in the spring or summer. September and October are completely mental—installer-sweeps like myself get ambushed with work. It is much easier to get hold of spare parts during the off-peak season. If there is a lead time for a component, it doesn't matter if your stove is out of action while you wait. Plus, I’ll have more time to focus on those fiddly servicing jobs that shouldn't be rushed.

3. Check Your Zone

Live in a smoke control zone? You’ll need a DEFRA-approved stove to burn wood, otherwise you are stuck with smokeless fuels.

4. Dry Wood Only

Keep moisture under 25% (under 20% is better). Grab a £20 moisture meter to be sure. Wet wood is a waste of money—it just makes steam, not heat.

5. Cleaning & Coal

Dry cloth only: Never clean your stove with a wet cloth or you'll get white marks.
Empty the pan: Coal needs air from underneath.
Reminder: You can’t burn coal in a dedicated woodburner—multi-fuel stoves only.

6. Don’t Mix Wood & Coal

Burning them together creates sulphuric acid which rots your flue liner. Knowing the damage it does helps you do it less!

7. Know Your Liner

316 liners are standard for wood. 904 liners handle the corrosion of coal better, but even they aren't meant for heavy industrial use. Keep coal to light usage.