Choosing your new stove...

Do you live in a Smoke Controlled Area?

We have had many conversations with our customers over the years on the subject of Smoke Controlled Areas, as many believe it is not possible to have a woodburner or multifuel stove if they reside in one. This is NOT the case. If you live in a smoke controlled area you simple need to choose a woodburner or multifuel stove that is approved for use in these areas. This is often referred to a DEFRA Exempt or DEFRA Approved.

No Chimney? No Problem!

You don't need a chimney to have a woodburning or multifuel stove installed. We can use double wall/twin wall pipework to create a chimney so you can enjoy a real fire!

What do you want from your stove?

Heat or a focal point?

Both?

 Not everyone wants the same thing from a woodburner or multifuel stove. It is important to consider exactly what it is you want to achieve from the stove you choose. This is the starting point of all consultations in our showroom because it provides us with the basis on which we will start making recommendations, therefore we recommend this is one of the first things you consider when you first start your search.

Not completely sure what it is you want from your stove? Consider your lifestyle. Are you a busy professional that will only use the stove at weekends? Will the stove be lit every evening instead of turning on the central heating? OR do will you only light it on special occasions like Christmas?

Your lifestyle is key as we want to make sure the stove you choose will harmonise with your lifestyle, not hinder it!

Heat Output

The recommended heat output for your woodburning or multifuel stove depends on the size of the room as well as other factors.

A basic guide for heat output needed for a room can be worked out using this simple formula;

The Width x Height x Depth of a room in metres, divided by 14.

However, factors such as the age of a house, level of insulation, number of windows, size of fireplace & individual needs can affect this. Therefore, we strongly advise to have a site survey carried out by our in-house HETAS engineer who will be able to offer professional advice on what would best suit your needs.

What Space do you have?

 Living space is a premium and not everyone has the space for a large freestanding stove but still want a real fire. The space you have for a woodburner or multifuel stove can help you streamline your choices.

Freestanding, Inset or Cassette, which type of stove should I Choose?

When most people think of a wood burning or multi fuel stove, they often picture the freestanding models. However, freestanding stoves are not the only option available. We can supply and fit freestanding, inset and cassette stoves. The choice between these stoves depends on your needs and circumstances. There are advantages and disadvantages to these options.

Cassette stoves are similar to inset stoves, however there are a few differences. They have an extra in layer of metal around the firebox, this traps hot air between the layers and feeds it out through air vents. Cassette stoves also sit flush against the wall, providing a sleek and modern finish. They also can be fitted to appear as if they are floating in the wall, or can be supplied with a 3 sided trim so they can sit in the same position as an inset.



These stoves are often a bit more expensive than an inset, but they are ideal for people who want the beauty and heat of a real fire without taking up much space. If the cassette stove is listed as a convection stove it will produce more heat than a standard inset.

Size

It used to be the bigger the stove, the bigger the output. This is no longer the case! For example, the two stoves pictured above both have a nominal heat output of 5kW!

Woodburning & multifuel stoves now come in a range of different sizes without lowering or increasing the heat output, allowing you more choice to find the perfect stove for your needs and living space.

Whether you have a small room with a large inglenook fireplace, an average sized room with a small fireplace or a large open plan space, there is a stove for you.

Woodburner Or Multifuel stove, what is the difference?

This is often the first question we are asked when someone comes to us looking for a woodburner or multifuel stove. There is a lot of information online about this subject, and just as much misinformation, which causes a great deal of confusion to our customers.

Cast Iron, Steel or Hybrid construction, which is best?

Wood burners and multi fuel stoves are usually made of cast iron, steel or a mix of the two. For example, some stoves have a twin skin body, one being cast iron and one being steel. Some stoves are steel bodied with cast iron components. For some stoves the body and components are either steel or cast iron.

Woodburning & multifuel stoves with hybrid body construction are designed to provide owners with the best of both steel and cast iron bodied stoves, and while it wont heat up quite as quickly as a purely steel bodied stove, it will retain heat longer. However it wont retain heat quite as long as a purely cast iron bodied stove.

Style; Traditional, Contemporary or something in between?

Style is a very personal thing, and everyone has different tastes.



We tend to divide our stoves into two style categories: Traditional & Contemporary. This is to make it easier for our customers to search through our stoves and for us to direct customers towards stoves that will best suit their tastes. However, many of our stoves are versatile and can suit both traditional and contemporary settings.

The style of your woodburner or multifuel stove is something that we recommend considering early on in the process, as with so many stoves on the market it can really help streamline your search.