Which multi fuel stove to buy

But you will have to dry this out first to ensure it burns efficiently and safely, without being excessively polluting. This can take up to two years, which means you'll also need the space for it. Alternatively, you can buy ready-dried wood. Visit our page on using a stove for more information.

If you live in a smoke-controlled area, you'll need a Defra-exempt stove to burn wood. You can find out whether you live in one of these areas by contacting your local council and use the Defra website to see a list of all the exempt stoves on sale. For more information on sourcing wood, drying it yourself and prices, as well as our videos on lighting wood and multi-fuel stoves, see our guide to using a stove. Wood pellet stoves can look quite different to log burners and tend to cost a lot more.

They use pellets made from wood by-products, such as sawdust or other organic materials such as corn, which are tightly compacted together. Check which type of pellets the stove can burn before you buy. Many also have an automatic ignition to light the pellets electronically, a timer for turning the stove on and off, and a back-up power supply in case there is a power failure - something worth looking out for.

Pros of wood pellet stoves. Cons of wood pellet stoves. Find out more about the installation and running costs of stoves by taking a look at our guide to stove costs and savings. Or if you're wondering whether a gas or electric stove would be a better choice for you, visit our guide to understand the pros and cons.

Want to know whether you should get a log burner, multi-fuel stove or a wood pellet stove? Our guide to stoves will help you decide. Liz Ransome-Croker. In this article Wood-burning and multi-fuel stove ideas and brands Multi-fuel stoves Wood-burning stoves Log burners Wood pellet stoves.

Whether you want to get a wood-burning stove to make your living room cosy or save on heating bills, our guide will walk you through the things you should consider to ensure it's right for you and you spend your money wisely. Having spoken to thousands of stove owners and experts, our guide includes:.

If you've already done your research on buying a stove, then head straight to our wood-burning stove reviews , including for Clearview , Charnwood , Hunter , Morso and Stovax. Our video below will give you a summary of the key things you need to think about when buying a stove. Although wood as a fuel could be considered environmentally friendly see more on this below , a stove still emits a certain level of pollution.

This is particularly the case if it's not efficient, you burn polluting fuels such as wet wood or house coal or aren't using it in the right way. If you have a health condition or are concerned about the effect of pollution on the environment, you might want to think twice.

You can find out more about this on our stoves and pollution page. If you decide against a stove but still want the look and feel of one, why not consider a gas or electric stove? Wood is considered to be a low-carbon fuel as the carbon it gives off is counteracted, in part, by the carbon it takes in while growing, although this depends on where it's from and how it's processed. However, if you burn the wrong types of wood, such as wet logs, it will create potentially harmful gases and polluting particulates.

House coal is far less eco-friendly, particularly if it has a high sulphur content, and is being phased out by the government. But there are lots of smokeless fuel alternatives, such as anthracite. Your choice of fuel may also depend on what supply you have locally and what the costs are. There are a number of websites that list local fuel suppliers or sell fuel in bulk for delivery. You could also check what free fuel there is near you, such as a nearby factory that would be happy for you to take items being thrown away.

What fuel you choose will also affect the type of stove you go for - take a look at our guide to multi-fuel vs wood-burning stoves for more to help you decide. Roughly speaking, if someone is using an average-sized stove they will use about 1 to 1. Of course, you can buy smaller bags of logs at a time, but buying in bulk is cheapest. It will also cost less if you buy or collect wet wood and dry it yourself. This can take two or more years. You will need somewhere dry where the wind can get to it, but not the rain.

It should ideally be easily accessible for deliveries. Take a look at our guide to garden storage for more on dedicated log stores. Smokeless fuel takes up less space, but is also best value if you buy it in bulk. Visit our guide to using a stove to find out more about costs.

Stoves are generally used to heat one room, but you can attach it to the central heating system to heat other parts of the house. Take a look at our page on wood heating systems to find out more. A lot of towns and cities are smoke-controlled areas, meaning you will have to get stove approved by Defra Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to burn wood.

The Woodpecker WP5 is a quality multi fuel stove. The Portway Dalton multi fuel stove is a compact, intelligent stove with patented cast steel construction. The Solution 5 Multifuel Stove combines a gently curved body with a large viewing window and hidden hinges. Designed with plenty of traditional charm, the Hunter Compact 5 is totally customisable.

You can choose either 1 door or 2 door and als Not only does this stove look striking, but also features an easy to use ash removal system and large viewing window kept spotlessly clean by the airwash system. Related: Our Best Contemporary Stoves. Another stunning cylindrical stove, this time from the renowned Charnwood Stoves. This stove has one of the best efficiency ratings when burning both wood and smokeless fuel, plus produces minimum amount of smoke emissions.

Available in a choice of colours, this stove also offers a 80mm external air spigot, making it ideal for airtight modern homes. If efficiency matters when it comes to choosing your multifuel stove, the Charnwood Skye is a fantastic choice! This model has a 5kW of heat output, but a 7kW Charnwood Skye option is also available for larger rooms. Looking for more?