Woodburner's Blog

Are You Fire-Ready? What to Check Before the Cold Sets In

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 10:00:02 GMT

A simple checklist to keep your home safe and warm this winter

As the evenings get darker and the temperature drops, it is tempting to light the fire and settle in. But before you reach for the matches or firelighters, it is worth taking a moment to make sure everything is safe and in good working order. A few checks now can help you avoid problems later in the season, whether you use a log burner, open fire, or multi-fuel stove.

In this guide, we provide a straightforward checklist to help get your home fire-ready before the cold really sets in.

1. Book a Chimney Sweep

If you use your fire regularly, soot, tar and debris can build up inside the flue. Left unchecked, this increases the risk of chimney fires and poor ventilation.

Aim to have your chimney swept at least once a year, ideally before winter
Make sure the sweep is qualified and experienced with your type of fireplace
Regular cleaning also helps your fire burn more efficiently

It is an easy job to put off, but it can make all the difference to safety and performance.

2. Check Your Stove or Fireplace

Whether you have a wood burner or a traditional open fire, give it a proper once-over before lighting it for the season.

Look for signs of damage such as cracks, worn seals, or loose bricks
Check that the door shuts properly on a stove and that vents are not blocked
Clean out any leftover ash or debris from last year

If anything doesn’t look right, it is worth getting it looked at by a professional.

3. Test Your Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are essential, especially when you're heating your home with solid fu el. It only takes a minute to test them, and it could save lives.

Press the test button on all alarms to check they are working
Replace batteries if needed
If your alarms are more than ten years old, they should be replaced

Consider fitting a carbon monoxide detector near any stove or fireplace if you don’t already have one.

4. Organise Your Fuel Supply

It is not ideal to run out of firewood on a cold night. Always ensure that you have got enough fuel to see you through the colder weeks.

Stock up on seasoned logs or smokeless fuel depending on your system
Store wood in a dry, well-ventilated place to keep it ready for use
Avoid burning wet or treated wood as it can damage your flue and produce more smoke

Planning ahead helps you stay warm without the stress of last-minute shortages.

A Little Preparation Goes a Long Way

Keeping your home warm and safe in winter starts with a few simple checks. Making sure your chimney is clean, your equipment is in good condition, and your alarms are working can give you peace of mind for the months ahead.

For more helpful tips on keeping your home clean and safe this winter, or to enquire about our seasonal cleaning services, visit www.newforestfires.co.uk

Inside the Installation: What to Expect When We Fit Your Stove

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 15:45:02 GMT

Walking you through the process step by step.

Getting a new stove is exciting, but if it is the first time you have had a stove fitted, you might be unsure about what actually happens on installation day. Having a clear picture of the process can help you prepare your home and know what to expect from start to finish. This guide explores the installation process.

Step 1: Site Visit and Preparation

Before any work begins, an installer will visit your property to make sure the chosen stove is a good match for your home. This visit is used to:

Take accurate measurements so the stove fits perfectly in its position
Look at the existing chimney or work out the best route for a new flue system
Check that the planned layout meets safety standards and legal requirements
Talk through design options such as hearth styles or finishing details

This stage helps ensure that everything is agreed in advance and avoids delays later.

Step 2: Setting Up the Work Area

On the installation day, the space around the stove location is prepared. Floors and nearby furniture are covered, and a clear path is made to bring the appliance safely into the room. If there is an old stove or fireplace, it will be removed before any new fittings are added.

If any building work is required, such as adjusting the fireplace opening or strengthening the base, this is done at this stage.

Step 3: Installing the Hearth and Surround

The hearth acts as the safe base for the stove, protecting the floor from heat. Whether you have chosen stone, slate, or another suitable material, it will be laid and levelled to the right height. Any surrounding features, such as a decorative mantel or back panel, are added now to frame the installation.

Step 4: Adding the Flue System

The flue is what carries smoke and gases safely out of your home, and its correct installation is essential.

A liner may be fitted inside an existing chimney to improve efficiency and keep the system cleaner
If your home does not have a chimney, a specially designed flue system is created and installed
Every joint is checked to ensure it is fully sealed and secure

By the end of this step, the stove will be ready to connect.

Step 5: Positioning and Connection

The stove is carefully placed on the hearth and connected to the flue. Any extra features, such as outside air inlets or integrated boiler systems, are fitted at this point to ensure everything works as intended.

Step 6: Testing and Guidance

Before the job is complete, the installer will:

Light the stove to make sure it is running correctly
Inspect all seals and safety measures
Explain how to light and control the fire
Offer advice on suitable fuels and how to store them

All relevant documentation will be provided so you have proof the work meets current regulations.

Professional Installation for Long-Term Peace of Mind

A stove installation is more than simply placing it in position. It is a careful process that combines safety checks, skilled fitting, and clear guidance for the homeowner.

If you are thinking about adding a stove to your home and want the installation handled from start to finish by experienced professionals, visit www.newforestfires.co.uk to explore our range and learn more about our fitting service.

Do You Need a Chimney Sweep in Summer?

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 10:45:01 GMT

Why scheduling maintenance now can save time and hassle later on

During the summer months, when the weather is warm, it is less likely that you will use your fireplace. Therefore, chimney maintenance is probably low on your list of priorities. However, the summer is actually a great time to get ahead of the colder months by booking a sweep and inspection. Taking care of it now helps prevent problems down the line, and ensures your heating system is safe and ready when you need it.

In this guide, we explore why it is worth tackling this task before the season changes.

Less Demand, More Flexibility

As temperatures drop, more households start booking chimney sweeps, which often leads to long waiting times. If you arrange a visit during the quieter summer period, it is easier to get a time that works for you.

You are more likely to find availability that suits your schedule
Avoid the backlog that typically builds up in late autumn
Gives you time to carry out any necessary work well before your fireplace is back in use

Taking action now means that you can carry out any maintenance and avoid having to wait for a chimney sweep to be available so that you can use your fireplace once the weather cools down.

Keep Things Clean and Working Properly

Even if your chimney looks fine from the outside, soot, tar and other deposits may have built up inside over winter. Left unchecked, these can lead to blockages or even chimney fires.

Routine cleaning helps remove residue that affects airflow
It reduces the risk of smoke problems or dangerous build-up
You can also clear out any nests, leaves or debris collected during spring

Regular upkeep helps your stove or fire run more efficiently and lowers the risk of costly repairs later.

Spot Small Issues Before They Get Bigger

A summer inspection also allows time to catch early signs of damage before you are relying on your heating again. Things like worn mortar, minor leaks or cracks in the flue might not be obvious until checked professionally.

These can usually be fixed faster and with less disruption in the off-season
Sorting them now means your system will be ready to go when the cold returns
It is a chance to avoid emergency repairs when tradespeople are in higher demand

Getting a check-up now keeps things simple and avoids unnecessary stress later.

Keep an Eye on Your Flue Liner

If your fireplace uses a flue liner, this too needs periodic inspection. Liners are essential to safe operation, and wear over time can lead to poor performance or potential safety issues.

Checking the liner once a year helps catch any wear and tear
If any damage is found, it can be sorted before you need regular heating again
A well-functioning liner helps your system run safely and cleanly

It’s worth including your liner in your annual chimney care routine to keep everything running smoothly.

Book Your Summer Maintenance

Getting your chimney serviced now is a simple way to stay ahead of seasonal maintenance and avoid problems later on. Whether you’re due a sweep, need a liner checked or just want peace of mind, booking in summer gives you one less thing to think about when the cold weather returns.

Keeping abreast of the chimney breast: space-wasting historical artefact or fireplace fundamental? And if you don’t have one, do you need one?

info@newforestfires.co.uk (Lee Thomas) — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 05:22:12 GMT

You've got a house with no chimney and are planning to install a stove with a twinwall flue. But do you want a chimney breast too?

Chimney breasts are a defining feature in English architectural vernacular. Most British stoves look the way they do - generally square and low-profile - because they were designed to fit the confines of a fireplace positioned within a chimney breast. As a result, they can sometimes look lost and diminished when installed outside of one.

This was less of an issue in the old days when ninety percent of the stoves we installed were being retro-fitted into fireplaces that had historically been open fires or gas fires, with flexible-lined flues dropped into their brick chimneys. Free-standing twinwall flue installations used to be the exception.

Nowadays, the proportions have almost flipped, with the majority of stoves we install going into houses that don't have a pre-existing chimney. This throws open a whole host of possibilities in terms of stove design: taller, wider, with convection panels, with plinths or benches and even ovens on top. This is design territory that the Nordics have been mining ever since they started making stoves in the mid-nineteenth century, and the popular minimalist look – hearth, stove and flue pipe – has inspired a quiet revolution not only in British stove design, but has also subtly expanded the ways we consider a stove can visually fit into a room.

However, something is also lost when the chimney breast is relegated to historical anachronism. Quite apart from the decorative possibilities, you gain, with a chimney breast, a structure on which to hang things: a beam, shelf or mantel for Christmas cards or family photos; a wall on which to mount a framed picture or even a television above the stove; shelves to the side to be stocked with your favourite books or collection of carved elephants; jambs to fix a club fender to if you like that sort of thing (we do!).

Not to mention the sense of inhabiting a familiar architecture that draws on the comfort of tradition and a folk memory of how a fireplace ought to look.

It always seems a small violence in the trade when we call it a ‘false’ chimney breast because the only thing fake about it is that it has no structural function in supporting a masonry chimney. In every other respect, it’s very real and serves clearly functional and decorative purposes. It might behove us to choose less damning language. Bespoke chimney breasts, anyone?

We can build chimney breasts in either traditional or more modern idioms, using a variety of materials, many of which are showcased in our showroom. There are no brick chimneys in our showroom so all seven of our showcase chimney breast/fireplaces are bespoke, with different combinations of beams, chambers, hearths, surrounds, and, of course, stoves.

And here are some pics of a recent installation we undertook near Southampton, where we built in a recess for a television and shelving between the breast and adjacent wall.

So if you’re considering putting in a stove, don’t have a chimney but would nonetheless love to have a traditional chimney breast, just drop us a line or pop into the shop on Silver Street in Hordle to have a look at the options.

Alternatively, complete the form below, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Twinwall Insulated Flue Systems: Perfect for Homes Without Chimneys

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 07:45:00 GMT

A Practical Solution for Adding a Wood-Burning Stove to Any Home

For many people, the idea of having a wood-burning stove or fireplace at home is appealing, but it can seem like a non-starter if your house doesn’t have a chimney. Fortunately, there is a solution that makes it possible: twinwall insulated flue systems. These systems offer a safe and practical way to enjoy the warmth of a wood-burning stove, even if your home wasn’t built with a chimney. In this blog, we explore what twinwall insulated flue systems are and why they might be a good fit for your home.

What is a Twinwall Insulated Flue System?

A twinwall insulated flue system is a type of chimney that can be installed in homes that don’t have an existing chimney. It is made from two layers of stainless steel with insulation between them. This insulation helps keep the flue gases hot while keeping the outer surface cool. It also prevents condensation, which can be an issue with single-wall flues, especially in colder weather.

The flue system works by safely venting the gases produced by your wood-burning stove out of your home, either through an exterior wall or the roof. The system is modular, so it can be customised to suit the layout of your home, making it a flexible option for many different types of properties.

How is a Twinwall Insulated Flue System Constructed?

The construction of a twinwall insulated flue system is fairly straightforward, though it is important to have it professionally installed to ensure everything works safely and efficiently. The system includes:

Two stainless steel walls: The inner wall handles high temperatures, while the outer wall stays cooler. The space between these walls is filled with insulation, usually mineral wool or ceramic fibre, which helps keep the flue gases at the right temperature and prevents heat loss.

Modular sections: The system is built from modular sections that can be joined together to create the necessary length and angles for your home. This modular design allows the flue to be routed through walls, ceilings, or even around obstacles.

Support brackets and flashings: Support brackets hold the system in place, and flashings are used where the flue passes through walls or the roof to keep everything weather-tight.

Benefits of Twinwall Insulated Flue Systems

If your home doesn’t have a chimney, a twinwall insulated flue system offers several advantages:

Flexibility: Since you do not need an existing chimney, this system can be installed in almost any home. Whether you want your stove in the living room, attic, or an extension, the system can be customised to fit.

Safety: The insulated design keeps the outer wall of the flue cool, reducing the risk of burns or fire hazards. It also ensures that flue gases are safely vented out of your home, helping to prevent any dangerous build-ups.

Energy Efficiency: By keeping the flue gases at the right temperature, the insulation improves the efficiency of your stove. Hotter flue gases rise more effectively, which improves the draw and reduces the chances of condensation.

Appearance: Twinwall flues can be finished with different external treatments to match the look of your home, so the installation fits in with your décor.

Conclusion

A twinwall insulated flue system can be a practical and safe solution for homes without chimneys, allowing you to enjoy the benefits of a wood-burning stove. With professional installation, you can create a setup that meets your heating needs and blends seamlessly with your home’s design.

If you’re thinking about installing a wood-burning stove, New Forest Fires can help. Visit www.newforestfires.co.uk to learn more about twinwall insulated flue systems and to arrange a consultation.

Why Summer is the Best Time to Service Your Chimney

Sat, 07 Jun 2025 10:30:14 GMT

A quieter season with clear benefits for fireplace maintenance

Fireplaces and stoves tend to take a back seat once the warmer weather arrives. The hearth gets tidied, the chimney is put out of mind, and it is easy to delay any thoughts of maintenance until the temperatures drop again. But servicing your chimney during the summer is the most practical and efficient time to do it.

The summer months tend to be a quieter season for stove installations, which makes it a great time to consider repairs or just routine maintenance of stoves and chimneys. The off=season allows for easier booking, fewer weather complications, and time to resolve any issues before heating becomes an urgent priority again. Whether it is a stove service, a routine sweep or a closer look at the flue system, summer offers ideal conditions for chimney care.

No queues, no last-minute rush

By autumn, chimney sweeps and stove specialists are in high demand. It is the time of year when everyone suddenly remembers the fireplace and tries to book in at once.

Summer schedules are more flexible, with shorter lead times
You are not competing with high demand or seasonal delays
There is time to carry out any necessary follow-up work without pressure

Getting it done early means you won’t be caught off guard when the first chilly evening arrives.

Safer access and more reliable weather

Climbing onto roofs or inspecting external chimney stacks is far easier when the weather is dry and calm. Rain, wind or icy conditions can complicate even basic maintenance, and chimney repairs, like re-pointing of brickwork, is much better carried out in the summer months.

Clear skies and longer days make for safer working conditions
Inspections can be more focussed when not rushed by inclement weather
Any outdoor repairs can be done with minimal disruption

Summer creates the best environment to check the condition of your chimney without unexpected hold-ups.

Ideal time to catch build-up or damage

It is not uncommon for soot and creosote to have built up over a long winter, or for birds or bees to make themselves at home in an inviting flue once spring arrives. Left unchecked, these issues can cause poor airflow or even pose a fire hazard.

Nests, debris and blockages can be cleared well before the fire is used again
Internal wear, cracks or flue lining damage can be spotted early
Any wear and tear to your stove's door rope, firebricks, baffle plate or paintwork that becomes apparent can be tackled at the same time
You reduce the risk of unpleasant odours or smoke when lighting the first fire

Tending to these now helps prevent avoidable problems once the fire is back in regular use.

Prepared and ready for the colder months

There is something satisfying about knowing the fire is ready to go. No delays, no waiting for an appointment, no worrying about whether your stove is safe to light.

Your stove or fireplace will be in good working order
Any faults or issues will have already been addressed
The pleasure of that first fuss-free fire of winter when the weather cools down

Summer chimney servicing is simple, straightforward and helps keep your fire running safely and efficiently all year round.

Book your summer chimney sweep or inspection at www.newforestfires.co.uk and make sure everything is in top shape before colder weather returns. Our team is on hand to keep your chimney safe, clean and working efficiently all year round.

How to Improve Energy Efficiency With a Woodburning Stove

Wed, 14 May 2025 06:45:00 GMT

A practical way to lower heating costs without compromising on comfort

As energy bills continue to rise, many households are rethinking how they heat their homes. Whilst central heating might still provide the main heat source in the household, it is often not the most cost-effective solution, especially in rooms that aren’t used all day. That is where a woodburning stove can make a noticeable difference. It is not just about adding a cosy focal point; it is also a practical, efficient way to supplement your heating and reduce your reliance on gas or electricity.

At New Forest Fires, we understand the benefits of having a well-installed wood burning stove in the home to help to reduce the cost of central heating. In this guide, we consider how to make it work efficiently for your space.

Choose the Right Size and Output

Not all stoves are created equal, and bigger is not always better. A stove that is too powerful for the room will lead to overheating and wasted fuel. One that is too small will not provide enough warmth to make a difference.

Measure the space where the stove will go and choose an appropriate heat output
Consider insulation levels in your home. Older properties may need a slightly higher output
Speak to an experienced installer who can recommend a size that suits both your space and lifestyle

Getting the right fit helps you heat the room effectively without wasting energy.

Use Seasoned Wood

The type of fuel you use plays a huge role in how efficient your stove is. Wood that hasn’t been properly dried will burn poorly, produce more smoke, and create more deposits in the flue.

Always use seasoned or kiln-dried logs with a moisture content below 20 per cent
Store logs in a dry, well-ventilated area so they stay ready to burn
Avoid burning treated wood or household waste, which can damage your stove and reduce efficiency

Good fuel means better heat, cleaner air and a longer lifespan for your stove.

Zone Your Heating

A stove makes it easier to heat just the parts of your home that you are using, rather than heating the entire house with the central heating system. This is especially useful in the evenings or on weekends when you are mostly in one area.

Use your stove to warm the living room or kitchen, and turn down radiators in the rest of the house
Add a door curtain or draught excluder to help retain warmth in the room
Consider placing your stove in the room you spend the most time in during colder months

This targeted approach can lead to a noticeable drop in your energy use over time.

Keep Your Stove Well Maintained

A poorly maintained stove will not run as efficiently as it should. Regular cleaning and servicing are important for both performance and safety.

Clear out ash regularly and make sure vents are free from blockage
Have your flue and chimney swept at least once a year
Get your stove checked by a professional if you notice changes in performance

A well-looked-after stove will reward you with years of reliable, cost-saving heat.

If you are thinking about adding a stove or want advice on how to get the most from your current setup, visit www.newforestfires.co.uk for expert guidance, installation services and quality woodburning solutions that are built to last.

How to Get Your Fireplace Ready for Spring

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 07:33:53 GMT

Proper Maintenance and Care After Winter Use

As winter fades and temperatures rise, your fireplace will likely see less use in the coming months. But before you simply stop using it until next winter, it is important to carry out some basic maintenance to keep it in good condition. Whether you have a wood-burning stove, gas fire, or traditional open fireplace, a little care now will help prevent issues down the line and ensure that it is ready to use when the cold weather returns.

Why Spring Fireplace Maintenance Matters

After months of regular use, your fireplace and chimney accumulate soot, ash, and residue that can cause damage if left unchecked. Spring cleaning and maintenance help to:

Prevent lingering odours from soot and ash
Reduce the risk of chimney blockages and creosote build-up
Extend the lifespan of your fireplace or stove
Ensure that it is in safe working order for the next heating seaso n

Steps to Get Your Fireplace Ready for Spring

1. Clean Out Ash and Debris

If you have a wood-burning stove or open fireplace, start by removing any remaining ash and debris. Ash left sitting for months can absorb moisture from the air, leading to unpleasant smells and potential corrosion in metal components.

Use a fireplace shovel and brush to clear out loose ash
Vacuum up fine particles with a shop vac (avoid using a regular household vacuum)
Wipe down the hearth and surround to remove dust and soot

2. Sweep and Inspect the Chimney

A chimney sweep is essential after a full season of burning wood. Creosote—a flammable byproduct of burning wood—can build up inside the chimney, increasing the risk of fire. Even if you use a gas or electric fire, the chimney may still collect dust and debris.

Schedule a professional chimney sweep to remove soot and blockages
Check for signs of damage, such as cracks or loose bricks
Ensure the chimney cap is intact to prevent birds or debris from getting inside

3. Check for Wear and Tear

Your fireplace or stove works hard through the winter, and minor damage can go unnoticed. Take the time to inspect key components:

Wood-burning stoves – Check the door seals, glass panels, and flue for signs of wear
Gas fires – Inspect the vents, pilot light, and gas connections for any irregularities
Fireplace surrounds – Clean stone, brick, or wood surrounds and check for any cracks or discolouration

If you spot any issues, it is best to arrange repairs now rather than waiting until autumn.

4. Store Firewood Properly

If you have leftover logs, store them correctly to keep them dry and ready for next season. Wood should be kept off the ground in a well-ventilated, covered area to prevent damp and mould.

