Depending on the age of the property, the number of windows in the room and the insulation of the house generally your output requirement can vary dramatically. 

It’s important to have a visit from an experienced installer to determine the correct output.

Do not buy a stove with too large an output as you will never be able to use it without wearing shorts and a tee shirt! 

Over 5 Kw output requires an air vent within the room. Not a big job but may be problematic with a listed building for example.

All new builds will require a vent. Herts Woodburners provide a free survey so you know exactly what output you need!

Most stoves just give a nominal figure which is usually less than the maximum and simply determines whether a vent is required.

Some manufacturers give an output range which is more useful.

Heat output at the end of the day is determined by the number of logs that can be fitted safely into the firebox.

The greater the number of logs the higher the heat output.

An open fire is about 15% efficient. 85% of the heat goes up the chimney. So for every £1 spent on wood you get 15p worth of heat.

A typical log burner is around 80% efficient, a far better solution.

Think of this in how much wood you need to buy, stack and load!

This is the space where the logs sit. 

Ask yourself - Will it take a reasonable size log without having to order smaller logs which are more costly or will you have to cut them up?

Single doors are easier to open & use with a larger glass area but double doors can look more traditional.

Each stove can be different; it needs to be checked with the manufacturer’s handbook.  

• What is the required gaps around it to flammable and non flammable materials?
• Has your fireplace been lined with plasterboard, which is not unusual, and is considered a flammable material and will probably have to be removed?

Herts Woodburners provide a free survey to identify the works and specification needed to safely fit your stove into your fireplace!

Most good quality stoves are, many cheaper ones may not be.

All the stoves supplied and installed by Herts Woodburners are CE marked!

A stove works most efficiently when fitted with a flue as close as possible to that stated by the manufacturer.

Hot air rises, if it cools it will slow or start sinking. It doesn’t rise well in a cold chimney, tar can be deposited and condensation caused, both of which can damage your property.

If the smoke slows too much the stove will burn poorly and smoke can leak from the doors when adding fuel and even exit the stove through the air intakes leaving dangerous gasses in the room.

If you live in a Smoke Control Area, or want a super clean burning stove, you need to choose a DEFRA Exempt stove if you want to burn wood, that’s the law and you can be fined if you don’t comply. 

DEFRA Exempt stoves are designed so that they cannot be fully shut down. Shutting down the air vents so that there’s little or no air entering the stove leads to slumbering which causes incomplete combustion and is polluting for the environment and leaves heavy deposits on the liner. Not a good thing.

To work efficiently stoves need to be burning with a flame. Herts Woodburners can supply and fit DEFRA exempt wood burners.

If you have any other questions not listed above, or require further advice, then simply call us on 01462 372030 or email: steve@hertswoodburners.co.uk We'd be happy to help!