Opening Times
5 Days a Week
Closed Tue. & Wed.
10am to 5pm.
Shop Address
Tower Forge, Hilder's Cliff
Rye, East Sussex, TN31 7LD
Phone Orders
01797 229 447
We accept most major
credit cards and are happy
to take phone orders.
Deliveries
Free delivery is available
within 10 miles of the shop.
(on selected items)
We also deliver as far out
as London (£ negotiable).
Frequently Asked Questions About Log Burners,
Multifuel Stoves And Woodburning
Q. Is it worth using a HETAS registered stove installer ?
Yes. A HETAS registered installer has had training specific to safety, efficiency
and building regulations and is qualified to “sign off” his own work thereby
saving you a lot of hassle and paperwork.
Q. Will a multi-fuel stove keep going overnight ?
Coal will burn better than wood at low oxygen levels so we advise our
customers to use a small amount of coal before closing down the dampers.
Q. How many kilowatts will I need ?
One kilowatt is roughly the equivalent of one bar of a large electric fire. To
calculate how many kilowatts needed for a volume of space multiply the length
X width X height in feet and then divide the result by 500.
e.g. 15ft by 17ft by 9ft divided by 500 = 4.59Kw.
This will give you a baseline to work from. Make allowances for the efficiency of
any insulation, double glazing or particularly draughty rooms and don't forget
to add in rooms adjoined by open doors.
Q. How often will the chimney need to be swept ?
For coal fires a frequency of once per year should be enough, but for wood fires
twice annually is recommended, especially if the wood is unseasoned.
Q. Will I need to have the chimney lined ?
If your chimney was built prior to 1966 then there is a very good chance that
you will need a flexible flue liner. From 1966 onwards building regulations
enforced stricter specifications for chimney and flue construction allowing for a
greater range of heating appliances and often this means that a flexible flue
will not be needed. If in doubt then consult a HETAS certified installer or
Building Control.
We usually advise our customers to have a flexible flue fitted as this
counteracts the reduced draw due to the greater efficiency of the stove i.e.
more heat is transferred into the room rather than carried up the chimney. It
also reduces the risk of staining caused by moisture and tar soaking through
the brickwork and makes sweeping the chimney easier.
Q. Does the flexible flue liner need to be insulated ?
An insulated liner is not always required but it does improve the draw by
keeping the air in the flue warm. With smaller stoves or problem chimneys they
are often a good idea.
Q. How much space will I need around the stove ?
We recommend a minimum of 6” (150mm) on all sides between the stove to
allow the air to flow around the appliance.
Q. Do I need a hearth ?
Yes. It must extend a minimum of 6” (150mm) to the sides (or less if a non
combustible wall is present) and at least 9” (225mm) in front of the stove door.
Q. What is the “Clean Burn” system ?
Clean Burn is where air is injected into the flames above the fuel in order to
burn off any unburned gases before they are carried up the chimney. Not only
does this reduce the chance of a chimney fire and reduce emissions but it also
makes the stove more efficient.
Q. What is the “Air Wash” system ?
The Air Wash System is where hot air is directed over the glass in order to
reduce the build up of deposits.
Q. What are the operating differences between coal and wood ?
Coal burns best when fed with air from below whereas wood burns better when
it is sitting on a bed of ash and fed with air from above. Consequently when
you are using wood it is often beneficial to remove the fuel basket completely.
This allows more room for fuel and slows down the combustion. Alternately you
can allow the ash to build up to the level of the basket.
Q. Why can't I use damp wood ?
Damp wood causes several problems in stoves. The increased moisture content
causes the stove to run at a lower temperature and allows the condensation of
tar and creosote on the inside of both the stove and the flue. This increases the
frequency that you will have to have the chimney swept and also makes a
chimney fire more likely. In extreme cases steam within a log that has been put
into a very hot stove can also cause the log to split violently and may cause
damage to the appliance.
