Wood Burning Stove Winter Sale is here: USING SOLID FUEL FIREPLACES

Solid Fuel Appliances means any fireplace or wood heater that burns wood, coal, or any other non gaseous or non liquid fuels, or any similar device burning any solid fuel, usedf or aesthetic or space-heating purposes in a privateresidence or commercial establishment, which has a heat input less than one million British thermal units per hour. Everyone warms to the cosy glow and flickering flames that only a real fire can offer and, while you're enjoying the experience, you can consider all the other advantages that solid fuel heating brings. Solid fuel heating can greatly reduce condensation, eliminating household mould often associated with 'on/off' fires. Medical research has also shown that solid fuel heating can reduce the risk of hay fever, asthma and eczema. Homes with solid fuel heating are better ventilated than those with other forms of heating; the very use of a chimney will induce ventilation into a home drawing in fresh air and removing the 'polluted' air. An airvent is recommended with stoves over 5kw. Go to: http://www.stovesliverpool.co.uk/

TYPES OF SOLID FUEL HEATERS
1 Solid Fuel stoves, often called Wood Burners, Log Burners, Multi Fuel Stoves.
2 Solid Fuel Basket Fires and grates
3 Solid Fuel Cast Insert Fireplaces

1 - Solid Fuel stoves come in many sizes and vary greatly with regards to their output. Stoves can sit inside an inglenook and top flued or be flued from the back using a pipe bend then sitting outside the inglenook chamber. Wood and log burners burn simply wood and have no ashpan. Multi fuel stoves burn coal and wood and come with an ashpan. Go to: http://www.stovesliverpool.co.uk/

2 - Solid Fuel Cast Insert Fireplaces require a cast insert which houses a solid fuel grate and ash pan. A hearth is required and a fireplace usually from solid wood or stone which will keep the cast insert in place. Beware of using veneer or painted surrounds as they may bubble with the heat from the fire. A combination cast is also a fireplace so a mantel is not needed. Go to: http://www.fireplacesuk.org.uk/archinsets.htm

3 - Solid Fuel Basket Fires and grates must be supplied with an ash pan to collect the debris once it burns. Ideally choose a black basket as a polished basket will stain from the solid fuel heat. Burn wood or coal. The basket or grate must sit inside the chimney in an inglenook chamber. Sometimes a 3 sided brick or clay back will surfice for a solid fuel grate. Go to: http://www.fireplacesuk.org.uk/cast%20con1.htm

Solid Fuel Hearths

All hearths suitable for burning solid fuel come slabbed and sectioned to help resist high temperatures. They have a solid bed of concrete underneath. They may be made from black granite which is slabbled, solid stone or tiled. Some hearths are flat at the back or sold with a T section. T sectioned solid fuel hearths are more likely to be supplied with solid fuel cast insert fireplaces. Sometime they may be supplied with a metal heat plate on top. HETAS is the organisation recognised by the Department of the Environment as the official testing and approval body for the solid fuel industry.