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.

How Not To Install A Wood Burning Stove

Just a quick video to show the difference it can make using experienced, recommended fitters to install your wood burning stove.

The client had seen the work we had carried out in their next door neighbours house and wanted the same in theirs. They had their builder carry out the work to the fireplace and were going to give us a call regarding installation of the stove. They had other workmen in the house at the time who said they could arrange for the stove to be fitted as they had a friend who fitted them. The client assumed that all fitters would install his appliance to the same standard but soon found this not to be the case.

We were called out to tidy up the installation as the client was not happy with how it had been left........we did this and it was a good job he called us in as the register plate had been made from flammable material and also the stainless flexi liner was installed upside down.....this doesn't sound like a big deal bit it will take your liners life expectancy from 20 years down to a possible 5 due to condensation getting between the two skins causing the liner to corrode prematurely.

In the end the client was delighted but unfortunately had to pay for the installation twice. He had no comeback on the installer as he was a friend of a friend and didn't want to cause upset.............the installer also wasn't HETAS Registered so there was no paperwork or notification given to building control. This would be mostly likely to render his home insurance invalid should he have had a fire caused by the stove.

Tiger Stove Featured On Grand Designs

For those of you who watch Grand Designs, you may have caught the 90 minute special on Peel Castle in Yorkshire. You will have seen the plight of Francis and Karen Shaw and they looked to turn the dilapidated and uninhabitable Peel Castle into a family home.

The episode follows the two year journey from basically a couple of walls being held up with rubble into a stunning family home and bed & breakfast. As you can see below the castle was in complete disrepair.

"I first saw Peel nearly 30 years ago on the way to a holiday in Scotland with my parents.
I was navigating so we ventured down nearly every rough track between the Midlands and Oban until they reached ‘tower house fatigue’ and took the map off me. However I had been hooked, and who would not be? It was nestled in a valley within a parkland settling; a castle with parts over 750 years old and the main tower having been built by one of the last Knights Templar" -Francis Shaw

Francis and Karen along with their team of archaeologists, stone masons, builders and decorators worked tirelessly to bring Peel Castle back from the Brink and to the right you can see the finished result:

As you can see from the pictures they've done a fantastic job at restoring the castle to it's former beauty.

Now, enough about the outside of the castle (beautiful as it is). What we want to talk about can be found in the Old Bedroom, Situated on the second floor and the master bedroom, the Old Bedroom is a charming romantic bedroom, combining history and modern day amenities. The en-suite in the Old spiral staircase and King John's 'look out' for the wet room shower is all part of the original Pele Tower.

Nestled in the stunning open fireplace with exposed stone lintel and pillars surround it is the Gallery Firefox stove. The simple styling works brilliantly with both the traditional and contemporary aspects of the room, while the single piece cast iron body means that the maximum amount of heat is transferred into the room. It will not be difficult to imagine sat in front of the stove with the warm glow eminating from the large viewing window and just able to "take stock" as it were of all the history and character of the room and building you are sat in.
The exposed stone on the exterior wall just adds to the feel and almost adds to the effectiveness of having a traditional stove in an open fireplace warming the room.More information on the historic Peel Castle and images of other rooms in this stunning castle visit http://www.peelcastle.co.uk/

Heating a house with a wood burning boiler stove is an increasingly popular option in the UK

With Scottish Power putting their prices up and with the other big suppliers certain to follow. More and more people are turn ing back the clock, more and more people are returning to burning wood. Firewood is a secure and relatively cheap form of fuel and a wood burning stove provides a cosy focal point to any room. A back boiler wood burner stove gives your family plenty of hot water, as well as running a complete central heating system and by heating your home by burning wood as fuel, you are reducing your CO2 emissions.

A wood boiler stove is an appliance that can burn wood to create hot water. Some take the form of what you would recognise as a traditional wood burner whilst others look and work much more like a gas boiler.

There are various types and permutations of boiler for wood stoves available but they all do the same job - they transfer heat from the burning wood into water, which can then be piped where it is needed and used for heating or domestic hot water. In a traditional wood boiler stove the boiler is usually a simple metal box filled with water and with 2 or 4 tappings to allow you to attach your water pipes to it. These tappings are usually 1" BSP fittings. Usually these boilers replace the fire-bricks inside the firebox of the stove and are known as back boilers because the bulk of the boiler is at the back of the firebox.