5. Give Your Fireplace a Refresh

With your fireplace out of action for a few months, spring is a great time to give it a bit of attention. Consider:

Repainting a wood-burning stove to restore its finish
Replacing worn-out accessories like fire screens or log baskets
Updating the fireplace surround for a fresh look

Keep Your Fireplace in Top Condition All Year Round

Taking care of your fireplace in spring ensures it remains in excellent condition, ready to use when colder weather returns. Regular maintenance not only keeps it safe but also prolongs its lifespan and enhances its efficiency.

At New Forest Fires, we offer expert advice, servicing, and installations to help you get the best out of your wood-burning stove or fireplace. To find out more, visit www.newforestfires.co.uk

Showcasing the best of MADE IN BRITAIN woodburners

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 14:09:16 GMT

British stove makers are blazing stars in UK manufacturing and deserve to be celebrated

We didn’t set out to specifically stock British stoves, just the best stoves available for the UK market. So it’s quite a vindication of British engineering that of the 50+ stoves we have on display in the showroom, representing the very best of European design, more than half of them not only originate from British companies but are manufactured in the UK too.

Britain’s stove-building legacy goes back to the early 70’s and enjoyed a shot in the arm from that era’s oil shock, when a desperate Britain looked for a cheaper way to keep warm, remembered that fuel literally grows on trees, realised it still had a few trees (that kings, the navy, landowners and assorted merchants hadn’t yet cut down) and looked for an efficient appliance which would exponentially multiply the efficiency with which you could burn logs.

It turned into an unalloyed success story. Some of those original innovators are still at it, and have in turn inspired others to have a go too.

Located less than 20 miles from our showroom, Charnwood Stoves have been manufacturing for over 50 years from their state-of-the-art facility on the Isle of Wight. Constantly innovating, they are at the cutting edge of stove design and have won numerous awards for export: their stoves are now sold on multiple continents.

Woodwarm stoves are of a similar vintage, having started in 1974, and enjoy an impeccable reputation for consistently building outstanding stoves. Many of the features we now take for granted on modern stoves were first introduced by Woodwarm and they have continually refined their offering right up to the extremely efficient, controllable and robust stove range they manufacture today.

Chilli Penguin is a relative newbie, established (only!) in 2001. Having identified a niche in the market for an all-singing, all dancing stove – heat! Kettle-boiling! Cooking! Low flue-draught requirement! Design-forward! Cute Penguin logo! – they quickly achieved cult status among the cognoscenti before surging into popularity after about a decade of sustained growth. Their quirkiness, creativity and charm remain undiminished, and their stoves, hand-built in Wales, are excellent. Their Stock Cube-family woodburners are among the very best stoves we’ve enjoyed using, and truly world-class.

Clock Woodburners exploded onto the stove scene in 2016 with their spectacular Blithfield 5 multifuel stove. Expertly designed and built by experienced stove-fitters, it’s perhaps unsurprising that Clock became a trade-insiders’ favourite very quickly, and their reputation has only grown as their range has expanded, to encompass models smaller and larger, double-sided and inset, conventional-radiant and convection. Based in Cheshire, all their stoves are built in the north of England: yet another resounding manufacturing triumph.

We’ve recently taken on Clock-adjacent but not formally-related Archer Stoves, a new brand with a similar focus on outperformance: expect to see more of Archer popping up on our social media feeds. And we also have the Symphony Solo, an appropriately named (so far) singleton from MAC Metalcraft, a stalwart of the stove industry, who in turning their hand to manufacturing their own, have created an incredibly responsive and handsome woodburner on their first try- bravo! And perhaps it's no coincidence that Mendip's most popular, and award-winning, stove - the Woodland - is now manufactured entirely in Somerset.

It’s hard to say there is really a cost-premium attached to British-built stoves. In fact, most compare very favourably in price with peer European competitors. There are clearly much cheaper stoves on the market, but if you dig into any of the British-flagged brands offering significantly cheaper stoves, these almost exclusively turn out to be built in China but often with some final aspect of assembly, or a component, or even just design, carried out in the UK.

There are certainly some decent stoves built in China – indeed, we carry an affordable range built there for our more cash-strapped customers - but there are some very bad ones too, and with a high-ticket product that should be designed to last for decades, there are serious questions to be asked about access to spare and replacement parts over the lifetime of the appliance, that become very difficult to answer when supply lines stretch halfway around the world to factories building products to specification according to short-term contract.

In the meantime, there is a positive wealth of native options available if you want a truly excellent, world-class woodburner, designed for life. We feel truly privileged to be able to showcase such a superb selection of the very best British-built stoves and look forward a bright future for the industry.

If you’d like to see the best that Britain’s stove industry has to offer, just pop into our showroom in Hordle.

New Year, New Fireplace: Why 2025 Is the Perfect Time to Upgrade Your Home Heating

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 09:57:27 GMT

Create a cosy and efficient home to enjoy all year round.

Now that 2025 is well underway, many of us are thinking about how to make our homes more comfortable, efficient, and enjoyable. One excellent way to tick all these boxes is by upgrading your fireplace or stove. It is not just about heating your home—it is about creating a space you will love to spend time in.

In this blog, we explain why 2025 is the ideal year to invest in a new fireplace or stove:

Transform Your Living Space

A cosy centrepiece: A fireplace is more than just a heat source—it is the heart of the home. It creates a warm, inviting atmosphere for family gatherings, relaxing evenings, or quiet moments with a good book.

Style meets function: Whether you love sleek, modern designs or the charm of a traditional wood burner, today’s options cater to every taste. A new fireplace can instantly enhance the look and feel of your living room.

Save on Energy Costs

Keeping your home warm shouldn’t mean breaking the bank. Upgrading to a new fireplace or stove can make a noticeable difference in your energy bills.

Energy-efficient designs: Modern fireplaces and stoves are built with efficiency in mind, using less fuel while delivering more heat.

Long-term savings: Over time, a more efficient and direct heating method will save you money—especially as energy costs continue to rise.

Go Green with Cleaner Options

With a growing focus on eco-friendly living, a new fireplace is also an opportunity to make greener choices for your home.

Eco-friendly fuels: Along with novel fuel options like coffee logs that recycle food waste into fuel, logs are the greenest fuel there is, and they literally grow on trees, and burning them on a super-efficient Ecodesign wood burner allows you to enjoy a real fire without guilt.

Reduced emissions: Cleaner-burning fireplaces and stoves meet the latest environmental standards, helping to lower your carbon footprint.

Enjoy a Lifestyle Upgrade

A new fireplace is about more than practicality—it is about creating a space that feels like home.

Imagine coming home on a cold evening to the gentle crackle of a fire.

Picture the cosiness of movie nights by the fire or the satisfaction of knowing your heating system is both efficient and stylish.

In a time of geopolitical fissure, collapsing infrastructure, energy shortages and civil unrest, there's never been a more important time to invest in the exceptional resilience and autonomy that a woodburning stove and your own fuel supply afford.

Ready to Make the Change?

There is no better time than the start of a new year to invest in your comfort and home. A new fireplace can bring warmth, style, and efficiency to your space, transforming it into a cosy haven.

Visit www.newforestfires.co.uk to explore our range of fireplaces and stoves. Whether you are looking for a modern statement piece or a traditional classic, we have got something to suit every home and lifestyle.

Start your 2025 with the warmth and charm your home deserves!

Do you need a fireguard for a woodburning stove?

info@newforestfires.co.uk (Lee Thomas) — Sat, 01 Mar 2025 14:36:30 GMT

No, but maybe yes...

Even fifteen years ago, we used to stock and sell a great number for fireguards, but demand has reduced to a trickle as open fires have been largely phased out and replaced with stoves or gas fires.

The main role of traditional fireguards was to prevent sparks from the fire splashing beyond the hearth and onto your floor.

Stoves, however, are classified as closed appliances, and normally operate with the door closed, so wild sparks are contained inside: beautiful rather than dangerous. Even though you need to open the door to re-fuel, potentially allowing sparks to escape, you would have to move a fire guard out of the way anyway, making them redundant in all but the most unlikely of scenarios.

The other function of fireguards, however, is to create distance between a hot stove or fire and unwitting creatures who might otherwise accidentally burn themselves on it.

The evidence for such dangers is, perhaps counter-intuitively, pretty scarce. It’s easy to imagine, but rarely seems to happen. Most children seem, like dogs, to be aware that intense heat equals danger. The animals that are anecdotally the most likely to suffer burns from a stove are cats. This is because, unlike dogs and children, who approach a stove on foot and feel the radiant heat as a warning, cats often leap from a distance and by the time the danger becomes apparent, it’s too late. (If you have cats and a newly-acquired stove, habituate him/her/them to the heat of the stove by holding them close enough to feel it – they’re smart animals and learn quickly enough. If you’re really worried, the Fort Knox of fireguards is a childguard with complete vertical and horizontal caging around a fireplace that should frustrate the nimblest of ninja cats; however, it will also frustrate your access to the stove.)

However, adults are understandably nervous leaving children in a room with a lit stove. Hence, the few fireguards we do sell are mostly at Christmas, and mostly to grandparents. None of them are fail-safe – the enterprising adventurer will always find a way through - but some fireguards are pretty good. The most popular of them is the one in the picture above, excellent for free-standing stoves, with long returns that can be fixed to the wall and a gate at the front to allow access to the stove door (pictured here with our Charnwood Arc 7 woodburner).

If you’d like to discuss the options, call us on 01425 617610, drop us a line at info@newforestfires.co.uk or stop in and see us.

Woodburner vs central heating

info@newforestfires.co.uk (Lee Thomas) — Sat, 04 Jan 2025 16:05:10 GMT

Why keeping warm with a woodburner can be significantly cheaper than central heating.

You have to be wary making broad claims about the relative costs of different ways of heating a home. It’s not a clear-cut and simple equation. But here’s a take on the question:

The core fallacy in the way we modern people try to stay warm at home is that air temperature and the sensation of feeling warm are only loosely correlated. You can sunbathe in the Alps in January on a clear day, when the ambient temperature is sub-zero. You can feel shivery under a jungle canopy where the mercury rarely dips below 30.

The clue is in our biology.

Humans have evolved to love radiant heat. There’s a reason the world’s oldest organised religion worshipped fire, and that many others worshipped the sun. We’ve been sitting around fires after dusk for over 400,000 years.

It thus seems slightly ridiculous that the main way we heat our homes is by burning enormous quantities of gas to raise the average air temperature in every room by a few degrees. We do this by pumping gallons of temporarily-heated water around a closed circuit. That’s the reality in 74% of British households, where gas central heating is the only form of heating.

On the face of it, and we’ve written about this elsewhere, there’s a superficial logic to using gas. By price per kW in the UK, it is by some margin the cheapest source for domestic heating. You can find the cost per kWh on your gas bill.

There’s no direct equivalent metric for wood as a fuel, but a rough heuristic is that a seasoned one-kilogram log will create approximately a kilowatt of heat, which under ideal conditions will be released over the course of about an hour in your efficient, modern stove.

If you can be bothered, you can weigh a typical log from your most recent delivery, then count the logs and work out a pretty good back-of-envelope equivalent cost to your gas kWh price.

The equivalent log will almost certainly be more expensive, possibly two to four times as expensive.

However, over the course of an evening, you might burn ten or twelve logs on your stove, and if you’ve come home cold and wet, the intense radiant heat will drive the chill out of your bones in minutes. Once you’re warmed through, you’re less likely to even notice the lower air temperature in the rest of the house.

Very few of our customers get rid of their central heating. But many of them find themselves using it less and less and find that they’re spending far less money on keeping warm.

If you’d like to discuss the possibilities for keeping warm with a stove in your home, get in touch with us at New Forest Fires.

Woodburners: myth versus reality

info@newforestfires.co.uk (Lee Thomas) — Sat, 17 Aug 2024 14:45:13 GMT

The woodburning stove industry has long been a convenient whipping boy for all manner of errant knaves, leaving a cloud of mythological flatulence floating in the aftermath. Let’s examine some samples:

Myth 1: Ban on woodburning stoves.

We’re not aware of any ban or even unidentified-ban-shaped-object on the horizon. In fact, the latest standard for stoves – Ecodesign, which mandates high efficiency and minimal emissions, and which took years to draft – was only introduced in 2022. There’s a clear regulatory landscape for stove use now and into the future.

Myth 2: Stoves are polluting.

Wood is a carbon neutral fuel. Combustion releases the same quantity of CO2 as naturally decomposing wood. Modern stoves are incredibly efficient and will burn logs without producing visible smoke. Emissions – up to 90% lower than an open fire and 80% less than an older stove - emerge above roof height (unlike cars’).

Myth 3: But forests are being felled!

Most logs for domestic stoves come from local tree surgery, which actually makes trees and forests healthier. And encourages even more tree-planting.

Myth 4: Woodburners produce most of the small PM2.5 particulates that cause illness.

Less than 0.3% of the UK’s PM2.5 is attributable to modern Ecodesign stoves and is massively outweighed by equivalent emissions from roads. Even cigarettes produce nearly five times as much. Bonfires on Guy Fawkes night alone created more PM2.5 than all of Britain’s Ecodesign woodburners together produced in a whole year.

Myth 5: stoves are middle-class.

Woodburners are about as democratic as appliances get and have humble, homesteading origins. They’re ecologically sound and provide autonomy, security, and sensuous, sunshine-like, heat. They key into the local economy, they can heat a small house or a large room and they heat all bottoms alike, rich and poor. King Charles is rumoured to be an enthusiast, too, and you can hardly accuse him of being middle-class!

There’s a lot of rubbish written about stoves, but fire is the alpha and omega of home heating and stoves have never been better than they are now. Maybe it’s time to put some real heat at the heart of your home.

*Figures from the Stove Industry Alliance and Poujoulat.

Choosing the Perfect Hearth: Granite, Slate, or Tile?

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 11:11:25 GMT

Enhancing Your Home with the Right Hearth Material

Choosing the right hearth material for your woodburning stove is essential for both function and appearance. The hearth provides a safe surface for your stove and complements your home décor. Granite, slate, and tile are popular options, each offering unique benefits. New Forest Fires has written a guide to help you decide which hearth material suits your home best.

All hearth materials have to be suitable for use in fireplaces, and there are, of course, plenty of rules governing the construction, size and shape of hearths, but today we’re just going to consider the surface materials commonly used in hearths, sometimes called the ‘decorative hearth’, and their relative advantages and downsides.

Granite: Durability and Elegance

Granite is a highly durable and heat-resistant material, making it an excellent choice for hearths. Its natural beauty and variety of colours and patterns allow you to find a piece that matches your home décor. Granite is also easy to clean and maintain, which is ideal for the area around a woodburning stove. The honed finish of granite adds a touch of understated elegance to any room.

Pros :

Very durable and heat-resistant

Made to measure for a bespoke finish

Available in various colours and patterns

Easy to clean and maintain

Adds elegance to the room

Cons :

Can be more expensive than other materials

Heavy. Can be hard to manipulate in large sections

Generally uniform finish that may not appeal to bohemians and the cottage-core brigade.

Slate: Natural Beauty and Versatility

Slate is known for its natural beauty and versatility. It comes in a range of earthy tones, including grey, green, and black, which can add a rustic charm to your home. Although slate can withstand high temperatures, it’s also fissile and soft and damages easily. However, its textured surface, and even its battle scars, can add depth and character to your room, creating a cosy atmosphere.

Pros :

Naturally beautiful with a rustic charm

Made to measure for a bespoke finish

Available in honed or riven finishes

Adds depth and character with its textured surface

Cons :

Prone to scratching and chipping

Requires regular sealing, oiling or polishing to maintain its appearance

Once considered granite’s poor cousin, scarcity of supply means slate is now the more expensive option.

Tile: Versatility and Customisation

Tile is a versatile option for hearths, offering many design possibilities. Available in various materials, colours, shapes, and sizes, tiles can be customised to fit any style. Whether you prefer a sleek modern look or a more traditional design, tiles can be arranged in patterns that suit your taste. Bricks can also be used for a quaint and bumpy hearth, and can likewise be laid in a variety of patterns. Brick and tile are both durable and heat-resistant, making them practical choices for a hearth.

Pros :

Highly versatile with many design options

Durable and heat-resistant

Can be customised to fit any style

Easy to replace individual tiles or bricks if damaged

Cons :

More time-consuming and expensive to lay

Grout lines can be difficult to clean

Some tiles may buckle or crack under extreme heat if not properly installed

Bricks and many tiles are porous and may become grubby over time.

Conclusion

Choosing the right hearth material for your woodburning stove depends on your preferences, budget, the overall style of your home and your décor goals. Granite offers durability and elegance, slate provides natural beauty and versatility, and tiles and brick allow for customisation and creativity. Each material has its own benefits and considerations, so take the time to explore your options and select the one that best fits your needs.

For more information about our hearth materials and to get expert advice on choosing the perfect one for your home, visit www.newforestfires.co.uk . Let New Forest Fires help you enhance your home with the ideal hearth for your woodburning stove.

The Importance of Chimney Lining: Enhancing Safety and Efficiency

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 11:11:05 GMT

Why Lining Your Chimney Matters for Stove Performance and Home Safety.

When it comes to installing or maintaining a wood-burning stove, it is important to assess the condition of the chimney. An often-overlooked aspect of chimney maintenance is the installation of a flexible stainless-steel flue liner. At New Forest Fires, we believe that chimney lining is essential for both safety and efficiency. This guide explains why lining your chimney is so important and how it can benefit your home.

Improving Stove Performance

A properly lined chimney is key to getting the best performance from your stove. Flexible stainless-steel flues are built to handle high temperatures and the corrosive by-products produced when burning fuel.

Here are a few benefits:

Better Draught: A lined chimney ensures a consistent and strong draught, which is essential for efficient combustion. This means your stove will burn fuel more effectively, providing more heat with less wood.

Reduced Creosote Build-Up: Creosote is a flammable substance that can accumulate inside your chimney. A smooth, stainless-steel liner reduces creosote build-up by providing a consistent surface that allows for better airflow and less residue adherence.

Improved Heat Retention: Flexible flue liners help retain more heat within the flue gases, allowing the stove to reach optimal operating temperatures faster. This not only improves efficiency but also reduces fuel consumption.

Enhancing Home Safety

Safety is a top priority when it comes to using a wood-burning stove. Chimney lining significantly enhances safety by addressing several potential hazards:

Preventing Chimney Fires: Creosote build-up is a leading cause of chimney fires. By reducing this build-up, a stainless-steel liner greatly minimises the risk of a chimney fire.

Containment of Flue Gases: An unlined chimney can allow harmful flue gases, including carbon monoxide, to seep into your home. A flue liner contains these gases and directs them safely out of the house.

Structural Protection: Over time, the interior of a chimney can degrade due to exposure to high temperatures and corrosive elements. A stainless-steel liner protects the chimney’s masonry by providing a resilient barrier, extending the life of the chimney structure.

Addressing Older Homes

Many older homes have chimneys that were not designed to accommodate modern stoves or have deteriorated over time. Installing a flexible stainless-steel liner is a practical solution for updating these chimneys to modern standards:

Versatility: Flexible liners can navigate bends and offsets in older chimneys, making them suitable for a variety of configurations that rigid liners cannot accommodate.

Compliance with Regulations: Lining your chimney can help bring it up to current building regulations and safety standards, which is particularly important if you’re installing a new stove in an older home.

Cost-Effective Maintenance

While there is an initial investment involved in lining a chimney, the long-term benefits make it a cost-effective decision:

Reduced Maintenance Costs: A lined chimney is easier to clean and maintain, reducing the frequency and cost of professional cleaning services.

Extended Chimney Life: By protecting the chimney structure, a liner can prevent costly repairs and prolong the life of the chimney, saving you money in the long run.

Conclusion

Lining your chimney with a flexible stainless-steel flue is a sensible investment for both safety and efficiency. It improves stove performance by enhancing draught, reducing creosote build-up, and retaining heat. Additionally, it enhances home safety by preventing chimney fires, containing flue gases, and protecting the chimney structure. For older homes, it offers a versatile and compliant solution that adapts the chimney to modern standards.

At New Forest Fires, we specialise in chimney lining and are committed to ensuring your stove operates safely and efficiently. To learn more about our services and how we can help you enhance your home’s safety and stove performance, visit www.newforestfires.co.uk .

Improve your home’s safety and efficiency with New Forest Fires – your trusted partner in chimney maintenance and stove installation.

Keeping Your Wood Burning Stove in Good Condition: Important Spring Maintenance Tips

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 11:09:43 GMT

Prepare Your Stove for Warmer Days with Advice from New Forest Fires

As the days get longer and the weather warms up, it is time to think about giving our wood-burning stoves a bit of a spring clean. It is important to make sure your stove is working well and safe all year round.

