Multi-Fuel Stoves – before you buy

The law in UK and Ireland states that new solid fuel, wood burning or biomass appliance installations must meet Building Regulation standards and your Local Authority must be notified. Failing to do so means the work is not legal and you could face prosecution and a fine.

HETAS installers are able to:

• self-certify their own work
• supply a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate for the job

HETAS Registered installers are trained and regularly inspected to ensure they comply with the latest industry regulations and standards.

Read more on Building Regulations including regional guidance here: www.hetas.co.uk/consumer/regulations

• Building Regulations state that new or replacement systems in dwellings must achieve the most energy and carbon efficient installation possible.
• Replacing an existing heating appliance requires that the new appliance be more efficient in terms of carbon emissions than the old one. You can achieve this by selecting a more efficient appliance and using a better fuel type.
• New-builds are subject to stringent energy and emission targets.
• People generally accept wood fuel as carbon neutral; installing a wood-burning stove in a new build allows more flexibility with other energy and carbon-saving elements.

In Smoke Control Areas solid fuel appliances must be either:

• A DEFRA Exempt Appliance using fuel specified in the appliance instructions or
• Any appliance burning an Authorised Smokeless Fuel (e.g. anthracite) which is designed for use with that specific fuel

Exempt Appliances – DEFRA Exempt appliances are tested to show they meet standards for emissions when burning nominated fuels.

Authorised Smokeless Fuels – A popular smokeless fuel is anthracite which is high in carbon and low in volatile matter. Firewood is not an Authorised Smokeless fuel, even if seasoned correctly, so must be burnt in an Exempt Appliance. EACH appliance has suitable fuels listed in it’s instructions.

The HETAS online appliance search highlights DEFRA Exempted appliances labelled with the icon to the left. These appliances have undergone testing to ensure they meet emission standards even when burning non-authorised fuels like wood. Try HETAS fuel search at: www.hetas.co.uk/consumer/fuel-schemes/

The answer to this is often yes. Chimneys are lined for various safety-related reasons. Newer chimneys may not require relining, but systems pre-dating 1965 often require a modern lining solution if:

• The flue has lost integrity, causing smoke leaks
• Condensates or tar deposits are seeping through the chimney, causing staining to the building
• Lining with insulation needs to be added to improve appliance & flue operation, especially when the chimney is exposed to the outdoors on any of its walls.
• Defective flue systems maybe eroded & coarse, causing resistance to flow of gases & resulting in poor up draught
• Larger chimneys/flues may affect appliance performance and require reduction in size. Some manufacturers specify smaller flues to operate more efficiently

A chimney needs to remove all combustion products safely to the outside of the building. It works because the hot gases rise to escape to the cooler air outside. Factors such as running the appliance at a very slow rate or cold air leaking into the flue cool the gases and may affect chimney performance.

Lining Systems can replace flues in existing chimneys. You may need to add or integrate insulation to improve draught efficiency, especially in external situations.

It is recommended that you use a HETAS Registered Installer to carry out any lining work.

Although Building Regulations do not require lining all existing chimneys, the installer must ensure the chimney is safe for use and might need to install a liner to achieve this.

• At least twice a year if burning wood or bituminous house coal
• At least once a year if burning smokeless fuels.

You should get your chimney swept just before the heating season and after an extended period of shut-down. If you sweep it twice a year, the second time should be after the peak heating season.