A Basic Checklist Before Installing A Woodburning Stove

by Suzi Ostrowski

Wood burning stoves (also often called simply woodburners) are very much in demand these days for two of the most compelling reasons known to society: money and good looks. To begin with, sizeable savings can be achieved compared to using conventional fuel sources, and furthermore nothing still come close to the cosy warmth of a real fire. And regardless of whether you want your cost savings kitted out in stylish, modern garb or dressed up as a traditional kitchen range there’s almost certain to be a woodburning stove that’s just perfect for you. But be aware that wood burning stoves don’t suit everyone. Yes, the cost savings can be quite sizeable, but this very much depends on your own set of circumstances. The following provides a guide to the main things you should consider if you’re thinking about installing a woodburner. Fuel Supply Is there a reliable and cost effective supply of solid fuel local to you? What type of fuel is it exactly? Wood burners can accept well-seasoned logs and other forms of solid wood, wood chips, and/or wood pellets. But some wood burning stoves are better suited (or sometimes restricted) to particular types of fuel. Well-seasoned logs have been naturally dried out for a minimum of one year. Wood chips comprise small bits of wood similar to what is output by a tree surgeon’s wood chipper. Wood pellets are specially manufactured small blocks of uniformly sized compressed sawdust. It is obviously crucial that you are sure you know how to actually fuel your wood burner before you proceed any further or get into details such as make and type. Wood fuel weighs a lot and takes up a lot of space, so if you find you need to transport it non-locally you could quickly see your projected cost savings disappear and might even find it costs rather more than using a standard gas boiler. Storing Fuel You will require a dry space that is both easy to access and large enough to store your wood fuel. If possible, the best location is somewhere near to the burner itself – manually carting logs about tends to lose its appeal quite quickly. If you are contemplating having a fuel hopper that automatically loads wood pellets (or wood chips) into the burner then close proximity is even more vital. Ability To Produce And Store Heat Regardless of whether you simply want space heating for a single room or to run a complete household central heating and hot water system, you need to be sure that the woodburner you install is able to produce sufficient heat. It’s natural to think that simply installing a woodburner that is well beyond your requirements and just "turning it down" would be the solution. Woodburners operate most efficiently when run at full capacity rather than at a reduced rate, which both wastes fuel (and hence also money) and can cause a build up of soot and other deposits. Yet operating at a fast burn rate means the choice becomes either delivering maximum heat output (which is frequently going to be way too much) or zero output. A common solution to this is to install an "accumulator" tank – basically a super insulated hot water cylinder. This plays the role of a "heat battery" that accumulates the excess heat from a fast burn so that it can be released as required over several days in the form of hot water to the household radiators and for bathing. Chimneys And/Or Flues Woodburning stoves must be connected to a flue that is lined with vent materials designed for burning wood. If you are fortunate enough to already have a conveniently located chimney then this can be lined so as to be suitable for a woodburner, but bear in mind the additional expense. If you don’t have a handy chimney to hand then you will need to find a location on your property where a flue could be installed, keeping compliance with any applicable planning and building regulations in mind. Red Tape And Rewards There are great swathes of regulation and assorted legislation that blanket and obscure the general topic of household heating; there are also numerous little-known grants and other incentives that you might be eligible for and which could reduce your installation expenses, but you have to hunt around to check for availability and application procedures. The best advice is to contact your various local authorities and ask what incentives and/or restrictions might apply to your specific circumstances. Better yet, contact a reputable local woodburner installer since they will have experience of working in your area and at the end of the day you are likely to have to use the services of a professional at some point anyway.