FAQs

When thinking of a wood-burning fire, many people envision a traditional open fireplace. While these classic fires create a cozy ambiance, they come with several drawbacks. Traditional open fires are notoriously inefficient, with heat output often only reaching 10-15%. In contrast, modern closed fires and stoves can achieve efficiencies of 70% or higher. Additionally, open fires are less safe and less efficient. For more responsible and effective wood burning, a closed fire or stove is the preferred option due to its ability to reach higher temperatures and facilitate more complete combustion.

Combustion, whether for gas or wood, requires a supply of oxygen. There are two main types of combustion systems: open and closed.

• Open Combustion Systems: These systems draw the necessary oxygen from the room in which the fire or stove is located. Even if the fire or stove is equipped with a glass door, it may still operate on an open combustion system. In this setup, good ventilation is crucial as the system relies on the surrounding air for oxygen and to maintain proper draft and smoke expulsion through the chimney or flue.
• Closed Combustion Systems: These systems draw oxygen from outside the building through an external air supply, known as an outside air connection (EA). This method ensures that the fire or stove operates independently of the room's air, making it particularly advantageous in tightly sealed or energy-efficient homes where ventilation systems might otherwise disrupt combustion.

Summary

• Open Combustion Systems: Use room air for combustion. Common and straightforward but requires good ventilation to avoid inefficiencies and safety issues.
• Closed Combustion Systems: Draw air from outside through an external connection, making them ideal for tightly sealed homes and those with mechanical ventilation systems.
• For specific needs and to ensure compliance with regulations, consult with one of our sales team to explore the best options for your wood-burning fire or stove.

The chimney is the wood burning stoves motor; Its performance will determine how well your stove will work. The draught in the chimney creates negative air pressure in the wood burning stove. The negative pressure draws the smoke out of the stove and takes air in through the combustion air damper to fuel the combustion process. Combustion air is also used for the air-wash system that keeps the window clear of soot.

The draught in the chimney is created by the difference in temperature between the inside and outside of the chimney. The higher the temperature difference, the better the draught. This is why it is important that the chimney reaches operating temperature before you reduce the damper settings to restrict combustion in the stove (a brick chimney will take longer to reach operating temperature than a steel chimney). It is very important to remember that the operating temperature is reached as quickly as possible on days when the draught in the chimney is poor due to unfavourable wind or weather conditions. You need to get a few flames going as quickly as possible. Chop the wood extra thin; use an extra fire lighter, etc.

• After periods without use, check the chimney flue for blockages.
• You cannot connect more than one appliance to your chimney.