Do you know a wood burning stove from a multi-fuel stove?

Do you know a wood burning stove from a multi-fuel stove?

With many solid fuel stoves designed to be either dedicated wood burning stoves or multi-fuel stoves, it is useful to be aware of the distinction before you decide which would best suit your needs.

Many stoves on the market today are designed as dedicated wood burning or multi-fuel appliances. Although there are similarities and logs may be burnt on multi-fuel stoves, there are some important differences to the structure of each type of stove to ensure their efficiency and performance when burning their specified fuel type.

Wood burning is literally that – burning wood logs and nothing else. Wood burning stoves are specifically designed to create the optimum burning conditions for logs. Their fixed grate allows for the creation of a bed of ashes onto which new logs can be placed to burn. The ashes help the logs to combust evenly. Additionally, air is supplied over the logs to stimulate combustion and ensure a powerful heat output.

The Brunel, a multi-fuel stove is shown here burning logs.

The Brunel, a multi-fuel stove is shown here burning logs.

Stovax wood burning stoves are designed for maximum efficiency; most models are equipped with cleanburn technology, a sophisticated system to introduce pre-heated air into the firebox to combust any unburnt hydrocarbons. This creates even more heat for your room as well as the effective use of your fuel – this, in turn ensures your stove’s firebox is kept clean. Many stoves also offer an Airwash function which in conjunction with Cleanburn helps to keep the glass in your stove door clear so you get a fantastic view of the swirling flames and glowing embers within the firebox.

Multi-fuel stoves can burn a combination of materials including wood logs, peat/turf briquettes and coal and this enables you to select fuels that are the most cost effective and readily available in the vicinity of your home. As smokeless fuels burn better when raised, as air may be drawn in from underneath to facilitate combustion, Stovax multi-fuel stoves are designed with a riddling grate which allows ash to disperse (be riddled) into a built-in ashpan. This ashpan can be quickly and easily emptied to ensure the flow of air under the fuel. They may also include a primary air inlet to further facilitate the movement of air beneath the grate. Some multi-fuel stoves also benefit from the advantages of Cleanburn and Airwash, additionally some stoves in the Stovax range couple these functions with “AMS” (Ash Management Solution) which allows you to clean the ashes from your stove via an external ashpan.

The Riva F40 from Stovax has been designed to burn either wood or multi-fuel effectively, making it a highly convenient choice.

The Riva F40 from Stovax has been designed to burn either wood or multi-fuel effectively, making it a highly convenient choice.

Although many stoves are designed as dedicated wood burners or multi-fuel stoves, some also come with a special conversion kit to enable you to take advantage of both fuel types. For further information on wood burning and multi-fuel stoves please visit one of our Expert Retailers who will be happy to provide guidance and recommend a stove for your property. You will also be able to find comprehensive information on fuel types as well as technical details relating to the advanced functions of our stoves and fires in our brochures which are available quickly and easily here via our dedicated webpage on our website.

16 responses to “Do you know a wood burning stove from a multi-fuel stove?”

  1. S Stretton says:

    Hi. I’m not sure of the right fuel to burn in our stove

    • Darcy Hyland says:

      Good Morning Stephen, thank you for taking the time to send us a message. If you could let us know which stove you have and the serial number, we can tell you what type of fuel to use.

      Many thanks,
      Darcy

  2. Maria Wilkinson says:

    I have a riva 50 multi fuel inset cassette stove. Do I need an additional basket to burn coal?

    • Chris Connick says:

      Hi there, no you don’t need an extra basket. However please be aware that you must only burn anthracite or manufactured briquette smokeless fuels listed as suitable for use with closed heating appliances.

  3. Ken says:

    can i leave the door open on my stovax to heat the room up is this dangerous i am using smokeless coal

    • Chris Connick says:

      Hi Ken, thanks for your message. We would always recommend operating your stove in accordance with the instructions found in your user manual. If you need a copy, you can download these via our technical information page for most models.
      Thanks, Chris

  4. Ellie Dempsey says:

    Hi
    I have the stovax 4 and I am not sure if its wood burning or multi fuel?
    It’s quite old and it came with the house with no instructions. I think the serial number is 047030. Hope you can help!

    • Chris Connick says:

      Hi Ellie, thanks for your comment. The easiest way to tell, is if it has a riddling grate with ash pan at the bottom it is a mult-fuel model, but if it hasn’t it is wood burning only.
      Hope this helps!
      Thanks, Chris

  5. Karen McGonnell says:

    I have Stovax Huntingdon 25 multi fuel. I only burn wood but some ash falls through the grate so it doesn’t build a good bed of ash. Can it be converted to woodburner?

    • Chris Connick says:

      Hi Karen, thanks for your message. I believe the Huntingdon 25 was only ever offered as a multi-fuel model so it wouldn’t be possible to remove the grate unfortunately.
      Best wishes, Chris

  6. Katy says:

    Hello
    I have a Riva Studio 1 Woodburner and I wondered if it would be possible to sit my own metal grate in the bottom to be able to burn smokeless coal?
    Thank you
    Katy

    • Chris Connick says:

      Hi Katy, thanks for your comment. Unfortunately the Studio range are designed for burning wood only and cannot be used for burning smokeless fuels.
      Best wishes, Chris

  7. Liam G says:

    Hi there,
    I have a Stockton 5 which was fitted about a year ago. It has a riddling grate which is operated via the lever on the left hand side of the stove, and an Ash pan at the bottom. Am I right this is a multi fuel stove? Are there any other modifications needed prior to me burning smokeless fuel/coal? Many thanks.

    • Chris Connick says:

      Hi Liam, thanks for your comment. If it has a riddling grate then this would indicate that this is indeed a multi-fuel model and you can burn Smokeless fuels on it without any further modifications.
      Hope this helps!
      Best wishes, Chris

  8. Michael says:

    Hi, i hafe a stocton multifuel. Can i just take the riddling grate and ash pan out and use it only for burning wood. I presume the front part will relocate further down.

    • Chris Connick says:

      Hi Michael, thanks for your comment. It depends on the Stockton model you have, if you let us know your model number we can confirm.
      Best wishes, Chris

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Posted by on August 29, 2013


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