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Wood burning stoves (or more simply, wood burners) are very much in vogue at the moment and for two very good reasons that usually command attention – money and looks.

Firstly there is potential to make serious savings compared to conventional fuel sources, and secondly nothing ever quite pushes the warm ‘n cosy buttons like a real fireplace. And whether you like your cost savings dressed as stylish and ultra modern or prefer them cloaked in the guise of a traditional kitchen range there’s a wood burning stove that’s just right for you.

But wood burners are not for everyone. The cost savings can indeed be very significant, but only if your personal circumstances are suitable. Here then is a guide through the key points you need to check if you are contemplating installing a wood burner.

Fuel Supply

Do you have local access to a reliable, cost effective supply of solid fuel? What sort of fuel is it actually? Woodburners can be fuelled with well-seasoned logs, other types of solid wood, wood chips, and/or wood pellets. But some burners are optimized for (or in some cases restricted to) only specific sorts of fuel.

Seasoned wood has been left to dry naturally for at least a year; wood chips are small pieces of wood such as what comes out of those wood chippers that tree surgeons use; wood pellets are manufactured as uniformly sized small blocks of compressed sawdust.

You must understand how you plan to fuel your burner before considering any particular make or even going ahead with the project at all. Solid fuel is heavy and bulky and the costs to transport it any distance can rapidly mount up to the point where any potential cost savings simply vanish, or worse it starts to cost more than a conventional gas boiler.

Fuel Storage

You will need somewhere dry, easily accessible and fairly spacious to store your wood. Ideally it should also be close to the wood burner itself (heaving logs in from the shed at the bottom of the garden can take the shine off things somewhat). If you plan on using an automatic fuel loading hopper (for wood pellets or sometimes wood chips) then it is even more important that the fuel store be located in close proximity to the burner.

Heat Capacity And Storage

Regardless of whether you simply want space heating for a single room or to run a complete household central heating and hot water system, you need to be sure that the woodburner you install is able to produce sufficient heat. It’s natural to think that simply installing a woodburner that is well beyond your requirements and just “turning it down” would be the solution.

Woodburners operate most efficiently when run at full capacity rather than at a reduced rate, which both wastes fuel (and hence also money) and can cause a build up of soot and other deposits. Yet operating at a fast burn rate means the choice becomes either delivering maximum heat output (which is frequently going to be way too much) or zero output.

One solution that is frequently adopted is installing an “accumulator” tank (basically a hot water cylinder with ultra-effective insulation). This stores the excess heat produced by running the burner flat out in the form of very hot water that can then be used over a number of days to heat radiators and provide domestic hot water – a sort of “heat battery” if you like.

The Flue

Woodburning stoves must be connected to a flue that is lined with vent materials designed for burning wood. If you are fortunate enough to already have a conveniently located chimney then this can be lined so as to be suitable for a woodburner, but bear in mind the additional expense. If you don’t have a handy chimney to hand then you will need to find a location on your property where a flue could be installed, keeping compliance with any applicable planning and building regulations in mind.

Incentives And Regulations

There are more regulations and pieces of legislation covering the issue of domestic heating than most people would believe, not to mention all the grants and assorted incentive schemes that could significantly reduce your installation costs if you know what’s available and how to apply.

The advice here is to check with your local authorities to understand what restrictions or incentives might apply in your particular case. Alternatively, locate a reputable specialist woodburner installer (since you are likely to need their services anyway) and ask them.

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