Fireplace, Stove, Fire & Chimney FAQs

A wood burning stove is an enclosed appliance designed to burn wood efficiently while providing heat to the room. Modern stoves use controlled combustion and air systems to achieve significantly greater efficiency than traditional open fires.

There is generally no practical difference. “Wood burning stove”, “wood burner” and “log burner” are commonly used to describe the same type of appliance.

A wood burning stove is specifically designed for burning wood. A multi-fuel stove is designed to burn wood alongside other approved fuels using features such as a grate and ashpan.

There is currently no general ban on owning or installing wood burning stoves in England. Modern installations must comply with applicable emissions, fuel, Building Regulations and Smoke Control Area requirements.

Smoke entering the room usually means the stove or chimney is not creating enough upward draught to carry the combustion gases safely outside.

Common causes include:

• A cold chimney or flue
• A blocked or unswept chimney
• Insufficient chimney height Poor room ventilation or lack of combustion air
• Extractor fans creating negative pressure
• Wet or unsuitable firewood Incorrect lighting or refuelling technique
• Poorly sealed flue joints
• Adverse wind conditions or nearby buildings and trees affecting the chimney

A small amount of smoke when opening the stove door too quickly can sometimes be caused by pressure changes, so open the door slightly first and then slowly open it fully.

Persistent smoke entering the room should not be ignored. Stop using the stove and have the appliance, chimney and ventilation checked by a suitably qualified stove installer or chimney sweep.

A cold chimney can sometimes create what is commonly called a cold plug.

A chimney works because warm flue gases rise and create an upward draught. If the chimney is very cold, particularly after the stove has not been used for some time, a column of dense cold air can sit inside the flue and resist the initial upward movement of smoke.

This can cause:

• Smoke to spill back into the room when lighting
• Difficulty getting the fire established
• Weak flames
• Smoke remaining inside the stove
• The stove suddenly beginning to draw normally once the chimney warms up

Cold-start draught problems are more common with exposed external chimneys, long cold flues and some twin-wall chimney systems.

The aim when lighting is to warm the chimney and establish upward draught as quickly as possible. Use plenty of dry kindling and follow the stove manufacturer’s recommended lighting method, with the air controls fully open during the initial lighting stage.

If the problem happens regularly, it may indicate more than simply a cold chimney. Chimney height, insulation, flue diameter, terminal position, ventilation, blockages and pressure within the property should also be checked.

Persistent draught problems should be investigated by a suitably qualified stove installer or chimney specialist.

Yes, provided the appliance and fuel meet the applicable requirements. When burning wood within an English Smoke Control Area, you will normally need an appropriately exempt appliance operated according to its conditions.

A DEFRA exempt stove has been approved for burning specified fuels, including wood where applicable, in Smoke Control Areas when operated according to the conditions of its exemption.

Sometimes, but it requires careful design.

A wood burning stove can produce significant heat above and around the appliance, which may damage a television or shorten its lifespan. The stove manufacturer’s minimum clearances must always be followed, along with the television manufacturer’s temperature and installation requirements.

Where a TV is positioned above a wood burning stove, a suitable non-combustible mantel, shelf or heat-deflecting detail may be required to help protect it. The chimney breast, recess, stove position and heat output should all be considered before installation.

For this reason, we recommend planning the wood burning stove and television layout together rather than adding a TV above an existing stove without checking the heat conditions.

Ecodesign requirements set standards covering factors including efficiency and emissions from solid-fuel appliances. Ecodesign compliance and DEFRA exemption are different things and should not be confused.

Stove output should be matched to the room. Room volume is important, but insulation, glazing, ceiling height, external walls, property age and open-plan spaces can significantly affect the amount of heat required. A bigger stove is not automatically better.

No. An oversized stove can make a room uncomfortable and may encourage the appliance to be operated too slowly, resulting in poorer combustion and increased deposits. Correct sizing is more important than maximum output.

Burn clean, dry and untreated firewood suitable for the appliance. Domestic firewood should generally have a moisture content of no more than 20%.

Wet logs burn less efficiently and create more smoke. They can also increase soot and tar deposits within the stove and chimney.

A wood moisture meter can be used to check split logs. For the most meaningful reading, split the log and measure the freshly exposed internal face rather than just the outside surface.

Common causes include:

• Wet wood
• Low combustion temperature
• Restricted air supply
• Poor chimney draught Incorrect operation
• Burning the stove too slowly

Persistent blackening can indicate a fuel, operation or installation problem.

You need a suitable flue system, but this does not necessarily have to be an existing masonry chimney. Properties without chimneys can often use an insulated twin-wall chimney system.

No. Whether an existing chimney needs lining depends on its construction, dimensions, condition and suitability for the appliance. The chimney should be assessed before deciding whether lining is required.

Yes, in many properties. An insulated twin-wall chimney can often be installed internally or externally to provide the required flue route.

Some installations require dedicated combustion-air ventilation. Requirements depend on the appliance, property and installation conditions.

A correctly positioned carbon monoxide alarm is required by law in the UK for wood burning stove installations.

Solid-fuel installations must comply with Building Regulations. Using an appropriately registered HETAS installer provides a straightforward competent-person route for eligible installations.

Chimneys serving wood burning appliances should be swept regularly. The appropriate frequency depends on usage, fuel and the appliance, with more frequent sweeping often recommended during periods of regular wood burning.

Professional inspection and servicing is generally recommended at least annually, subject to manufacturer guidance and usage.