At New Forest Fires, we know how important it is to get your stove ready for the warmer months ahead. Here are some tips to help you do just that:

1. Give it a Good Clean:

Over the winter, your stove can build up soot and creosote, which can make it less efficient and even dangerous. Start by giving the inside of your stove a clean with a wire brush or stove cleaner to get rid of any dirt and grime. Then, wipe down the outside with a damp cloth to get rid of any dust. Make sure to check the door seals and hinges too.

2. Check the Chimney and Flue:

Before you start using your stove regularly again, it is a good idea to check the chimney and flue for any damage or blockages. Use a torch to check for any build-up of soot or debris, and if you need to, get a professional chimney sweep in to give it a proper clean. Take a look at the flue pipe as well to make sure it is in good condition.

3. Inspect the Door Seal:

The door seal is important for making sure your stove burns efficiently. Check it for any signs of wear or damage, like fraying or flattening. If it is looking worn out, you might need to replace it to keep your stove working well.

4. Check the Fire Bricks:

The fire bricks inside your stove protect it from heat damage. Take a look to see if any of them are cracked or damaged, and if they are, it's a good idea to replace them. Good fire bricks help your stove retain heat and work better.

5. Check the Air Vents and Controls:

Make sure the air vents and controls on your stove are clean and working properly. They control how much air gets into the stove, which affects how hot the fire burns. Clean out any dust or dirt from the air vents, and make sure the controls move smoothly.

Conclusion

By following these simple maintenance tips, you can make sure your wood-burning stove is ready for the warmer months ahead. At New Forest Fires, we are here to help you keep your stove working well all year round.

If you need any advice or assistance with maintaining your wood-burning stove, get in touch with New Forest Fires today. Visit our website at www.newforestfires.co.uk to find out more about our services and products.

The Environmental Impact of Wood-Burning Stoves: Myths and Facts

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 07:15:11 GMT

Debunking Misconceptions and Highlighting the Eco-Friendliness of Modern Wood-Burners

Wood-burning stoves have been a popular choice for heating homes for a long time, offering both warmth and a cosy atmosphere. However, there are many myths and misconceptions about their environmental impact. In this guide, we address some common misunderstandings and discuss the eco-friendliness of modern wood-burners, so that you can make informed decisions about your heating choices.

Myth 1: Wood-burning Stoves Are Major Polluters

A common belief is that wood-burning stoves are significant sources of pollution. While older, inefficient stoves and open fires can produce harmful emissions, modern wood-burning stoves are built to meet stringent environmental standards.

Fact: Modern stoves are cleaner and more efficient. They use advanced combustion technology to burn wood more completely, reducing the amount of smoke and particulates released into the air. Many new stoves meet or exceed the EcoDesign regulations, which set strict limits on emissions.

Myth 2: Burning Wood Contributes to Deforestation

Another concern is that using wood for fuel leads to deforestation and unsustainable forest management.

Fact: When sourced responsibly, wood is a renewable energy source. Sustainable forestry practices ensure that for every tree harvested, several more are planted, maintaining a balance and promoting healthy forest ecosystems. Look for wood that is certified by organisations such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) to ensure it comes from sustainably managed forests.

Myth 3: Wood-burning stoves Are Inefficient

Some people think that wood-burning stoves are an inefficient way to heat a home compared to modern gas or electric heating systems.

Fact: Modern wood-burning stoves are highly efficient. High-efficiency models can convert up to 80% of the energy in wood into heat for your home. By using seasoned, dry wood, you can maximise the efficiency of your stove and reduce emissions further. Additionally, using a wood stove can be more cost-effective in the long run, especially in areas where wood is readily available.

Myth 4: Wood Smoke Is Always Harmful to Health

A common misconception is that all wood smoke is harmful and poses serious health risks.

Fact: Whilst it is true that wood smoke can contain harmful particles, the emissions from a modern, properly used wood-burning stove are minimal. Using seasoned wood, maintaining your stove, and ensuring proper ventilation can significantly reduce the health risks associated with wood smoke. Moreover, many modern stoves feature filters and other technologies to minimise emissions.

The Eco-Friendliness of Modern Wood-Burners

Modern wood-burning stoves are not only more efficient and cleaner but also contribute positively to the environment when used correctly.

Carbon Neutrality: Wood is considered a carbon-neutral fuel because the carbon dioxide released during burning is roughly equal to the amount absorbed by the tree during its growth. This balance helps reduce the overall carbon footprint.

Reduced Fossil Fuel Dependence: By using wood-burning stoves, you can reduce your reliance on fossil fuels, which are finite and have a higher environmental impact due to extraction and transportation processes.

Local Sourcing: Using locally sourced wood reduces the carbon footprint associated with transportation and supports local economies. It also promotes sustainable forestry practices in your region.

Practical Tips for Eco-Friendly Wood-Burning

Choose the Right Stove: Invest in a modern, high-efficiency wood-burning stove that meets EcoDesign standards.

Use Seasoned Wood: Ensure your wood is properly seasoned (dried) for at least a year to reduce moisture content and increase burning efficiency.

Maintain Your Stove: Regular maintenance and cleaning will keep your stove operating efficiently and safely.

Install a Carbon Monoxide Detector: For safety, always use a carbon monoxide detector in any room with a wood-burning stove.

Conclusion

Wood-burning stoves, when used and maintained correctly, can be an environmentally friendly and sustainable way to heat your home. Modern stoves are designed to be highly efficient and produce minimal emissions, debunking many of the myths surrounding their use. By choosing a high-quality stove and following best practices for wood-burning, you can enjoy the warmth and ambience of a wood fire while minimising your environmental impact.

For more information on eco-friendly wood-burning stoves, visit www.newforestfires.co.uk . New Forest Fires offers a range of modern, efficient wood-burning stoves to suit every home and heating need. Discover how you can stay warm and be kind to the environment with our selection of stoves.

Changing the door rope on your woodburner

Thu, 04 Jul 2024 10:52:06 GMT

What you need to know to maintain a good door seal on your wood burning stove

All stoves work in part by restricting the amount of air that can enter the combustion chamber. The controls allow you to regulate the air supply to establish or revive a fire or to keep it burning at optimal efficiency. This ability to control the stove depends on an effective door seal.

To achieve this, the doors are fitted with a tightly-woven, heat-resistant synthetic gasket that compresses slightly when the door is closed, creating a sufficiently air-tight seal to ensure efficient and controllable stove operation.

Over many hundreds of opening and closings of the stove door, this rope can begin to fray or otherwise disintegrate, or compress to such a degree that it no longer forms an effective seal. At this point, it is necessary to change the rope.

How to tell if your stove rope needs changing?

Sometimes your stove will tell you! If you notice that the controls are starting to become unresponsive and you can’t slow the fire down, it’s likely that you have air leaking into the stove and that leak is probably through the door. Often, you’ll see a change in the flame pattern if there’s a gap in the door seal, or possibly increased deposits on the glass where the leaking air is countering your stove’s airwash.

Alternatively, do the paper test. (When the stove is cold!) close the door on a sheet of paper (at different points around the door) and see if you can pull it out. It should be stuck or stiff to pull out. If it comes out easily, it means your door seal is not effective and it’s time to change the rope.

Which kind of stove rope should I buy?

While a handful of stove manufacturers use uniquely specialised door rope, which needs to be bought from them, most choose instead to use generic stove rope in one of a few standard rope diameters. Most manufacturers will sell proprietary replacement rope kits, with the correct type, diameter and length of rope, bound at the ends to prevent fraying and with a tube of adhesive to glue it into place. This is definitely the easiest and most foolproof way of getting replacement rope for your stove, but it is also relatively expensive.

You can also buy generic stove rope from stove shops like ours by the metre, along with glue and the tape to bind the cut ends. This usually works out about half the price, but you will need to be sure of what you are buying.

Stove rope comes in different diameters – usually from 8mm to 14mm, but occasionally smaller or wider – and either soft or firm. Firm rope – as the name suggests! – feels much firmer and has a maximum compression of something like fifty percent. Soft ropes squidge down to a much flatter profile, so it is important to select the right type. Too firm and the door won’t close. Too soft and it won’t form an effective seal.

Likewise, it is important to get the right diameter: the rope fits into a groove in the metal door, the radius of which is designed for a specific size of rope. If your stove instruction book doesn’t tell you which rope to buy, you should be able to call the manufacturer and ask them. Some, like Chilli Penguin, helpfully flag up all the necessary information on the maintenance section of their website. If you have a serial number for the stove, or a date of purchase, this can be helpful to them in identifying the precise model of the stove that you have (because over time they sometimes make changes), and thus the correct spare parts.

Failing this, you can take out the old rope and measure it if it’s in good enough condition, or take a sample down to your local stove shop to compare with the ropes they have on the reel.

A note on glue: you can buy small tubes of thin, clear stove glue. Even better is proper high-temperature silicone mastic.

The rope itself might be white or grey. The colour doesn’t mean anything and doesn’t make any difference.

How to change the door rope on your stove

Typically, you will need to lift the door off its hinges and lay it face down on a soft surface. Not only is it easier to work on the door like this, but it will put less strain on the hinges and remove the influence of gravity on your new rope while the glue dries.

As with most unfamiliar tasks, it’s always a good idea before starting to take a picture on your phone of what the door and rope look like before you start taking it to pieces. If it’s your first time changing the rope, it’s a also good idea to try to duplicate the pattern and exact position in which the manufacturer fitted the rope in the first place.

First you will need to dig out the old rope and pull it all out. If there’s no loose section, use something with a blunt flat blade to pop a section out, then just pull. You will then need to clean out the channel in the door of any fragments of rope and the residue of the old adhesive. An old flathead screwdriver, a wire brush and some sandpaper should get the job done in no time.

When it’s clean and dust-free, lay your length of new rope into the groove until the whole length of the channel is filled. Try not to stretch or compress the rope unnaturally. When you can establish the correct length, cut off the excess rope. It’s best to leave a few extra millimetres as the cut ends will fray and you will need to trim them after taping them.

Bind the cut ends with stove tape – you won’t need much, once around is fine – then trim off the excess or cut back until you have two squared-off ends to butt up to each other.

Next you will need to run a continuous bead of adhesive through the channel, then gently and carefully bed the rope into it. Don’t worry if your section of rope suddenly seems slightly too long or short. While the glue is wet, you can concertina the rope back or stretch it forth until the two cut ends butt neatly up to one another. You can then add a dab of glue to the cut ends and fix them into place, then go back around the full circumference and ensure that the rope is properly bedded into the channel.

Take off any excess glue that might have splurged out of the channel. It’s important to clean up well as excess glue can adhere to the stove body after you’ve re-hung and closed the door and can pull the rope back out, which is very frustrating.

It's then best to leave the glue to firm up for a few hours before re-hanging the doors.

The heat from the first subsequent fire you have in the stove will fully cure the adhesive and it should then be a few years before you have to repeat the process.

Big & bold, Hergom Stoves is the latest addition to our stove roster

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 10:25:56 GMT

Hergom have been building stoves for over 50 years, so we're only a little late to the party!

As a rule, Britain’s houses are getting better-insulated and their rooms are getting smaller, hence the trend over the last decade for woodburners to correspondingly shrink in size and output. Many of the larger models from well-known brands have simply disappeared from the market.

However, as with all trends, averages occlude the many exceptions. Especially in rural areas like here in the New Forest, there are still plenty of old houses with big, draughty rooms and it can sometimes be hard to find a stove with the stature, presence and output to satisfy the requirements and expectations of customers with a large space to heat and an imprinted cultural memory of the stoves of yesteryear.

We’ve been on the lookout for a large, robust, yet technology-forward stove to fill that gap. If you know about stoves, the gap we perceived was roughly the shape of a Vermont Castings Vigilant or maybe an old Jotul – preferably cast-iron, heavy, robust, shapely and subtly ornamental but that wouldn’t look out of place in a mountain redoubt. Something that will keep granny warm in a storm when the wind’s blowing snow through the gaps under the door, whilst also being Ecodesign-compliant, clean-burning, and equipped with a large glass window that will stay clear as a bell for a magnificent view of the fire within.

Hergom ticks the boxes. A Spanish manufacturer, they’ve been building magnificent stoves since 1972. Unashamed advocates of cast-iron (in an industry that has predominantly tilted to steel), their stoves are unapologetically outsize and robust, ornate without being twee, and pack a serious wallop in terms of heat output. And if aspects of their design are suggestive, to the savvy observer, of a Franklinesque trans-Atlantic influence, this might be because Hergom have been operating and manufacturing in North America since the eighties, where their stoves are sold under the brand Hearthstone.

We’ve installed a couple of Hergoms so far, where they have been the perfect functional and aesthetic solution to our customers' requirements. We currently have two of their models on display – the elegant Craftsbury and the classical, functional and more contemporary E-30M.

For more information and a downloadable brochure, have a look at our new Hergom Stove page: https://www.newforestfires.co.uk/hergom-stove-in-new-forest

What you need to know about replacing parts on a woodburner for practical maintenance.

Tue, 07 May 2024 12:30:00 GMT

A guide to the stove parts you can replace yourself

This blog post is intended as an introduction for a four-part series, which will appear over the next few weeks, drilling down into the aspects of intermittent stove repair and maintenance that the practical stove owner can do for herself.

Stoves rarely have a set maintenance schedule such as you might have with a car, where the oil or brake pads might need to be changed after a certain amount of time or number of miles. However, there are a number of stove parts – usually designated ‘consumables’ – that the manufacturer has anticipated will need replacing from time to time. These parts are not usually covered by the stove guarantee (with some notable exceptions).

Historically, stove design has been geared towards the autonomy of the competent user, though as stoves have become more complicated, maintenance has sometimes become correspondingly demanding. This varies brand to brand, but there are very few stove manufacturers that seem to be deliberately pursuing a service-forward strategy that would aim to lock you out of routine maintenance in lieu of billable visits by technical professionals. Our observation would be that such an approach would go against the general self-sufficiency ethos of the industry. The cynic might also observe that there’s simply not enough money in it to encourage, in the stove world, that level of corporate grift, which has unfortunately become such a mainstay of consumer culture, but that won't put some people off trying.

For the purposes of the coming posts, we’re expressly not discussing chimney-sweeping, maintenance of flues or stove bodies, nor the day-to-day aspects of stove maintenance and cleaning, just the replacement of internal parts that are likely to wear out over time. We will also not be covering the multitude of other parts that are often replaceable – door handles or hinge pins, for example – that are often available from the (reputable) manufacturer, but which are intended and anticipated to last for a long time, if not indefinitely, and which they would thus not class as ‘consumables’.

Over the following posts, we will address:

1. Door rope

2. Fire bricks

3. Various metal parts

4. Door glass

We will discuss these from a general perspective and not get into the weeds of specific idiosyncrasies – many brands and manufacturers have divergent ideas on how best to build and equip a stove and we won’t try to cover all of them. However, there are enough convergences across the industry that there are useful generalisations to be made.

None of the parts are of a type that deteriorate simply though age. Generally, they wear out through attrition, accident and degree of gentleness and care, which in turn depends at least in part on frequency of use and the habits of the stove user. It’s worth noting also that just because a part is classed as consumable, that doesn’t mean it will definitely need to be replaced. While door rope, for instance, will almost certainly need to be changed at some point, usually after about five years, the glass in the door often lasts as long as the stove and fire bricks too can last almost indefinitely if treated with care.

Some parts are highly proprietary and can only be sourced from the manufacturer or their agents (we supply spare parts for all our stove brands!), others are generic and more readily and broadly accessible from any specialist supplier.

If you do need proprietary spare parts in the future, it is enormously helpful to know the vintage of your stove. Keep hold of your receipt and any paperwork that comes with the stove and take a note of the serial number, if there is one. These details can help identify the correct model of a stove, if the model has gone through two or more evolutions, as the spare parts often change in size and shape.

If you don’t already have a stove, these are very valid aspects of stove ownership to raise with your stove retailer and consider pre-purchase. We will certainly be delighted to discuss these details with you. Just pop in to the shop, drop us an email or give us a call on 01425 617610.

Maintenance Tips for Your Charnwood Stove: Keep the Fire Burning Bright

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 12:30:00 GMT

A Guide to Keeping Your Stove Efficient and Safe Through the Colder Months

As the colder months approach, the reliability and efficiency of your Charnwood stove become increasingly important. It is essential to maintain your stove not just for the warmth and comfort it offers, but also for its safe operation. At New Forest Fires, we understand the importance of this, and we have written a guide about the essential maintenance steps for your Charnwood stove.

Routine Cleaning – A Necessary Task

Regular cleaning is vital for the upkeep of your stove. Accumulated ash and soot can impact its efficiency and can be a safety concern. We suggest clearing out the ash weekly, or more often if you are using the stove extensively. Ensure the stove has cooled before using a soft brush and vacuum for this task.

Annual Replacement of the Rope Seal

The rope seal on the stove door, critical for maintaining heat efficiency, can wear down over time. It is advisable to inspect this seal each year and replace it if there are signs of wear or if the door does not seal correctly. This is a straightforward maintenance step that can have a noticeable impact on the performance of your stove.

Air Vents: Regular Checks and Cleaning

For efficient wood burning, proper airflow through the stove’s air vents is essential. Blockages in these vents can lead to inefficient combustion. A routine check and cleaning of these vents, using a simple brush, is recommended to prevent any issues.

Glass Cleaning for a Clear View

Regular cleaning of the stove glass is necessary to keep the view of the flames clear. Use a damp cloth for regular soot removal, and for tougher stains, a specialised stove glass cleaner can be effective. Always perform this cleaning when the stove is cool.

Choosing the Right Fuel

The fuel you use affects the maintenance needs of your stove. Seasoned or kiln-dried wood is preferable as it produces less tar and soot, leading to a cleaner stove and a more efficient burn.

Importance of Annual Professional Servicing

Beyond the maintenance you can do at home, an annual professional service of your Charnwood stove is recommended. This should include a thorough inspection and cleaning, ensuring everything is functioning correctly and safely.

Conclusion

Proper maintenance of your Charnwood stove is important for efficient and safe operation, especially during the colder months. While it requires some effort, the benefits in terms of reliable heating and safety are significant.

For further information, maintenance products, or to arrange a professional service, please visit our website at www.newforestfires.co.uk .

How to choose a wood burning stove

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 14:45:45 GMT

So many stoves, so little time...

Choosing a stove can be a daunting experience. There’s a dearth of good, disinterested information. The lifestyle-supplement listicles you find in national newspapers are reliably ignorant, peer-to-peer reviews tend to be limited by experience (many stove users only ever own one stove, because stoves are built to last), too many builders and architects demonstrate only a partial understanding of how they work and the internet is flooded with marketing masquerading as guidance. So what are the most important aspects to consider?

Performance

This is the most important question to ask about any stove: is it any good? There are plenty of good stoves, but an infinitude of crummy or mediocre ones.

There are a few stove brands that have been around for decades. The best of them have been quietly making consistently reliable and excellent stoves all this time and let their reputation precede them; others are not so great.

Parsing the younger upstart brands is even trickier – you can get lost in the thicket of stove start-ups - but some of them are truly excellent. They’re often priced more competitively to compensate for the lack of heritage and established reputation.

Claims of high efficiency and an airwash system are now ubiquitous on stoves but are still broadcast as if they were unique selling points. But statistics don’t tell you much and reported performance is generally achieved under test conditions that won’t necessarily reproduce in the real world, so try stoves out if and where you can. Find showrooms with demonstration stoves. We currently have nine demo stoves in our showroom with a few more in the pipeline, for exactly this reason. Look for how responsive a stove is and how easy it is to light. Does it feel reassuringly solid? Do you like the door-latching mechanism and are the moving parts both sturdy and easy and smooth to operate? Does the glass stay clean? Can you achieve a nice, slow-rolling flame once the stove’s up to temperature? There’s nothing like road-testing a stove to get a feel for it. And even if you can’t light a stove, at least you can get a feel for the brand’s build quality. Buying blind is like buying a car without even testing a door handle.

Cost

It’s not cheap to build a good stove, nor to build a company that’s going to survive and satisfy service requirements for the foreseeable future. A cheap stove is not going to be a good stove, nor is it likely to be one for which spare parts will be available in ten years’ time. But there is a sweet spot for cost/quality in which an extra two or three hundred pounds can buy you a radically better stove, but beyond which the correlation becomes increasingly marginal. Beyond a certain price point, you’re often paying for complex engineering with little or no corresponding improvement in core function. If that’s what you want or need, all well and good, but don’t feel like spending more at this point is necessarily going to buy you a better stove. And bear in mind that the more complicated a stove is, the more expensive it will be to install, maintain and service.

