Spotlight Magazine for North Mansfield March 2015 Spotlight Magazine for West Bridgford March 2015 | Page 12

Spotlight Magazine How To Buy A Wood Burning Stove burning be a Awoodcosy feel.stove canroom,agreat focal point in your living creating a warm, It can also be practical way to cut or avoid rising heating bills. Whatever your reasons for getting a stove, the guide below will help you to choose whether a stove is right for you and what things you need to think about before spending your money – stoves can range in price from £500 to well over £2,000, depending on the type.  There are a few key things you should think about before you buy a stove, which will save you money and make using the stove easier. Do you want to heat one room in the house or the whole property? Stoves are generally used to heat one room, but you can attach it to the central heating system to heat other parts of the house. Do you live in a smoke controlled area? A lot of towns and cities are smoke controlled areas. Check the Defra website for more information. How often will you be home and able to light the fire and clean the ash away? Keep in mind that stoves can take time to light and some need the ash cleaned out every time you start the fire. However, you can get stoves that will light automatically, usually pellet stoves, although these are more expensive.   What type of fuel do you want to burn? Your choice on what fuel to burn may depend on what supply you have locally. How much space do you have to store fuel? You’ll need plenty of room to store fuel, especially if you will be burning logs – based on the average amount people use per year, you need about three to four cubic metres of space. 12 Will you be able to comply with building regulations? All stoves must meet UK building regulations. Make sure you speak to an installer before buying. Buying a stove Always make sure you buy a stove with the CE mark so you’re assured that it meets the right European safety and efficiency standards for stoves in the UK. A key part of choosing the right stove for your home is getting the right size and heat output, which is measured in kilowatts (kW) and ranges from 3kW to over 15kW.   If you get a stove that has too high an output for your home, you may end up having the windows open all the time to cool it down. Stove features to consider • Air wash systems help to keep the glass cleaner by drawing cool air through the system and over the glass • Controllable vents or fans allow you to regulate the amount of air in the stove to regulate the heat output. • Some stoves swivel, so can direct the heat to certain parts of the room. • The size of the ash pan can impact on how easy it is to clean, so look for a larger one. • A riddle plate, which allows you to break the ash off easier, will help you clean the stove. • A removable ash pan or one that swings out for easier cleaning. • Cool Stoves. Some stoves and handles, don’t get hot and remain cool to touch. Buy Quality Fuel Buying cheap normally means buying twice. Always be sure to check the moisture content on any fuel you buy, and try to obtain UK sourced, certified fuelwood that carries the Woodsure Plus Logo. For help and advice call Nottinghamshire Logs on 0845 053 9020 or visit www.nottinghamshirelogs.com www.spotlightlocal.co.uk • 0115 822 4995 • [email protected]