Wood boiler stove heat output to water

Wood boiler stoves can come with a variety of rated boiler outputs from around 5,000 BTU to 90,000 BTU. Make sure to check whether the rated output is the maximum or nominal. The nominal output is the output at which the stove would normally be run and is of course lower than the maximum output. You would not drive a car at it's full speed all the time and a wood boiler stove is just the same. Also when sizing the boiler stove for your needs remember that you need to use the nominal heat output.

Central heating and hot water from a wood boiler stove

A boiler stove can be used to power your central heating system and to provide hot water as well. Designing such a heating and hot water system is relatively simple but you will need the help and advice of an experienced heating engineer.

Wood fired central heating

Here the wood boiler stove is connected to the house heating system, commonly radiators, and the heat from the burning wood is pumped around the house. If your house uses underfloor heating then you would connect your boiler stove to a hot water tank and then the underfloor heating would be connected to that.

Heating hot water with a wood burning boiler stove

One of the differences between a boiler stove and a conventional gas/oil boiler is that it takes time for the hot water coming from the stove boiler to get up to temperature. This means that you cannot simply take hot water directly from the stove boiler: you need to connect the boiler stove to a hot water tank. The water in the tank is heated by the stove and stored up for use when needed.

Unvented system

In an unvented system there is no header tank and the water in the pipes is under pressure. Modern heating systems run by gas boilers tend to be unvented (or pressurised). One give-away is that there is often a pressure gauge on the boiler measured in 'Bar'. When the water in a pressurised system expands the pressure in the system increases. Most stoves are not suitable to be directly linked up to a pressurised system because with a stove it is possible to boil the water in the boiler. However a vast majority of stoves supplied by authorised dealers can be linked directly to pressurised systems with the incorporation of an expansion vessel - which expands to cope with pressure increases, a pressure release valve, and a heat dump system with additional safety features.

Be Aware Of Rogue Dealers

There are numerous internet traders who falsely claim to be authorised Broseley dealers. As with any internet purchase, you need to be sure that the site in question is reputable and genuine and that the product which is being offered is a genuine Broseley stove which has been CE tested. If the site has no contact information, has no landline number or has no physical address, we advise that you err on the side of caution and see if you can find another website with a landline number and physical address. (It has become far to easy for Rogue Traders to set up an online business and just work from their back room or garage.)
Fireplace Megastore is proud to display the Authorised Broseley Dealer logo on their website and have the high quality stoves from Broseley available on display in their showroom.
If you are planning to install a multifuel or wood burning appliance,Broseley strongly recommend the use of HETAS approved engineers. HETAS engineers can carry out a detailed site survey prior to installation; a heat loss calculation can also be performed ensuring that you know your property's individual heating requirements. A survey and heat loss calculation will give peace of mind that the appliance you buy will meet your requirements. If you buy the wrong stove because you have not had this survey carried out, it could be a very expensive mistake!

1. Broseley authorised retailers have to comply to strict Broseley standards which requires the authorised retailer to have fully trained, professional sales and technical team.This ensures Fireplace Megastore maintains a high level of customer service and after-care to help consumers make an informed decision, complying to Broseley standards.
2. Broseley authorised retailers are required by Broseley to display their products in their showroom available for the public to view.
3. Broseley authorised retailers are required by Broseley to offer a full installation service to its showroom customers.
4. Manufacturer’s warranty may be invalid when not purchased from an authorised retailer.
5. As with all E-commerce websites if applicable, Broseley ensure that authorised retailers have the correct information readily available to the customer on their web site - company registration details, VAT number, company address, and land-line phone numbers.
6. Never buy from an unauthorised retailer as you may not get the correct sales, technical information and customer service required when purchasing an Broseley stove. If in doubt please check with Broseley to avoid rogue traders.
7. Buy with confidence from an authorised retailer. Buy from Fireplace Megastore.

It's Not About Radical Design But About Moving Things Forward

A behind the scenes look at AGA's Coalbrookdale operation to find out just how its stoves are designed and tested.

At the heart of the Coalbrookdale site sits the AGA Foundry where quaker Abraham Darby discovered cast iron 300 years ago. Beneath the exterior of this historic site beats the heart of a modern and thriving foundry where David Carpenter, AGA's technical director and Tim Evans for Think Product Design are charged with creating AGA's latest stoves.