It can also be informative to research the cost and general availability of spare parts; costs vary widely; sometimes you might have to wait weeks for parts to ship from overseas. It's probably not going to be a critical factor, but if you're weighing up contenders, it could be enough to tip the scales, and it's the kind of thing it's worth knowing in advance.

Flue

All too often, the flue for a stove is treated as an afterthought. This is a huge mistake. The flue is the engine that drives the stove. An inadequate or poorly designed flue will humble the best of stoves, and a perfect flue can make even the shoddiest stove blaze brightly. Flue height and diameter can be critical. The flue should be as straight as possible and the warmer its ambient temperature, the better. It needs to terminate in clear air where wind movement creates minimal turbulence. It’s far better, and you will get much greater enjoyment from your stove, if you position the stove optimally for the flue requirements. In any event, the height, diameter and construction characteristics of your flue will weigh heavily on what kind of stove you can, or should, install. If there’s an order to respect, it’s flue first, then choose a stove that will work well on it.

Heat output

It’s important to avoid either a shortfall or an over-specification in kilowatt output when choosing a stove. There is a notional brute correlation between a room's dimensions and the heat output required from the stove to raise the mercury to ‘room temperature’ unassisted. This should take into account levels of insulation and in its simplest form is a calculable equation for a heating engineer to determine, but ignores…

Purpose

It sounds like a silly question, but what do you want the stove to do? Do you want it to take on the entire heating burden of the room, complement the central heating, or just supply ambience at Christmas or when you have friends over? Does it even need to heat the whole room if you’re always going to sit three feet in front of it? You can feel quite toasty in front of even a tiny stove, even if the thermostat shows well below room-temperature. Do you plan to run the stove all day or do you need it to quickly heat up a room in the evening instead? A larger stove will heat a room gratifyingly quickly, but might be over-powering over a prolonged period.

One of our old colleagues used to keep a 12kW stove in an unheated small guest room. He could light it half an hour before bed-time and the room would be cosy for his guests, who could then re-light it in the morning for a quick blast of heat before getting dressed.

The reverse scenario would be a requirement to heat a medium-to-large room which is occupied all day: it might initially take a while for a modestly sized stove to get the room warm, but if over a sustained period the stove can then easily maintain a comfortable temperature, it would be counter-productive to install a larger stove that would be over-powering within a couple of hours of lighting.

It’s critical to think this through yourself before committing to an installation. An expert can only help you parse the available options if you give him good guidance on your requirements. Otherwise, the default heuristic will be an agnostic heat output calculator that takes no account of how you plan to use the stove.

Distance to combustibles

This one’s pretty simple. Many stoves get almost as hot on the back and sides as they do at the front. Others – generally called convection stoves – are built to be fitted closer to combustibles. Either way, there are general rules about the placement of stoves in relation to combustible materials, and there are precise specifications supplied by manufacturers for each and every model, which are nearly always supplied with the stove’s other technical details.

These are the minimum distances that must be maintained from combustible materials and that sensibly should be maintained even from non-combustibles (e.g. plaster) that might nonetheless be negatively affected by intense radiant heat. Some brands publish neat little diagrams showing different stove-to-wall configurations.

Whatever your situation, it may be that there are limits on which stoves it is possible to fit.

Fuel

If you think you’re going to want to burn smokeless fuels as well as logs (e.g. anthracite or manufactured fuels like Homefire etc.), you will need a multifuel stove. Multifuel stoves are built with a different air distribution system to allow for multifuel burning. Pure woodburners only burn wood – don’t buy one if you want to burn fossil fuels too.

The other consideration would be log size. If you’re used to cutting your own logs, you might prefer a stove with a wider door opening. Cutting logs to 15” is 50% less work than cutting them to 10”. And if you already have a supply of long logs, check that they will fit in the stove you’re considering. It’s hard to imagine anything more frustrating than having to trim two inches off each of the six hundred logs stacked in your logstore because they won’t fit through the stove door.

Appearance

Our first colleague in this business liked to emphasise that the joy of a stove’s appearance was to be found primarily in the clarity of the glass – i.e. the extent to which you could enjoy an uninterrupted view of the flames (he was particularly wedded to a specific stove brand with quite a quaint, traditional design – not everyone’s cup of tea - so that probably informed his desire to downplay aesthetics). And he was certainly correct that a stove has more important characteristics than prettiness. If a stove doesn’t work well, you’ll soon forget why you fell in love with it in the first place.

Nonetheless, a stove is unavoidably a piece of furniture as much as a tool and there will probably be several hours a day and several months a year when your stove is not in use and it will catch your eye then too, so it would be foolish to ignore its raw kerb appeal.

Some manufacturers seem almost indifferent to the appearance of their stoves; others have clearly invested a lot of thought and attention into the cosmetic aspects of design. How much that matters is up to you.

It’s the aspect we professionals are ultimately least likely to influence. Which is as it should be. Love is in the eye of the beholder. So by all means allow yourself to be dazzled; if you've read this far, you'll already be keeping a weather eye on compatibility issues.

If you need help or guidance on choosing the right stove for you, just drop us a line: info@newforestfires.co.uk

Selecting Your Ideal Mendip Stove: A Practical Guide

Mon, 08 Apr 2024 12:28:25 GMT

Efficient Heating Solutions with Style and Sustainability

Choosing the right stove for your home involves more than just picking one that heats well. Mendip Stoves are noted for their efficiency and thoughtful design, catering to the environmentally conscious homeowner. New Forest Fires offers insights into the Mendip Stove range to help you make a well-informed choice.

Understanding the Basics of Mendip Stoves

Mendip Stoves are designed to fit the needs of the modern homeowner, providing warmth while aiming to reduce environmental impact. Their range includes various models that suit both traditional and contemporary settings.

Finding the Right Model for Your Space

Each Mendip Stove model comes with its own set of features:

• The Woodland Stove is for those interested in eco-friendly heating solutions, with each purchase contributing to tree planting efforts.

• The Loxton Series adapts to different room sizes and offers the flexibility of using multiple fuel types.

• The Churchill Series combines efficiency with a modern look, featuring large glass doors for viewing the fire.

Key Features to Consider

Selecting a Mendip Stove involves looking at:

• Efficiency: They are designed to provide maximum heat with minimal fuel.

• Environmental Impact: Emissions are kept low to help reduce your carbon footprint.

• Design: There’s a range of styles to match your home’s spirit and decor, with different models for diverse functionality.

• Fuel Type: The c hoices are wood-burning only or multi-fuel.

Why Choose a Mendip Stove?

Choosing a Mendip Stove can be beneficial for several reasons:

• Eco-friendly Heating: They offer a way to heat your home that's mindful of the environment.

• Cost Savings: The stoves’ efficiency can lead to reduced fuel costs over time.

• Durability: Mendip Stoves are built to last, representing a long-term heating solution.

Choosing Your Ideal Mendip stove

Double- or single-sided: It's hard to think of another stove manufacturer that makes so many double-sided models. If you have a double-sided fireplace or are planning to put a stove in the middle of a room, a double-sided stove is a very cool solution, and Mendip give you some great options. Their single-sided stoves are similar to the doubles, but with only one side. They're pretty cool, too.

Output: Maybe cool is the wrong word to use. Any Mendip stove is going to get your thermometer racing, in one direction only (up (was hoping that didn't need explaining but they say clarity is king)). Mendip makes stoves from 4.5kW to nearly 10kW, so whether it's a modern rabbit hutch or a crumbling cathedral you need to heat, Mendip will have a stove to suit.

Convection or not: Mendip offer convection casings on many of their stoves that let you situate them pretty close to even combustible walls and other materials. The extent of their versatility is virtually unmatched for traditional-ish stoves. Only the Scandinavians really come close, which is fine if you don't mind your stove resembling a barrel. If you're trying to fit a stove in a tricky spot and struggling to find one with sufficiently-low distance-to-combustibles, have a look at Mendip's range of convection stoves.

Log store or not: If your stove is free-standing, or if you have an unusually tall fireplace, think about adding a logstore underneath the stove. Mendip make them for most of their models. It elevates the fire-window closer to sitting eye-level. And your knees will thank you when you get old.

Style: Mendip make handsome stoves, and between the Loxton, Ashcott, Churchill, Woodland and Christon ranges, there's sure to be one that catches your eye. The prize-winning Woodland is even entirely manufactured in the UK, helping the UK earn its position as ninth largest manufacturing nation in the world!

Deciding on the right Mendip Stove requires consideration of your specific needs and space. At New Forest Fires, we aim to assist you in finding a stove that not only meets your heating requirements but also fits well with your home’s aesthetic.

Considering a Mendip Stove?

For a closer look at our Mendip Stove selection and to download the Mendip brochure, visit https://www.newforestfires.co.uk/mendip-stove-in-new-forest . New Forest Fires is here to support you in selecting a stove that provides warmth efficiently and suits your home’s style. Let us guide you towards a practical and sustainable heating solution.

Choosing the Right Wood for Your Stove: A Practical Guide

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 13:54:12 GMT

Finding the Balance Between Efficiency, Cost, and Being Green

Getting the most out of a wood-burning stove goes beyond just lighting it up; it hinges on using the right kind of wood. At New Forest Fires, we understand that picking the right fuel can make a big difference, not just for the heat output but also in terms of running costs and environmental impact. In this guide, we look at how to select the best wood for your stove, ensuring efficient and eco-friendly heating.

Hardwood vs Softwood

The choice between hardwood and softwood is a good starting point. Hardwood, from trees like oak, ash, and beech, is dense, burns slowly, and gives off a lot of heat, making it a go-to for many stove owners. Softwood, from trees like pine, tends to catch fire quickly and burns faster, making it ideal for kindling but less so for long-term heating.

The Importance of Moisture Content

How wet or dry your wood is will significantly affect how well it burns. Wood with high moisture content tends to produce more smoke and tar, which isn't great for your stove or the air. For a good burn, you want wood with a moisture content of 20% or less. This usually means going for seasoned wood that has been left to dry for a couple of years, or kiln-dried wood, which is a quicker (though no better, more energy-intensive and generally more expensive) method to reduce moisture.

Thinking About the Environment

Choosing your wood also means thinking about where it comes from. Opting for wood from sustainably managed forests helps ensure that your heating choice has a minimal impact on the planet. Look out for wood that is certified by organisations including the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council). This ensures that the wood is sourced in an eco-friendly way. Wood is heavy, and is generally transported by road. The fewer miles it travels, the better. If you can, buy local. (We sell logs: 07359 306323) Avoid logs imported from overseas. Even long-felled timber, imported across the Channel, can transport arboreal diseases and spores that can profoundly damage local ecology.

Cost Matters

There's a broad cost/effort continuum in buying wood as a fuel. It's still legal to buy large quantities of unprocessed, unseasoned wood. It's generally much cheaper and doesn't attract tax. But chopping, splitting, stacking and seasoning is hard work and time-consuming and is not for everyone. At the other extreme is kiln-dried hardwood: much pricier upfront, but hard to beat for convenience. Quality wood means you benefit from getting the most heat per log, reducing how much you need to spend on fuel in the long run.

Size Matters

It's a commercial prerogative that most logs sold commercially are cut to a length that will fit in most stoves. But if you have a small stove or one with a narrow door, it can be worth checking with your log merchant that her logs are cut small enough to fit through the opening. The other relevant aspect of size is burn-rate. The smaller a log, the faster it will burn through. Five small logs will burn much faster than a single large log with the same overall mass. When you're lighting your stove or getting it up to temperature, small logs are better; if you're going out for a long walk and want to come back to a hot stove, a couple of big logs might serve you better.

How to Pick the Best Wood

1. Consider using Hardwood: It is generally more efficient for heating than softwood.

2. Check the Moisture Content: Aim for wood that's been dried to below 20% moisture for the best burn.

3. Go for Green: Wood from local, sustainably managed source is better for the environment.

4. Support Local: Buying wood from local suppliers helps reduce emissions from transport and supports the local economy.

5. Trial and Error: Stoves can vary, so it might take some experimenting with different types of hardwood to find the perfect match for yours.

We are Here to Help

At New Forest Fires, we are keen on not just fitting you with a wood-burning stove, but also to ensure that you get the most out of it. Choosing the right wood is a big part of that. By following these tips, you can enjoy efficient, sustainable heating year-round.

For further advice on everything from choosing and installing stoves to their upkeep and the best fuel choices, follow the link to www.newforestfires.co.uk Let’s make sure your wood-burning stove is as efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly as it can be.

Preparing Your Wood-Burning Stove for the Cold Season: A Step-by-Step Guide

Fri, 02 Feb 2024 16:08:49 GMT

Ensuring Your Wood-Burning Stove's Performance and Safety

As the temperatures drop and the days get shorter, there is nothing quite like the warmth and comfort of a wood-burning stove to create a cosy atmosphere in your home. However, before you start enjoying the crackling fire, it is essential to ensure that your stove is in top condition and ready for the cold season. At New Forest Fires, we are here to help you get your wood-burning stove prepared for the winter months. In this step-by-step guide, we walk you through the essential tasks to ensure your stove operates efficiently and safely.

Step 1: Clean the Stove's Exterior

Begin by giving your wood-burning stove's exterior a thorough cleaning. Use a soft cloth or sponge and a mild soapy solution to remove dust, dirt, and any built-up residue. Pay special attention to the glass door, handles, and any decorative elements. Cleaning the exterior not only enhances the stove's appearance but also prevents potential stains from becoming permanent.

Step 2: Inspect the Chimney and Flue

A well-functioning chimney and flue are crucial for the safe operation of your wood-burning stove. Check for any obstructions or debris in the chimney, as blockages can lead to smoke backup or even chimney fires. Ensure that the flue is in good condition, and if you have any doubts, consider having it professionally inspected and cleaned.

Step 3: Clean and Inspect the Firebox

The firebox is where the magic happens, so it is vital to keep it clean and in good condition. Remove ashes and debris from previous fires and inspect the firebrick lining for any cracks or damage. If you notice any issues, contact a professional to make the necessary repairs.

Step 4: Replace Gaskets and Seals

Over time, the gaskets and seals on your wood-burning stove may wear out, leading to air leaks and reduced efficiency. Check the condition of these components, and if you notice any signs of wear or damage, replace them to ensure a tight seal.

Step 5: Check the Door Latch

A secure door latch is essential for safety and efficiency. Ensure that the door latch is functioning correctly and that the door closes tightly when the stove is in use. If you encounter any issues with the latch, address them promptly to prevent heat loss and potential safety hazards.

Step 6: Stock Up on Firewood

Before the cold season arrives, make sure you have an adequate supply of seasoned firewood. Properly seasoned wood burns more efficiently and produces less creosote buildup in your chimney. Store the firewood in a dry, well-ventilated area to maintain its quality.

Step 7: Schedule a Professional Inspection

For complete peace of mind, it is advisable to schedule a professional inspection of your wood-burning stove. At New Forest Fires, our experienced technicians can thoroughly inspect your stove, chimney, and flue to identify any potential issues and ensure your stove is in excellent working condition.

Conclusion

Preparing your wood-burning stove for the cold season is essential for safety, efficiency, and the enjoyment of a warm and inviting home. If you need expert assistance or want to schedule a professional inspection, contact New Forest Fires today at www.newforestfires.co.uk Our team is here to help you make the most of your wood-burning stove during the winter months. Stay warm and cosy all season long!

Safety First: Winter Maintenance Tips for Your Wood-Burning Stove

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 12:22:32 GMT

Practical Maintenance Tips to Ensure Safety and Warmth

As winter draws near, the comforting warmth of a wood-burning stove becomes a staple in many homes. To ensure your stove provides the desired comfort while maintaining safety, it is essential to perform regular maintenance and adhere to safety guidelines. In this blog, we provide practical winter maintenance tips for your wood-burning stove, ensuring warmth and safety in your home.

The Importance of Wood-Burning Stove Maintenance

Wood-burning stoves have a long history as efficient and eco-friendly heating solutions. However, neglecting their maintenance can lead to potential hazards. Some of the important reasons to maintaining your wood-burning stove include:

Safety: A well-maintained stove is less likely to develop issues that could lead to chimney fires or carbon monoxide leaks, ensuring the safety of your home and loved ones.
Efficiency: Regular maintenance ensures your stove burns wood efficiently, providing more warmth with less fuel and potentially reducing your heating costs.
Durability: Proper care can extend the lifespan of your wood-burning stove, offering long-term cost savings.

Winter Maintenance Tips for Your Wood-Burning Stove

There are several essential winter maintenance tips to keep your wood-burning stove in good condition which include:

1. Thorough Cleaning

Stove Interior: Start by cleaning the stove's interior, including the firebox, baffle, and glass door. Remove ash, soot, and creosote buildup to enhance airflow and prevent blockages. Visually inspect the fire bricks and baffle plate, and the grate if there is one, for excess wear or distortion, and test all the moving parts.

Chimney: Schedule an annual chimney sweep by a professional. This is the single most essential annual maintenance task. The flue is often described as the engine that drives your stove. Creosote buildup in the chimney can lead to chimney fires and blockages can cause severe safety issues.

2. Gasket Inspection

Check the door gaskets for signs of wear and tear. Damaged gaskets can compromise the stove's airtight seal, affecting combustion efficiency. Try the paper test: close the door on a sheet of paper. If you can pull it out easily, the door is not forming a good seal. Replace any worn gaskets promptly.

3. Ventilation Check

Proper ventilation is essential to ensure proper stove performance and prevent problems. Ensure your home has adequate ventilation. If you've had new windows or doors fitted, this might affect the replacement air requirement for your stove.

4. Quality Wood

Use only seasoned wood for burning in your stove. Seasoned wood has a much lower moisture content and burns cleanly and efficiently. Avoid wet or green wood. It will produce creosote accretion in your chimney, hinder combustion and render your stove use utterly miserable.

5. Maintain chimney airflow

Off-season, it's a good idea to leave the air controls on your stove open, or even leave the door ajar. This will cycle air through the room and will help to keep your chimney and stove dry, especially in wet summers.

6. Ash Pan Management

Regularly empty the ash pan (if there is one in your stove) to prevent excessive ash buildup. If the ash in the pan has risen to a level where it's touching the underside of the grate, it's too full. A full ash pan can obstruct airflow and proper stove operation. Dispose of ashes in a metal container with a lid, placed outdoors away from combustible materials. Wood ash can be spread in the garden. Ash from smokeless fuels is poisonous and needs to be disposed off safely.

7. Stovepipe Inspection

Inspect the visible stovepipe for any damage or signs of corrosion, especially any flue lengths with inspection hatches.

8. Safe Clearances

Ensure your wood-burning stove maintains the recommended clearance from combustible materials, such as walls, furniture, and curtains. Maintaining a safe distance is essential to prevent heat-related accidents.

9. Test your Carbon Monoxide alarm

Not strictly stove maintenance, but it is crucial to make sure your CO alarm is in good working order. Carbon Monoxide is an odourless gas that is extremely hazardous to human health. CO detector battery life is usually around seven years, but don't rely on this. Test regularly. You must have one by law, but it's up to you to maintain and replace it.

Conclusion and Practical Steps

A wood-burning stove offers comfort during the winter months, but prioritising safety and efficiency is crucial. By following these winter maintenance tips, including regular cleaning, proper ventilation, and using seasoned wood, you can enjoy the warmth of your stove with confidence.

However, remember that professional inspections and servicing are equally important. At New Forest Fires, our experts are ready to assist you in maintaining and ensuring the safety of your wood-burning stove.

Don't compromise on safety and efficiency this winter. Visit our website at www.newforestfires.co.uk to explore our wood-burning stove maintenance services and schedule an appointment with our experienced technicians. Keep your home warm and secure with New Forest Fires.

Choosing Wood for Your Wood-Burning Stove: Factors to Consider

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 14:00:10 GMT

A Simple Guide to Understanding and Selecting the Best Wood for Optimal Heating and Ambience.

Having a wood-burning stove in your home is one thing; figuring out the best wood to burn in it is another. It is not just about getting a good flame - different woods have different qualities, and your choice can affect both the heat output and the overall experience. Here is a straightforward guide on things to consider when selecting the type of wood to burn on your wood-burning stove.

1. The Basic Divide: Hardwoods vs Softwoods

Woods generally fall into two categories: hardwoods and softwoods.

Hardwoods, from trees like oak, ash, and beech, are typically dense. They tend to burn slower and hotter and usually give off less creosote, which can clog up your chimney if there is too much.

Softwoods, sourced from trees such as pine and spruce, ignite relatively quickly. They are often handy for kindling; however, they tend to burn out faster and sometimes produce a bit more creosote.

While many people lean towards hardwoods for a longer-lasting fire, availability in the local area may influence your choice.

