Embers.co.uk Blog | Stoves & Fireplaces London

Due to massive demand, embers has added to its range some rather superb cassette stoves. These flush or close to flush mounted stoves are the pinnacle of wood burning technology packed into a modern contemporary stove design.

This type of stove is well suited to any room that requires a large flame picture while maintaining minimalist room impact.

With such a vast range on the market we have settled on 2 manufacturers for inset stoves. These are Scan Anderson and Bodart & Gonay. Scan manufacture their own stoves in Denmark where the responsibility for assembly for the stove lies with one person only. Typical of Danish stoves the Scan inset range are extremely durable, efficient and stylish.

We have recently installed a scan DSA 7-5 inset stove on display in our london showroom

the scan dsa 7-5 inset stove

Bodart and Gonay stoves and inset fires are produced in their own factory in Belgium to very high standards. The styling and build quality of these appliances cannot be matched easily.

We will receive our Bodart & Gonay infire 604  for showroom display early September.

Bodart and gonat`s infire design can suit both standalone installations or be integrated into a fireplace surround. This is a good way to blend traditional styling with modern wood burning technology.

Embers are pleased to announce that we have several exciting new lines. Thanks to anglia fireplaces we can now offer stoves and fireplaces from Hase, Exoos, Bodart & gonay, and Tonwerk.

Both Hase and Xeoos stoves are manufactured in germany to very high specifications.

Xeoos Stoves have 2 combustion chambers; the standard chamber is at the top and this burns like a standard stove however when a lever on the side is depressed then the flame direction is redirected downwards into the second firebox where very high temperatures can be achieved as well as being extremely efficient with almost no ash. XEOOS stoves are also Approved by DEFRA for burning wood in smoke control areas . We have a Xeoos pure model which will be on live display in our London showroom from September.

The Xeoos Twinfire system diagram

The Tonwerk range of wood burning stoves are swiss made  and are based on the heat storage stoves that have been used in Europe for hundreds of years. Using what is best of both old and new, these stoves are the pinnacle of wood burning technology with the ability to store and radiate heat for many hours after only one fueling.   Very beautiful lines and styling and perfectly suited to low energy homes.

the tonwerk eye heat storage wood stove

Hase stoves are and always have been the very best of German precision and quality. At Embers we are very happy to offer these superb woodburners. From the moment you touch the very tactile handle and open the door on a hase wood burning stove, you will know that it is not a typical mass produced item and hase design is often years ahead of its competitors.

Exceptional style and quality from hase stoves (hase bari pictured)

The Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps

I am asked on a regular basis: If I have a stove do I still need a chimney sweep? and Why?

This can be answered by basic combustion theory which I have explained in brief terms.

When  wood is heated it emits little tar droplets ( volatile hydro carbons) this is the hydro carbon based fuel which when mixed with oxygen and heat in adequate quantities  gives that lovely gaseous burn. and in laboratory conditions, with the right mixture of necessary elements combustion can be almost 100% efficient.

Unfortunatly complete combustion is impossible to achieve in the real world as many factors effect it.

• The efficiency of the appliance
• The moisture content of fuel
• Available oxygen
• Gas duration times
• Turbulance ( to mix the oxygen fuel and heat)

These factors can be significantly influenced by the user but that is a subject for a further blog.

Anyway what has this science got to do with chimney sweeping?

OK we have ascertained that all of the available fuel will not burn within the fire box. What happens in reality is the unburned volatile fuel rises up the chimney and condenses within as the gases cool. This condensation can coat the inside of the chimney with pure fuel which in the trade we refer to as creosote. Creosote is EXTREMELEY flammable and will ignite when flue gases within the flue are high enough this can cause chimney fires which can reach over 1050C.   What we refer to as soot is not usually creosote based, it is usually a mixture or unburned carbon particles and fly ash. Soot can also contain creosote and also be flammable.

Creosote is also extremeley corrosive and when water is introduced it forms organic acids that can corrode the chimney linings very quickly.

Sweeping the chimney on a regular basis is very important as it will dramatically reduce the risk of chimney fire along with increasing the lifespan of your flue system and stove. It is also a great way to spot problems before they arise and to ensure that your installation and liner guarantee remain valid. Some insurance companies now stipulate the need for appliance service and sweeping within their policies.

It must always be remembered that all carbon based fuels including wood emit carbon monoxide when burned. It is not acceptable to breath smoke even if you like the smell.  The most effective method of reducing the risks associated with carbon monoxide poisoning are; Have a registered installer Service all heat producing appliances on a regular basis ( HETAS for solid fuel and GAS SAFE for gas), this includes utilising the services of a professional chimney sweep. A carbon monoxide alarm should be installed in all rooms that contain heat producing combustion appliances.

