Charlottechicken Posted July 18, 2007 Share Posted July 18, 2007 I hope to be in a position to have a wood or multi fuel burner in the next 12 months , and would appreciate any advice from those of you who own these products. Of course with me being a penny pincher I would like to do as much of the prep work myself too I have had a look at some sites and they seem to suggest that the steel bodied ones are better for heating up quick, which would be good for me as I go out to work. What are the options with multi fuel burners? What else can you burn? Birmingham is in part or whole a smoke control zone so I may have to have one which is a cleanburner if I want to burn wood, which I do, and approved by DEFRA. I hope not as these are more than twice the price of the £320 steel one I have my eye on, and I may have to wait longer and save more . Anyone else in a smoke free zone with a woodburner I am also interested in advice for the surround for the burner, I have a lovely large fireplace opening (36" wide x 43" high x 14" deep) which is currently plastered and decorated, but will be taken back to bare brick, will this need treating in any way? Does the rest of the chimney around the new flue get blocked up to stop bits coming down the chimney? My other room has an open fireplace beseiged by cherry stones at present, and I am thinking of getting a chimney balloon for that I have emailed my local public health people to ask for clarification on which type of burner I could have, and await their reply. Sorry this is a long post Any thoughts would be appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted July 18, 2007 Share Posted July 18, 2007 Hi Claire, I can't help too much with the technical details, although The Hubby could, but I just wanted to tell you how pleased I am with our wood burning stove. We got it last Autumn, its cast iron & has a little bit on top to heat a kettle if you want. Brian being a window fitter has a ready supply of old frames to burn, & it heats up the house beautifully, although its not connected to the house heating system. We wouldn't hesitate to get another & would use it to heat the whole house & water too if we can. Its in a fire surround that Brian built , & has a flue pie going up & out of the side of the house. There is bare brick behind & the flooring is a nice chunk of slate we have had for years. I think it looks great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted July 18, 2007 Author Share Posted July 18, 2007 Ooh, thanks for the info, Sarah. It certainly sounds nice! I have seen the ones with the kettle space on, they are really sweet! Also found some with what looks like a tiny oven on top too Nice to know you are so pleased with the heat it gives out. Now I just need to wait for the council to tell me I have to have an expensive 'cleanburn' one (lack of choice too ). I have already had a reply to my email telling me which fossil fuels I can burn, but I know this as the fire in the other room is an open one and I want to burn WOOD! I have some Victorian quarry tiles from the kitchen which I could use on the floor part, it would be nice to put them back in the house somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted July 18, 2007 Share Posted July 18, 2007 I am in a smoke control zone too, and I am afraid you are not allowed to burn wood in small multi-fuel burning stoves (although you can of course burn smokeless fuels). I have had fruitless correspondence with my council, who have confirmed that the only wood I am allowed to burn is in a wood-fuelled boiler system. These cost £4,500, but we could get a council grant of £1,500. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted July 19, 2007 Author Share Posted July 19, 2007 I am in a smoke control zone too, and I am afraid you are not allowed to burn wood in small multi-fuel burning stoves (although you can of course burn smokeless fuels). I have had fruitless correspondence with my council, who have confirmed that the only wood I am allowed to burn is in a wood-fuelled boiler system. These cost £4,500, but we could get a council grant of £1,500. Not even the DEFRA approved cleanburners for smoke control zones, Gallina? This is the government site I found which shows the exempt appliances. http://www.uksmokecontrolareas.co.uk/appliances.php?country=e Thanks for the warning, and the comments, especially as you are in a smoke control area! I may also be about to start banging my head on a brick wall that is Birmingham City Council. It's madness isn't it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starboyhull Posted July 19, 2007 Share Posted July 19, 2007 Does this count for my fire as well as we are in a smoke control zone.....There are a lot of people in our area that use wood / coal in their fires......... We live right behind a firestation too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted July 19, 2007 Share Posted July 19, 2007 I have found the email I had from Oxford City Council: I couldn't find it last night. They referred me to the UK Smoke Control Areas website, which is extremely helpful and informative. It lists all the exempt wood burners in England here. I don't think it included any of the small modern clean burners, but I might be wrong. This is the official information for the whole of England (there is information on that site for the rest of the UK too, where the rules are different). I couldn't understand why my city council would give me a big grant to put in a wood-burning central heating system, but would not let me burn wood in a modern clean-burning small stove. I still don't really understand it, but I have to accept it. The fines in Oxford are swingeing if they catch anyone burning wood. This applies to open fires too of course: you can't burn anything that gives off smoke if you are in a smoke-control zone. So you can only use smokeless fuel, not coal or wood. (But you are allowed to burn wood in a garden bonfire in a smoke control zone. Crazy, isn't it?