FAQs
  1. How often should my chimney be swept?

The two national UK organisations that oversee the regulations surrounding solid fuel use are HETAS and the Solid Fuel Association (SFA)

They both recommend that a chimney / flue should be swept at least once a year, and more often if certain fuels are used.

Here's a summary of their recommendations:

Chimneys with solid fuel appliances ........         Smokeless fuels                         - at least once a year.

                                                                           Domestic bituminous coal        - at least twice a year.

                                                                           Wood Burning                            - every three months when in use.

 Chimneys with gas appliances ………………           Once a year + checking by a Gas Safe technician

 Chimneys with oil appliances …………………           Once a year + checking by an OFTEC technician


N.B. the sale of Bituminous Coal (house coal) was prohibited in the UK from 01/05/2023.


Most wood burning or multifuel stoves have at least one baffle plate above the fire, The baffle system is there to encourage the heat to recirculate and increase the burning efficiency of the stove. The distance between the top of the baffle plates and the outlet to the flue system is very narrow. If left unswept this area can become very congested with soot & ash and potentially could lead to blockages. This is the reason for regular maintenance.



  2.   What is seasoned wood?

When a tree is growing it can have moisture content of over 50%. This moisture content is like the blood in mammals, in a tree it consists of a sappy liquid.

This sappy liquid is flammable and if you burn unseasoned wood in your woodburner, you will leave tarry deposits in the flue that will increase the risk of a chimney fire. You will also reduce the potential heat output to your room, as heat is diverted to dry out the wood before it can burn. This in turn causes a lower temperature flue which encourages the tarry deposits to form.

Once the tree is cut down the sap starts to dry. It will dry quickly if split into smaller pieces and covered from rain, but allowed an adequate air flow. This is known as air drying. 

Another method of seasoning firewood is kiln drying. The split fire wood is loaded into a large heated container which blows heated air around the timber to drive out the moisture quicker. Although quicker to season this method has the added cost of the energy used to power the kiln - for that reason kiln dried firewood is much more expensive than air dried.

Since 2020 fire sold in quantities below 2 cubic metres must have a moisture quantity of 20% or less.


You can buy moisture meters at most DIY outlets and by sticking two metal prongs into your firewood it will display a percentage. Although 20% is the maximum it can be sold at, 15% moisture is a better figure to aim for for better efficiency with your wood burning stove.

It's worth noting that if you buy logs in quantities over 2 cubic meters there are no restrictions. This is a more economical way to buy firewood, but it will need to be stored in a weatherproof, but airy place, for a period of time - before burning!


If you are seasoning your own firewood, and don't have a moisture meter, you can check the following factors:

Appearance – it should be pale in colour with some visible cracks, while the bark should easily come loose.

Weight – without its moisture content, seasoned wood should feel light in weight.

Sound – when you tap two of the logs together, it should make more of a clear knocking sound than the dull thud of green wood.



  3.   How long should a flexible liner last? (Types of stainless steel)

Firstly, we should remember that a flexible liner will not last forever, and if the wrong fuels are used or poor burning habits are followed then the lifespan of a liner can be shortened considerably.


All flexible liners are designed to be used within an existing chimney – so none of the flexible liner should be visible. The flexible liners designed for solid fuel use are made of stainless steel and are of a double layer construction.


There are different grades of stainless steel, 316 and 904 grades, Stainless steel is made by combining iron ore, silicon, nickel, chromium, molybdenum and carbon, to produce a steel that is more corrosion resistant than other types.

Varying the exact proportions of the elements that go into the stainless steel, varies the properties of the steel , so that corrosion resistance, hardness, malleability & other properties can be different, depending on the grade.

As a result, 904-grade, is more resistant to corrosive chemicals than 316-grade , such as the acidic by-products from burning fuels, that would typically congregate in a chimney flue. But this also makes it more expensive.


