Stove Buyers Guide

The information provided in this leaflet will help you choose the most suitable stove for your needs and most practical for your home.

What should I do next ?

Hopefully this guide along with our detailed showroom information cards will assist you in selecting your ideal stove, but remember that we’re here to help every step of the way. Our team are experienced in all things stoves and are on hand to answer any questions you may have. We have been established since 1956 and are experts in our field, so trust us to help you make the right decision.

Once we have discussed your requirements to ensure the chosen stove appears suitable, we will arrange a convenient day for a qualified HETAS installer to visit your property to survey the site and prepare a quotation for the installation. At this point they will be able to advise on matters such as the condition of your chimney and the setting for your stove.

How much Air Supply do I need for my fire ?

Wood & multifuel stoves with a rated output above 5kw require a permanently open air entry of 550mm sq per kw after. Therefore a stove with an output of 8kw requires a 1650mm sq air opening (550mm x 3). Typically most installers will use a standard 100mm diameter vent with louver cover which is sufficient for most stoves.

Wood & multifuel stoves with a rated output below 5kw do not require any additional ventilation.

Clearances for solid fuel stoves

When installing a stove into an inglenook setting it is important to allow adequate clearance around the stove.  This allows air to circulate efficiently into the room, access to any controls on the side of the stove and also protects both the stove and the surroundings from damage by excess heat.

Manufacturers differ in their stated clearances, but the figures below are a good guide. The hearth depth (C) must be retained to comply with building regulations.

Do not be tempted to fit a stove into an unsuitable fireplace. Installations must be carried out in accordance with Building Regulations, although ultimately manufacturers instructions take precedent and therefore should referred to if concerned.

Do I need to line my chimney ?

Any solid fuel appliance being fitted into a newly completed flue or flues that are being brought back into service must be smoke tested by a qualified engineer. If the chimney fails this test then it must be lined by a HETAS approved engineer.

We also recommend flue lining for the following reasons:

1. Better future safety of older chimneys.
2. Improved stove performance.
3. Easier to clean, should mean less chance of chimney fires.
4. Reduces the size of the chimney to suit the intended appliance.
5. Stabilise the flue draught, which reduces potential chimney problems.

 
There are two grades of chimney liner. 316 grade should be used for more occasional use and when primarily burning wood. 904 grade liner can also be used when burning wood, but is designed for the higher temperatures of smokeless fuels.

What size stove do I need ?

The average home (with typical size windows & doors) requires 1kw of heat per 14 cubic metres of space, therefore a simple calculation is to take the cubic area of the room in metres and divided by 14. The end figure will be the kilowatts required to heat the room. The sum can be seen below:

If you would like all the information please simply click on the following link and download the PDF