The steps below will demonstrate the main functions and components of your wood burning stove to ensure optimum burning capacity. It will also explain how to lay the right materials to create the perfect fire. Lighting your stove Open the Air Controls fully to ensure the fire gets the air supply it needs to establish […]
Creosote is the condensation of unburned, flammable particulates present in the exhausting flue gas (smoke). The actual cause of creosote condensation is the surface temperature of the flue in which the flue gas comes in contact. Like hot breath on a cold mirror, if the surface temperature of the flue is cool, it will cause […]
How to burn wood safely and efficiently on a stove Open fires are still very popular and do create a very welcoming focal point for a room. However many people are turning to the more efficient wood burning or multifuel stove. Burning in a stove is controlled by adjusting the primary and secondary air supply. […]
A moisture gauge can be used to determine whether firewood is ready for burning. When using a moisture meter, refer to the instruction manual. Make sure you know whether it gives a reading in ‘wet basis’ or ‘dry basis’. Normal practice is to split a log and probe across the grain in the centre of […]
A log store of at least 1.5 m³ is recommended where a property is heated by a log burning stove so that a standard delivery of 1m³ can be accommodated when the store is still a quarter full. The store should be roofed and well ventilated on at least two sides. Proprietary wood stores are […]
Trees vary enormously in moisture content when felled. In summer, up to 65% of the weight of newly felled timber can be water. Forestry work continues all year round but for the domestic heating market, trees need to be felled ideally in winter and certainly by the end of March when the moisture content is […]
Hardwood is denser than softwood so has a higher heat content or calorific value. Typically, the heat content of softwood is little more than half as much as hardwood by volume. Typical heat content of hardwood 2300kWh/m³ (stacked) Typical heat content of softwood 1,300kWh/m³ (stacked) Broadly speaking, around twice as many softwood logs as hardwood […]
