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.
