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Fuels:
There is no ‘perfect’ fuel so we strongly
recommend that you try a selection of fuels (or mixtures)
to find which suits you best. Do avoid dusty materials
such as sawdust, they can burn far too violently.
Smoke Control:
In certain areas special rules apply to
reduce smoke nuisance. Check with your local authority.
Wood:
Wood only emits as much carbon to the
atmosphere as the tree took in when growing so wood is
considered the ‘carbon neutral’ fuel. When wood is cut down its cells are full
of water. Burning such wet or ‘green’ wood wastes heat in making steam and produces flammable
acidic tars which will cling to, and rapidly damage, your stove and chimney. Split logs will
typically take two years to become reasonably dry, round logs much longer. Cracks in the ends, a
hollow sound when tapped and bark falling away are all signs that a log may be ready for use. The
fine, white residue produced when wood burns is not ash, but the remains of cell walls which can
burn if kept hot enough, so don’t de-ash a fire until absolutely necessary when using wood.
These appliances are authorised for use in smoke control areas of the UK when burning wood. For
best performance, and always for low smoke emission:
⚫
Split logs lengthways for drying
⚫
Use logs no bigger than about 100mm x 250mm
⚫
Ensure logs are absolutely dry (less than 15% moisture)
⚫
Fill the stove ‘criss-cross’ so air can circulate between logs
⚫
Fill ‘little & often’
⚫
Always have the airwash control
❷
at least a little open
⚫
When first lighting, or reviving a fire from embers, use only very small, thin, dry, sticks
⚫
Never operate with the door open
⚫
Don’t overfill the firebox
Anthracite:
(Smokeless) A natural hard, shiny form of coal. Slow to light, it can burn for very
long periods with great heat. Despite its high price per bag it generally works out to be one of the
cheapest of all fuels. Use the small ‘nuts’ size.
Briquettes:
Compressed blocks of fuel, generally able to burn for long periods and remarkable for
their consistency. ‘Homefire’ and ‘Phurnacite’ are smokeless types while other brands are made
from lignite, peat or housecoal. Only burn smokeless briquettes that are <2% sulphur content,
these will be labelled up as “HETAS approved” or “DEFRA authorised for use in a smoke control
zone”. Cheaper smokeless briquettes are oil based and have a much higher sulphur content than
the approved briquettes, these are not authorised for use on this appliance. If in doubt consult your
retailer.
THE USE OF UNAUTHORISED FUELS CAN DAMAGE YOUR
STOVE AND WILL INVALIDATE YOUR LIFETIME GUARANTEE
