Stoves Are For Life, Not Just For Sherry & Mince Pies

Carefully placed mistletoe and oversized stockings surrounding a fireplace is a quintessential Christmas image. However, it is a shame that fireplaces are not used more often, instead of being reserved for sherry and mince pies on Christmas Eve.

Given that open fires are notoriously poor heat emitters (typically producing efficiencies of just 10-15%) it is understandable that homeowners prefer to reach for the central heating controls rather than chopping another pile of logs. However, for those who still yearn for a roaring fire but don’t want all the heat to disappear up the chimney, there is an alternative – the wood burning stove. They might be a logistical problem for Santa, but wood burning stoves supply efficient and sustainable heat to a home and can happily justify the title of being carbon neutral.

Aga, probably most famous for their range cookers rather than their wood or multifuel stoves have put together this handy guide to explain why a wood burning stove is not just for the festive season – it can last a lifetime.

The Aga Minsterley Can Also Heat Water & Radiators

SO WHY SHOULD I CHOOSE A WOOD BURNING STOVE?

Some independence from the utility companies and the option of using a carbon neutral fuel are
just two of the reasons people choose a wood burning stove. With ever-increasing prices in gas and
electricity, the way we heat our home is more important than ever.

By depending less on the grid we can make our winter
fuel bills more predictable. Plus, stoves still give your
room an important focal point as well as delivering
up to three times more heat into the room than an
open fire.
The Little Wenlock Classic, for example, has
efficiencies of up to 81%, meaning that only a fraction
of the heat generated goes up the chimney. So, it
need no longer be a special treat to light the fire – its
additional warmth can be enjoyed on a daily basis.

ISN’T WOOD JUST AS EXPENSIVE AS GAS OR ELECTRICITY?

Not necessarily - especially if you source your wood locally. It can be a very cost effective way to
heat your home.
Of course the quality of wood can vary and it is important that you use well seasoned, dry wood as
too much moisture in the logs reduces the efficiency of the stove.
To find your nearest firewood supplier try
www.yell.com or alternatively check the Forestry
Commission’s website for a wood scavenging license
in your area.

DO STOVES NEED A LOT OF MAINTENANCE?
Not really. There are some checks that you should carry out on a regular basis to make sure you keep your stove in tip top condition. These include inspecting the ash tray and glass door for any cracks, the finish for any rust and checking the seals are tight.
All of these are important but take a matter of minutes and can prolong the life of the stove. Finally, once a year the chimney should be swept to remove any build-up of deposits – ideally by a sweep who is a member of the National Association of Chimney Sweeps. For more information visit
www.nacs.org.uk

ARE THERE ANY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE STOVES AVAILABLE?
Yes – it’s definitely a case of getting what you pay for. If you choose a stove from the lower end of the market which may have been imported, it might be poorly constructed with little or no testing and could be potentially dangerous.
Here at AGA Stoves, testing is rigorous to ensure all imperfections are rectified before the product is sold. And to reassure homeowners, we’re one of the few manufacturers to display all the approvals on a data plate. It means that all the salient information is in one, clearly visible place.

WHAT IS THE LIFESPAN OF A STOVE?
The lifespan of a stove very much depends on the quality of its construction and the levels of maintenance undertaken throughout its life.
A cast iron stove can function for decades although you may need to replace some firebricks or a grate, but these are usually available from the more reputable manufacturers and spare-parts retailers, So if you choose to have a wood burning stove, the investment really can last a lifetime.

For The Complete Guide as well as for more information on any of the Aga Stove range visit http://agaliving.com/media/stoves/aga_stoves_christmas_21.10.11.pdf

Keeping The Glass On Your Stove Clean

Keeping stove windows clean is a complex subject and varies for each appliance, type of fuel and other operational differences such as overnight burning. All of which can then be affected by chimney performance.
Most modern stoves have an "air-wash" built in. This is basically a curtain of air that is desigend to flow across the surface of the window and stop any carbon being deposited onto the glass.

Air-wash works best when the appliance is fully up to temperature, with the heat from the fire being the main driving force of the air across the glass. However when the stove is first lit or when all the air controls are shut for overnight burning the airwash is significantly reduced. It is at these times when the deposits of combustion materials, condensation or sooting most often occur on the glass.

On start-up, the window is cold. Water vapour escaping from the burning fuel (even the most seasoned wood will still probably contain 15-25% water) reaches the cold surface of the glass and condenses, this vapour normally carries with it a waxy like substance which once deposited on the glass acts like a magnet and deposits more and more onto the glass.
However once the stove has heated up these deposits burn away relatively quickly, with more stubborn carbon deposits normally burnt off at a higher temperature.

But inorganic oxides produced are often left behind and then burnt onto the glass, the process repeats itself with more area for further deposits and this can quickly escalate once the process has begun.

Prevention Not Cure
On shut-down, or for overnight burning the air-wash control is normally fully closed. The fuel burn rate drops and inefficient and incomplete combustion can occur. The speed of the air in the air-wash is now too low to carry away any of the heavy combustion products which will lead to them being deposited on the glass.

Unfortunately it's not a case of stopping it, as once the process has started it becomes a landing spot for more and more deposits to land on the glass, its more a case of preventing it. .
To put it simply, the cleaner the glass is kept and the more air-wash present during operation, the cleaner the glass will remain.
Other helpful precautions include:
Not burning wet or unseasoned wood.
Ensuring the air-wash is open at all times
Not overfilling the grate
Allowing the last refuelling of the day to burn on high for half an hour or so before turning the air wash down.
In short, it's the common-sense factors that can ofter prolong the clear view.