Wood chimneys should be swept twice per year as a minimum and some chimneys will require even more visits per annum. This may sound excessive however service contracts are on offer which will drastically reduce costs.

There are 2 professional chimney sweeping organisations within the UK which meet all of the requirements of insurance companies and also the strict criteria of Embers Fireplaces and stoves. They Are: The Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps www.guildofmasterchimneysweeps.co.uk   and the NACS the national association of chimney sweeps

Embers are associated with Clean Sweep Chimney Services who can accomodate your servicing and sweeping requirements. For more info visit www.chimneyservice.co.uk

always choose a sweep from a trusted trade organisation such as the guild of master chimney sweeps

The most Important part of buying a wood burning stove is a site survey.

you might ask why? and by who?

Firstly the why?  

A stove is a powerful heat producing appliance that has to meet many differnt criteria. For instance the size of the room must be calculated along with existing heating, insulation, exterior walls,windows, location,wood storage, fuel type and suitability, chimney type and location, burning duration and KW output, the amount of available fuel, proximity to combustables, safety factors, along with who will be using the appliance  their criteria and finally what it will look like.

You can see that there is a lot to take into account. The biggest problem that industry experts face is customers searching to find an appliance that they like the look of and that suits their budget, then purchasing a stove  that is either too large or  not suitable for its location.   It is all too easy to buy a stove that is way too big. You wouldn`t put 5 radiators in a room that requires only 2, however there is a perception that with fire bigger is better?. In our opinion a more pragmatic approach must be adopted, similar to that of purchasing a central heating boiler. looks are and should be important but they must not be the primary criteria.

Ok so who?

Solid fuel heating is complex with the similar legal issues to gas or oil.   Your choice of company will determin wether or not the person undertaking your site survey is a commision based sales rep or an  unbiased engineer with the needed experience. 

Some advive that we can give is as follows.

• Ask to see the engineers credentials   `HETAS REGISTRATION` or `NAPIT REGISTRATION` is the bare minimum qualification. many people have attained HETAS certification this is not the same thing.  Only REGISTERED engineers have demonstrated competence and can self certify their work.
• Research the company: Use long standing businesses and ask to see their insurances, qualifications and talk to the person undertaking the survey if possible. It is unlikeley that a newly formed business will be able to back up a 10 or 25 year guarantee?
• ONLY deal with businesses that have a show room. This is common sense as if a problem does arise the very last thing that a good company wants is unhappy or complaining customers scaring away potention sales.  It is almost impossible to gain any type of satisfaction or fix problems looking at a computer screen.  Furthermore buying a stove should be a tactile experience and the hands on approach should be adopted. 

In our opinion a good site survey will simplify the entire process and bypass many of the shortfalls that can be associated with buying and installing a stove. 

Daniel Hodgson

MD Embers Fireplaces and Stoves LTD

I am regurlarly asked four questions regarding wood burning in London.

1. Is it Legal to burn wood in london or smoke control areas?

2. Is wood readily available?

3. are logs expensive?

4. Is it really environmentally friendly?

To answer question 1. Burning wood in London or any other smokeless zone is only legal if it is to be burned in a DEFRA exempt appliance. It is not permitted to burn wood in an open fire or any appliance that does not have an EXEMPT status.  It is possible however to burn fuels that are EXEMPT such as smokeless coal although this is far from environmentally friendly.

It might be true that the smoke control areas are not heavily policed at present, but this will most certainly change as we continue to move towards cleaner air and lower particulate emissions.

2. There are several really good companies now delivering wood into central London. Our companies preferences are Certainly Wood and Jotul.  Both companies have grown sustainable forests, which would not exist without the demand for wood as fuel.  Certainly Wood is Based in Herefordshire, it has a fleet of low emission vehicles, utilises waste wood for its kilns and has won several accolades for sustainability and carbon neutrality.

3. This question is much harder to awnser as it has several possible awnsers.

i.  Wood can be purchased by the load or ton for very little money. However, this will have to be seasoned for 2 years before it can be burned cleanly and efficiently. ( a wood store or 2 are a must)

ii. Buying Kiln dried wood in bulk bags of 1 or 1.4  cubic metres  can be cost effective and would be the only sensible option for your first years fuel due to the seasoning time of hardwood. ( a wood store is a must)

iii. Buying wood by the bag can be more expensive and is not the most environmentally friendly option however when measured to fossil fuels any wood product typically has a much lower carbon impact by many multiples. We try to discoropuge the by the bag method at Embers, however it does have benefits for people that have a no bulk storage option.

