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Chimney Draught A good chimney draught is essential if you are to obtain the optimum performance from your stove. There are many variable factors that affect the performance of a chimney and your local Chesney's stockist will be able to advise you on the suitability of your chimney for use with a stove. If you do not have a chimney it is possible to have a prefabricated chimney system installed which is compatible with a multi-fuel stove. It is important that you have your chimney cleaned once a year by a NACS (National Association of Chimney Sweeps) registered sweep.
Fuel It is essential that you burn seasoned dry firewood with a moisture content of less than 20%. Burning wet wood will adversely affect the performance of your stove, creating tar deposits in the chimney and cause the glass in the stove door to blacken. Use of a moisture meter will allow you to check that the moisture content of any wood that you are intending to purchase is satisfactory. If you are supplying your own firewood, it should be stored for at least a year after cutting and splitting to enable it to dry out. Storage should be in a dry well aired location. Hardwood will generally burn for longer than softwood and the latter will make better kindling as it lights easily. Sources of wood such as decking, fencing, demolition materials, painted or treated wood, driftwood or rubbish should under no circumstances be used as fuel for your stove. See The National Energy Foundation website (www.nef.org.uk/logpile) for a database of wood fuel suppliers. We would strongly recommend that for environmental reasons wood is used as the fuel for your stove, but where coal is your choice of fuel please ensure that it is not petroleum based. For advice on solid fuel contact an approved Coal Merchant or call the Solid Fuel Association advice line on 0845 601 4406 or visit their website at www.solidfuel.co.uk
Maintenance The door seals of the stove should be regularly checked to ensure that there is an airtight seal. If the sealing rope is not intact it will result in draughts entering the stove which affect its combustion efficiency. The fireproof bricks that line the stove should also be checked for signs that they may be starting to crumble. It is acceptable for a cracking to be seen but not disintegration of the bricks as this will reduce the insulation in the firebox leading to low temperatures and inefficient combustion. It is also important that the ashpan is not allowed to overflow as the hot ash can cause the grate of the stove to distort.
Provision of ventilation All stoves require air for combustion. To comply with Building Regulations (Document J) any stove with a maximum heat output of over 5 kilowatts will require its own dedicated supply of air by means of an air vent.
Installation Your stove and flue must be installed by a HETAS approved installer. HETAS is the governing body for the installation of woodburning and solid fuel appliances and its approved installers have all completed the training course necessary to obtain accreditation.
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