What is the best wood to burn?
The best firewood is simply dry firewood. Here is how to spot logs under 20% moisture, what the Ready to Burn label means, how to season…
Fuel & Burning
Stove Advice and Guides
Practical, plain-English guides for homeowners thinking about a wood-burning or multi-fuel stove, or looking after one they already have. We cover typical installation costs, choosing the right size stove, the regulations that apply in England, carbon monoxide alarms, smoke control areas, chimney sweeping and which fuels to burn.
All stove advice guides
Safety & Regulations
Do I need a carbon monoxide alarm with a wood burner?
If you have a new or replacement stove fitted in England, Building Regulations say a carbon monoxide alarm should go in the same room. Here is…
Fuel & Burning
Do wood-burning stoves save money?
Whether a wood-burning stove saves you money depends on what you pay for logs, what fuel it replaces and how you use it. This guide works…
Costs & Planning
How much does a wood-burning stove installation cost?
A plain guide to what a wood-burning stove installation typically costs in the UK, broken down into the stove, chimney liner or twin-wall flue, hearth and…
Chimneys & Flues
How often should a chimney be swept?
Industry bodies recommend sweeping more often for wood than for smokeless fuel. Here is what HETAS and NACS advise, when to book a sweep, warning signs…
Chimneys & Flues
Can you install a wood burner without a chimney?
No chimney does not have to mean no stove. Here is how a twin-wall flue system works, the difference between internal and external routes, and the…
Costs & Planning
Is one stove better than two?
One larger stove or two smaller ones? The answer depends on your layout, chimneys and how you use the house. This guide weighs up heat distribution,…
Safety & Regulations
Stove installation regulations in England
Fitting a wood burner in England is notifiable building work. This guide explains Approved Document J, how sign-off works, hearths, clearances, ventilation, carbon monoxide alarms, smoke…
Safety & Regulations
What are smoke control areas?
Much of Tyneside, Wearside and south-east Northumberland lies in smoke control areas. Here is what that means for your stove, which appliances and fuels are allowed,…
Chimneys & Flues
What is a twin wall flue?
A twin wall flue is a factory-made, insulated stainless steel chimney. It lets you install a wood burner in a home without a chimney, running up…
Stove Types
What size wood-burning stove do I need?
A simple room-volume rule of thumb will give you a starting kW figure for a wood-burning stove. This guide explains how to use it, why insulation…
Stove Types
Wood-burning stove vs multi-fuel stove: which is right for you?
Wood-burning and multi-fuel stoves look similar but burn fuel differently. This guide compares grates, fuel choice, ash, smoke control rules and day-to-day use, so you can…