Investing in an Ecodesign Ready stove
Morsø provides expert tips on buying an efficient woodburning stove
Warming homes for more than 160 years, Danish brand Morsø has a vast range of fantastic Ecodesign Ready stoves that will enhance any interior. With many factors to consider when buying a stove, Declan Kingsley-walsh, managing director at Morsø UK, shares his top tips.
HOW DO I DECIDE WHAT SIZE STOVE I NEED?
Before purchasing a stove, you should verify the heat requirement for its intended location. To calculate the heating demand of a specific space, simply work out the volume of the room in cubic meters and divide by 14. Buying the wrong size stove will prove problematic due to overfiring or more commonly under-running the appliance, which is potentially more damaging to the stove, flue and the environment.
WHERE CAN I INSTALL MY STOVE?
With a wide range of freestanding stoves now available, there are many options in the home for positioning your stove. By locating a stove against a wall, in an existing fireplace or the centre of an open-plan room, your flue can be fitted through a wall or a ceiling. Insert stoves can be fitted flush into a wall, a dividing wall or an old fireplace opening, which makes quite the statement.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WOODBURNING AND MULTI-FUEL STOVES?
Multi-fuel stoves can burn wood, natural smokeless fuel and manufactured smokeless fuel, whereas woodburning stoves exclusively burn wood logs and wood briquettes. There are various points to consider when deciding between a multi-fuel stove and a woodburning stove. Manufactured smokeless fuel produces much more CO2 so is less environmentally friendly. Not all multi-fuel stoves will be able to burn all types of fuel, so check first.
CAN I BURN ANY TYPE OF WOOD?
No. Dry firewood is essential. The logs should be cut in length appropriate to your stove, split and stacked in a dry place. As a rule, firewood should sit for 1-2 years after being cut down. It is important that once you have fitted a quality woodburning stove you use the correct wood to ensure an effective and environmentally friendly burn.