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If you are thinking of buying a stove in the near future it's worth taking a look at our stove buyers guide. Here at Ray Grahams of Newtownards, Northern Ireland we have gone to great lengths to build this comprehensive guide to help you choose and pick your ideal stove. A stove makes for a fantastic addition to any home or business environment as they create decorative focal points in free living space while also providing heat to your room or home. There are masses of stove types on the market which most commonly include electric, wood burning and multi fuel stoves. Now you're probably thinking why cant one just burn all, but careful consideration needs to be taken. There are a number of factors that dictate WHAT stove best suits you. In our Ray Grahams Stove Buyers Guide we're going to take you through the in's and out's of what there is to know about stoves.
Before we delve any deeper into this guide lets start by talking about general buying considerations that need to be thought of. Firstly measurements are always a good way to start. You need to consider where the stove will be going, so for instance if you are looking to replace an old stove or fireplace then measurements will need to be taken in order to determine the maximum size of stove that you can place in that area. Alternatively if you are going to be building a stove recess appropriate measurements need to be made before purchasing a stove. In cases such as these it would be advisable to seek the knowledge of a stove plumbing / chimney fire and installation specialist so that they can advise you on your build and ensure it complies with the relevant health and safety standards (depending on country of residence, area & location different standards will apply).
Secondly and most obviously budget is a major factor that determines the final outcome of any decision. Determine the budget that you're prepared to spend on your stove. Bear in mind that depending on the type of stove you pick other accessories and accompanying items may need to be purchased so ensure you keep a segment of your budget for that. But now that we've covered the obvious buying factors let's take a look at other influences that can help you find your one and only stove!
There are many advantages to using a wood burning stove. First off biomass materials are more eco friendly with their combustion by-products. The reason for this is because a single piece of wood, organic material only releases the same amount of carbon dioxide that it takes in during its life cycle hence the stoves are more eco friendly. It can be referred to as a carbon neutral fuel. Using organic (biomass) fuel is a cheaper alternative to traditional fuels because fuels such as gas, coal, and electicity are in higher global demand therefore are subject to more rapid inflation and price change, especially as resources get lower! Additionally wood creates an unbeatable flame effect. The burning of wood produces the most natural effects and colours while giving off a real smell and sound helping to create a more traditional ambiance.
Multi -Fuel Stoves: This type of stove are often referred to as mineral fuelled stoves which are capable or burning wood, smokless fuel and coal. These stoves are constructed differently in contrast to wood burning stoves. They feature an ashpan or riddling plate which allows the fuel to be raised at an elevated height within the stove. By doing this it allows air to circulate under the burning materials, facilitating both complete combustion and producing a maximum heat output from the fuel. There are many advantages to selecting a multi-fuel stove. Where wood burning stoves are limited to their fuel types these are not and due to their fuel types multi fuel stoves produce alot more heat in comparison to wood. Coal burns alot more slowly than wood and is readily available in most commercial shops. Some shops even offer delivery services!
Electric Stoves: This type of stove is rather self explanitory. They are electrically powered stoves that produce an artificial flame and heat. Electric stoves come in many styles and designs like wood and multi-fuel stoves however they do not actually burn or combust any fuels. Most electric stoves feature a range of functions such as flame on / off settings, temperature control and thermal safety cut offs etc. There are advantages to electric stoves however. For instance they do not require any purchase of fuels to run. They can have unlimited run times and can be switched on and off at the touch of a switch. One primary advantage of an electric stove over wood burning and multi-fuel stoves is that they do not require a chimney or flue system, so essentially they can be placed anywhere where there is a free mains powered socket.
# Stove Combustion / Fuel Types
In this section of the article we'll look at the types of commercial and domestic stoves available in todays current market.
Lets start by looking at
Wood Burning Stoves. Wood burning stoves are renowned for their use with organic combustion materials. This includes a range of types such as wooden logs, pellets and chips. These types of stove differ from multi-fuel stoves in construction and design. The reason being that wood and organic materials burn best when sitting on a bed of ash, this allows for better control and circulation of air with wood materials so wood burning stoves use a firebox, as oppossed to multi-fuel stoves that use an ashpan or riddling plate.
#Single Room or Home Heating System?
Stoves just don't have to be limited to the heating of one single room. With modern technologies stoves can be used to heat your household water supply as well, thus heating your radiators and useable water appliances. Having your boiler as a home heating system is worthwhile especially if you are using an expensive fossil fuel system. Bear in mind it will incur additional costs and you WILL need a specialist in the field to install such a home heating system. But the pro's do outweight the cons and in the long term you can significantly reduce heating costs.
So multi-fuel and wood burning stoves can be connected to a range of different boiler types. Boilers that correspond with stoves are known as back boilers. They are fitted behind the stove wall and are connected appropriately. Essentially there are various types of boilers available such as standard boilers that heat water in your storage tank and combi boilers that heat water in the tank and provide instant hot water to taps. All in all when it comes to purchasing your stove consider how it's going to operate; whether it's going to be for single room and decorative purposes only or will it be multi-functional providing heat to your whole house?? ....
The formula above explains how to appropriately work out the stoves output you would require for a room measuring 7m x 4m x 2.5 height. In the UK, building regulations dictate that heating appliances must meet a minimum efficiency requirement. For stoves the benchmark is 65% and over and for stoves with fitted boilers 67% and over. Most stoves do operate between 60%-80% and in comparison to a fire which operates 30%-40% and a has fire at 40%-50% , stoves are a better alternative.
# Heat Output and Efficiency
Im sure we can all agree when it comes to lighting the fire or the stove trying to achieve an optimum room temperature of approx 21º is one of the hardest tasks. Finding a stove that generates an appropriate temperature for the space and size of the area where it will be housed is important. So in order to produce an optimum room temperature from your stove you'll need approximately 1Kw per every 14 cubic meters. So do the calculations and take into consideration your rooms space and the stoves output required.
# Stove Design & Function
Stove design and features are another important aspect to consider when purchasing a stove. In a review by "which.co.uk" they devised a list of some of the most valuable stove functions.
Air wash Systems: This system assists with keeping the glass clean by passing cool airover the glass reducing the "sticking" capacity of dirt and ash. Controllable Vents: These allow you to regulate the amount of air circulation in the stoves thus controlling heat output.
The size of the ashpan or firebox dictates the amount of fuel you can burn at any given time. Riddle plates are useful to have as they allow you to break off the ash, making cleaning a more efficient task. Removable Ash Pans Help to assist with cleaning making it a more efficient task. Some stoves feature cool touch handles allowing for the opening and closing of the stove door. In most cases handles are detachable and can be used as multi-tools.
# Storage Space
This probably seems quite trivial but can be overlooked. If you are purchasing a wood burning or a multi-fuel stove you need an area to store all your fuel right? Well the area needs to be large enough to store numerous bags of coal or stockpiles of wood. So take this into consideration. In addition to this the area should be free from damp, water and rain. If you are cutting your own wood or manufacturing your own fuel then it is recommended that wood is cured (dried) for up to 3 months before use.
See our full range of Stoves and Accessories in our store