As Tim Evans put it, " With such an iconic name, you have to be faithful to the brand and show sympathy with the materials. Working with AGA isn't about radical design departures; it's about moving the products forward slowly so they appear to evolve. It's also a combination of both process and materials"

"For example, when we design using cast iron we want it to look like cast iron. The form, the ability to cast in fine detail and chacteristics of the material must not be hidden away, but rather worked with to give the products their unique appearance."
When asked if the marques world renowned cookers had any influence on the woodburning stoves he replied.
"Without wanting to sound too pretentios, when we started work on the new range of stoves for AGA we wanted to transport some of the DNA from the company's famous cookers. The simple lines, the honesty of the materials and solidity and timelessness of the designs were all important to us."
Tim Evans clearly believes that typical AGA customers, whislt design conscious, also tend to be traditionalists, so says the company has to find the right balance. "The stoves we were designing could not be ultra modern but, on the other hand, not overly decorative with scrolls, pillars and floral relief."
The resulting stove, the new Ludlow, retains mich of the charm without being overly fussy. But what about the interior? How do they deliver the cosy warmth that people expect? David Carpenter, AGA's technical director was characteristically succint. "Everything we do at AGA is tried and tested and improved until it achieves 'best in class' standards. It's exactly the same for one of our stoves. It needs to deliver the heat into the room effectively, the glass needs to be kept really clean, and most of it it needs to be efficient so that the homeowner gets the most out of their fuel."

A stove begins its life on the drawing board. Following a brief from AGA, Think Product Design works closely with AGA's product development team to complete initial concepts, discuss ideas and evolve the design. Once this stage has been reached, the drawings are transferred into a CAD package and more detail is added on the computer screen.
At this point, David Carpenter's Telford based research and development team join the process creating the internal structure of the stove and creating all the baffles and channels which guide the combustion process and deliver the fuel efficiencies and the air wash system. Once the CAD drawings are completed, a rapid prototype is made in plastic to see what the stove will look like in reality.

David adds "If we've reached this point and we're happy with the plastic prototype, we will invest in the toling and casting moulds to actually build the stove in cast iron. And when we've got the prototype cast iron stove, we can begin the testing process."
Testing is a rigorous process and one that the team at AGA is surprisingly passionate about. In a tone that few would argue with, David says, "There are so many companies offering lower costs and unapproved stoves, as well as stoves over the Internet and inferior copies, that some homeowners simply don't know what they're having installed. It's quite scarry how people will just go on price alone when they choose a stove. It might look like a nice product, but the quality just isn't there. Poorly design, badly manufactured and with no evidence of third party approval, no efficiency rating and very little attention paid to compliance and testing."

So what kinds of tests does AGA put their stoves through? Unsurprisingly they go through rigorous testing at AGA's research and development department overseen by the company's technical team. When AGA is happy that the stove reaches the manufacturing quality standards and efficiency it needs, it is then sent to GASTEC at CRE for european approval and, on some models further work is undertaken to achieve Smoke Exempt status, such as the Little Wenlock SE.
David adds " To reassure both our suppliers and homeowners the approval is clearly marked on the appliance data plate and all AGA stoves are HETAS listed - It means that all the salient information is in one, clearly visible place."
Once all the tesing is complete the team is happy that no modifications need to be made, the stove is handed over to the marketing team to launch, promote and add to the AGA range.

Homeowner Is Heavily Fined For DIY Installation

Homeowner Paul Taylor was ordered by Loughborough Magistrates Court to pay over £400 in fines and costs following a fire which gutted his home.
Mr Taylor admitted to court that had breached building regulations relating to the installation of a wood burning stove.
The court heard that the incorrectly fitted flue was in direct contact with the timber and plastic eaves of the bungalow. Following an investigation by local building control officers, Mr Taylor also admitted that he was not HETAS registered and had not applied to Charnwood Borough Council for a building notice for the work.
Bruce Allen, CEO of HETAS, said "This case highlights the potential dangers of DIY Installation. Thankfully no-one was injured on this occasion but from a safety point of view we urge customers to use a HETAS registered installer to carry out any kind of wood burning appliance installation"
Householders wishing to install solid fuel or wood-burning appliances must either apply for a building notice from their local authority building control department or must use a registrant of an appropriate competent persons scheme such as HETAS.
For more information please visit http://www.hetas.co.uk