iiii. If you want a really green and cheap option for fuel then burning wood that is destined for lanfil is the best option. This wood will be realeasing its carbon as it rots in the land fill site anyhow and  with no heat benefit? and best of all, in most cases it is FREE. (do not be tempted to burn painted,varnished or treated timber)

4.  Untreated dried wood is by far the most eco-friendly option for London homes.  This is only 100% true if the following criteria are met.

i,  Wood is burned with a moisture content of 20% of lower ( water does not burn and it lowers the combustion temperature, as the combustion energy is utilised to evaporate it)

ii. Wood must only be burned in a high efficiency appliance

iii. Trees must never be felled without replanting new saplings.

iiii. Reputable wood suppliers with a proven track record should be utilised

iiiii. The state of moderate flaming combustion should be achieved within the fire box. That is when the entire window is filled with fire but is not being exhausted up the chimney. This can be checked by the installation of a probe type thermometer and by checking the condition of the smoke issueing from the pot ( it should not be visible within the first 30 cm this should be steam, beyond 30 cm the smoke should be white or a light grey. If the smoke is black after the initially warming period then the wood is too wet or the way that the stove is being used is wrong.

In my expert opinion wood is not only a viable proposition but necessary too.  We simply do not have unlimited resources and as such even if you do not subscribe to the carbon issues, it cannot be denied that at some point we are going to face very large increases in demand for domestic gas and oil and as we all know demand is what sets the price. Wood is also the ONLY renewable fuel that is currently able to effectivly heat our draughty London homes.  Lets not forget the way it makes us feel when we watch it burn too.

I hope that this blog has been helpful. 

D Hodgson

In todays world of rising gas prices and a planet that is being stripped of its natural resources. It is no wonder that many people are looking for cost effective, renewable alternatives as heating sources.

A wood burning stove is a perfect start towards both reducing reliance on fossil fuels and lowering both heating bils and our impact on the planet.

The installation of a high efficiency biomass based appliance into a living room will switch the most energy dependent part of a house`s reliance from fossil fuels to a carbon neutral alternative, almost overnight. furthermore this can be achieved without the massive costs that can be associated with other renewables.

embers fireplaces and stoves have many years experience within the solid fuel market and are one of the most qualified companies in the UK in regards to biomass stoves and installation.  Anyone that has been to our London showroom will have seen our wall of qualification`s.

A good method to drastically reduce your fossil fuel consumption is to install a pellet and wood burning cooker. This will not only cook beautifully in the wood oven but also heat the room that it is sited making the radiators redundant. Embers have chosen the Lohberger range of cookers to accommodate this, hand crafted in Germany this range of contemporary wood cookers are one of the cleanest burning in the world. The amount of fuel used to generate the necessary heat is also very low due to the very clever technology used.

For most however this solution will still be too far and the easiest and most cost effective thing that can be done to reduce reliance on fossil fuels is simply to install a woodburning stove.  embers has a huge range of DEFRA exempt stoves on offer and are not tied in to any particular manufacturer. This means that we can give unbiased advice and you get a huge choice.

If you have interest in other renew-ables then please ask the specialist who attends your site survey and we can talk over how best to make the different technologies work together and what is best for your particular home.

A wood burning stove has several main advantages over an open fire.

• Open fires are very inefficient typically their efficiencies are less than 20% and in some cases are negative, whereas most of the wood burning stoves on the market today have efficiencies over 75%.  The reason for this is simple hot air rises and as an open fire is sat underneath a hole (chimney ) the hot air rises straight up and out. A wood stove contains these same gases in the fire box until the vast majority of heat has been radiated to the room. Higher combustion temperatures are also achieved as the combustion temperatures are not high enough to burn all of the gasas in the first instance. Inside a stove Oxygen, Heat and fuel are violently mixed together which results in much more of the volatile gases being burned. 
• Wood burners use much less fuel than there open fire counterparts
• within a stove fire is contained within a steel or cast iron box making wood-burning stoves very much safer
• the rate of combustion can be controlled on a stove, open fires always burn at 100% wood burners require a narrower diameter chimney or flue as less flue gases are emitted
• open fires require a huge additional permanent source of ventilation added to the room. Stoves require only minimal ventilation. This is due to combustion gas requirements and the rate at which fuel is consumed for example: a typical open fire will consume at least 200 m3 of air from the room per hour where a typical wood burning stove would require only 40 m3.
• The best and most important reason for choosing a stove is because they are very hot and can heat large areas or draughty london houses with ease. Oh and they look good too

the scan anderson 4-5 bestselling stove for embers 2009

My Name is Daniel Hodgson, the managing director of embers fireplaces and stoves LTD

 I would like to welcome you to to our blog which will cover everything from burning cycles, fuel types, maintenance, new additions to our range and tips and tricks.