World of Woodstoves Ltd

Sussex Woodstoves at 44 Pondtail Road, Horsham RH12 5HR opens TUESDAY & THURSDAY 10-12 & 2-5, SATURDAY 9-5 OTHER TIMES BY ARRANGEMENT YOU ARE ASSUMED TO ACCEPT OUR TERMS & CONDITIONS of BUSINESS

Horsham, Billingshurst, Southwater, Henfield, Crawley, Cranleigh, Storrington, East Grinstead, Guildford, Haywards Heath, Reigate, Reigate, Redhill, Horley, Worthing, Arundel, Brighton, Lewes, Hove, Hurstpierpoint, Petworth, Midhurst, Littlehampton, Chichester, Dorking, Croydon, Lewes, Bognor Regis, Farnham, Twickenham, Richmond, Dartford,Wokingham, Camberley, Horley, Coulsdon, Heathfield, Woking, Southampton, Tunbridge Wells, Toubridge. Key Areas where our Wood burning stoves have been supplied / installed

BUYING A USED STOVE

BS/EN13240 sets an efficiency standard of over 70% with measured pollution and creosote levels. Many earlier stove models operated at 50-60% efficiency and produced significantly more creosote in the chimney, making chimney fires a fairly common incident in the past. They were still at least twice as efficient as open fires, but not up to today's standards at all.

IMPORTANT: AN OLDER STOVE THAT IS NOT CERTIFIED MAY NOT BE ACCEPTABLE TO YOUR LOCAL BUILDING CONTROL OFFICER. WE CAN MODIFY SOME STOVES TO BRING THEM CLOSER TO MODERN STANDARDS IF THERE ARE SIMILAR CURRENT MODELS.

All solid fuel and woodstove installations require a Certificate of Compliance with Building regulations and that the stove be preferably fitted by "Competent Persons" who are HETAS qualified and registered - alternatively, stoves and chimneys may be signed off by Building Control Officers.

All stoves may produce Carbon Monoxide, despite the erroneous folklore that logburners do not produce this potentially dangerous gas. Any combustion appliance carries these risks, so carbon monoxide detectors are a wise additional cost to any installation.

Stoves made prior to 1980 are generally undesirable due to efficiency considerations, but with specialist modifications they may work efficiently. Parts and advice for older stoves may be difficult or impossible to find, though we do make parts to bring older stoves back into service safely. All joints and seals need to be checked and renewed to avoid fumes leakage. Any used stove that we supply is checked and overhauled thoroughly before sale.

Just as with motor vehicles, your best bet is really to look for stoves made in the 1990's and no older - and to check that they have not been distorted by being over fired or otherwise abused by other owners.

SO WHAT MIGHT YOU LOOK FOR?
WHAT QUESTIONS MIGHT BE ASKED?

Try these:
How many owners has the stove had?
Is its history known?
How was the stove used in the past?
How old is it?
Are the manuals all there?
When was it last maintained?
Does is have a "service history".
Why is it being sold?
Has it ever been involved in a chimney fire?
Are the internal parts all there and undistorted?
Does distortion suggest that the stove has been over-fired?
Is the manufacturer is still in business?
Are spare parts available?
Is it BS/EN 13240 approved (post 2001)

Remember heat can change the properties of metal. One has to look for metal fatigue. First tell tale sign: look around the stove If you see a whitish colour half way up the stove on the sides or back that may be an indication of metal fatigue or over-firing.

Rust is another sign of potential metal fatigue. Light surface rust is fine, but the flaking scale type spells trouble. Take particular notice if heavy rust or scale like rust exists.

Open up the doors: are the fire bricks cracked? Hair line cracks are normal, large cracks or bricks powdering are signs the stove was heavily used, but they can be replaced. Is the metal warped or cracked or seriously corroded? Are any bits missing or broken-off? If you see any of the above evidence of corrosion, metal fatigue or over firing, find another stove.

Steel and Cast Iron are the most common stove materials.

Stoves made of steel are usually welded together and distorted parts - with the exception of firebricks, glass and gaskets - cannot be easily replaced.

Cast Iron Stoves are built from numerous separate parts which are bolted and cemented together. These parts can often be replaced, but you should check the availability and price.

Having a full professional rebuild on a steel or a cast stove can easily run to £350.

Door Latches and Gaskets need checking for leaks, placing a torch in the firebox and closing the door. Walk around the stove looking at all seams, gaskets, and look for the light after it has been resealed. This check may also show up a crack previously missed. Look under the stove too.

Gaskets and fire cement are inexpensive to fix. With the torch removed, employ the £10 note test to check the door seals. Place a £10 note dollar bill between the gasketed closed doors If it pulls out easily without resistance the gasket needs to be replaced and/or the door latch needs adjustment to make the door air-tight. Check all around the door frame.

If it all checks out, you have done your best to prove it to be a decent wood stove. It should still be checked and preferably overhauled by a HETAS engineer before installation.

Also, consider the size of the stove relative to the area you are trying to heat. Use the rule of thumb 1kW of stove rating per 14 cubic metres of room volume - if it's a very tall or vaulted room or a very cold room, use a typical ratio of 1:10 instead. If the stove is too small it will disappoint you. If the stove is too large, then you may burn it too slowly causing tar, creosote and soot in the chimney.

DISCLAIMER - Without prejudice to Sussex Woodstoves (SW) full Terms & Conditions please note:

SW Estimates relate to goods and services that SW supply and are valid for up to 1 months at SW discretion. When an estimate lapses or is withdrawn SW will not be liable for:- (i) any aspect of your enquiry; (ii) any aspect of the proposed scope of SW works; (iii) any views, recommendations or advices expressed by SW.

SW will inform the Customer where Specialist works are required outside the scope of SW estimates. The Customer is responsible for employing appropriately qualified Specialists, independent of SW. SW will not be liable for:- (i) any SW general observations in relation to Specialist works; (ii) any damage or loss caused by advice, actions or omissions of Specialists.

SW may provide details of Specialists for customer information - these details and links to other suppliers from SW website are not to be regarded as a recommendations from Sussex Woodstoves.

Neither SW preliminary observations nor an SW Estimate should be used to instruct any other supplier as some known or unknown techinical details to be attended to on-site may be omitted from either type of communication

Products sold by SW carry limited manufacturers' warranty. Warranty conditions typically exclude all labour & delivery costs.

SW warranty for 12 months that the installation complies with HETAS & UK Building Regulations. Any issues to be reported immediately. If the installation is serviced or modified by any other person this invalidates warranty.

Warranty conditions require customers to follow the Instructions with the stoves. Incorrect use and maintenance of the stove, utilization of inappropriate fuels and other failures to comply invalidate any Warranty.

This information is offered to assist you when considering a stove and covers typical situations rather than those specific to you own installation.