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted July 19, 2007 Author Share Posted July 19, 2007 You are right Gallina, it is crazy! I came across that DEFRA offshoot website whilst looking for exempt appliances on a really good woodburner site. I will fight to get my woodburner now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted July 19, 2007 Author Share Posted July 19, 2007 Does this count for my fire as well as we are in a smoke control zone.....There are a lot of people in our area that use wood / coal in their fires......... We live right behind a firestation too Yes Karl, you can either burn smokeless fuel, as listed on the website that myself and Gallina refer to, or have a cleanburning stove, which filters out all nasty air pollution, which is what I think I will have to buy. A list of cleanburn stoves are on this site, and useful info. http://www.stovesonline.co.uk/cleanburn-cleanheat-stove.html BTW, I do not think it is illegal to sell non exempt wood burning appliances or coal and wood in smoke control areas, but this does give the impression that it is acceptable to use them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted July 19, 2007 Share Posted July 19, 2007 But no reputable firm will deliver logs to a smoke-control area. When I was looking into the possibility of getting a wood-burning stove, I also investigated where I could get wood, as I don't have a car. I tried Crocus the online garden firm, and as soon as I typed in my postcode to check availability they said sorry, they couldn't deliver wood to me as I live in a smoke-control zone.* It just isn't worth the risk: they can fine you £2,000 for burning wood in your grate or stove. Better to have your fire in the garden and sit around that.... [*This may have changed now, of course, as there are the new exempt wood-burning stoves.] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted July 19, 2007 Author Share Posted July 19, 2007 Interesting Gallina! With emphasis on the word 'reputable'! I cannot wait to hear from my local public health officer now, and will keep you informed of how it goes. Meanwhile I will go through the list of approved appliances and try and find a nice room heater I can start to set my heart on! If anyone has more advice, keep it coming! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted July 20, 2007 Author Share Posted July 20, 2007 I received a reply from my local environmental health officer yesterday, and the list on www.uksmokecontrolareas.co.uk is the definitive approved list, so at least I know what I can have now! Looks like it will be a wood only burner, and at least twice the price I hoped to pay It is a very limited list of roomheaters so I hope more have been approved by the time I am ready to have one installed, fingers crossed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 I had a multi-fuel burner at one of my previous houses and only ever used wood in it so I wouldn't worry too much! I did exactly what you are planning to do - reclaimed quarry tiles and all (edged with wood). Getting the plaster off was the messiest bit - but very satisfying. I had to repoint quite a lot of the chimney breast. You then need to seal it all over, otherwise you will be plagued by brick dust. Can't remember what with though!. It looked good though as the sealant stuff brought out the colours of the bricks and gave them a soft sheen. Anyway what I really wanted to say was yes the rest of the hole does get covered over with a plate thing (is it called a sole plate - I can't remember?) The pipe should have a little door thingummy in it which is used for the chimney sweep's brush. You can see I am really into the technical side of things (not) Oh - and get the chimney swept before you start bashing away as lots of stuff will come down! Have fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted July 21, 2007 Author Share Posted July 21, 2007 Thanks Tina, that is good info! What did you seal the bricks with, can you remember? And did you point with ordinary mortar or fire cement? