In the next few months, we'll be looking at covering a range of heating terms and expressions that you may come across while you research your wood burning or multi-fuel stove or fire purchase. This blog will focus on some popular phrases and features you may find during your search. They should help you break through some of the more technical terms and help you get a better understanding of the details.
As you begin your research into the installation of your stove or fire appliance, you will find numerous fireplace installers available online. With so many options, heating manufacturers highly recommend that you use an accredited installer who is properly trained and competent for this type of job. Using an accredited installer ensures that the solid fuel appliance is installed safely and efficiently. HETAS is the most recognised official body by the Government to approve biomass and solid fuel heating appliances, fuels and services.
Our expert retailer network will be either HETAS accredited or working alongside installers that are. For more information, use our Find A Retailer search to find your nearest.
Most modern wood burning and multi-fuel stoves will have an Airwash feature. It is a specific design element that uses a specially placed vent or vents to draw in cool air from the room; the air is then heated and ducted to ‘wash’ over the inside of the glass. This feature ensures that the glass is cleaner for longer, allowing you to enjoy a fuller flame picture for longer.
Stovax has a wide range of heating products that feature an Airwash system. Look out for this Airwash logo throughout our range of brochures.
When an appliance is CE approved, it means the stove or fire has been fully tested independently to exacting European standards for both heating and emissions.
This declares that the heating product complies with the essential requirements of the relevant European health, safety and environmental protection legislation.
Most modern stoves will have Cleanburn technology. With this Cleanburn system in place, a preheated air supply enters the firebox just above the normal height of the stove. It is then drawn into the smokestream, where it combusts unburnt hyrocarbons to provide a cleaner burn and greater thermal efficiency. You’ll see a Cleanburn logo within the pages of the website or brochures for all stoves that have this feature.
Find out more on our Why should you invest in a Cleanburn wood burning stove? blog.
Stoves and fires with a high efficiency rating means less fuel input with more energy output. This equates to better value for money which means that if you decide to burn solid fuels such as charcoal, peat, coal and wood, they are burnt economically and to the highest efficiency.
Many Stovax wood burning and multi-fuel stoves have an efficiency rating of up to 89%, so you get all the benefits of a real fire without most of your money – and heat – going up your chimney!
Although a multi-fuel stove looks very similar in terms of appearance and design to a wood burning stove, a multi-fuel stove can burn both logs and smokeless fuels (if you live in a Smoke Control Area, please look for a list of authorised fuels) such as anthracite and peat/turf briquettes.
Multi-fuel stoves have a riddling grate which allows ash to be ‘riddled’ (or ‘sifted’) down into a built-in ashpan. This creates the ideal conditions for efficient burning. In contrast, wood burning stoves have a fixed grate and no ashpan – this is because wood burns better on a bed of ashes.
Stovax offers a variety of multi-fuel stoves with a range of sizes and designs to suit your interior. Find out more on the difference between wood burning and multi-fuel stoves.
Many stoves and fires will have a smoke control logo shown on their brochure and web pages. This feature is appropriate – and important – for homes in large towns and cities. If you are planning to install a solid fuel appliance within a smoke control area, you will likely be able to install an “smoke control exempt appliance”.
Many manufacturers such as Stovax will have a smoke control logo for appliances that are deemed to be “exempt”. If you do not have an exempt appliance, you might be limited as to the type of fuel you are allowed to burn.
Stovax has a wide selection of stoves, fires and fireplaces available that are suitable for use in Smoke Control Areas.
Please visit the Defra website for more information about smoke control areas.
If you live in a more modern house, you may not have an existing masonry chimney. Even if you do have this feature, you may decide to install a stove in another room which doesn’t. In both these instances, you could explore the option of a twin wall flue system.
Made from high-grade stainless steel, Stovax offer the Professional XQ™ chimney flue system. This system can be configured to suit virtually any installation requirement, both internally and externally. The fully sealed system offers water tight protection and is easy to install and is very versatile. Find out more by downloading our Stovax Professional XQ brochure.
If you have plentiful supply of wood, a wood burning stove or fire will be ideal for you and your home. A dedicated woodburner will be specifically designed without a fixed grate, but with a flat base. When you burn logs, it is more effective that new logs are placed on a bed of ash to provide maximum efficiency and heat output from your wood burning stove or fire.
Stovax offers a wide range of dedicated traditional and contemporary wood burning stoves and fires to suit a variety of room sizes and interior decors.
In volume 2 of our heating terms and expressions blog series, we will look at the terminology covered before and during the installation of your stove, from 12mm hearth installations to site surveys!
Visit your local Stovax retailer to find out the most suitable solid fuel appliance for your home.
airwash cleanburn HETAS high efficiency professional XQ stovax wood burning stoves
Posted by Dan on May 12, 2016
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Hi I live in Benalmadena, we have a fireplace, but from past history I wouldn’t attempt to use it – smokey, no heat etc., I would like to know what the best option would be to heat a five bedroom villa, regards, Liz