Frequently Asked Questions

Since 2005 it has been a legal requirement to notify your local authority Building Control department of your intention to install most fixed heating appliances in your home (whether it is a simple replacement or not), and this includes wood burning and multi fuel stoves and boiler stoves. Although this is not ‘Planning Permission’ in the strictest sense, you really do ignore this at your peril because Building Control approval, and the appropriate building Regulations compliance certification for the installation work, will almost certainly be requested should you ever wish to sell your house or there is an installation-related insurance claim.

Cloudy, ‘milky’ or crazed glass is caused by unburned acidic condensates etching the ceramic glass and unfortunately this cannot be easily removed. It is definitely not faulty glass, but has to do with the quality of the fuel that you burn or the way that you operate your stove.

No, not particularly. However, it is important to remember that there are many other things that also affect the quality of our indoor air such as cooking with gas, lighting candles, using aerosols and simply vacuuming and dusting – plus a host of other essential activities.

Try to avoid spillage – this is when smoke inadvertently enters your room. Assuming your stove has been installed according to Building Regulations, these simple steps should help you to maintain good indoor air quality.

• Always operate your stove according to the manufacturer’s instructions
• Never operate the stove with the door open other than when refuelling
• Always use the correct fuels eg seasoned wood or smokeless coal
• Never burn wet wood or household refuse
• Avoid starving the fuel load of combustion air so that the fuel smokes
• Maximise the combustion air supply before you open the door to refuel
• Open the stove door very slightly, then pause before gently opening it fully
• Always reload fuel on to a bed of burning embers and do this as quickly as possible
• Avoid refuelling on to partially burning logs – they must be embers
• Never not overload or over-fire your stove

In our opinion, with your safety in mind, it is always best to leave the installation of a stove to a professional installer who will have experience of fitting hundreds of stoves as well as carrying out the appropriate spillage and safety tests in virtually every type of situation. If you undertake the installation yourself then you must ensure that it complies with all current building regulations and also submit the installation for inspection by your local authority Building Control.

• If you live in an old house check that the air bricks have not been blocked over time – especially outside
• Use background ventilation such as trickle vents to ensure your room is properly ventilated (even in Winter)
• Regularly open your room windows to change the room air (avoid peak traffic times and high pollen days)
• Where you can, wipe dust away with a damp cloth. Dry dusting alone, tends to redistribute some of the dust.
• Vacuum regularly and ensure the room is ventilated when doing this
• Avoid clutter as this collects dust and is difficult and time-consuming to clean
• If you have a cooker fan hood or kitchen extractor fan always use it when cooking
• Avoid smoking indoors
• Limit your use of candles or avoid altogether as they are a serious offender
• Don’t mask odours with aerosol air fresheners – eliminate the source
• Invest in an air purifier if you’re seriously concerned about your indoor air quality

If you’re talking about a good quality steel bodied stove versus a good quality cast iron stove then, providing the stove is used according to the manufacturer’s instructions, it really doesn’t matter. Poor quality cast iron stoves have a reputation for cracking and poor quality steel bodied stoves have a reputation for warping.

They’re not difficult to use at all and you’ll quickly get used to getting the best from your stove if you follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Compared to lighting an open fire, lighting a stove is quicker and easier, as well as being much more predictable because of the control you have over the combustion air.

Hetas is the organisation recognised by the Government to approve multi fuel stoves and wood burners, fuels and services including the registration of competent installers. They established the Hetas Approved Retailer certification in 2011 so that anyone wishing to purchase a stove could be directed to retailers who meet high standards for service quality – including expert installation and safety advice.