Different liners have  various composition of stainless steels within the liners;

316 inner / 316 outer

904 inner / 316 outer

904 inner / 904 outer


If you were likely to be burning smokeless fuels regularly then a 904-grade liner would certainly be recommended. Recent installations would have a data plate detailing what liner was used.  Some manufacturers give up to a 10 year warranty, others may be as long as 25 years.


If you are unsure of which grade liner you have I would recommend burning only dry seasoned wood, as smokeless fuels can produce corrosive chemical that would likely considerably shorten the life of a 316-grade liner.




  4.   The rope around the woodburner door has come off, is it safe to use it?

The short answer is no !
The rope around the door is made of a fire resistant material and is there to provide an adequate seal to the combustion area. The woodburning stove is controlled by opening & closing air supply above and below the fire.


Without an effective seal around the door the flow of air is not controllable and will generally be allowing too much air in – which normally means the flames will be greater, combustion will be quicker, and more heat will go up the chimney – making the stove inefficient.


During a sweep I check the rope’s integrity and that it makes an effective seal. I carry a selection of ropes with me on the van, however some manufacturers now use a specific rope for each model – which I can usually order in and come back to replace, if necessary.

  5.   Is my stove for wood only or can I burn coal on it too?

At first glance, many solid fuel appliances look the same from the outside. It’s not always obvious if it is designed for wood burner or multi fuel use.


As a rule of thumb, most stoves that are designed for burning smokeless fuels will have a grate at the base of the combustion area. Often they will have a ‘riddle’ facility, to agitate the grate and allow the ashes to fall into an ash pan in an area below the main combustion chamber.


(It is important here to note that smokeless fuels should generally only be used when the flue system is also compatible with the use of smokeless fuels (see FAQ 3))


The reason for the grate and riddling is that smokeless fuels need air from below to help burn, whereas wood is better burnt on a bed of ash.

It is for this reason that wood and smokeless coal are best not burnt together as they have different air requirements during burning.

  6.   Should I have a Carbon Monoxide Alarm?

Yes!
Any appliance that burns oil, gas, wood, coal or smokeless fuels can produce Carbon Monoxide. 
Carbon Monoxide is a gas that is colourless, odourless and tasteless and is produced by incomplete combustion of the above fuels.
Even a low level of exposure to Carbon Monoxide can be fatal.

Carbon Monoxide alarms are generally battery operated and are effective for up to 10 years. They are most effective if placed 1 to 3 metres away from each appliance.

If the property is a rented dwelling, long or short term, then it is a legal requirement for Carbon Monoxide alarms to be installed as above.
Although not mandatory in private dwellings - they are very highly recommended.


The effects of carbon monoxide poisoning include:

  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Feeling sick or being sick
  • Feeling weak
  • Confusion
  • Chest and muscle pain
  • Shortness of breath
  • And after prolonged exposure … Death

Some of the symptoms may come and go. They may get worse if you spend time in an affected room or building and could get better when you leave or go outside.


If you believe you are suffering the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning, or an alarm is sounding,  then you should leave the property as soon as possible – opening  windows if practicable – Once outside, call the emergency services.


Usually, we carry Carbon Monoxide alarms on the van and can install them for you.



  7.   What is top down lighting?

Many modern woodburning stoves now are following a Scandinavian design and typically resemble a barrel design with a curved glass door. Many stoves now are also eco-friendly design – to ensure the emissions are better for our environments.

Often people with these type of stoves, have said to me that they sometimes get some smoke spilling out when they open the door, particularly when it hasn’t been lit very long.

One reason for this is that the flue hasn’t reached its optimum operating temperature.

A solution for this is the Top Down Lighting method! It works in all stoves not just Scandinavian Eco stoves – and means the fire reaches operation temperature before it is necessary to open the door.

Rather than me explain it in text, a youtube or google search will give you many examples of this method. Hopefully one day I’ll do my own video, but for now here’s a link to a good one I found on you tube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiWT5vtcRZY

Of course, if after trying this your stove still spills a little smoke then please contact us , as there may be other issues causing the smoke to spill. 





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