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 Pointed with ordinary cement as the chimney breast did not get dangerously hot (but might be worth investigating if fire cement is recommended by 'experts', which I am not). I've a feeling the sealant was some sort of acrylic product - I am sure if you look in DIY stores there will be something. When we had our slate floor installed (also in a previous house - we don't have the money to do anything in this one) that was sealed with a clear sealant of some kind so you might find something like that you could use. I will ask OH and see if he knows. I am sooooo jealous as I want a fire/stove of some kind in this house but the boiler is vented into the chimney and the fireplace that would have been in the lounge has long been blocked up. So we can't do anything until we make lots of other decisions about the boiler/the kitchen design/whether to make a downstairs shower room........ everything is interdependent AND expensive! Also its a 1950s house, the previous 2 were Victorian so I need to do something different here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 Just because you don't have a fireplace or its blocked doesn't mean you can't have a wood burner. We have one in our new living room, where we built a fake fireplace, & the fumes are vented out of the side of the house by a big metal pipe. It looks great - really authentic - & we would certainly do it again if & when we move. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 Thanks Sarah. The only problem is its a big lounge running the whole length of the house and there are wide windows on all three of the outside walls - 4 in total, including the whole of the back, which has windows and glass doors all the way across and a big bay at the front. This means there is no sensible place to put a fireplace, except where the existing chimney breast is Wouldn't want to change the windows as its a lovely light room. It may have been 2 rooms originally. But its good to see your pic for anyone else who wants a cosy fire but has no chimney. And have a nose at someone else's house of course Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 To be honet Tina, we designed the room around the fact that we wanted a wood burner, then the very clever Hubby built it all for us Its got lots of windows too, & French doors at the far end, because I like light & airy rooms, and the burner makes it still lovely & cosy in the winter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 Stop mentioning cosy rooms - I feel cold today (I am sitting at my pc wearing socks in July grrr) Oh I am so that you have what I want. One day, one day (endowment matures in 5.5 years, until then I just have to dream....) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 23, 2007 Share Posted July 23, 2007 Claire, you're welcome to come and see my stove any time. It's the best thing i ever bought - I get free wood from a friend who is a joiner, blagged from tree surgeons and raided from skips. I hardly use any coal - nuggets last for ages longer than regular coal and burn hot as they are designed for stoves. I got mine from http://www.heatstoreltd.co.uk/. I shopped around and found them to be the cheapest at the time, my chimney sweep (frombicester) fitted mine and it works a treat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted July 25, 2007 Author Share Posted July 25, 2007 Thanks everyone for the info! Sarah, your fireplace is lovely! Tina, great info! Clare, what type of woodburner did you get, if you don't mind me asking? Is it dual fuel, or wood only, and is it a cleanburn? Studley is not far from me so I may go and have a look at that place. I am a little mystified as the household stoves that are approved for smoke control areas are all quite large, even when those particular manufacturers make smaller models which are also cleanburn, so I may contact DEFRA to see if they are on the point of approving more I have plenty of time to think about exactly what I want as saving up will be half the battle (and EVERYTHING appears to need doing to the house this year ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milly Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 Claire, it's not a particularly green suggestion (as it involves travelling), but we went to have a look at the Clearview stoves showroom in Ludlow recently. I don't think Ludlow is too far from Birmingham? It's a good day out (Ludlow is a nice town to visit and the Wernlas chicken collection is just up the road, another reason for our visit). The showroom is in a beautiful old house (like a stately home) in the centre of town. The staff are very informative and helpful and you can see the stoves in fireplaces (various sizes). They are all clean burn, but unfortunately rather pricy. I would like to get one if we ever replace our current stove (which is a cheap one under the Villager brand, but I don't think it's clean air friendly). A word of warning about size - our stove is too big for the room, so we all get too hot if it's on high. But the room is open to the stairs so the heat goes up and warms the rest of the house. It may not be clean burn, but it is much more efficient than an open fire. Milly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 Claire, mine is a Villager Chelsea flat top. It is a multi-fuel stove with a riddling grate too. I went to look and play with one at a showroom locally, but got it from Studley because they were cheaper. The service there was fantastic (this was about 4 years ago). Bear in mind that they are exceedingly heavy and need to be installed by someone who knows what they are doing. It is just the right size for my living room and gets hot really quickly. I couldn't be happier with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
