WHY ARE WOOD-BURNING STOVES SO POPULAR AGAIN?

Wood burning stoves (also known as multi-fuel or log burning stoves) have been growing in popularity over the last 20 years, partly because of rapidly rising gas and electricity prices and partly because of a fashion trend to more natural light and warmth in the home.

Some wood-burning stoves are sometimes referred to as multi fuel because they can burn coal, charcoal or smokeless fuels as well as wood. This flexibility can be particularly useful if you live a in a smokeless area or if you canot always get a ready supply of properly dried and treated wood to burn.

The wood fuel can be small pieces of cut wood, or a even a full log if your stove is big enough to be a log-burner.

If you are looking to buy a wood burning or multifuel stove, you should also insist that it has the "air wash" system, which is an airflow method of keeping smoke from accumulating on the inside of the glass window of your wood burning stove.

With a good wood-burner stove you can cut your winter fuel bills dramatically, whilst at the same time adding a charm and beauty to your house that only come with a real fire.

Larger wood burning stoves are also sometimes used for cooking or heating a kettle for tea and coffee, simply by leaving it stood on the top surface like you would with an Aga.

This can be very fuel efficient as it can remove the need for your traditional kettle and save all that electricity!

In addition, A pan placed in the same way could be used for warming food, slow cooking a stew or just providing free hot water for washing up.

Many larger wood burning, multi-fuel stoves are fitted with boiler attachments to actually provide hot water to the home, or even to help run a central heating system.

Many people find that this allows them to use a wood burning stove side by side with their existing heating and hot water systems, whilst allowing them to save money on gas and electricity.

The main things you have to consider before going for a wood burning or multifuel stove are;

• Do you have access to a regular supply of properly dried wood fuel and can you store it and keep it dry?

• Do you live in a smokeless area that would prevent you from burning fuels that produce smoke?

• Do you have a chimney and hearth suitable to install a stove?

If the answer is yes, then it comes down to choosing one the right size and design for your room and that is where we can help with our wide range.