Phoenix Plumbing & Heating Stoves FAQs

The first thing you need to decide is whether you want to heat a room (or open plan area) or you want hot water and to heat your entire home.
If you want hot water and to heat your entire home then a Boiler Stove is the right choice for you. A Boiler Stove heats water and feeds it into your central heating – the higher the Heat Output (kw) the more radiators you can heat. But remember the Heat Output value given for a stove is its maximum capacity.
If you just want to heat a room or open plan area then either an Inset of Free Standing Room Heater is best for you.
An Inset Stove (also referred to as an Insert Stove) is designed to fit into an existing open fireplace. It can also be fitted into a wall by first installing an insulated fire box.
A Free Standing Room Heater can be single-sided (i.e. 1 front side, 1 back side) or double-sided (i.e. 2 front sides) and can stand in an existing fireplace or on a new hearth.
A useful guide for the Heat Output (kw) value you need is 1kw of heat output for every 14 cubic meters (length x width x height) of space. But high ceiling, poor-insulation and openings to adjoining rooms or stairways will affect the amount of Heat Output you need.
You can choose from a Wood Burning Stove which should only be fueled by well-seasoned wood, or a Multi Fuel Stove which can be fueled by well-seasoned wood or mineral fuels like coal and peat.
Other features to consider are Cleanburn (increases the combustion efficiency and reduces the amount of unburnt particles going up the chimney), Airwash (keeps the window glass clean by creating a barrier of preheated air between the glass and the fire, preventing tar from settling on the window) and Efficiency (the amount of energy in your fuel that will transfer to the room).
As part of Phoenix Plumbing & Heating’s Site Survey, we will advise you on all your options, answer all your questions and help you make the decision that is right for you.

Most stoves will list the Heat Output (kw) and the size of the typical living space they are designed to heat. However these figures can be misleading.
The Heat Output of a Stove is not a measurement of the output of warmth into your room, it’s a measurement of the maximum temperature the stove can handle.
The typical living space is based on well-insulated rooms with eight foot high ceilings. If you have high ceiling, your room is less than well-insulated and/or the living space you want to heat is open to adjoining rooms or stairways openings than these factors need to be taken into consideration.
As part of Phoenix Plumbing & Heating’s Site Survey, we will advise you on the size and type of stove that will best meet your needs, where it will be best positioned in your room, and how we can improve the insulation in your room.

Wood and wood-derived biomass fuel like wood pellets need the combustion air to come from above to burn effectively, whereas mineral fuels like (smokeless) coal and peat need combustion air to come from underneath.
A Woodburning Stove is only able to burn wood, and either has a small grate or no grate at all. Multi Fuel Stoves have a grate that keeps the fuel up off the bottom and have a riddling system to shake the grate and dump ash into an ash pan. Some Multi Fuel Stoves are also very effective at burning wood and wood-derived biomass fuels. These Stoves have a riddling system that closes the grate, creating a flat bottom.

All stove installations need to be carried out in full compliance with Building Regulations (Technical Guidance Document J – Heat Producing Appliances), as well as the manufacturers installation instructions. These regulations are there for the safety and well-being of home owners – there has been far too many cases of the likes of carbon monoxide poisoning because an unqualified builder or DIYer botched an installation.
Phoenix Plumbing & Heating are highly trained and experienced HETAS Registered Stove Installers. We carry out all works to the highest standard.

In a word, no. The Heat Output of a Stove, measured in kilowatts (kw), is not a measurement of the output of warmth into your room. It’s a measurement of the maximum temperature the stove can handle.
The output of warmth into your room has more to do with the the physical size of your stove and the type of fuel you use, than its kilowatt rating.
Also the warmth of your room is heavily dependent on how well insulated your room is. And how many open areas are connected to the room.
As part of Phoenix Plumbing & Heating’s Site Survey, we will advise you on the size and type of stove that will best meet your needs, where it will be best positioned in your room, and how we can improve the insulation in your room.

No. If you do not have, or want to position the stove away from an existing chimney, we will install an Insulated Flue System to your new Free Standing or Inset Stove. This system is purpose designed for stoves, has a maximum diameter of c.150mm (6″) and with a stainless steel or a powder-coated colour finish.
The Insulated Flue System can connect to either the top or the back of your stove. We can install the Insulated Flue System to go vertically, exiting up through your roof, or at 45° from the back of your stove out through an external wall and then continue up to regulation height on the outside of your house.

