FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
If you’re considering installing a stove, the first step is to get in touch. Before arranging a survey, I’ll ask for a few details about your existing fireplace or chimney breast, along with some photographs and measurements.
This helps me suggest suitable stoves, hearths, beams and surrounds, and provide an initial quotation so you have a clear idea of the likely costs. If you’re happy with the estimate and would like to proceed, we’ll arrange a convenient time for me to visit your home with material samples to explore the available options in more detail.
Following the survey, the next step is to choose your stove. Although I don’t run my own showroom, I work closely with an independent fireplace shop that stocks a wide range of British and Scandinavian brands, with many of the most popular models on display.
Once you’ve chosen your stove, I’ll place the order and confirm an installation date.
Yes. Living in a smoke-controlled area does not prevent you from installing a wood-burning stove or from burning wood.
Every major town and city in the UK is classified as a smoke-controlled area, with regulations to reduce smoke emissions and improve air quality.
Before 2022, stoves installed in these areas had to be DEFRA-approved. However, all modern stoves supplied by The Stove & Stone Co. meet strict Eco Design efficiency and emissions standards, so they can be used in smoke-controlled areas when burning the correct fuel.
As long as you use properly seasoned or Ready to Burn wood, you can still enjoy the warmth and character of a real fire in a smoke-controlled area.
Ecodesign stoves have been independently tested to meet strict efficiency and emissions standards, which came into force in the UK on 1 January 2022.
Designed to burn fuel more cleanly and efficiently than older appliances and open fires, they produce lower emissions while delivering excellent heat output.
By extracting more heat from each log, Ecodesign stoves offer a cleaner, more efficient way to heat your home.
There are typically three types of wood-burning stove installations, depending on your property and the required work.
Complete installation: This is the most common scenario, involving an existing open fire, gas fire, or a bricked-up chimney breast. In such cases, the original fireplace opening is reopened and prepared for the stove, with a flue liner, hearth, and finishing touches for the chamber.
Flue liner installation: If the fireplace opening is already available, the process may simply involve fitting a stainless-steel flue liner and connecting the stove. This is common when replacing a gas basket or updating an existing stove.
Twin-wall flue system: Homes without a chimney, or those with an extension where a stove is installed, can often use a twin-wall flue system. This system includes insulated flue sections that run through walls or ceilings and extend above the roofline.
In general, most wood-burning stoves fall into two main price categories:
£600–£1,000
Many stoves in this range are imported from abroad, though their quality has significantly improved recently. They offer the same heat output as more expensive models, making them a good choice for budget-conscious buyers or those not planning long-term residence. However, they may lack the precise air controls and premium finishes found in higher-end stoves.
£1,000–£1,700+
Stoves in this range are usually from reputable British or Scandinavian producers with decades of experience. They typically feature thicker steel and higher-quality parts, resulting in better control over burn rate, improved fuel efficiency, and longer warranties. Many also include advanced airwash systems to keep the glass cleaner for longer.
Although they require a larger initial investment, these stoves are built for excellent performance, durability, and reliability over many years.
Most wood-burning stoves on the market are rated at 5 kW, which is considered the standard output for heating most rooms effectively. Around 90% of stove models fall into this category.
Stoves rated at 5 kW or less typically do not require additional ventilation, as there is usually sufficient oxygen in the room for efficient combustion.
Any stove with an output above 5 kW will require additional ventilation, either via a dedicated air vent or a direct external air supply, to provide the oxygen needed for safe operation.
As a rough guide, you can use the Charnwood Stove Calculator by entering your room’s width, length and height. However, factors such as the age of the property, insulation levels, window sizes and the number of external walls must also be taken into account.
Wood-burning and multi-fuel stoves are similar in appearance, size, and overall design. The key difference is that a multi-fuel stove has a raised grate and ash pan, allowing it to burn smokeless coal as well as wood.
Smokeless coal requires air from below, which is why multi-fuel stoves are equipped with a grate and a dedicated lower air vent. By contrast, wood burns most efficiently on a bed of ash, with air supplied from above the fire. Many stove models are available in either wood-burning or multi-fuel versions. Some manufacturers also offer conversion kits that adapt a wood stove for multi-fuel use.
Customers planning to burn only wood typically prefer a dedicated wood-burning stove. However, if flexibility to burn smokeless fuels is desired, a multi-fuel stove might be a better fit.
Approximately 90% of my customers view a stove as an attractive focal point, mainly used on winter evenings and weekends rather than as the property’s primary heat source. For such use, I usually suggest a dedicated wood-burning stove.
Wood burns at a higher temperature than smokeless coal and leaves minimal ash, resulting in less cleaning and maintenance. It also offers a more natural flame appearance and is regarded as a renewable energy source. The main drawback is that it burns faster, requiring more frequent refuelling.
Smokeless coal, on the other hand, burns longer and is more suitable for homes where the stove serves as the main heat source or is operated continuously throughout the day. However, it produces more ash, demands more regular cleaning, and requires a high-grade stainless-steel liner due to the corrosive gases generated during combustion.