2. Why Seasoned Wood Matters

Seasoned wood is simply wood that has been dried out for a while. Freshly cut, or 'green', wood holds a lot of moisture. This makes it trickier to burn and can produce more smoke. Seasoned wood, having been dried for at least a year, generally offers a cleaner and more efficient burn.

3. Spotting Good Seasoned Wood

You can usually tell seasoned wood by its appearance and feel. Look for logs that are darker at the ends with visible cracks. They feel lighter than you might expect and when you knock two logs together, they should make a sharp sound.

4. The Scent Factor

If you fancy a fire with a bit of fragrance, some woods are naturally more aromatic than others. Burning apple or cherry wood can fill the room with a subtle, sweet scent, while pine and cedar have their own unique smells.

5. Thinking Green with Wood

If you are environmentally minded, you might want to consider where the wood comes from. Opting for sustainably sourced wood ensures that for every tree cut down, there is another one planted.

6. Woods to Avoid

A quick word of caution: avoid burning any wood that has been treated or painted which can release harmful fumes. Materials such as plywood should not be burnt on your wood-burning stove.

7. Heat Output: A Quick Note

Different woods generate more heat than others. If you want a warmer, cosier fire during those colder months, denser woods like oak or maple might be your best bet due to their higher heat output.

8. Local Availability and Cost

Your choice might also be influenced by the availability of the wood locally and the price. Hardwoods are often edmore expensive however, their efficiency makes them appealing in terms of burning time and heat output.

Ready to Enhance Your Wood-Burning Experience?

Choosing wood for your stove might seem daunting, but it is mainly about understanding what you want from your fire and what is available in your local area. Whether you are after a fragrant, aromatic burn or just something to keep the cold at bay, there is likely a wood out there that will suit your requirements.

If you are looking for more information or perhaps some advice tailored to your specific setup, feel free to visit our showroom in Hordle in the south of the New Forest.

Extending the Life of Your Wood-Burning Stove: A Comprehensive Guide

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 12:45:48 GMT

Key Maintenance Tips to Ensure Efficiency and Durability from New Forest Fires

A wood-burning stove can be a valuable addition to any home, offering both warmth and a touch of character. However, to ensure it continues to function efficiently and lasts for many years, regular maintenance and care are essential. At New Forest Fires, we have made a guide offering some advice on how to look after your wood-burning stove.

1. Regular Checks and Basic Cleaning: It is recommended to inspect your stove every time you use it. You don't need to be zealous about clearing out the ashes. A bed of ash not only retains heat for longer but helps insulate the firebox to achieve high burn temperatures. The exception is for burning smokeless fuel in a multifuel stove. Then it's important to keep the grate clear to ensure adequate air movement. This is because of the different ways wood and smokeless fuels burn. If your stove doesn't have a purpose-built ashpan - most pure woodburners don't - you'll need to clear them out manually. While special ash vacuums are available, a metal pan and brush usually suffice.

2. Glass Door Maintenance: Over time, the glass door might get tarnished with soot. Don't be alarmed. Condensation will often burn off once the stove reaches a high temperature. Once the stove has cooled, a damp newspaper or cloth dabbed in the stove's ashes can be used to gently clean the glass and remove any residue. Alternatively, there are specific glass cleaners for wood burners available in the market. Always allow the stove to cool properly before you begin any cleaning. Trying to clean hot glass can damage it.

3. Ensure Seals Are Intact: The door seals are vital for the stove's proper function. They can wear out over time. An easy way to check their efficacy is by placing a piece of paper in the door and trying to pull it out. If it slides out without resistance, you might need to replace the seal.

4. Attend to the Flue and Chimney: Ensuring a clear flue and chimney is crucial. This helps avert chimney fires and promotes better combustion. It is generally advisable to have chimneys connected to wood burners swept at least once a year. Using a reputable chimney sweep is recommended.

5. Manage the Ash Pan: If your stove has an ash pan, remember to empty it regularly. Excessive ash accumulation can hinder the stove's airflow, reducing its efficiency.

6. Look after the Exterior: While the stove's interior is vital, the exterior also needs attention. A simple wipe-down with a soft cloth can keep dust and dirt at bay. This is largely discretionary. Most good stove bodies are extremely robust and can withstand a lot of wear, creosote and even rust with little to no effect on its structural integrity, and most can be returned to very good condition with an abrasive rub-down and fresh coat of aerosol paint. But it's generally good practice to try to keep up your stove's appearance.

7. Use Suitable Wood: The kind of wood you burn plays a role in your stove's longevity. Opt for dry, seasoned wood. Fresh or damp wood might result in problematic and potentially dangerous tar deposits in the stove and chimney, but will also significantly reduce your enjoyment of your stove. Wet wood is hard to burn; using it, you'll struggle to keep the stove going and it will smoke relentlessly. The glass will wear a brown film, occasionally burning through to sepia, and you'll get a miserably tepid heat from your stove that will make you wonder why you got one in the first place. Using unseasoned logs is like driving with your feet hard down on the brake and accelerator at the same time. Don't do it.

You can purchase good quality logs for your wood burner at New Forest Fires. Visit our showroom in Hordle or text on 07359 306323

8. Yearly Professional Inspection: It is not a bad idea to have a professional, usually a reliable chimney sweep, look over your stove annually. They can provide a comprehensive inspection and address any parts that might need replacement.

In Summary:

A wood-burning stove is more than just a heater; it is a feature of your home. Regular upkeep doesn't just optimise its function but also ensures it remains a reliable presence for a longer time. At New Forest Fires, we can offer guidance and services when needed. Proper care can go a long way in ensuring your stove stands the test of time.

For more advice, services, and products related to wood-burning stoves, don't hesitate to contact us

A Guide to Installing and Caring for Your Wood-Burning Stove

Mon, 21 Aug 2023 15:06:32 GMT

Mastering the Art of Creating Cosiness and Safety in Your Home.

Imagine this: a cold, crisp evening in the UK, and your home is aglow with the gentle warmth of a wood-burning stove. The crackling logs and dancing flames create an ambience that is both soothing and nostalgic. But to truly relish in the comfort, getting the installation and maintenance spot on is vital. In this guide, we explain how to set up and look after your wood-burning stove, ensuring your haven remains warm, inviting, and safe to use.

Safety and Upkeep:

With a log burner, you can extend the usability of your outdoor space well beyond the warmer months. Even on chilly evenings or during cooler seasons, the warmth provided by the wood-burning stove allows you to enjoy your outdoor haven comfortably. Host gatherings, celebrate special occasions, or simply unwind in the fresh air while keeping cosy and snug.

1. Spark-Proofing and Heat Shields: Installing a heatproof barrier underneath and behind the stove is a smart move to safeguard your floors and walls. Adding a spark screen or door prevents any rogue sparks from causing any unplanned surprises.

2. Carbon Monoxide Vigilance: Don't forget to introduce carbon monoxide detectors near your wood-burning stove and spread them around your home. Whilst a professionally installed stove shouldn't cause you any problems they do produce carbon monoxide so it is best to be safe than sorry.

3. Be Prepared: It is advisable to have a fire extinguisher available for safety purposes.

Maintaining Your Wood-Burning Stove:

1. Tending to Cleaning: A clean stove is a happy and efficient one. Ashes and debris from the firebox should be cleared regularly. In addition, the interior surfaces of the stove should be wiped-down.

2. Chimney care: Regular chimney sweeps should be scheduled to reduce the risk of chimney fires caused by the build up of the black, sticky residue creosote.

3. Check the Seals and Gaskets: The seals around the stove's doors and windows should be checked regularly. If they are showing signs of wear or damage, replace them with news ones to ensure an airtight seal.

4. Spot the Signs of Wear: Every now and then, give your stove a once-over for any cracks, rust, or other signs of ageing. Addressing these early prevents bigger issues down the line.

5. Wood Wisdom: Burn dry, seasoned hardwood for optimal performance. Burning wet or unseasoned wood can alter the stove's efficiency and increase creosote buildup

If you have any concerns about your wood burning stove do not use it and call in a professional to inspect it.

Bringing in the Pros:

1. Installation Expertise: Installing a wood burning or multi fuel stove is a complex task. Due to the safety implications installers must be Hetas accredited. It is essential to hire a reputable company to ensure that the stove is fitted properly and that is safe to use.

2. Scheduled Maintenance: Regular check-ups from professionals can catch any potential problems before they escalate. Consider booking an annual maintenance session to keep your stove in peak condition.

Conclusion:

A wood-burning stove can be a real asset in your home, offering warmth and comfort. By following the tips in this guide, you can enjoy the benefits of heating your home whilst keeping safety and efficiency in mind.

For expert assistance in the installation and maintenance of wood-burning stoves, contact us on 01425 617610 or by completing the form below.

Our knowledgeable team is here to guide you through the entire journey, ensuring your home remains a warm, inviting sanctuary. Stay snug, stay secure, and embrace the delightful allure of your wood-burning stove!

The Benefits of Adding a Log Burner to Your Outdoor Living Space.

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 10:51:26 GMT

Enhancing Your Outdoor Oasis with the Warmth and Charm of a Wood-burning Stove.

Introduction:

Transforming your outdoor living space into a cosy and inviting retreat is easier than you think. One of the most captivating and practical additions you can make is a wood-burning stove, also known as a log burner. At New Forest Fires, we are passionate about helping homeowners, in the New Forest area, create outdoor havens that can be enjoyed year-round. In this blog post, we will explore the numerous benefits of adding a log burner to your outdoor living space and why it's a worthwhile investment.

1. Cosy Ambience and Warmth:

A wood-burning stove instantly adds a touch of warmth and charm to any outdoor area. Imagine gathering around the crackling fire on a cool evening, basking in its radiant heat. The soft glow and comforting crackle create a cosy atmosphere that encourages relaxation, conversation, and a deeper connection with nature.

2. Extended Outdoor Season:

3. Versatile Cooking and Dining Experience:

Many wood-burning stoves are designed with cooking capabilities, making them perfect for outdoor cooking enthusiasts. You can prepare delicious meals with the distinctive smoky flavour that only a wood fire can provide. Whether it's roasting chestnuts or creating gourmet wood-fired pizzas, a log burner adds a new dimension to your outdoor dining experience.

4. Sustainable and Environmentally Friendly:

Wood-burning stoves are an eco-friendly heating option for your outdoor space. Burning wood is a renewable energy source, reducing your reliance on fossil fuels. Additionally, modern wood-burning stoves are designed to be highly efficient, producing minimal smoke and emissions. By opting for a log burner, you can enjoy the warmth and ambience while treading lightly on the environment.

5. Professional Installation:

To ensure optimal performance and safety, it is essential to have your wood-burning stove installed by professionals. At New Forest Fires, we are experienced wood-burning stove installers in the New Forest area. Our team of experts will guide you through the selection process, recommend the right log burner for your outdoor space, and handle the installation with precision and care.

Conclusion:

Enhancing your outdoor living space with a wood-burning stove offers numerous benefits, from creating a cosy ambience and extending your outdoor season to enjoying versatile cooking opportunities and promoting sustainability. At New Forest Fires, we are dedicated to helping you bring warmth, charm, and functionality to your outdoor haven. Visit our website at www.newforestfires.co.uk to explore our range of log burners and schedule a professional installation. Let us help you create an outdoor retreat where cherished memories are made and relaxation becomes second nature.

What’s the cheapest to run: a gas fire, electric fire or woodburner?

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 13:04:04 GMT

Staying warm for less, and other considerations

The cost of fuel has always been an important question for people wanting to heat their homes efficiently, but it has assumed particular salience since the start of the ‘energy crisis’ occasioned by the tragedy still unfolding in Ukraine, with many families struggling to heat their homes or at least trying to find a better way to do it. Many automatically assume that woodburners are the more economical option, but that’s not necessarily the case.

Firstly, some parameters: here, we’re talking about space heaters and not central heating, storage heaters or pellet boilers, for all of which cost estimates will be more complex with sometimes quite different results. With a room heater, the equation is more straightforward: fuel/energy/cost comes in; heat goes out.

The numbers

Let’s have a look at some raw figures. The heat output of your electric or gas fire or woodburning stove is usually expressed in kilowatts (kW). You can regulate this fairly exactly on a gas or electric fire, on which you can achieve a steady and constant output of heat. With a woodburner, it’s more complicated, as the heat output goes up and down depending on the point in the burn cycle at which you choose to measure, and the temperatures achieved, burn rate and efficiency will all be influenced not only by the species, density & moisture content of your logs but by the proficiency, attention and care with which you operate the stove. Nonetheless, it is possible to make rough equivalences.

If you look at your gas or electric bill, your supplier should give you a unit cost per kilowatt hour (kWh) – these prices vary dramatically, but a sample price from last winter could have been around 10p for a gas kWh and 35p for an electric kWh. A rough rule of thumb for a woodburner is that a one kilo log should burn for about an hour and give you approximately 1kW of heat. So you can google the price of, say, a cubic metre of kiln-dried logs, divide its price by its stated weight in kilos and arrive at a price per kWh.

A recent search online for ‘kiln-dried logs’ yielded a kW price by this metric of nearly £1.00! If you were to buy the equivalent quantity of naturally-seasoned (wind and sun) logs from us today (New Forest Fire Logs – 07359 306323), it would be closer to 30p per kW.

It’s worth pointing out at this point that buying fuel for a woodburner is always going to be a more price-elastic proposition than gas or electric. This is due not just to the performative and rather pathetic ‘competition’ pantomime between legacy energy suppliers, nor that you as a consumer can’t negotiate directly with Vlad or MBS, but also that a legally-defined unit of gas or electricity is a refined, market-ready product with little to no variation, which logs most definitely are not. Also worth adding to your calculus:

· Your logs don’t come with a standing charge

· If you season your own logs (i.e. buy them green) there’s no VAT on them

· Logs are like money in the bank, except even better: they’re inflation proof.

By this measure (ready to burn/use at point of delivery), gas is the clear winner on cost, with logs coming in a (qualified) distant second, with electricity bringing up the rear.

Some partisan notes on the variable cost of logs and wood

The price of wood-fuel, however, is basically a sliding scale that depends on the relative amounts of work, effort and convenience you bring to the task.

Logs are only sold ready-to-burn if somebody has already thoroughly seasoned them . If you buy logs green, they can be much cheaper, and, as mentioned, don’t attract tax (the only proviso is that, from a log merchant, you’ll need to buy a lot of them: a minimum of two cubic metres. This is a legal measure designed to discourage the burning of damp wood). Seasoning them yourself costs you only in space and time – the work is done for free by the wind and sun.

Logs only become logs once they’ve been cut and chopped . Wood fuel can be even cheaper still if you’re prepared to cut and chop it yourself, though you’ll need some nice tools and basic proficiency with a chainsaw. In our business, we meet a surprising number of individuals who access free wood, with relatives or friends who are tree surgeons or who work for municipal, utility or transport companies which require branch clearance and treat the resulting tree offcuts as a waste product. There’s more of it out there than you might think.

There’s always the noble art of scrounging . Quite a few enterprising stove users run their stoves for free by doing the rounds of builders’ merchants picking up old pallets which they pull apart and saw up at home. Hard work, but cost-effective, if you have more time than money and don’t mind picking nails out of ashes!

Other factors to consider

Atmosphere : woodburners have it in spades. And the heat is special: radiant, intense and satisfying. Nothing else comes close.

Convenience : gas and electric fires are certainly more convenient. There’s no hand-loading of fuel, no space-greedy log storage, no mess, and, of course, ignition and extinction at the touch of a button.

Collateral benefits : Many of our customers find that by using their wood-burning stoves in the winter, they can significantly reduce, and in some cases, completely dispense with their central heating, making significant cost savings over the heating season. So space-heating can reduce overall heating costs.

Up-front costs : a plug-in electric fire is cheaper to install than a stove or gas fire that requires a flue system, Carbon Monoxide detector and professionally-certified installation. If all you really want is a centrepiece and a little atmosphere, an electric fire could be just the ticket.

Do you actually need it for the heat? Electric fires are also the only one of the three options that, as there’s no combustion involved, can be run entirely without heat. The flame pattern is usually created simply by light, which barely costs more cost than running a lightbulb. Perhaps all you want is a little ambience with the option of a little heat if required. Electric flame effects can be quite good and are often more interesting to look at than gas flames. Appearance isn’t everything, but it’s not nothing, either. In this case, electric could well be your best option.

Energy market volatility : electric and gas prices are vulnerable to geopolitical price spikes, as shown by the Ukraine war. Log prices, on the other hand, remain relatively stable. And you’ll be able to use your woodburner when there are power cuts, the frequency of which seems to be increasing as Britain’s creaking infrastructure continues to deteriorate.

Conclusion.

On pure ready-to-go fuel costs, gas remains the cheapest option over wood-burning and electric and despite government threats to clamp down on supply, there are still excellent options in gas fires and no prospect of a withdrawal of this particular fossil fuel.

For atmosphere and quality of heat, there’s nothing to beat a woodburner, and it’s possible to run a stove very cheaply if you’ve got the time, energy and initiative to source, scavenge and process the fuel yourself. Even without, there is significant divergence in cost for logs. Shop around. Speak to us.

If you’re interested mostly in the decorative and don't need much extra heat, consider electric.

We supply and install gas, electric and wood-burning fires and stoves, and our aim is always to find the heating solution that suits you. Just get in touch for free advice.

Five Good Reasons to Install a Woodburner during the Summer

Mon, 29 May 2023 09:46:20 GMT

Five Good Reasons to Install a Woodburner during the Summer

It’s one of those ideas that seem counter-intuitive: why install a wood-burning stove at a time of year when it’s usually too warm to use it? Actually, there are a few good reasons: here are five.

1. Lead times for installation: Despite the popularity of woodburners, there are only a limited number of competent fitters and they tend to get booked up quickly. In peak season in autumn-winter, it’s not unusual for lead times to stretch to 3-5 months, depending on a company’s popularity and capacity. In the summer, there’s typically a far shorter wait, and you’re more likely to get an installation date that’s really convenient for you.

2. Stove availability: Most wood-burning stove companies use the summer months to build up inventory and even those who build to order tend to have a shorter queue, so there is generally much better availability of popular models. Demand has thoroughly outstripped supply the last couple of winters because of a perfect storm of unprecedented demand and complex and problematic supply chain issues. We’ve been able to service demand through recent winters partly due to our deep stock levels & pre-ordered capacity, but it has helped when customers have been willing to choose from what’s available. In summer, there’s a far higher likelihood that your perfect choice of stove will be available within a reasonable time frame.

3. Mess, dust and smell: depending on the kind of installation you have, it might involve a lot of open doors and windows. Knocking out a fireplace is a messy business and generates plenty of dust that can only be cleared by airflow. Even with a relatively simple and tidy stove installation, you’ll want windows open for the stove’s maiden ignition because the curing paint smells quite strongly for the first couple of hours. As much as we try to minimise inconveniences, some of them are unavoidable but definitely more tolerable when it’s warm and sunny outside.

4. Summer is not always summery! Although most of us visualise using our stoves in bleak midwinter, sometimes they’re particularly useful on those liminal days when you’d have a hard time guessing what season you’re in by looking out the window. In England, that can easily happen in June: too warm to put the heating on, but too damp and chilly to be comfortable even in a jumper. Sometimes lighting up the stove can brighten up the most miserable of summer days. There’s a reason you find wood-burning stove shops even in the Algarve, Cote d’Azur and Beirut: woodburners are the perfect mi-saison heating appliance.

5. Although it might be difficult to summon up the enthusiasm for a woodburner in the summer, there’s an argument, like not shopping for groceries when you’re hungry, for shopping for a stove while the sun shines. Sometimes there’s a tendency to over-estimate the size of stove you might need when the needle is dipping towards freezing; looking at the options when it’s warmer frees you up from impulsive sensory incentives to enjoy a more balanced perspective. It might also allow you to give more thought to how your stove is going to look in its dormant months. For sure, the most important aesthetic consideration is how your stove looks when it’s lit – its silhouette, the size of the window, the quality of the airwash that keeps the glass clean - but by the same token, you want to choose a stove, or just a stove colour, that’s also going to be kind on the eye during the summer months. That can be easier to visualise in the brightness of a summer day.

About New Forest Fires

New Forest Fires is the leading installer of wood burning and multi fuel stoves in the New Forest and the surrounding areas. We supply a wide range of stoves for many different types of properties. From terraces and semi-detached houses to stately manors, from garden offices and shepherd’s huts to country cottages, and even pubs and restaurants, we’ve done it before and we've got the perfect stove to suit your requirements.

We have a showroom in Hordle that stocks a wide range of wood burners along with electric and gas fires, with more than a dozen live appliances showcasing the best in British and European heating solutions. Come and pay us a visit.

