HEATING, VENTILATION & SERVICES (FIRES, FIREPLACES & FLUES)
for evidence that the appliance is both Ecodesign-ready and Defra exempt.
WHOLE-HOUSE HEATING As well as stand-alone room heater, wood burning stoves are perfect for integration into a whole house low carbon heating system. When combined with a heat pump for example, a wood stove can offer welcome and speedy top-up heating for key living spaces on colder days, or in milder months when full-house heating is not required.
PERFORMANCE IS AS IMPORTANT AS GOOD LOOKS There is a huge choice of Ecodesign compliant wood burners available on the market today from numerous manufacturers. Gone are the days of the choice being limited to a little black box – virtually every interior style can be catered for, from modern Scandi-style to country living chic.
When it comes to stove body materials you will most likely be choosing between cast iron or steel. Cast iron will be hard wearing and offers longer heat retention while a steel stove will have different advantages, such as heating up more quickly, cost and offering different design possibilities. Looking at features such as material
thickness, engineering design and operation characteristics will give you the best guide to what is a well-made appliance. Appliance output is a calculation best left to the experts. Getting it right will ensure the feeling of warmth and comfort that attracts so many of us to a stove. Local independent stove and fireplace retailers are ideally placed to offer advice and guidance on stove output. The SIA recommends looking out for the logo of a SIA Retail Group retailer, who will be able to provide the right pre-sales advice and after-sales support and spare parts, as well as having a wide range of Ecodesign ready appliances.
They will also have a well-stocked showroom giving you the opportunity to see your chosen design up close and, very often, in operation. Details of SIA Retail Group members are listed on the Stove Industry Alliance website.
INSTALLATION, MAINTENANCE & FUEL Professional installation of the appliance and the appropriate flue system by a qualified and accredited competent person is of utmost importance and the key to years of warmth and efficiency from your new woodburning stove. Professional retailers will also be able to guide you here. Make sure you have your chimney swept at least once a year, and a programme of regular maintenance to the stove consumables such as sealant rope is imperative to trouble-free operation.
But fundamental to stove performance is fuel, and your wood fuel should have a moisture content of less than 20 per cent to ensure maximum efficiency and minimum emissions. Look out for the Woodsure Ready to Burn logo – a scheme that certifies wood fuel to be below 20 per cent moisture content.
Erica Malkin is secretary general at Stove Industry Alliance
40
www.sbhonline.co.uk
january 2020
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68
