By Julian Patrick
NOTE THAT THE MANUAL IS ONLINE AND ALL ARTICLES ARE ACCESSIBLE FROM THIS PAGE
TheStovefitter's Tree of Knowledge will guide you step by step through the process of purchasing and installing a stove.
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Choosing your first wood burning stove can make you feel, at first, like the proverbial rabbit caught in front of the car headlights.
There are just so many to choose from.
Here at Stovefitter's we test a lot of stoves. Yes, we actually test them, on a rig, in our office. Swapping stoves once a month during winter gives us a great of idea of what works and what does not work.
What size stove I need?
Wood or multifuel?
Do I need a DEFRA approved stove?
Should I buy a Chinese stove?
What does Ecodesign mean?
In this section we look at what you need to know before you choose your stove...
Before you buy your first log burner you need to know a few things.
Are you going to self-install or are you getting an installer in?
Can you legally DIY the project?
How much will it cost?
How to find an installer?
Now we are getting into the DIY zone. This may still be worth a read even if getting an installer in but we do go into some serious fireplace renovation situations. Many UK homes have an old fireplace just screaming out for a modern eco design wood burner. Many fireplaces can be "opened up", made larger to add character and enable a new wood burning stove to be installed. It is often cheaper to get a builder in for this work as stove installers charge much more per hour and it is usually the most time consuming part of the job. Or why not DIY it? Even if getting an installer in for the burner there is nothing to stop you giving them the smallest possible task to keep the bill down.
Home is where the hearth is - or so the saying goes. It is a legal obligation that your new logburner sits on a suitable hearth to define a safe area and protect the floor underneath the hearth.
So what will yours be made of? Slate? Granite, tiles?
If you have an existing chimney chances are your new wood burning stove will perform at its best if the chimney is lined with a stainless steel liner. It is not obligatory though. Read on...
SEE ALSO: "FITTING YOUR STOVE" SECTION BELOW FOR INFORMATION ON CONNECTING STOVE TO LINER
A 5kW traditional-looking and small cast-iron multifuel stove that is tremendous value for money. Heavy and well-built. Ekol great company to deal with (excellent customer service).
This is one of the best cast-iron stoves at this price.
5,8,12 kW sizes available.
There is something about this stove that makes it stand out in our showroom. It is quite a small 5kW stove but it has perfect proportions - it just looks right.
It is also a favourite of installers as it works on almost every chimney - no hassle.
The very latest version of the UK-manufactured and very popular Hamlet Solution 5. UK-made, strong, well built.
An excellent ten-year guarantee on the stove body provides reassurance. Multifuel as standard.
Other models available: Hamlet 4, 5, 5 Compact and 5 Widescreen
During the winter of 2018/19 Stovefitter's went in search of a modern, large screen, Ecodesign stove that we could retail between £599 and £799. We tested numerous models and it was the range that you now see that came out on top. The "Firewire" is a wood-only stove with a large viewing window and simple yet effective single control..
Three sizes available.
Okay it's 4kW but we love it.
A small, contemporary Ecodesign wood burning and multifuel stove that loves small spaces: snug, home office, shed, boat, caravan, bedroom, extension, conservatory, glamping, van and any small room that needs warming. Chic and very well designed.
Log store and oven modules available.
We had this contemporary stove on test in our office (old stone Chapel, difficult to heat). It passed the "Arran" test (he did not pester me to end the test early so "we can get something warmer in"). Large glass, loads of heat and very controllable.
We did not choose this stove as is usually the case - this stove was chosen by our customers. We added the Heta Inspire to our site following a particularly high demand for quotes for the stove from our customers, despite the fact that it was not on our website - this being a sure sign that a stove is a potential winner :-)
"When you unwrap it you will understand. When you light it you will understand. Some things are worth spending a little more on and we have yet to find a finer contemporary wood burning stove on the market".
Multi fuel kit available for this stove.
Low, High-leg and log-store versions available.
I think the Aste and Ivar are the best 5kW wood burning stoves available on the market today.
Julian Patrick, Author of The Stovefitter's Manual.
Using the same chassis as the superb DG Ivar 5 the Aste has a slightly retro, traditional appeal. Simply beautiful.
Huge viewing area.
Multi fuel kit available for this stove.
I think the Aste and Ivar are the best 5kW wood burning stoves available on the market today.
Julian Patrick, Author of The Stovefitter's Manual.
Our Fitting Packs are designed to make installation of your wood burning stove just that little bit easier. It is always so frustrating starting a job and the, half way through, find you need a certain tool or widget or screw. We have got you covered.
You need a stove...
A length of chimney liner...
A Fitting Pack (includes all you need including cowl)...
*can be one straight vitreous or 2x elbows or even a combination of
...and a closure plate to seal off your chimney (make your own from Hardiebacker board or buy a plain metal sheet from us)
If you are one of the few who does not line your chimney this section is for you.
No chimney? No problem. Use a modern clip-together "twin wall" chimney system. We can even design it for you (Free service) and send you all the parts.
Modern twill wall chimney systems are being fitted a lot more often than in the past. Many modern homes do not have chimneys and the ease of fitting a clip-together chimney versus a brick or stone chimney has certainly ensured growth in this market. Another advantage is that a twin wall chimney can go almost anywhere in a property - meaning that a wood burning stove can go almost anywhere. Stove in a bedroom? Why not. Stove in the bathroom - it is not as uncommon as you might think.
It's all about imagination...
Although we do not sell inset or cassette stoves I have fitted a few in the past
Boiler stoves can heat hot water and radiators. Such a simple and beautiful way of adding warmth to a home. It is not for everyone and there's a fair bit involved but if you are planning a complete renovation it is certainly worth thinking about.
We specialise in the supply of wood burning stoves and install materials (we do not sell gas, oil or electric stoves).
We despatch daily, UK-wide.
We stock many of the finest UK brands including DG, Saltfire, Hobbit, Hamlet, Ekol, Arada, Flavel, Heta Island Pellet Stoves and more.
We test stoves, one stove a month and disregard any models found wanting.
Our top sellers are DG Ivar 5, Hobbit, Saltfire Peanut Bignut, Saltfire Peanut 5, Firewire, Flavel Arundel, Hamlet Solution 5 Widescreen, DG Ivar 8, Saltfire Scout, Woodford Lowry, Saltfire Peanut 3, Heta Inspire 45 and Ekol Applepie.
We sell 904 316 chimney liner, twin wall flue, stove pipe and more.
Julian Patrick is the author of The Stovefitter's Manual and an experienced wood burning stove installer (including solid fuel heating systems).
Laid down tools in 2013 to write The Stove Fitter's Manual and open a small shop in North Wales (the Wood Stove Hut). Launched Stovefitter's Warehouse soon after due to fast growth of sales.
Own stove is a DG Ivar 5.