Why Summer Might Be The Best Time to Install a Woodburner

Mon, 22 May 2023 10:40:56 GMT

It’s one of those ideas that seem counter-intuitive: why install a wood-burning stove at the warmest time of year? Here are five good reasons:

Shorter lead times for installation

Despite the popularity of woodburners, there are only a limited number of competent fitters and they tend to get booked up quickly. In peak season in autumn-winter, it’s not unusual for lead times to stretch to 3-5 months, depending on a company’s popularity and capacity. In the summer, there’s typically a far shorter wait, and you’re more likely to get an installation date that’s really convenient for you.

Better stove availability

Most wood-burning stove manufacturers use the summer months to re-build inventory and those who build-to-order will have a shorter queue, so there is generally much better availability of popular models. Demand has thoroughly outstripped supply the last couple of winters because of a perfect storm of unprecedented demand, insufficient manufacturing capacity and complex and problematic supply chain issues. We’ve been able to service demand through recent winters partly due to our deep stock levels & pre-ordered capacity, but there’s often a point in the winter when customers have to choose between settling for stoves that are actually available and waiting for the one they ideally want. In summer, there’s a far higher likelihood that your perfect choice of stove will be available within a reasonable time frame.

Less mess and cold

Depending on the kind of installation you have, it might involve keeping a lot of doors and windows propped open. Knocking out a fireplace can be a messy business and generates plenty of dust. Even with a relatively simple stove installation, there'll be a lot of foot traffic through your front door and you’ll certainly want windows open for the stove’s maiden ignition because the curing paint smells quite strongly for the first couple of hours. All of which is definitely more tolerable when it’s warm and sunny outside!

Summer is not always summery!

Although most of us visualise using our stoves in bleak midwinter, sometimes they’re particularly useful on those liminal days when you’d have a hard time guessing what season you’re in by looking out the window or counting your goosebumps. In England, that can easily happen on June days, when you’d feel silly putting the heating on, but still feel chilly and damp even with a jumper on. Lighting up the stove can brighten up the most miserable of summer days, because the heat from a stove is radiant, just like sunshine. There’s a reason you find wood-burning stove shops in such unlikely locales as the Algarve, Cote d’Azur and even Beirut: woodburners are the perfect mi-saison heating appliance.

Think while you're warm so you can be warm when it's cold

Although it might be difficult to summon up enthusiasm for a woodburner in the summer, there is a strong argument, like not shopping for groceries when you’re hungry, for shopping for a stove while the sun shines. Sometimes there’s a tendency when the needle is dipping towards freezing to over-estimate the size of stove you might need; looking at the options when you’re not shivering frees you up from impulsive sensory incentives to enjoy a more balanced and considered perspective. It might also allow you to give more thought to how your stove is going to look in its dormant months. For sure, the most important aesthetic consideration is how your stove looks when it’s lit –how well it's going to showcase the riot and splendour of the fire within - but by the same token, you also want to choose a stove, or just a stove colour, that’s going to be kind on the eye during the summer months. That can be easier to visualise in the brightness of a summer day.

About New Forest Fires

A Guide to Charnwood Stoves - The Perfect Addition to Your Home

Tue, 09 May 2023 06:10:22 GMT

Why Choose Charnwood Stoves?

If you are considering adding a wood-burning stove to your home, Charnwood stoves are a great option to consider. Charnwood is a family-owned British company that has been manufacturing stoves for over 40 years. Their state-of-the-art factory is just a few miles away from us on the Isle of Wight. They are renowned for their high-quality products, outstanding design, and ethical commitment to excellence, innovation, customer satisfaction and sustainability. At New Forest Fires, we are passionate about helping our customers find the perfect stove to suit their needs, and Charnwood stoves are a firm and longstanding favourite of ours.

Here are five key reasons why a Charnwood stove would be the perfect addition to your home:

1. Beautiful Design, high performance

Charnwood stoves are known for their intuitive and subtle design, with a product line that runs from the sleek and contemporary to the classic and under-stated. This versatility makes them a popular choice for both modern and period homes. It’s an adage in the industry that how a stove looks is most important when it’s burning – a measure of performance over aesthetics, and, unsurprisingly, Charnwood stoves out-perform in this regard too. They are technologically optimised to give a spectacular flame picture and impressive controllability. Additionally, the build quality is apparent from first touch – the handles firm and cool, the latching positive and confident, the stove body obviously robust, constructed as it is with thick stainless steel. Icing on the cake? If classic black doesn’t work for you, the stoves come in a range of tasteful colours.

2. Efficiency

All Charnwood stoves, whether pure-woodburning or versatile multi-fuel, are designed to be highly efficient, maximising heat output and minimising emissions. They use advanced combustion technology – tailored to the fuel type - to burn fuel cleanly and efficiently, which means you get more heat from less fuel. This not only saves you money on your fuel bill but also reduces your environmental impact. And not only do all Charnwood stoves meet the exacting criteria of Ecodesign, all but three of their current range (23 of 26) also achieve the maximum clearSkies 5 rating, putting them in the very highest class of efficiency.

3. Sustainability

Charnwood is committed to sustainability and uses only the best materials and high-tech manufacturing processes. Their stoves are made from high-quality steel and cast iron, which are both durable and recyclable. They also use renewable energy sources to power their manufacturing process. The stoves are designed to last for decades and Charnwood provide all the support you’ll need to keep your stove going through its expected life with a comprehensive and accessible back-catalogue of spare parts and a dedicated, helpful customer service team.

4. Easy to use

Charnwood stoves are easy to use and maintain, with simple controls and a self-cleaning air-wash system that keeps the glass clean. They also come with a range of accessories to make your life easier, such as heat shields, log stores, and ash pans.

5. A guarantee of quality

When you buy a Charnwood stove from us, not only will you benefit from a 10-year guarantee on the stove body but Charnwood will also extend to you a one-year no-quibble guarantee on all the ‘consumables’, including glass, firebricks and rope seal. It’s a real seal of quality, offering unparalleled peace of mind that your investment is protected.

Conclusion

If you are looking for a high-quality, efficient, and stylish wood-burning stove, Charnwood stoves are an excellent option. They offer a range of features and benefits that make them the perfect choice for modern homes. At New Forest Fires, we are experts in installing wood-burning stoves, so feel free to contact us if you have any questions or would like to learn more about Charnwood stoves. We will be happy to help you find the perfect stove to suit your needs and budget.

About New Forest Fires

Conclusion

If you are looking for a high-quality, efficient, and stylish wood-burning stove, Charnwood stoves are definitely worth considering. They offer a range of features and benefits that make them an excellent choice for modern homes. New Forest Fires are experts in the installation of wood-burning stoves, so feel free to contact us if you have any questions or would like to learn more about Charnwood stoves. We are happy to help you find the perfect stove to suit your needs and budget.

Why choose a Charnwood Stove

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 11:11:07 GMT

This blog will examine what makes Charnwood stoves unique and why they are the perfect addition to any home. From efficient heating performance and eco-friendly features to stunning aesthetics and long-lasting durability, Charnwood stoves have something to offer everyone. So whether you are a homeowner looking for a new heating solution or simply interested in learning more about wood-burning stoves, join us as we delve into the world of Charnwood and discover what sets these stoves apart from the rest.

Exceptional craftsmanship

When choosing a wood-burning stove for your home, the most important factors to consider are craftsmanship and quality. This is where Charnwood stoves genuinely excel. Each stove is handcrafted by skilled artisans in the UK, using only the highest quality materials and components.

From the precision-crafted cast iron doors to the hand-polished stainless steel components, every aspect of a Charnwood stove is designed to last. The company's commitment to quality is evident in every detail, from the seamless construction to the smooth operation of the stove's controls.

In addition to their superior construction, Charnwood stoves are rigorously tested and certified to meet the highest industry standards for safety and efficiency. This ensures that homeowners can enjoy the warmth and comfort of their Charnwood stove with peace of mind, knowing that it has been designed and built to last.

The craftsmanship and quality of a Charnwood stove is just one element of what sets it apart from other wood-burning stoves on the market. When you invest in a Charnwood stove, you can be confident that you will get a premium product that will provide reliable warmth and comfort for years.

Environmentally Friendly Design and Sustainability

Reducing their environmental impact is a common reason for many looking to instal a wood-burning stove.

Charnwood stoves use wood as their primary fuel source, which is a renewable and carbon-neutral fuel. This means that the amount of carbon released during the burning process is equal to the amount absorbed by the tree during its growth. As a result, using a Charnwood stove for heating can significantly reduce your carbon footprint and help protect the environment.

In addition to using renewable fuel, Charnwood stoves are designed for optimal heating efficiency. This means that they require less fuel to heat your home, which can lead to significant cost savings and a lower environmental impact.

Charnwood stoves are an excellent choice for homeowners looking for a sustainable and environmentally friendly way to heat their homes.

Beautiful Design

One of the main reasons many people choose a Charnwood stove over other brands is their traditional design and high-quality finish, making it the perfect addition to any room.

Charnwood stoves have many classic design elements, including cast iron doors, curved handles, and elegant curves and lines. These elements are combined with modern materials such as stainless steel and glass to create a classic and contemporary stove.

The attention to detail in the design of Charnwood stoves is apparent in every aspect of the stove, from the clean lines and smooth finish to the intricate details of the decorative panels and handles. As a result, these stoves are not only functional but also beautiful pieces of furniture that will enhance the look of any room.

Long-lasting and reliable

Wood-burning stoves are a significant investment for most homeowners. So it's important to choose a product that is reliable and built to last.

Charnwood Stoves have a 40-year track record and a solid reputation for building high-quality products that are backed up with an excellent warranty.

Conclusion

Hopefully, this blog has explained why Charnwood wood-burning stoves are the first choice for many people. Whether you're looking to upgrade your current heating system or add warmth and beauty to your home, Charnwood stoves are a great choice. We invite you to explore our website to learn more or visit our showroom in Hordle, in the New Forest.

We will be happy to talk through all of your options when it comes to choosing and installing a wood-burning stove.

About New Forest Fires

New Forest Fires are the leading supplier of wood burning and multi-fuel stoves in Hampshire. We supply and install wood-burning stoves and log burners throughout Bournemouth, The New Forest and Southampton.

Our showroom is located in Hordle in the southern part of The New Forest.

Wood-Burning Stove vs. Fireplace: Which is Right for You?

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 20:59:55 GMT

Which is better - A Log Burner or an open fire?

It can be tough to decide between a wood-burning stove or a simple fireplace. In this blog post, we'll compare the two and help you make an informed decision.

Log Burner or Wood Burning Stove?

Firstly, let's clarify some terms. "Wood burner" and "log burner" both refer to a wood-burning stove that burns wood logs to produce heat. A wood-burning stove installer or a log burner installer is a credentialed professional who can install and maintain these stoves in your home.

An open fire is a hole in the wall with a fireproof hearth and sometimes a grate, serviced by a (usually) brick chimney that may or may not be adequate for evacuating the smoke from the fireplace.

Which is more efficient?

There's no competition. When it comes to heating efficiency, a wood-burning stove is the clear winner. These stoves are designed to burn wood more efficiently, producing more heat with less fuel. They also distribute heat more evenly, making them a great choice for larger spaces. Fireplaces, on the other hand, are pretty terrible at heating and profligate with fuel, with much of the heat escaping through the chimney.

Cost

In terms of cost and installation, a wood-burning stove is generally considered to be the more expensive option, but only on the basis that you might already have a fireplace and chimney. If you're starting from scratch, the costs might start to look more equivalent (because an open fire requires a more expensive masonry chimney, which a stove doesn't), and an open fire is going to be prodigiously more expensive to run, not just because of its wanton appetite for fuel but because replacing all the warm air that is sucked up you chimney is going to cost a fortune in central heating. (You might also struggle to get one approved for a new-build: open fires contravene Section L of Building Regulations, so for the purposes of this blog, we'll assume you already have a fireplace and chimney.)

However, adding a stove to an existing fireplace does usually require a flue or chimney liner to be installed. Additionally, a wood-burning stove installer may need to make modifications to your home to ensure that the stove is installed safely and meets building regulations. And expect to pay between £1000 and £2000 for a good stove from a reputable manufacturer (you can pay less, or much, much more for a woodburner, but this is the sweet spot for a combination of quality and price).

Are Wood Burners or Fireplaces Safer?

When it comes to safety, both options require some precautions to avoid accidents. However, a wood-burning stove is with good reason considered safer than a fireplace, as it is enclosed and has a glass door, which prevents sparks and embers from escaping and reduces the serious risk of accidental burns or fires. In the evening, with an open fire, it's always advisable to sit with the fire until it has gone out, while a stove can safely be left unattended and will keep burning and providing heat for several hours because you can control the burn rate. On the upside with an open fire, you won't have to stay up very late because the fuel is consumed so quickly it will burn itself out in no time.

With any type of solid fuel fire, it's important to get the flue regularly swept, but if you burn good dry wood with sufficient oxygen to achieve complete combustion, you should avoid the creosote accretion that can cause chimney fires.

Environmental Impact of Wood Burning Stoves

In terms of environmental impact, a wood-burning stove is a better choice than a fireplace, as they are designed to burn wood more efficiently, producing less smoke and pollution. Additionally, many modern wood-burning stoves are designed to be eco-friendly, using renewable and sustainable sources of fuel.

More generally, most firewood comes from tree surgery that makes trees and forests healthier, and burning logs creates no more Carbon Dioxide that leaving the same wood to rot. Additionally, the greater the demand for firewood, the more trees will be planted. Most ecologists and even most other humans agree that trees are a good thing. So it's good if there are more of them.

And if you're heating your home with a carbon-neutral fuel that literally grows on trees and can be sourced locally, you're NOT using a fossil fuel (and probably one shipped and pipe-lined halfway round the planet from some of world's most repressive regimes) to do it instead.

Wood burning stoves and fireplaces come in a variety of designs

When it comes to aesthetics, both wood-burning stoves and open fires can add charm and character to your home. A wood-burning stove can come in a variety of styles, from traditional to modern, and can be made from materials like cast iron, steel, or soapstone and fireplaces are endlessly malleable to expression, often decorative, with a focus on the design of the mantelpiece and surround, but frequently simple, too, letting the fire speak for itself.

The Snob Factor

Thirty or forty years ago, it was not uncommon for stoves to be thought of as proletarian, or at best, bohemian. It's not difficult to unpick the reasons why: efficiency was considered a dirty word, and in terms of performance, that was all stoves really had to offer (still an extremely good reason to have had one). Open fires were associated with ambience: the crackle and hiss of the logs, the spitting embers, the lingering scent of woodsmoke and the immediacy of the flames were all considered atmospheric. Stoves, by contrast, looked quite industrial. If they had glass in the doors at all, the lack of an airwash system meant that any fireview was reduced to an amber glow. They were seen as the poor man's friend, so open fire vs stove took on distinct class connotations. For some people, this bias still persists, though generally, the roles are now effectively reversed. Stoves are beautiful objects in their own right that offer many of the sensual benefits of an open fire without the many drawbacks, while many people condemned to keep using open fires simply lack the resources to convert to a more efficient means of heating.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the choice between a wood-burning stove or an open fire depends on your personal preferences, needs, and budget. At New Forest Fires, we offer a wide range of wood-burning stoves from top brands and can guide you through the installation process, ensuring safety and efficiency. We also offer maintenance and repair services to keep your stove in top condition. Contact us today to schedule a consultation or to learn more about our services.

About New Forest Fires

New Forest Fires is the leading installer of wood burning and multifuel stoves in the New Forest. We provide and install a large variety of log burners and multi fuel stoves to customers throughout Bournemouth, Southampton and The New Forest.

If you are thinking about installing a new Wood burner to help reduce your energy costs or just to improve the aesthetics of your home then please visit our showroom in Hordle where we have a wide range of wood burners on show.

Alternatively if you have any questions please feel free to call us or complete the form below and we will be happy to help.

Beating the cold snap with a new woodburner or multifuel stove

Tue, 13 Dec 2022 09:47:31 GMT

Heat your home with a wood burning or multifuel stove

No matter where you live in the UK, whether in New Forest, Southampton, Bournemouth or even further afield, you are likely to feel the cold. Sometimes, the cold weather, along with frost, ice and snow, can be gradual, with everything turning cooler around you. However, there are also times when it is in the snap of your fingers or the blink of an eye.

This cold snap is made even harder to deal with thanks to the cost of living crisis and the rising gas and electricity costs you may use to heat your home. However, you may need to realise that help is at hand in the form of a new woodburner.

Obviously a woodburner can help you to beat this cold snap, but why should you consider installing a new woodburner now?

Woodburners are economical

When you have a woodburner, you won’t need to have your heating on as much as you may have had to before. This means you will be spending less money on energy bills.

Not only this, but the fuel you use in your stove whether that is logs or coal or briquettes (if you have a multifuel stove) is cheap to buy and will provide you with plenty of heat, no matter how cold it is outside.

Log burning stoves are eco-friendly

You may think that burning wood isn’t particularly kind to the environment. But the truth is that it can be. Wood, by its nature, is a carbon-friendly fuel; when you burn it, you do not produce more CO2 than you usually would in everyday life. It is also a renewable fuel. Most forests are responsibly managed so provide an endless supply.

This means you are putting less carbon dioxide into the air and keeping it much cleaner. Not only this, but when you use a woodburner regularly, you will be using your main heating less often, which means that you will be burning less of the fossil fuels that are harming the world around us.

Wood burning stoves look great

Whilst you want something that will make sure that your house feels nice and warm, you also want to make sure that it looks great. This is something that a woodburner installer can help you to achieve. At New Forest Fires we work with our clients to ensure their woodburner fits in perfectly with their home.

Many people have a preconceived image of woodburners in their head, but there is a diverse range of designs for your wood burning or multifuel stove. From traditional log burners, to double sided and contemporary stoves.

We work hard to ensure that all the stoves look amazing when added to our customers homes. Log burners and multifuel stover also create a focal point in any room and, ideal if you want to give your family a space to gather and spend time together.

Wood burners and multi fuel stoves are efficient

One final point to consider regarding wood burner installation is that they really work. They are effective at heating the space they are in and can transmit heat much further than you may realise and can often heat the whole house.

They will provide you and your family with the perfect warmth to feel cosy and warm in your home. No matter what is happening outside.

As you can see, there are many ways that a woodburner can help your home feel warmer and beat the cold snap. The only thing to think about is what type of woodburner you want, and then arrange for a professional woodburner installation service to come and fit it in your home.

About New Forest Fires

In addition to supplying a wide range of wood burning and multifuel stoves, New Forest Fires are the leading installer woodburners in the New Forest. Our showroom is conveniently located in Hordle and stocks a large range of woodburners, multifuel stoves and accessories

We service customers from Bournemouth to Southampton and up to Salisbury and, of course throughout the New Forest.

If you would like a quotation for a new log burner or multifuel cell please complete the contact form below and one of the team will be in touch as soon as possible

Replacing your open fire with a wood-burning stove this year

Thu, 03 Nov 2022 14:34:29 GMT

Although the Romans understood the chimney effect well enough to use them in industrial applications, domestic chimneys don't make an appearance in the archaeological record of Northern Europe until the 12th Century. The chimney allowed the operation of a warming fire in a dwelling without filling the home with smoke. For the ensuing centuries, with this simple technology becoming commonplace, an open fire was de rigueur in dwellings, with most social activities taking place near or around one: home is where the hearth is.

Even with the advent of modern homes with central heating, open fires remained extremely popular out of a combination of atmosphere, tradition and authenticity, but most users became gradually aware of the major drawbacks of choosing this medieval way of attempting to heat a house.

This is where a wood-burning stove can be the right choice

Wood-burning stoves are a great alternative to open fires, and here are the main reasons why you should consider replacing your open fire with one this year.

Wood Burning Stoves are much more efficient at heating

Open fires are not efficient at heating your home. Most of the heat from the fire will escape straight up the chimney. And in most properties, using an open fire will result in a net heat loss because of the sheer quantity of air pulled up the chimney, especially when it's burning, but even when it's not. By contrast, wood burning stoves are extremely efficient and practical when it comes to heating your home. This is because they are designed and built to retain and radiate as much of the heat that they produce as possible.

Not only do they consume a fraction of the quantity of logs that an open fire devours as well as cutting the draught up the chimney, they also project the enormous heat generated by the fire into the room instead of up the chimney, heating you instead of the birds.

Wood burners are safer than open fires

Safety is a concern for many people when it comes to having an open fire in their house. Logs can spit out embers which is a concern for many people, especially if you have small children or pets, and is an obvious safety risk that can easily cause a house fire. This is not an issue with a woodburning stove as all of the flames and fuel are contained safely behind a securely latched door. The fire can't spit through steel and glass and a stove can be safely left unattended to burn itself out. Therefore a wood burning stove is a much safer choice than an open fire.