Hillandale Stoves

Hillandale stoves have recently released two ranges of stoves into the industry that are proving to be very popular sellers, these ranges are the Monroe and Monterrey.
Hillandale have given the stoves a number in their title that corresponds to the heat output that they can achieve, for example the Monroe 3 emits up to 3kW of heat and the Monterrey 7 can emit up to 7kW of heat.
All of the stoves in these two ranges are constructed from solid cast iron and have viewing windows that allow you to watch the fire and flames in action. they all have fantastic but differing efficiency ratings too. The 7 models of the Monterrey and the Monroe have 76.3% efficiency, the 5 models have 76.6% efficiency and the smallest 3 models have the largest 81% efficiency. However the Monterrey and the Monroe 3's are not DEFRA approved. Defra approved means that a stove may be used in a smoke controlled area when using smokeless fuels, one of the most readily available and environmentally favorable smokeless fuels is wood, and many manufacturers achieve their output figures from using wood.
As all stoves in the Monterrey and Monroe ranges are multi fuel it means they can all burn solid fuels including coal and peat etc, however the 5 and 7 models are classed as defra approved and can be used in a smoke controlled area when only burning wood and other smokeless fuels.
As standard the Monterrey and Monroe stoves all come ash pans and complementary safety gloves and the stoves are sure to continue making a great impact on the fire industry for the foreseeable future.

Winter Warmth

With large amounts of snow falling in Scotland and Northern England at the moment, the feeling of walking into warm house to escape from the cold and snow outside is only going to become even more desirable.

During the Winter months it becomes more important that a fire is not just decorative, but also has a significant heat output to provide that desired heat in the room. Stoves and larger gas fires provide that perfect glow and ambience, filling the room with warmth and that stereotypical, picture-postcard christmas living room scene. Filled with that lovely warm glow, with the christmas tree lit up in the corner and snow falling just outside the window.

With the large viewing window and substantial heat output, the Firebelly FB3 is perfect for such an occasion. The Firebelly FB3 is hand-built with high-quality materials and is available in a range of different colours, the days when a stove was a small black cast iron box sat in the corner and offering limited, at best views of the glowing fire inside are gone. The Firebelly FB3 offers unparalelled views of the fire within thanks to the extremely large viewing window and effective air wash system that keeps the window clear of smoke. At 18kW of heat output then this stove provides more than enough heat for even the biggest rooms. With modern contemporary styling and available in 18 different colours, this stove should fit in with most styles of decor and become the focal piece when a fire is going. Also available in a double sided versions to take pride of place in the centre of a room of possibly built into a false wall or room divider for added impact.

For a more traditional appearance then perhaps the Vermont Castings Intrepid II Multifuel or woodburning stoves. "The World's Finest Cast Iron Stoves" combine a traditional and time tested appearance with state of the art technology such as a catalytic conbustion chamber which ignites any unburnt products of combustion and increases the efficiency and heat output of the stove. The Intrepid II also makes use of Infra-Red Reflection technology and an air-wash to make sure that the windows stay as clear as possible to give the best view of the fire within.
Available in matt black as standard or also available in biscuit, bordeaux or black enamel finishes to create that extra level or style and design. While the Intrepid II only gives out 7kW of heat, this high level is certainly enough to heat most sized living spaces. The traditional styling adds to the rustic charm of the Intrepid stove and the time-tested design almost ensures durability and would be perfect to warm the living room on a cold snowy evening or weekend.

Apex Louisiana Multi-Fuel Stove

Apex Louisiana Multi-Fuel Stove is classically designed to compliment traditional decor and is constructed from cast iron and burns and array of fuels.
The Louisiana comes in a choice of three sizes with differing heat outputs. The Apex Louisiana 3 is the most petit of the new range and suitable for the smaller room, able to burn a range of fuels and emits a maximum heat output of 3kw with 81% efficiency when burning wood. The next stove available is the Apex Louisiana 5, this is the medium sized stove in the room, and is designed for to suit most homes. The Louisiana 5 is large in dimensions to the 3 model and emits a higher output of 5kW. The efficiency of the Louisiana 5 is 76.6% and this stove has been Defra approved, meaning it is suitable to be used in a smoke controlled area when burning wood. The largest of the range is the Apex Louisiana 7. This large stove has a maximum heat output of 7kW, surely enough output for the grandest of rooms. The efficiency is 76.3% and the 7 model is Defra approved also.
All three of the Louisiana range by Apex sport impressively large viewing windows and stylish door designs.
Easy to use Primary and Secondary airflow controls mean easy control of the flame and fire. The glass in the large viewing window is kept cleaner with the aid of the preheated air wash that helps keep soot from forming on the glass.
Apex Louisiana stoves come with top exit and rear exit flues, designed to aid installation, and the Louisiana stoves come with ash pan and complimentary safety gloves as Apex know that these stoves give generous heat, even after the flames of the fire have been extinguished.