A Small Wood Burner Brings Warmth and Character to Your Living Space
A small wood stove adds warmth and personality to your living space. You can use it to cook, especially when you choose a model with a stovetop option.
Larger wood stoves burn inefficiently when the draft is turned down and produce more creosote. The Louis stove is specifically designed to be portable and suitable for yurts, caravans, shepherds' huts, boats, or vans.
Cooking
Cooking on small wood-burning stoves is among the many pleasures associated with having one. This can bring a real feeling of pride and pleasure as well as an opportunity to escape the fast pace of modern life.
Cooking with a log burner involves careful planning. It takes longer for the stove to warm up and cook, so it is essential to plan accordingly, and select recipes that do not require high temperatures - stews, soups casseroles, pot roasts and soups all work well. Charnwood log burner accessories are also worth considering. The cooker for wood stove plate replaces the blanking plates at the top of your stove to create an ideal hotplate to heat your kettle.
Make sure to use only the finest quality well-seasoned firewood to ensure that your stove is functioning properly and can cook at the correct temperature. This will help to reduce creosote build-up, which can cause chimney problems if not burnt properly. Hardwoods like oak or Ash are recommended as they produce long coals that release heat slowly over the course of time.
The baffles on your stove can be opened and closed to control the flow of air. This will allow you to create the perfect fire for toasting bread as well as slow simmering casseroles and soups and ensuring the highest quality combustion. It is a good idea to familiarize yourself with your stove and try opening the baffles and closing them at different points to determine what settings provide the most effective results for each specific task.
A trivet can also be an excellent idea. It's made to sit on your stove. This will stop your kettle from leaking if you leave it on the stove, which can be a common mistake to make when first using a log burner! It's also recommended to purchase an electric kettle with an integrated whistle and can be extremely beneficial for those who like an easy cup of coffee or tea.
Warmth
Wood-burning stoves are an excellent source of heat. Not only do they heat your home, but they also help to create a healthy and sustainable energy supply. Wood burning reduces demand for electricity when the grid is at its most busy and helps lower electricity prices for everyone!
You can also set up the stove to heat up hot water for your taps and radiators. This is a great option for people who live in a small home, caravan or narrowboat that doesn't have enough space to store a water heater.
Cooking on wood stoves is another fantastic way to use it! There are a variety of wood stoves with flat tops, which are ideal for heating pans and pots. The stove can be used to cook, roast or boil, or even steam. Check that your stove can use the fuel you intend to use and is safe to use it.
One of the most important things to remember when using wood stoves is to keep it clean. This will prevent dangerous creosote from accumulating and also keep the flames in view. It is recommended to remove any excess Ash from the grate on a regular basis.
It is also a good idea to ensure that you are using dry, well-seasoned wood. This will ensure that you get the best burning and reduce toxins in the air. Ideally your firewood must have been cut and split and stored in a well-ventilated area for at least 12 months before you bring it inside to use. You can also purchase kiln dried logs that are pre-cut, packaged and easy to store and carry.
It is also important to ensure that the wood stove you select is of the right size for the space where it will be installed. A too big stove in a small space can result in smaller fires which will create more creosote and reduce the amount of heat generated. A small wood stove is designed to provide heat to up to 500 square feet, a medium wood stove can heat up to 1,000 sq ft and a larger wood stove can heat up to 2200+ sq ft.
Character
A small wood stove will provide warmth and character the living room and kitchen. Our Ecodesign stoves are DEFRA exempt for use in smoke controlled zones, which means you can use these stoves in both rural and urban locations. The Stovax Stockton 3, available in both wood and multi fuel, comes with a landscape format glass pane and is ideal for classic and contemporary interiors.
If you're looking for a wood burning stove with outstanding flame visuals look into the Stovax Futura 4. This contemporary log burner features curving doors that have large viewing windows. It provides incredible flame visualization. Air jets in the advanced combustion system direct air to key areas of the fire, ensuring top performance. Different kinds of firewood have varying initial water content, depending on where they are grown (willow is a common species in soils that are wet and next to water bodies, for instance), so some will need longer seasoning than others.
Installation
Installing a wood stove in your kitchen will add warmth and character. A small stove can also help you cut down on energy costs as you don't have to heat your entire home.
cast iron wood burner with a HETAS installer to visit your home if you're contemplating installing an appliance. This will allow them to fully assess the fireplace space and provide you with a precise quote.
It's not just the cost of the stove that should be taken into consideration but also the amount of prep work and extras are required in your home. There's plenty to take into account and it's crucial that you choose an expert who is qualified for the task.
As part of the installation process, you might have to install a chimney liner. Chimney liners prevent toxic gas and smoke from venting through the cracks in the brickwork of the chimney and contaminating the air inside your home. It's a good idea to install one before you put in your stove, particularly when you live in an older property.
If you're considering installing an appliance in a space with no existing chimney, you'll need have a twin wall flue system fitted. This will create a fake chimney system, which will provide a safe place for smoke and fumes to escape.
A twin wall system can be built through your home and exit through the roof or externally along the side. The latter is more economical and requires less work, however it could be less insulated.
You'll need to build a hearth for the stove. It can be made from any non-combustible material, but it is best to choose something that can be cleaned easily. You'll need a cowl as well as an lining for the flue to protect.
If you're looking for a compact stove that can fit in your kitchen, we recommend the British-designed MI Small FlickrFlame log burner. Its small size makes it ideal for kitchens with lots of space and also has a stunning window to admire the flames from. It's a smoke exempt model and is DEFRA approved, which makes it suitable for use in smoke control zones.