Wood burners come in many styles to suit all types of properties

Wood burning stoves often look much nicer than a standard open fire. This is because they are designed to combine style and function. Whilst most people have a set image in their mind of a ‘traditional’ style of wood burner, there are many different styles available, including many contemporary or modern styles. This means that they can fit in with any style of house with ease, regardless of whether you have a large detached house in the Brockenhurst, a modern contemporary property by the beach or even a small terrace house.

They can also be a great focal point for the entire room, giving you a central spot to base the rest of the space around. With modern airwash technology that affords a crystal-clear view of the flames, you can still enjoy that same magical fire view that has entranced humans for millennia. Many stove users say they find watching the flames more enchanting than television or even their phone screens.

You can use wood burners for more than heating

Whilst the primary function of a wood burning stove is to heat the room, they can do more than that. Many people use them for cooking certain foods, boiling kettles or just re-heating drinks, especially if they live in an area prone to power outages. Some stoves even have small ovens or dedicated cooking surfaces.

They can also help illuminate the room, particularly if you are trying to conserve your energy usage but don’t want a dark and gloomy house.

Easy to fit - British stoves are designed to fit British fireplaces

The prevalence of open fires in the housing stock of the chilly British Isles has dictated the form and vernacular of British stove design, quite distinct from Scandinavian or American equivalents, although these days there are plenty of Continental offerings to choose from, too. This means that whatever the size of your fireplace, there's probably a very good choice of stoves that will fit inside it. And the fact that you already have a chimney means there's a ready conduit for the flexible flue liner that will make your stove perform efficiently and safely at much less expense than installing a complete new flue system.

Conclusion

If you're considering or have decided on having a new wood burning or multi fuel stove installed in your property then please get in touch and speak to one of our experts who can advise you on all of the options and styles available.

Still not sure that a new wood burning stove is the right choice for your home? Then we are always there to help you by offering our expert wood burner installer advice and support. And if that doesn't persuade you, we also have an excellent selection of no-fuss gas and electric fires to choose from.

With our help and guidance, you can make sure that you pick the perfect stove for both your home and your style too.

About New Forest Fires

We are the leading supplier of woodburning and multi fuel stoves in the New Forest. As well as supplying all of the leading brands of wood burning stoves we also provide an installation service throughout the New Forest, Southampton and Bournemouth areas.

If you have any more questions on the different types of wood burning stoves and what's best for you then please get in touch by completing the form below

Saving money on your energy costs with a woodburning stove

Sun, 25 Sep 2022 15:44:51 GMT

Insulate yourself against rising energy costs with a woodburning stove!

It goes without saying that rising energy costs are a concern for many of us. Unfortunately, even with the cap, energy prices are rising, and this will have a significant impact.

This issue has meant that many people now need to find ways to try and cut down their energy costs; of course, the easiest thing to do is to limit how much energy we use, but this isn't going to be an option for many people, especially as we enter winter.

Will a wood burning stove save you money?

A woodburning stove or log burner is a very effective way to heat your home. It can provide almost instant heat and fuel, whether logs or multi fuel bricks are relatively cheap when compared to gas and electricity prices, even before the price rises due in October.

While installing a new wood burner does come with a cost, both for the stove and the installation. However, these costs aren't as much as many people expect. There are many options for woodburning stoves to suit almost any budget.

Is your home suitable for a woodburning stove?

Many people think woodburning stoves are only suitable for older or larger properties. However, Woodburners have come a long way in recent years and many stylish and contemporary models are available.

Not all wood burners are the same, there are many different options and styles available. Some will only burn wood or logs, while others will burn a variety of fuels.

At New Forest Fires, we have fitted Log burners and stoves into many different types of properties, from small terrace houses to large detached properties in Brockenhurst as well as many pubs and restaurants around The New Forest. So regardless of your property's size, style, or your budget, there will be a woodburner suitable for you.

Not only can you choose from a variety of modern stoves, which will fit in with the design of your home, but installation can also be quick and easy too.

You can see a few of the different types of wood burners that we have installed below.

Are wood burning stoves safe?

Yes. Obviously you need to take the correct safety precautions but the safety record of wood burning stoves is very good.

You should always use a reputable Hetas certified company to install your new wood burning stove. This will ensure that it is installed safely. A reputable company will also advise you on using your new wood burner safely and efficiently.

Other benefits of a Wood Burning Stove

As well as saving you money on your energy costs a wood burning stove will also create a cosy and inviting atmosphere for your home. It will safeguard you against power cuts and it is also better for the environment.

So if you want a warm and cosy home and a manageable energy bill at the end of the month, it may be time to think about having a new woodburning stove installed.

You can read more about about the benefits of woodburners by reading our recent blog " 5 Reasons you need a wood burner "

Do you need any more reasons to install a wood burning stove?

If you are not sure or you have any questions why not get in touch or even better visit our showroom in Hordle and we will be more than happy to answer all of your questions about wood burners.

About New Forest Fires

Established in 2014 New Forest Fires are a local independent supplier and installer of wood burners and wood burning stoves. We are based in Hordle in the south of The New Forest and service customers throughout the New Forest, Southampton, Christchurch and Bournemouth.

We pride ourselves on our excellent reputation that comes from the outstanding workmanship and customer service we provide.

If you have any more questions on the different types of wood burning stoves and what's best for you then please get in touch by completing the form below

5 Reasons you need a wood burner

Sun, 28 Aug 2022 11:57:38 GMT

Why are wood burners becoming even more popular in the New Forest

Why do you need a wood burner in your home and your life?

Whilst wood burners may seem like a traditional approach to heating your home, they have recently seen a huge rise in popularity, particularly in the New Forest and surrounding areas. So, why is this? What has made wood burners become so popular

Wood burning stoves are better for the environment:

Along with being kinder to the environment, using a wood burner means you don’t have to rely on your usual heating methods. This, in turn, reduces your energy usage and bills. This is excellent news within your typical day-to-day life, but given the current climate we find ourselves in and how the energy prices are rising and rising, this is even better for us all.

You don't have to worry about a power cut with a wood burning stove:

Have you ever been in a power cut and worried about how you can heat or light up your home? If you have one, you will already see the benefit of having a wood burner. They don’t need electricity or gas to work, which means that even if something happens outside of your home that you cannot control, you know that you will be able to still feel comfortable in your own home.

Wood burners look and feel great

There is no better feeling than getting home after a busy or cold day and being able to fire up your wood burner. Not only does this help you to warm up, but it also helps you to feel ready to snuggle up and enjoy the rest of your evening. Ideal if it has been a tough one.

Wood burners aren't as expensive as you think

One worry many people have when it comes to wood burning stoves is that they have to be expensive. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. They will come at a cost, and you need to be ready to pay a few hundred pounds to buy a good quality one, but this is an investment rather than something costly.

Not only this, but they are designed to be efficient too in their fuel consumption, which means that you don’t have to use too much fuel, and then there will be lower maintenance as they are used to.

If you live in the New Forest Villages, be that Brockenhurst, Sway, Lymington, Lyndhurst and Christchurch, and you are looking for a new wood burner, then we can help you. We are experts in wood burner installation, and we can ensure that you have a multifuel stove that will stand the test of time and bring something that is not only functional but also stylish into your home.

In fact New Forest Fires have teamed up with a finance company to allow you to spread the payment and make your wood burner even more affordable. Click here to read more about our financing for your wood burning stove

About New Forest Fires

We pride ourselves on our excellent reputation that comes from the outstanding workmanship and customer service we provide.

If you have any more questions on the different types of wood burning stoves and what's best for you then please get in touch by completing the form below

What’s the difference between Ecodesign, clearSkies and DEFRA wood burning stoves?

Thu, 04 Aug 2022 14:29:38 GMT

There's a thicket of jargon to wade through for choosing a wood burning stove - what does it all mean?

The Different Classifications of Wood Burning Stoves

If you've been browsing for a new stove, chances are you'll have come across terms like Ecodesign, clearSkies and DEFRA, without necessarily any accompanying explanation.

All three classifications are attempt to codify improvements in the efficiency or operation of, and reductions in harmful emissions from, wood burning stoves, but they differ in important ways.

Ecodesign stoves:

Ecodesign is a new legal standard that applies to all stoves sold in the UK from 1 ^st January 2022. It establishes a floor for minimum acceptable efficiency and a ceiling for permissible particulate (and various noxious gas) emissions. The standards are very stringent and represent a step-change in performance requirements. (More broadly, Ecodesign as a concept is part of a philosophy of ecological sustainability applied to the design and production of household items.) Despite the total lack of ambiguity about this new standard, it is still possible to find stoves on sale in the UK that fail to meet the Ecodesign benchmark. You should think very carefully about buying one of these non-compliant stoves, as, quite apart from the dubious legality of fitting it, it might have serious knock-on effects on your ability to insure or sell your house.

DEFRA stoves:

The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs maintain a shortlist of wood-burning stoves, the use of which is permitted in smoke control zones. Generally, smoke control zones are found in large conurbations, but not all cities have smoke control zones, and the classification seems to be applied rather arbitrarily. The government doesn’t publish a list of smoke control zones. You have to ask your local council to find out if you live in one. Locally, Southampton has a smoke-control zone, Bournemouth doesn’t. Who knows why? Be that as it may, if you live in one, your stove must be DEFRA approved. Being DEFRA approved does not mean you can’t pollute your street with clouds of smoke – with the right malevolent intent and a basket of damp logs, any sociopath can do that, but a DEFRA rating does mean that your stove will incorporate a handful of design features conceived to make it slightly more difficult to do so. Having originated as quite a stringent test, back in the days when it was widely assumed that a woodburner could never be operated smokelessly, the category has now become more of a box-ticking exercise, but nonetheless a box that it is important to tick if you want to stay on the right side of the law. (Importantly, and slightly annoyingly, not all Ecodesign stoves are DEFRA-approved.)

clearSkies:

clearSkies is an industry-led scheme that is arguably more coherent and thought-through as a holistic scheme for rating stoves. On the other hand, to a large extent, it duplicates, but toothlessly, the role of Ecodesign, clunkily incorporates a category for DEFRA and further muddies the waters for apathetic consumers. As a voluntary scheme with no enforcement mechanism, the main benefit is to disseminate extra information so that consumers can make a better-informed choice. It also provides a framework for brands to showcase the degree to which their stoves exceed existing regulatory requirements on efficiency and emissions. clearSkies has its own rigorous testing regime and a classification system from 2 to 5, with 2 representing parity with the minimum Ecodesign standard and 5 exceeding it by far (level 1, presumably, is like the ground floor of a sinking building that is by now underground, never to be referenced again. For those Spinal Tap fans among us, we can only hope that one day we’ll be able to dial up to Level 11). Level 3 is not actually qualitatively better than 2 but indicates that the appliance is also DEFRA-approved. Level 4 offers a 15% improvement on Level 2/Level 3, Level 5 goes 15% better than Level 4.

For showcasing the extraordinary levels of improvement some manufacturers have been able to make to stove performance, and these are real and extremely impressive (see the wide range of Woodwarm, Charnwood and Contura stoves which are Level 5), clearSkies is a welcome addendum for customers who really like to do their research, and a superior template for any future government looking to overhaul the dog’s breakfast that is the current regulatory environment into something more clear, cogent and comprehensible. Unfortunately, that doesn’t look like it’s going to happen anytime soon. (It's important to remember that not all stove manufacturers are signed up to clearSkies.)

In conclusion, Ecodesign and DEFRA are legal requirements, at national and city-specific levels respectively, while clearSkies is a voluntary scheme.

So if you’re looking for a new stove:

· Ensure it’s Ecodesign-compliant

· Find out if you’re in a smoke-control zone; if so, ensure your stove is DEFRA-approved

· See if it has a clearSkies rating to really drill down on performance metrics

If you have any more questions on the different types of wood burning stoves and what's best for you then please get in touch by completing the form below

Buying a stove on finance: a new finance option to spread the cost of installing a new woodburner

Mon, 11 Jul 2022 15:55:23 GMT

A new finance option to spread the cost of installing a new woodburner or multifuel stove in the New Forest, Hampshire and Dorset.

Burning wood for heat in a modern stove can be a tremendously efficient and economical way of heating a home, but good stoves are expensive to manufacture and installing them has never been cheap. That hasn’t stopped millions of households taking the leap and enjoying the special warmth and security afforded by having a woodburner at the heart of the home and several months’ or even years’ worth of fuel stored right outside the front door.

Unsurprisingly, the popularity of woodburners and multifuel stoves is surging anew as UK households try to get ahead of staggering rises in the cost of gas, with the worrying and bizarre prospect of of fuel rationing and rolling electricity blackouts looming on the horizon.

But with relatively high initial costs, the aspiration to achieve the security, comfort and economy of getting a stove installed can be daunting for those on a budget, especially with rampant inflation stoking a cost of living crisis.

We have signed up a third-party credit broker (authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) to give our customers the choice of a staggered payment plan to make a stove affordable for those with a sufficient and steady income but low savings. The application process is simple and quick, with a decision delivered within minutes.

The re-payment term is 10 months, with just a 10% deposit plus the one-off charge representing the interest (on the borrowed sum: 7.5% at the time of writing) payable up-front. Once confirmation is received, the work can be carried out, with the balance payable in ten equal monthly payments: manageable, predictable and affordable.

If you’ve thought about getting a stove installed, but have assumed up to now that the up-front costs are beyond your current resources, drop us a line. We’ll prepare a free, no-obligation estimate and send you a link to apply for finance. It’s that simple. If you’re interested, give us a call or email us today.

Contura 870 stove with twinwall flue and granite hearth

Outdoor fires for summer 2022 – firepits, chimineas, beach barbecues & pizza-cooking stoves!

Fri, 10 Jun 2022 15:53:34 GMT

fire seen through a Chilli Penguin barbecue grille

Summer ushers in long evenings and al fresco living, but there’s often an understandable reluctance to retreat indoors when the light finally leaves the sky.

That’s where fire comes in.

Maybe it’s an atavistic relic planted deep in the human psyche, honed by four hundred thousand years of evenings congregating around the safety of the campfire, enchanted by the flicker of the flames, the nuance of the shadows they cast, the warmth of the light, the story-telling and deep reflection that they engender.

Or maybe it’s that in a maritime climate like the UK, especially along the coast, the living can become a bit too fresco for comfort when the sun goes down, and we all welcome the bone-deep heat from a real fire that makes staying up after-hours a toasty pleasure rather than a shivering trial.

Fortunately, we’ve come a long way from gathering scrap wood and just building a fire on the ground, and we’ve got some amazing and inspirational fire-vessels to enliven and enhance your summer evenings, from portable firepits and grills to tall, elegant chimineas to outdoor stoves that will even cook your pizza.

steel firepits and chimineas at New Forest Fires showroom

For a raw and minimalist fire experience, you won’t find anything more suitable than the sculpted and spectacular Delta firepit, available in three sizes, ideal for garden parties that stretch late into the night.

Delta firepit

Even more of a statement piece is the Charnwood Fireball: the flames fork dramatically through its slits and seams and curl around and out of its angular concave interior.

Charnwood Fireball

If you want something packable and portable, try the Calcube, available in two sizes, a fire box with an elegant cubic simplicity.

Calcube metal fire pits

It packs down into five sheets of metal and six metal pegs (or four for the smaller version) which will slide into a suitably sturdy bag for trips to the beach or into the wild.

Calcube Large fire pit

Holes cut in the walls let air in to feed the fire and let light out for glimpses of the heart of the fire.

Developed along the same lines but as a combined brazier-cum-barbecue is the stunning Chilli Grilly from our friends at Chilli Penguin.

Chilli Grilly barbecue grille at night

Chilli Grilly stainless barbecue grille

Cleverly and thoughtfully designed to be fully packable, it has a stainless grille for cooking and even an ashtray stand to keep falling embers from touching the ground!

Chilli Penguin Chilli Grilly

Back in the garden, a more refined alternative to the full-on campfire experience of a firepit comes in the form of the hooded Apollo chiminea. Formed like a tepee from folded steel that will radiate blistering heat from within, the reduced fire window and funnelled hood will channel any smoke above sitting height.

Apollo chimineas

And for those for whom nothing less than a stove will do, Arada have just released their garden heater, a fully-functional wood-burning stove with a short flue, with side-wing tables and a facility for high-temperature outdoor cooking. Pizza, anyone?

Arada garden heater

A selection of our recent installations

Wed, 24 Nov 2021 16:45:34 GMT

Just a few of our recent installations:

Charnwood Aire 3 stove in pewter, installed in a Victorian tiled fireplace

Charnwood Arc 5 multifuel stove on a truncated honed granite hearth

stove in brick fireplace with pre-formed opening above for television

Contura 890 stove in grey with black truncated hearth in an alcove

Charnwood Country 6 stove in a corner with quarter-circle granite hearth and twinwall flue.

Arada stove in limestone surround

Arada stove in fireplace

Stove in brick fireplace with herringbone brick hearth

8kW stove with twinwall flue on a square granite hearth

The new Charnwood Cranmore 5 – our first install

Fri, 19 Nov 2021 16:39:36 GMT

We’ve taken delivery of our first Cranmores from Charnwood, and what a cracking stove!

Picture of our first two installs:

Charnwood Cranmore 5 woodburner in fireplace

Charnwood Cranmore 5 stove in fireplace

Outdoor firepits – extending your evenings outdoors as the nights draw in…

Sat, 25 Sep 2021 15:37:06 GMT

As the days get shorter, dusk earlier and temperatures start to drop, firepits are a great way of extending your time outside.

We stock a hand-picked selection of firepits here at New Forest Fires, including the Charnwood Fireball.

Not only do they deliver light and heat as the sun goes down, they’re also a focal point that fosters kinship and community. There’s nothing more atavistic that gathering around an outdoor fire.

From ‘Blood Meridian’ by Cormac McCarthy:

The flames sawed in the wind and the embers paled and deepened and paled and deepened like the bloodbeat of some living thing…and they watched the fire which does contain within it something of men themselves inasmuchas they are less without it and are divided from their origins and are exiles. For each fire is all fires, the first fire and the last ever to be…’

Our largest triangular pit is a generous 890mm wide, with smaller options for more restricted spaces or smaller gatherings.

Pop in to have a look or give us a call for details.

A selection of firepits

Anatomy of a Clock stove

Thu, 09 Sep 2021 15:35:09 GMT

Let’s have a closer look at our newly-delivered Clock display stoves.

This is the brand-new Sudbury 5 woodburner.

Clock Sudbury 5

The interior is lined with vermiculite bricks for an optimal burn. The holes in the back inject tertiary air for clean combustion. There is a single air control which rotates for precise control.

Sudbury interior

The door closes magnetically for ease of use and minimal interference.

Sudbury handle

We also have a beautiful Blithfield Compact 5 in honey-glow brown with handsome brass fittings. The Compact is the smaller version of the Blithfield 5 and is a multifuel stove with a grate and ashpan.

The Clock Blithfield Compact 5 multifuel stove

It has two air controls, for primary (up-draught) and secondary (air-wash) air injection. The knurled knobs provide good grip and the rotation is firm and comfortable to use.

Rotating air controls

There is a good-size ashpan and a chunky log retaining front bar.

Compact 5 ashpan

The ashpan comes with a holder.

Clock Blithfield Compact Ashpan

Next up is the Clock Blithfield DS, a high-output double-sided stove. It has the same positive latch as the Compact and the air controls work the same way. As with most double-sided stoves, the air controls are on one side only of the stove.

Clock Blithfield DS

Both doors are openable and the ashpan is split in the middle and each half can be accessed with holders from each side.

door open

The top of the stove. Each stove comes with a pair of gloves.

Bird’s eye view of the Clock Double

Kindling bundles for sale

Thu, 26 Aug 2021 15:27:04 GMT

We now have locally-produced kindling bundles for sale.

£5.50 for one

£10 for two

New kindling bundles for sale

How much does it cost to maintain a wood burning stove?

Tue, 17 Aug 2021 15:23:10 GMT

Stoves are generally low-cost to maintain

An often unremarked feature of owning a woodburner is the low cost and ease of maintenance. As a rule of thumb, wood burning stoves are designed to be owner-operated and -maintained. As a result, it is definitely good to consider the lead times, cost and long-term availability of parts for any stove you might have you eye on.

As with owning a car, you can expect your stove just to do its job from day 1 with little interference. But that’s largely where the equivalence ends.

Fuel – logs and firewood

Your main running cost will be fuel, but this can be a highly variable expense, one which is probably worthy of a whole blog post in itself. It will depend on where you live (in the New Forest is always good, because trees), who you know, who you buy from and whether you’re going to season your own firewood or buy it ready-to-burn. The basic play-off is between cost and convenience. Go on any online discussion board and you’re bound to come across individuals sourcing firewood for free and others who buy kiln-dried bulk bags of logs for top dollar.

