Log burner, woodburner, wood burning stove. These are all terms you will probably have heard at some stage to describe exactly the same thing. A log burner is essentially an open fire contained within a metal box. Log burners use combustion air, natural draught, a chimney and wood logs or coal to heat the room in the same way as a traditional open fire. Lots of scientific and technical terminology is used by stove manufacturers to market their log burners, but they are really the most simple form of heating used in homes today. The main difference between a stove and an open fire is efficiency. Woodburning stoves are sealed units and are designed and engineered in a way that controls and regulates the combustion process. This means that log burners harness huge amounts of energy from every ounce of fuel that is burnt; a large percentage of this is lost with a traditional open fire.
Types of wood burner
Whether you’re looking for a traditional log burner, something contemporary, or a stove that’s required to fit a certain space, Bristol Wood Burners offers expert advice on stove selection. We stock a range of log burners categorised below, but we can source all stove types and brands, so for more information just get in touch.
TRADITIONAL STOVES
Traditional wood burning stoves are classic styles and shapes that suit the majority of homes. We stock a range of DEFRA approved traditional stoves in a range of sizes to suit your space.
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CONTEMPORARY STOVES
Contemporary log burners are modern styles and shapes. We stock a range of DEFRA approved contemporary log burners in a range of sizes to suit your space.
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INSET STOVES
Inset wood burners are embedded into your wall or structure rather than freestanding. We stock a range of DEFRA approved inset wood burners in a range of sizes to suit your space.
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FREE-STANDING STOVES
Corner wood burning stoves are freestanding and fit snugly into the corner of your room. We stock a range of DEFRA approved corner wood burning stoves in a range of sizes to suit your space.
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DOUBLE-SIDED STOVES
Double-sided stoves are fitted freestanding between two rooms, usually through a hole in the brickwork. We stock a range of DEFRA approved double-sided stoves in a range of sizes to suit your space.
What power stove is right for you?
The power of a wood burning stove is determined by its size, this is measured in kilowatts. The bigger your room and house, the larger stove you will require to heat the space. There are several different ways to calculate what size log burner you need, the easiest though is using an online calculator. Generally speaking, most average sized living rooms within a standard 3 or 4 bed semi or terraced property in Bristol or Somerset will require 2-3 kw as per the HETAS calculation method.
DEFRA approved stoves
For a stove to be DEFRA approved it must meet the DEFRA Smoke Exempt Allowance. This is the standard set out by the authorities that ensure wood logs can be burnt safely in a smoke control area. Manufactures put their log burners through DEFRA’s approval scheme where the stoves are vigorously tested on emissions and efficiency. Only the cleanest burning stoves are approved. Once the stove is DEFRA approved, it can be legally installed, used and certified within a smoke control zone. Log burners cannot be legally signed off and certified if they are installed within a smoke control zone and do not have their DEFRA approval. We can talk about whether you live in a smoke control zone during your site visit.
Stove brands
Once upon a time manufacturers of woodburners tended to specialise in either traditional or contemporary stove designs. In recent years, the lines have become more blurred. Most of the big manufactures now tend to do a range of log burners in all styles. It may be a consideration for you that some brands manufacture within the UK, while many are produced in eastern Europe and the far east.
Maybe you have had a brand in a previous property that you got on well with and would like to stick with, or maybe you’ve had a stove recommended to you. Either way, in our experience as long as you go for a recognised, solid and respected brand you will not be disappointed. Unbranded, cheap stoves, particularly from eBay, will usually cause problems. With log burners, you nearly always get what you pay for.