If the surface does become slightly marked most glass manufacturers recommend tepid water and a lint free cloth, with gentle pressure and irregular motion the marks should come off, but remember to allow the glass to dry before firing up the stove.
Should the window become more heavily marked then a specialist ceramic glass cleaner is available from most local hardware or DIY shops. Followed by a water wash and thorough drying.

It is best to avoid traditional acid based window cleaners or abrasive oven cleaners, as well as the traditional meothod of newspaper dipped in spent ash, as fine abrasive ash can damage the surface of the window. Actually making it easier for deposits to build up in future.

A closer look at Hillandale Stoves

As if appearing from the doldrums emerges Hillandale Stoves a well presented brand with stoves and cookers in its portfolio, but who is Hillandale Stoves, what products do they have and will they be around to honor the warranty? If you want to know the answers then read on.

Hillandale Stoves as a brand are fairly new, but this is no need for concern as the Hillandale brand hails from two very well known and respected companies, Brosely fires and Bemodern. The Hillandale stoves range is very similar to the Brosely fires range of stoves, and have the same superb build quality and design as each other too. 

Broseley became part of the Bemodern group in 2009, they added to the Bemodern Group by providing the stove element that Bemodern was somewhat lacking from their large array of products.
Hillandale therefore come from the best possible back ground, and have provided the stove outlet Bemodern desired, they are set to go from strength to strength, and have a stylish and functional range of stoves and cookers, some with boiler options  and are already on sale across the UK at the moment. 

It is pretty much guaranteed that Hillandale will continue to release stylish, functional and desirable products in the near future. Any concerns over warranties would be unjustifiable, and I look forward to seeing the future developments Hillandale Stoves provides in years to come.

Hillandale Stoves Multi-Fuel Collection

Hillandale Stoves have a superb collection of multi fuel stoves, which can burn an array of fuel and a combination of fuel effectively and highly efficiently. With energy efficiency in our thoughts, and the constant rise in electric and gas prices, many homes in the UK are becoming more energy efficient, because of this a recent interest in multi fuel stoves has arisen. Multi-fuel stoves, particularly cast iron multi fuel stoves, are not only having the option of burning a selection of fuels but can burn clean fuels and renewable fuels too, ensuring a cleaner environment and producing supreme heating to your home.

The Hillandale Stoves Multi Fuel collection includes the Hillandale Monroe, Hillandale Monterrey and Hillandale Hercules Boiler Stoves and they are available from a number of retailers online and in showrooms across the UK.

The Hillandale Monroe Multi Fuel Stoves are available in several sizes with differing outputs allowing a suitable stove for most room sizes. The Monroe 3, Monroe 5 and Monroe 7 have the potential maximum heat output as that number specified in the name, so the Monroe 7 has a heat output of up to 7kW. The styling of the Hillandale Monroe is one that would suit a more traditional setting and will create a feature in most rooms and homes.

The Hillandale Monterrey Multi Fuel Stoves similarly to the Monroe stoves come in three available sizes, the Monterrey 3, Monterrey 5 and Monterrey 7. The potential maximum heat output of the stoves also correlated to number in the name. The Hillandale Monterrey however has much simpler design and would lend itself better to be featured in a more modern or even contemporary setting. The large viewing window on the Monterrey stoves means that when the stove is rapidly burning a stunning and mesmerising focal point is created.

The Hillandale Hercules Multi Fuel Stoves are the largest multi fuel stoves that Hillandale provide at present. These are boiler stoves and provide heat to the room as well as heat domestic hot water supplies as well as radiators. Available as the Hillandale Hercules 12, Hillandale Hercules 20 and Hillandale Hercules 30, (like the other stoves the numbers in the names relate to potential maximum heat output) they power differing amounts of radiators depending on their size.

Hillandale multi-fuel stoves are made in the United Kingdom and have solid cast iron construction, and the stoves have many additional features like Primary, secondary and tertiary air flow control and riddling grate etc that make them functional, effective and controllable. All of the above stoves are suitable for class 1 flues, so if you have a brick built chimney in your home then these should be fine in them.

A general note on safety to any one considering one of these stoves is that they are extremely effective at heating, hence the use of cast iron, however they can heat up to very high temperatures and will hold the temperature for some time. Because of this it should be recommended that additional care is taken when children and pets are in the household.

Charnwood SLX Stoves

Charnwood have a superb SLX range of stoves, similar to the Charnwood LA stoves (previously featured), but with added styling and features.
The Charnwood SLX range of stove comes in either the SLX 20, inset or freestanding (outset), or the SLX 45 inset or freestanding.

The SLX 20 is available as purely a room heater, it uses a mixture of multi-fuels and has the option to add a boiler if desired that is capable of heating domestic hot water. The inset stove allows the chimney to be swept through the stove and would be suited to most homes with a class one chimney or flue.
The SLX 45 only comes as a boiler stove and heats up the room, hot water, radiators and is also suitable floor underfloor heating and the chimney can be swept through the inset stove.

The stoves in the SLX range are constructed from steel, cast iron, fire brick and ceramic glass and they feature cool to the touch handles, which prove extremely effective when reloading the stove. Both inset and outset models feature the Charnwood converting grate to help ensure the fuel being burnt receives the correct air flow to burn properly and effectively.

*Click on the images view larger*
Superb design and phenomenal efficiency, certain to be extremely popular this season and into 2012, what do you think? Let us know and we'll publish your comments, (so keep them clean or they won't be seen!).