Chimney-sweeping

Your only annual service should be chimney-sweeping. Again, this is something you can technically do yourself – a good-quality brush head shouldn’t set you back more than £20 to £30, and a set of drain rods will set you back about the same again.

Nonetheless, for peace of mind, and certainly for wood-burning novices, we would definitely recommend having your flue professionally swept, at least to start with. It’s usually inexpensive (costs vary nationally, and by how filthy a chimney is – a dirty chimney can take 4 or 5 times as long to sweep as a well-maintained one!) and you’ll get a certificate out of it that you can wave at your house insurer. Be sure to use a well-established sweep with a good reputation, though – it’s a largely unregulated market, and there are plenty of cowboys.

Get the flue swept at the end of the first burning season. Your sweep will be able to give you invaluable feedback on your operation of the stove, and advice on what you can do to improve your technique. In the longer term, they should also, should you prefer not to get your hands dirty, be able to carry out routine maintenance of the stove itself, replacing consumable parts as they wear out, as well as keeping your flue clean and condensate-free.

Stove maintenance

Maintenance of the stove itself is an important consideration in choosing a wood-burning stove, and one that you should always try to discuss with your stove dealer to ensure that you will enjoy hassle-free enjoyment of your stove for its expected life. If you maintain a good stove from a good manufacturer, it might well outlast you (we frequently come across lively and daily-used stoves from venerable old brands 30 or 40 years old), so this is not a matter to treat lightly.

Every stove contains a number of ‘consumable’ components. While the stove body and door are usually covered by a lengthy warranty, the glass, baffle plate, door rope and fire bricks, as well as grates and log retainers are frequently exempted. All, however, should be replaceable. In treated well, all of these components should last for many years, but replacement costs and availability can vary considerably.

Factors to consider are:

Provenance: where are the stoves built? Where are spares shipped from?
Generic parts: are the spares entirely specific to the stove, or can you deploy generic materials (square or rectangular vermiculite firebricks can be cut from board. Flat, square replacement glass can be ordered made-to-measure from specialist stove glass suppliers etc.)
Ubiquity: some manufacturers with high turnover of models will stop producing spares after a number of years.
At the budget end of the market, it might be impossible to track down a source for spares at all, if they are even manufactured separately. Beware!
Complexity: Some stove are more ‘engineered’ than others. The more complex the design, the greater a premium the parts will carry, and greater skill and familiarity will be required to fit them.

A good rule of thumb is to keep and file your paperwork relating to your stove purchase. It’s surprising how many owners shop for spares after ten years, but have no idea what the make or model of their stove is.

Some stove models have been through numerous iterations of the same design, and the parts are not necessarily common to all the evolutions. Knowing when your stove was built, or at least when you purchased it, can be an important guide to procuring the right parts when you eventually need them.

Fire bricks

Most fire bricks these days are made from vermiculite. Vermiculite bricks are quite frangible, but once installed, if used carefully, should last for many years (throwing logs into a stove is a perfect way to wreck them quickly). A full replacement set can cost from £50 to well over £100. Many stoves have just three bricks, others have up to a dozen. Scandinavian barrel-shaped stoves may well have curved bricks that you will only be able to source from the manufacturer. Complex shapes will always be trickier to replace. Some manufacturers, like Barbas from the Netherlands, make ceramic fire bricks, which are considerably more durable and more resistant to abuse, but are also slightly more expensive.

Door glass

Door glass should last for a very long time too, but occasionally it cracks or discolours. Square replacement glass usually costs from £30 to £60 per sheet, depending on size, but a large curved piece of glass might cost £150 to £200. Another potential headache with door glass exists precisely because of the infrequency with which replacement is required; all too frequently, the retaining screws seize up over the course of several years and can be very resistant to removal; sometimes they respond to a good soaking with oil. A good prevention is to loosen the screws on a new stove and lube them with copper grease, but at the worst, if they jam completely, they can usually be drilled out and replacement holes can be drilled and tapped. This is easier on some stoves than on others; where such flexibility is possible, it is often by design and usually down to the foresight of the manufacturer.

Baffle plates

Such resilience is built into the best stoves: for instance, baffle plates, which sit at the top of the stove, are another part that will eventually need replacing. These should ideally sit on, and be supported by, the firebricks. On some stoves, the front of the baffle plate is supported by a screw or metal support fixed into the body of the stove. It might take a decade for this to burn out or collapse, but when it does, it is nigh-on impossible to set a new baffle plate in position, rendering the stove useless.

Simple, thoughtful design is best, and allows for years of easy maintenance; ad hoc, convenient construction will eventually entail a headache.

Door rope

Door rope comes in a variety of diameters; you can normally either buy replacement rope in pre-cut lengths with adhesive, supplied by the manufacturer, or buy it off the reel with generic rope glue from good stove shops.

We can usually get spares from our UK suppliers in a matter of days. Spare parts for our European stoves often take a little longer to arrive.

Surface repairs

In terms of surface damage to stoves, most stoves are re-paintable. Faded or scratched paint can be given a fresh coat, rust marks can be rubbed down with wire wool and re-sprayed, and the stove will look like new. There are some important exceptions; some stoves, usually convection models with multiple panels, will have powder-coated components; often these cannot be re-sprayed, or if they can, the new paint may not key in with the other metal parts of the stove, and might necessitate the purchase of another complete replacement panel. A can of paint is usually about £15. A new side panel for a convention stove is more likely to set you back a hundred or so.

On the whole, stoves are eminently repairable: we have supplied replacement doors to customers who have shattered the hinges by hitting them with a hammer; new air-control rods for kicked-and-bent ones, new lids for stoves that have been warped from over-firing. But there are limits, and prevention is the best cure; treat your stove like an old friend (i.e. no hammers, no kicking!) and it should give you many years of faithful service.

In brief, if you treat it with even moderate care, your stove should be inexpensive to maintain and you should be able to do it yourself; if your experience is otherwise, give us a call. We might be able to help.

How to check your firewood logs are dry enough using a moisture meter

Tue, 10 Aug 2021 15:18:56 GMT

Almost everyone who sells firewood says their logs are seasoned and ready to burn. Sometimes they are.

Under current legislation, there are two approved ways to buy firewood for your stove . Either you buy regular quantities of logs that must be certified ‘ Ready to Burn ‘ (i.e. described as below 20% moisture, from an approved supplier) or you buy in bulk – over two cubic metres at a time – to season at home.

Whether or not your ‘ready-to-burn’ logs arrive as described is another question. Woodsure can’t examine every batch; in practice, a lot is going to depend on trust. From our perspective, though perhaps not Woodsure’s, that’s a good thing. We think log supply should, wherever possible, be a local matter, for reasons rational, environmental and social.

If you want to establish the state of your logs, you can do so with a moisture meter, but there’s a knack to deploying one properly.

But you always want to be sure of what you’re buying. And certainly sure of what you’re about to burn. Give or take a few points, 20% is roughly considered the benchmark for a dry log. If you’re a hoary-handed woodsperson, you’ll know if a log is right just by picking it up, by the sound made by knocking two together or even just by looking at one. For everyone else, a moisture meter is a good investment.

How to use your moisture meter

Read the instructions! Put the batteries in. Press the ON button. Make sure the digital display lights up. Push the prongs into the side of the log. Here we get a reading of 13%. This is not the moisture content of your log! Read on…

Testing outside edge

Flipping the same log over gave us a reading of 14% on the other side.

the flip side

This was a kiln-dried log (incidentally, a ridiculously energy-intensive way of seasoning that the sun and wind will do for free), and these are the kind of readings you would hope to get from one. But first appearances can be deceptive. You need to get beyond surface impressions.

For that, you’ll need to split the log. (If you’re not used to handling a hatchet, take care. Even for experienced axe-wielders, it’s all too easy to lop off a thumb or forefinger.) Plunge the prongs into one of the freshly-cut surfaces.

after the log is split

In this instance, the reading was 35%. Although the actual ‘moisture content’ of the log would be perfectly represented by averaging readings from various points on the log, an internal reading like this of 35% is far too high. For illustration, 35% is the approximate moisture content of freshly-felled ash, and the bark of a live tree will often return a reading of under 20%.

This log was simply not dry enough to burn as a fuel.

35% moisture

So if you want to check your wood, pick up one of our moisture meters, split your logs and check them – either when you buy them or before you burn them.

Even if you’re disappointed, though, and have bought a batch of damp logs, there is good news. Time may not heal all wounds, but it can dry all wood. Make sure your wood store is shielded from the rain but well-ventilated, and most semi-seasoned logs will be ready for the next winter after a couple of months (freshly-felled logs are a different matter, and will need anywhere from six summer-spanning months to two years to season properly, depending on species and storage conditions).

For more information on the rules, and to find certified local suppliers, you can visit Woodsure .

Some might see the new rules as infantilising government overreach (coincidentally rewarding large-scale operators and the Treasury, while putting smaller concerns out of business), others as insufficient to ensure clear air (because it still doesn’t stop ‘consumers’ burning poor fuel if they’re able to acquire it). All critics might question how effectively the rules can, and will, be enforced. All these criticisms are valid. That doesn’t dispel the purported purpose of the legislation, which is to discourage the supply of wet logs. It will probably help in that regard.

As ever, we would encourage our customers to only ever burn dry wood and to burn it properly, ensuring sufficient air in their stoves for clean combustion, and to build as good a stock of logs as possible, preferably two years’ worth or more. If you can, buy your firewood green, locally and in bulk and season it yourself.

It’s literally money in the bank.

log store

Why wood burning stoves are better than central heating

Tue, 03 Aug 2021 15:13:42 GMT

How the heat from a wood burner differs from central heating, and why it feels better

If you’ve ever been skiing and experienced scorching solar heat at the top of white-capped mountains, or just seen pictures of skiers stripped to T-shirts sun-bathing in the snow, you’re most of the way to understanding the crucial difference between stoves and central heating. Here’s a clue: it’s not about air temperature. In the same way that you can feel sweltering at 1800 metres and 0°C when the sun is on your face, you can feel gloriously toasty in a cold house with your back to a fire. The converse is that in a centrally-heated house, you can still feel shivery even when the thermostat’s telling you that the air temperature is that of a summer’s day.

It’s not just psychological, though that is not a factor to scoff at either.

How wood burns

The sun produces massive amounts of energy from nuclear reactions and disperses the resulting energy into our solar system by radiation. A tiny proportion of this energy hits the surface of the earth. It is barely diffused by its journey through 90 million miles of vacuum. Space doesn’t get warmer. But when the rays hit our grateful faces, the radiation is converted instantly to heat.

A wood-burning stove works the same way (though on a slightly smaller scale). Those hot metal surfaces are sending out massive waves of energy that convert to heat the instant they touch your body.

The key distinction here is between radiant and convected or conducted heat. The latter two both rely on the movement of molecules.

Central heating runs at relatively low temperatures. While it still radiates some energy, its main effect is to warm the air and disperse heat slowly around the room through convection. If you touch the radiator, heat will be conducted into your fingers, but the main premise of central heating is that it will warm the air, which then heats your home through convection. Eventually, you, the animal, will come to no longer feel cold as the air temperature of your entire house rises to roughly half the temperature of your body. Your body itself, of course, helped by the insulating effect of clothing, is simultaneously generating enough heat to compensate for heat loss and keep you alive.

Why stove heat feels good

The intense heat from a radiant surface is different. Because there is no molecular exchange, energy is transferred directly through the air by infrared electromagnetic waves. Only when it hits a surface is it, like sunshine on your skin, converted into heat. Most objects emit radiation, but we experience no sensation of heat from them because our bodies are emitting radiation in equal or greater proportions: there is either a shortfall or they cancel each other out, so no sensory impact is felt.

However, in proximity to the high surface temperature and the emissivity of a cast-iron or steel stove (they have roughly the same conductivity), we absorb much more radiation than we emit, thus receiving a net energy gain. For illustration, the sedentary human body produces about 500 British thermal units (BTUs) per hour, while a modest 5kW stove, burning a kilo of wood over the course of an hour at around 70% to 80% efficiency, will produce roughly thirteen and a half thousand BTU, most of which will be transferred by radiation from the super-heated surfaces of the stove.

However, because of the insulating effects of firebricks at the back and sides, the ashes below and the baffle plate above, a disproportionate amount of that energy is projected from the front of the stove. The closer you sit or stand to the stove, the more surface area you present to it and the greater the amount of radiated energy will hit your body, resulting in the maximum transfer of energy and satisfyingly high localised temperature. If we estimate that a third of the radiation is projected from the front of the stove, and half of it hits your body, the ratio of energy-received to emitted-by-your-body is roughly 5:1.

That’s an extremely tangible, and extremely pleasurable, difference.

The increase in skin temperature is intensely satisfying, in the same way as turning your face to the sun, and engenders an incomparably greater sensation of warmth than that provided by air temperature.

Charnwood’s Cranmore 7

Vince Thurkettle and Bear Grylls agree…

A radiator pales by comparison with a stove. As fire guru Vince Thurkettle so lucidly puts it, “I’ve never known someone to get the same feeling by snuggling up to their radiator.” Thus, in the same way that you can sunbathe in the Alps, when the air temperature is hovering slightly above freezing, or when Bear Grylls emerges sodden from a freezing lake and strips in front of a blazing fire to regenerate body heat, you can feel intensely warm by your stove even if the air temperature is well below notional ambient ‘room temperature’.

It is a simple fact that most life forms, from trees to lizards to hominids, prefers to experience heat through radiation. In domestic situations – for people, dogs and cats – a wood burning stove is the best possible mimic for the natural heat of sunshine.

Put a stove at the heart of your home

It’s why we consider the hearth to be the heart of the home. If your home feels a little cool at its core, give us a call for some expert advice or pop in to see us and experience the nourishing warmth only a woodburner can provide.

The enveloping warmth of a wood burning stove

Why to book your free stove installation estimate now

Thu, 29 Jul 2021 15:05:52 GMT

(Because? You guessed it…Covid)

Covid has played havoc with the world economy and the stove industry has not been immune.

Demand for woodburners, which initially dwindled, bounced back strongly in 2020 along with most home improvement products, as many fortunate citizens were stuck at home with furlough pay they couldn’t spend elsewhere. This was a freak occurrence, with unlikely policy responses by governments historically wedded to ‘market discipline’ and austerity. Plenty of businesses were unsurprisingly wrong-footed by the unusual circumstances of a pandemic, and by a Thatcherite government suddenly drinking (if somewhat inconsistently and while holding its nose) the Keynesian Kool-aid.

Alongside the vicissitudes of demand, global supply chains were severed or stretched, commodity markets went haywire and businesses crucial to UK stove production, like British steel, were allowed to collapse. Critical businesses, like a crucial foundry in the Netherlands that nobody had previously ever heard of, also closed, and spares for certain stoves – some of which had previously claimed to be exclusively UK-made – suddenly became unavailable for months. Who knew?

Lead times for some stove producers miraculously remained consistent, but for most, they stretched to months (when the norm is measured in weeks). Where this has been the case, it’s usually because they chose to prioritise safety over production – there’s no blame-game to indulge in. Some have since recovered and are now back up to full, or even enhanced production, others are still struggling.

Contura stove

Covid has played havoc with the world economy and the stove industry has not been immune.

Demand for woodburners , which initially dwindled, bounced back strongly in 2020 along with most home improvement products, as many fortunate citizens were stuck at home with furlough pay they couldn’t spend elsewhere. This was a freak occurrence, with unlikely policy responses by governments historically wedded to ‘market discipline’ and austerity. Plenty of businesses were unsurprisingly wrong-footed by the unusual circumstances of a pandemic, and by a Thatcherite government suddenly drinking (if somewhat inconsistently and while holding its nose) the Keynesian Kool-aid.

Steel prices and stoves

Now they are also having to deal with a massive spike in commodity – especially steel – prices, that are wreaking havoc everywhere. Stove and flue prices have accordingly risen pretty much across the board. One or two companies have even instituted an unheard-of second price rise within a year, faced with dramatically escalating prices that have seen the cost of steel more than double in a year.

The consensus from central banks is that these price rises in raw materials are temporary, due to bottlenecks created by surging demand combined with reduced production. So several of our suppliers, to compensate, are now trying to add temporary surcharges to stoves until the commodities spike deflates (instead of increasing RRP).

What this all means for us and you

The net effect for us as stove dealers is that we have unpredictable supply and bobbling prices to deal with. Stove manufacturers are asking us to try to predict demand for the season ahead to even out production and supply. This kind of task isn’t easy at the best of times, let alone on the tail end of a pandemic.

But it’s good in a couple of ways. It’s making us think. It’s making us talk. Contemplation and communication have a history of inspiring fresh thinking and creative improvements. One lesson for us is that information is key, and timely communication with our customers is more critical than ever. We’re instituting systems to improve both.

We’re hoping to make this winter as smooth as possible for our customers, but we would urge anybody hoping to install a stove in 2021 to take action sooner rather than later. To enjoy the fullest choice and to avoid possible disappointment, get the ball rolling now. With some stoves taking two to three months to appear from the time of order, September could thus be the last month in which your dream stove could be ordered for installation before Christmas.

If you’re after a woodburner for this winter, don’t tarry – talk to us now, even if it’s only to explore your options.

And fingers crossed, by this time next year, things will be back to something more like normal…

Contura 556 woodburner

CAN I PUT A WOODBURNING STOVE IN MY CONSERVATORY?

Mon, 19 Jul 2021 14:55:06 GMT

In many ways, conservatories are the ideal destination for a wood burning stove – they’re typically too cold to use in winter, at just the time of year when you most want to be flooded with natural daylight or to be able to use the extra space in the evenings when the whole family is kept inside by the early darkness.

Conservatories also retain heat like a bikini in Siberia and cost a small fortune to keep warm with central heating. This makes them ideal candidates for discretionary heating that delivers immediate and powerful warmth, and nothing performs this role better than a wood-burning stove.

However, installing a stove in a conservatory is usually more complicated than doing so inside a house:

Most conservatories are some combination of plastic, wood, glass, Perspex or lightweight painted metal. They either melt or burn when exposed to excess heat.
Conservatory roofs are great for letting through light; not obviously so good for letting through flues.
Because of the typically low walls in a conservatory, as well as the flimsy roof structures, it can be hard to adequately support the flue, which needs, at a bare minimum, to be supported in two places (as well as where it meets the stove).
One of the perils of hyper-efficient modern stoves is that most of them have correspondingly high flue-draught requirements. What this means in practice is that the flue height has to exceed the minimum stipulations of Building Regulations in order to draw properly, which is not always obviously practicable on a conservatory.
A corollary of a low flue on a conservatory adjoining a conventional two-storey house is that it will terminate around the height of the upstairs windows. Quite apart from the possibility of turbulence at the top of the flue (creating backdrafts pushing smoke back down the flue) there is also danger that the flue gases will blow in your upstairs windows (or, worse still, your neighbours’).

Fortunately, there are some fixes for all these issues.

Conventional stoves, which tend to radiate similar amounts of heat from all four sides, can be shielded from the wall with heatshields, from eye-catching enamelled Vlaze panels, to inexpensive non-combustible board or cut stone, as in this dramatic Charnwood stove installation in a garden room:

Charnwood stove with heat shields

Alternatively, stoves that are commonly termed ‘convection stoves’ such as those from Swedish titan Contura can often back onto combustible materials just 100mm (4”) away, like this one…

Contura in oak-framed conservatory

When combined with insulated twinwall flue, this allows significant flexibility in positioning a stove in even the most combustible conservatory.

Even twinwall flue gets hot, so it’s important to be careful when it rises through the roof. Plastic roofs can be cut back to allow the requisite distance to combustibles. Proprietary flashings can be fitted on top and decorative trims on the inside. It is possible to cut holes in glass roofs too, but this is considerably more specialised.

Conservatory flue

Alternatively, individual panels of the roof can be swapped out for non-combustible materials.

The issues with flue-support and height can be the most contentious, as the desired position is frequently at the far end of the conservatory so that one can sit anywhere in the room and face both the stove and the garden.

While this arrangement has obvious appeal, it also presents considerable drawbacks, for the reasons spelled out above. It is sometimes possible:

Contura 850

However, the best place to position a stove is usually against, or near to, the outside wall of the house. This usually offers a solid wall off which to support the flue, and allows for continued support of the flue up to full roof height, which all but guarantees sufficient draught for the stove as well as transporting the excess flue gases to a safe height where they can disperse harmlessly in the air.

Woodburner flue above conservatory roof

As with all stove installations , this kind of work should only be carried out by an installer with a suitable ‘competent person’ qualification (usually HETAS, but there are other equivalent schemes). The added complications of a conservatory installation make it even more important to use someone who is not only qualified but well-experienced.