For most homes with central heating systems, wood is the preferred choice. Nonetheless, a multi-fuel stove provides the flexibility to burn either wood or smokeless fuel, with the best option depending on your usage frequency and the fuel types available locally.
Wood-burning stove
- Burns hotter than smokeless coal.
- Leaves very little ash.
- Ideal for evening and weekend use.
- Perfect for most homes with central heating.
Multi-fuel stove
- Burns for longer.
- Better suited to all-day heating.
- Requires less frequent refuelling.
- Offers the flexibility to burn smokeless fuels as well as wood.
A flue liner is a continuous stainless-steel tube that runs the full length of your chimney, providing a dedicated pathway for smoke and gases to leave your home.
Most houses built before the 1960s were designed for open fires, which produced far more smoke and required a much larger chimney. Modern wood-burning stoves are considerably more efficient and typically require a smaller 5-inch or 6-inch flue.
Without a liner, cooler gases from a stove can condense inside the larger brick chimney, leading to creosote and tar deposits over time. By reducing the flue diameter and retaining heat, a stainless-steel liner improves the draw, helps the stove perform more efficiently, and reduces condensation within the chimney.
There are two grades of liner:
316 grade: Suitable for burning wood only.
904 grade: Recommended for burning both wood and smokeless coal.
As a HETAS-registered installer, I’m fully trained and approved to fit your stove safely and in line with current building regulations. This means I can self-certify the installation, saving you the time and cost of arranging a local authority building inspection.
Once the installation is complete, you’ll receive an official HETAS Certificate of Compliance, which is important for:
Protecting your stove’s warranty (many manufacturers require it).
Meeting home insurance requirements.
Providing proof of compliance should you ever sell your property.
Choosing a HETAS-registered installer also gives you peace of mind. To maintain my registration, I undergo regular inspections and refresher training, ensuring every installation meets the required standards.
However, qualifications are only part of the picture. Experience is equally important, which is why I always recommend reviewing previous installations and reviews before choosing an installer. With more than 25 years’ experience in the fireplace and stove industry, I’m proud to have built a reputation for quality workmanship and attention to detail.
Clients undertaking renovations often ask whether they or their builder can prepare the fireplace opening to reduce costs. Certain jobs, such as repointing a chimney stack or fitting new chimney pots, are usually no problem. However, I generally recommend leaving the fireplace preparation until I’ve carried out the installation.
Over the years, I’ve encountered issues such as lintels fitted at the wrong height, chambers lined with unsuitable materials, or hearths installed without the correct clearances. Rectifying these problems can be disruptive and, in some cases, more expensive than getting it right the first time, particularly if plastering, decorating or flooring has already been completed.
For this reason, I prefer to start with a blank canvas wherever possible. This allows the installation to be adapted as required and ensures that everything is finished safely, complies with current regulations and achieves the highest standard of workmanship.
While I can supply most stoves on the market, I understand that some clients already have a particular model in mind. If that’s the case, you’re more than welcome to supply your own stove, provided it has been delivered and safely stored at your property before the installation date.
To give you peace of mind, I’m always happy to review any stove you’re considering and offer my professional opinion on whether it’s suitable for your home and installation.
The only point to note is that, if I haven’t supplied the stove, any warranty claims relating to manufacturing defects or build quality would need to be handled directly with the retailer or manufacturer.
There are no plans to ban wood-burning stoves, despite misleading media headlines. The Ecodesign Regulation for solid-fuel space-heating appliances took effect in the UK on 1 January 2022.
This means all stoves manufactured and sold from that date must meet specific efficiency and emissions standards. As a result, modern wood-burning stoves are more efficient and less polluting than ever, providing a cleaner, more efficient way to heat your home.
I’ve heard that wood-burning stoves give off a lot of air pollution and particles.
Modern wood-burning stoves are very different from the older appliances and open fires that many people associate with wood heating. Since 2022, all new stoves sold in the UK have been required to meet strict Ecodesign efficiency and emissions standards.
When used with properly seasoned or Ready to Burn-certified wood, modern Ecodesign stoves produce significantly lower emissions than open fires.
As with any heating appliance, using the correct fuel and operating the stove as intended are essential for achieving the best performance and lowest emissions.
Is wood a sustainable resource?
Yes. Wood is a renewable fuel and, when sourced responsibly, can provide a sustainable way to heat your home. Unlike gas and oil, wood can be continually replenished through responsible forestry and woodland management.
Combined with the high efficiency of modern Ecodesign stoves, which require fewer logs to produce the same heat output as an open fire, wood remains an efficient and practical heating option.
Are wood-burning stoves at all “green”?
When fuelled with responsibly sourced wood, wood-burning stoves offer a renewable alternative to fossil fuels such as gas and oil. Unlike fossil fuels, which release carbon locked underground for millions of years, wood is part of the natural carbon cycle.
As a tree grows, it absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis and stores that carbon in its trunk, branches and roots. When the wood is burned, the carbon is released back into the atmosphere, where it can be absorbed by the next generation of trees as they grow, and the cycle continues.
Combined with the high efficiency and low emissions of modern Ecodesign stoves, wood-burning remains a practical heating option for many homeowners seeking to reduce their reliance on finite resources.