Depending on the appliance, servicing may include checking:

• Door seals and rope
• Fire bricks
• Baffles Grates
• Air controls Internal components
• General condition
• Flue connection

Yes. Bonfire supplies and installs wood burning stoves, fireplace components and complete chimney and flue systems.

The cost of installing a wood burning stove varies considerably depending on the property and the work required.

An installation into an existing suitable chimney may require a stove, hearth, chimney liner, connection components and installation. Properties without a suitable chimney may require a complete insulated twin-wall chimney system, which increases the amount of material and labour involved.

Other factors can include fireplace alterations, chimney condition, access, ventilation, scaffolding and making good.

For an accurate price, the complete installation should be assessed rather than comparing the stove price alone.

Yes.

Bonfire supplies complete wood burning stove installation packages rather than just individual appliances.

A complete project can include:

• Wood burning stove
• Hearth
• Fireplace chamber
• Chimney liner or twin-wall chimney
• Flue components
• Ventilation where required
• Installation
• Commissioning and certification

Specifying the stove and installation together helps ensure all components are compatible with the appliance and property.

Allow the stove and glass to cool completely before cleaning.

Many stove manufacturers offer dedicated stove-glass cleaners. Light deposits can often be removed using a suitable damp cloth or manufacturer-approved cleaning product.

Avoid abrasive products that could scratch or damage coated glass.

If the glass repeatedly becomes heavily blackened, cleaning it is only treating the symptom. Wet wood, low combustion temperature, restricted airflow or poor chimney draught may be causing the problem.

Yes, in many properties.

A traditional masonry chimney is not essential because an insulated twin-wall chimney system can often be installed to provide the required flue route.

Depending on the property, a twin wall flue system can travel internally through the building or pass through an external wall before continuing vertically outside.

The chimney route, height, supports, clearances and terminal position must be correctly designed for the property and stove.

Usually, a standard wood burning stove is primarily intended to heat the room or connected living space in which it is installed.

How much of the property benefits from that heat depends on the home’s layout, insulation, stove output and airflow between rooms.

A stove should not simply be oversized in an attempt to heat an entire property, as excessive output can make the main room uncomfortable and encourage inefficient operation.

There is no single wood burning stove that is best for every property.

The right stove depends on factors including:

• Required heat output
• Fireplace dimensions
• Chimney or flue system
• Room style
• Efficiency
• Controls
• Stove dimensions
• Budget
• Whether the property is within a Smoke Control Area

A correctly sized stove that suits the property and chimney is generally more important than choosing a particular model solely because it has the highest output or efficiency figure.

Efficiency varies between stove models and should be compared using the manufacturer’s tested efficiency figures.

However, headline efficiency should not be the only factor when choosing a stove.

Correct sizing, chimney performance, dry fuel and the way the appliance is operated can all significantly affect real-world performance.

Any fuel-burning appliance can potentially produce carbon monoxide if combustion or the removal of combustion gases is compromised.

Correct installation, adequate ventilation, regular chimney sweeping and appliance maintenance are therefore essential.

A suitable carbon monoxide alarm should also be installed in accordance with the applicable requirements.

A wood burning stove installation must comply with the applicable Building Regulations.

Using an appropriately registered HETAS installer provides a competent-person route for eligible installations and allows the relevant work to be self-certified.

If work is carried out outside an appropriate competent-person scheme, Building Control requirements may apply.

Installing a wood burning stove does not automatically require planning permission, but the installation must comply with the applicable Building Regulations.

Additional restrictions can apply to listed buildings, conservation areas, unusual chimney alterations and some properties subject to specific planning conditions.

Smoke Control Area requirements should also be checked when selecting the stove.

Yes. A correctly installed stove does not give you permission to cause persistent smoke or nuisance to neighbouring properties.

Using appropriate dry fuel, operating the stove correctly and maintaining the chimney all help minimise unnecessary smoke.

Additional restrictions apply within Smoke Control Areas.

Smoke entering the room usually means the stove or chimney is not creating enough upward draught to carry combustion gases safely outside.

Common causes include:

• A cold chimney or flue
• A blocked or unswept chimney
• Insufficient chimney height
• Poor room ventilation
• Extractor fans causing negative pressure
• Wet firewood
• Incorrect lighting or refuelling
• Flue problems
• Wind or surrounding buildings affecting the chimney

Persistent smoke entering the room should not be ignored. Stop using the stove and have the appliance, chimney and ventilation investigated.

A very cold chimney can sometimes create what is commonly called a cold plug.

Cold, dense air sitting inside the chimney can initially resist the upward movement of warm smoke. This can cause poor draught or smoke spillage while the stove is being lit.

Typical symptoms include:

• Difficulty establishing the fire
• Smoke remaining in the stove
• Smoke entering the room during lighting
• Weak flames
• The stove suddenly beginning to work normally once the chimney warms

The aim when lighting is to warm the chimney and establish upward draught quickly using dry kindling and the stove manufacturer’s recommended lighting procedure.

If it happens regularly, chimney height, insulation, flue diameter, ventilation and pressure conditions within the property should also be investigated.

HETAS is a recognised Competent Person Scheme for solid-fuel, wood-burning and biomass installations in England and Wales.

HETAS-registered installers are assessed for competence in areas such as wood burning stoves, solid-fuel appliances and chimney or flue systems. For eligible work, a registered installer can self-certify that the installation complies with the relevant Building Regulations, avoiding the need for a separate Building Control application.

Bonfire uses appropriately qualified HETAS-registered professionals for relevant solid-fuel installation work.