Using an Existing Fireplace

We can use an Existing Fireplace provided it is big enough to fit your chosen stove, and has the minimum clearance from combustible materials specified by the manufacturer. We can also look at installing additional heat shields to protect combustible materials if the clearance gaps are very close to, or smaller than, the stated distances.
It doesn’t matter how old your existing fireplace is, if its in poor condition or even blocked up. Phoenix Plumbing & Heating will carry out any and all breaking out, restoration and finishing work required. Including removing an existing gas fire (by a R.G.I. registered engineer), opening out fireplaces to their original built-size, installing new lintels and dry-lining, rendering and plastering.

Using an Existing Chimney

Yes, we can connect the flue from your new stove to an existing chimney. Phoenix Plumbing & Heating install a Multiflex Double-Ply Stainless-Steel Flexible Liner and Enamelex Vitreous Flue System. These liners prevent any gases from leaking out, and also protect the masonry in your chimney from the corrosive by-products from burning. And ensures your stove burns at its most efficient throughout its lifetime.

Yes, all free-standing and inset stoves need to be on a non-combustible hearth. We can use an existing hearth if you have one in place, and provided it meets the appropriate safety standards, or supply and install a new hearth of your choosing. The thickness of the hearth will depend the specifications of your stove and the material used for the hearth, e.g. slate, granite, concrete, toughened glass etc.
If you want to place your stove nearer to a wall that the manufacturer’s specified minimum clearance distances, we can also install a suitably sized and finished non-combustible fire-shield surround.

Yes, provided the stove you choose fits into within the fireplace and has the minimum clearance from combustible material specified by the manufacturer. We can also look at installing additional heat shields to protect combustible materials if the clearance gaps are very close to, or smaller than, the stated distances.
We can also source, supply and fit a new or antique Fire Surround in a style, material and finish of your choosing.

No, a stove is a sealed unit so everything goes up the chimney.

It is normal a new stove to give off a smell when you first use it for the first one or two times. This is because the paint on the stove is undergoing a curing process. Your stove’s User Manual will advise you on using your specific stove for the first few times but for most stoves it is best to open nearby windows and keep the fire small for the initial burn. And do not touch or wipe the paint surfaces while this curing process is taking place.

Also when you first use the stove you might find the glass appears cloudy – this is because the stove is drying the moisture from the bricks and steel.

The type of fuel that you use depends on the type of stove that you have, and will be clearly explained in your stove’s Users Manual. If you are burning wood, you should only be burning well seasoned firewood – wood with a moisture content of less than 20%. You can also burn processed peat and smokeless mineral fuels unless specified otherwise by the manufacturer.
You should never burn plastic, cardboard or paper with inks or dyes.

You will need to clean out the ash regularly and have the chimney swept once a year. If you are only burning wood you just need to keep the ash at a depth of 3-5cm.  If you are burning mineral fuels like coal, you should riddle all the ash from the grate before lighting the fire and empty the ash pan once the ash has cooled. The door should always close tight to create a good seal. If the door handle looses it can cause problems with the performance of the stove, safety, and smoke escaping into the room. It can cause damage to the stove door rope, which is what creates the seal, and to the glass. The door handle is attached with a bolt and can easily be tightened.

Smoke Coming From Your Stove When You Light It

Sometimes smoke comes from your stove when you light it. This ‘downdraught’ (or reversal) is due to atmospheric conditions – there is nothing wrong with your stove. Its happens when cold air from your flue is draughting into your stove. If you feel cold air when you put your hand inside your unlit stove burn a couple of firelighters on their own to warn the flue and then light the fire using more kindling than usual.

You may have seen stoves in other peoples houses where the window glass is blackened up. This is caused by a build up of tar on the glass and indicates that the wood being burner is not dry enough – less than 20% moisture – or that the fire is not hot enough before being throttled back.
Every stove has an optimum operating temperature – which will be specified in the stove’s operating manual. Everytime you light the fire you should bring the stove up to this temperature before throttling back. This will work to keep the glass clean and also clean out any potential build up in your chimney.
Every stove is different – you should check your stove’s operating manual to see what cleaning products are effective at cleaning that stove’s glass, and if using any particular product will affect your stove’s warranty.

Airwash

Stoves with a built-in ‘airwash’ feature are designed to keep the window glass clean by creating a barrier of preheated air between the glass and the fire, preventing tar from settling on the window.