8 Tips To Increase Your Wood Burner Game
A Small Wood Burner Brings Warmth and Character to Your Living Space
A small wood burner brings warmth and personality to your living space. It can be used to cook, especially if you select a model with a stovetop option.
Larger wood stoves burn less efficiently when the draft is lowered and produce more creosote. The Louis stove was designed to be portable and is ideal for caravans and yurts.
Cooking
Cooking on an unassuming wood-burning stove is among the many benefits that come with owning one. This can bring a real satisfaction and pride and also a chance to get away from the frantic pace of modern life.
Cooking with a log stove requires careful planning. It takes longer for the stove to warm up so it's important to plan accordingly, and choose recipes that don't require high heat - soups, stews, casseroles and pot roasts all work well. It's also an excellent idea to invest in some of Charnwood's log burner accessories like the wood stove cooker plate, which replaces the blanking plate that is on the stove's top and makes a very efficient hotplate for cooking with which is perfect for heating your kettle!
The best way to ensure that your stove is in good order, and that it's capable of cooking at the right temperature is to use only the highest quality, well-seasoned wood. This will decrease the amount of creosote which can cause problems for chimneys if not burned properly. Hardwoods like oak and ash are suggested because they produce long coals that release heat slowly over the course.
Baffles on stoves can be opened and closed to control the airflow around the fire, which will help to improve combustion and create a flame that is capable of providing the right amount of heat for toasting bread and slow simmering of soups and casseroles. It is essential to play with the baffles on your stove to determine the best settings for you.
It is also a good idea to purchase trivets that are designed to sit on top of your stove. This will prevent the kettle from drying out when you leave the stove. This is a common mistake made when using log burners for the first time! It's also a good idea to purchase a stovetop kettle that has an integrated whistle, which can be very beneficial for those who like a quick coffee or a cup of tea.
Warmth
Wood-burning stoves provide a great source of heat. They not only heat your home however, they also help to create a healthy and sustainable energy supply. The burning of wood can reduce the demand for electricity during times when the grid is most busy. This helps to lower the cost of electricity.
You can also put in an electric stove to provide the hot water supply to your taps and radiators. This is ideal for those who live in a small home, caravan or narrowboats that don't have enough space to store the water heater.
Another way to make use of a wood stove is to cook on it! Many wood stoves have flat surfaces, which is perfect to heat pans and pots. It can be used to cook, fry or steam or roast. Check that your stove can use the fuel you intend to use and is safe to use it.
Make sure your wood stove is clean. This will prevent the risk of creosote accumulation and maintain an unobstructed view of the flames. It is a good idea to clear any excess ash from the grate frequently.
It is important to make sure you are using well-seasoned, dry wood. This will help you achieve the most efficient and safest burn possible, as well as reducing pollution in the air. Idealy, the firewood should be cut, split and stored in a location with adequate ventilation for at least one year prior to being brought inside. You can also purchase kiln dried logs that are pre-cut, packed and easy to store and transport.
Also, ensure that your wood stove is sized to fit the space you want it to be installed in. Too large a wood stove can create smaller fires which will produce more creosote. This will limit the amount of heat generated. A small wood stove is rated to provide heat to up to 500 sq ft and a medium wood stove can heat up to 1,000 sq feet and a larger wood stove can heat up to 2200+ sq ft.
Character
A small wood stove can add a touch of warmth and the character of your kitchen or living room. Fireplaces And Stoves are DEFRA exempt from use in smoke-free zones, which means you can use them in both rural and urban settings. The Stovax Stockton 3, available in both wood and multi fuel, features a glass pane that is landscape-oriented and is perfect for both classic and contemporary interiors.
Stovax Futura 4 is a wood-burning stove with stunning flame effects. This modern log burner has curved doors with large viewing windows. It provides incredible flame visualization. Air jets inside the advanced combustion system direct air to the key areas of the fire, which ensures excellent performance. Different kinds of firewood have different amounts of water in the beginning according to where they grow (willow is found in soils that are damp and next to water bodies, for instance), so some require more time to season than others.
Installation
Having a wood burner installed in your kitchen is a great way to give it a feeling of warmth and character. A small stove can also aid in reducing your fuel costs by not having to heat your entire home.
It's a good idea to schedule an appointment with an HETAS installer to visit your home if you're thinking of installing a stove. This will allow them to assess your fireplace's dimensions accurately and give you a price.
It's not just the stove price that needs to be considered as well as the amount of prep work and extras are required in your home. There's a lot to consider and it's crucial that you get the right person for the job.
As part of the installation process, you might require the installation of a chimney liner. Chimney liners prevent toxic gas and smoke from venting through the cracks in the brickwork of the chimney and contaminating the air inside your home. Installing one prior to installing your stove is a good idea, particularly if you live in an older home.
Installing a stove in an area that does not have chimneys will require a twin-wall flue system. This will create a fake chimney system, which will provide a safe space for fumes and smoke to escape.
A twin wall system can be constructed through your home and exit through the roof or by the side. The latter is more cost-effective and involves less internal work, but it can be less well-insulated.
It is necessary to build a hearth for your stove. This can be made of any non-combustible material, but it's best to use something that will be easily cleaned. You'll require a cowl and an insulated flue liner to protect.
If you're looking for a compact stove that can fit in your kitchen, we suggest the British-designed MI Small FlickrFlame log burner. Its small size makes it ideal for kitchens of all sizes and it has a stunning window to admire the flames from. It's a smoke-free model that is DEFRA approved, making it suitable for use in smoke control zones.