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Solid Fuel Do’s & Don’ts

Do's

  • Do bring the stove to operating temperature quickly and try to keep it there for a cleaner, more efficient burn.
  • Use dry wood – seasoned or kiln dried with 20% moisture or less.
  • Sweep your chimney regularly. A professional sweep will ensure that the stove is in perfect condition as well as the flue.
  • Store and stack your logs so they are well ventilated, especially if they are seasoned logs.
  • Use a stove pipe thermometer, a moisture meter for the logs and a stove fan to help improve efficiency.
  • Do fit a Carbon Monoxide alarm. This has nothing to do with how the fire burns, it’s just common sense and if installed by a HETAS engineer, should have been provided at the point of installation.
  • If you have an older or inefficient stove or one that’s too powerful, consider replacing it with a modern 2022 Eco-design efficient model. You’ll instantly begin to save money and burn cleaner.

 

Don'ts

  • Don’t shut off the air to slumber the fuel for long periods or overnight and turn the air up when refuelling for a few minutes.
  • Don’t use extremely large logs – 4 to 6 inch (100 to 150mm) diameter is best.
  • Don’t burn wood or coal on open fires in Smoke Control Areas. It is illegal!
  • Unless you have just lit or just refuelled the fire, don’t allow smoke to come from the top of the chimney
  • Don’t buy a stove which is too big (too powerful) for the room. You’ll get too hot and will constantly be turning the air control down. The burning temperature will drop, fuel is wasted and pollution is increased
  • Don’t be tempted to fit or alter any part of a solid fuel system yourself – it’s far too easy to get something wrong! You will also need to call the Local Building Control to inspect the installation.
  • Don’t mix smokeless fuel and wood, you won’t get the best from either fuel and it is potentially dangerous creating Carbon Monoxide and Nitrous Oxide (which rots steel).
  • Don’t burn plastic waste or any treated wood. It’s toxic and leaves tar deposits in the flue.

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