Woodburner FAQs Your questions answered

Many stoves will fit in a 16" opening, but there is a chance they won't have the correct gap around them. One solution is to open the fireplace up and make it bigger to accommodate the stove. The other option is to install an inset stove that sits in the wall itself, and any gaps can be bricked up and plastered around.

Open fires are far less efficient than wood burning or multi fuel stoves, and in some cases they can actually increase heating costs.

For an open fire to be compliant with regulations it requires adequate ventilation from outside, whereas a stove can operate without a vent, depending on the size of the stove and the age of the house.

An open fire has a much higher risk of smoke and carbon monoxide exposure, as well as an increased risk of sparks landing on combustible materials and objects falling from the fire.

Heat output required is something an installer can calculate for you during a visit to your property. They will need the measurements of your room (L x W x H) and the approximate age of the building.

Wood and coal burn differently, so multi fuel stoves have to be suitable for both situations. They have a grate and a riddle inside them, whereas a wood burning stove has a solid base that the fire is started on.

Multi fuel stoves tend to be more expensive to purchase because of the extra metal and engineering in them, but they can also be more efficient when burning smokeless fuels.

It used to be that steel stoves could warp in the heat and cast stoves could crack, but with more modern quality stoves this is no longer the case. Nowadays the main difference is in appearance, from the decorative mouldings on cast stoves to the clean lines on steel stoves.

However, something to bear in mind is that cast stoves take longer to heat up but hold the heat for longer once the fire is out, whereas steel stoves heat up quickly but won't hold the heat as long.

An airwash is a system where the cold air coming into the stove washes down over the glass and keeps the flames and gases away, preventing blackening.

Clean burn stoves are designed to be more efficient and have even lower emissions than other models. The air coming into the stove is directed to where the combustible gases are, which ensures complete combustion of the gases released by the wood.

DEFRA stands for Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. Stoves approved by DEFRA can be used in smoke controlled areas when burning the correct fuel. To find out if your stove is DEFRA exempt, look up the make and model online.

It is a legal requirement that a carbon monoxide alarm is fitted on every solid fuel install since 2010. Without one you could be at risk of long term exposure to carbon monoxide without knowing it, which can be fatal to both pets and humans.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an extremely poisonous gas that can be present in the fumes from the combustion of fuels which aren't burnt under the correct conditions. Fuels such as gas, oil, solid mineral fuel and biomass all have the potential to emit CO. The gas cannot be seen, smelled or tasted, making it difficult to detect.

Stoves are mainly designed to be closed appliances. However, always check your manufacturer's instructions, as they will specify whether you may leave the door open. Bear in mind that by leaving the door open you may be using more fuel, wasting heat and risking smoke and carbon monoxide spillage.

HETAS stands for Heating Equipment Testing & Approval Scheme. This is the recognised body to approve solid fuel domestic heating appliances and services.

A HETAS certificate of compliance is a record of the correct installation of a solid fuel appliance that complies with British standards and building regulations.

Chimneys should be swept once a year minimum. Twice is recommended, and sometimes necessary depending on the types of fuel being burnt.

The main culprit for black glass on your stove is damp fuel. If you have an airwash stove, you'll need the top vent open to allow the air to flow down and keep the glass clean.