Looking after your stove
Maintaining Your Stove
Looking after your stove and chimney properly will keep it running safely and efficiently for years to come.
HETAS registered advice on looking after your stove, chimney and flue.
New wood burning stove care
Your first few fires on your new wood burner
The first few times you light your stove, you may notice a slight smell and a little smoke or haze coming from the surface. This is normal, it’s the stove paint curing as it heats up for the first time, and it will fade after your first few small fires.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when lighting and running in your new stove, and keep the room well ventilated during these early fires.
Chimney sweeping & servicing
Have your chimney swept and your stove serviced
Regular sweeping and servicing are one of the most important parts of looking after your stove.
- Have your chimney or flue swept regularly by a competent chimney sweep. How often depends on the fuel you use and how much you run your stove.
- Have your stove periodically serviced and checked.
- Replace worn or damaged door rope, seals and fire cement when needed.
- Keep your carbon monoxide alarm in working order and test it regularly.
- Always follow your stove manufacturer’s maintenance instructions.
We offer chimney sweeping and stove servicing from March to the end of September. Please contact us to arrange an appointment.
Fuel
Burn the right wood
The quality of your firewood makes a real difference to how well your stove burns.
- Use dry, suitable firewood.
- Look for Ready to Burn fuel where you can.
- A moisture meter is a useful way to check logs yourself.
- Avoid burning wet or freshly cut wood.
- Never burn treated, painted or contaminated timber, household waste or other unsuitable materials.
- Follow the fuel recommendations from your stove manufacturer.
Wet or unsuitable wood burns less efficiently and can lead to smoke, deposits in the flue and blackened glass.
Multi-fuel stoves
Multi-fuel stoves
If you have a multi-fuel appliance, only burn fuels that are specifically approved for it.
Avoid burning wood and smokeless fuel together, as this can damage your stove and flue liner. Not all coal or solid fuels are suitable, and traditional house coal must never be burned. Always check your manufacturer’s instructions for the fuels your appliance is designed to use.
A wood burning stove should only burn wood, unless the manufacturer provides an approved conversion or multi-fuel option.
Stove care
Keeping your stove glass clean
Modern stoves are designed to burn efficiently, and most include an airwash system to help keep the glass clear. Burning dry fuel at the right temperature will help reduce deposits.
If cleaning is needed, follow your stove manufacturer’s instructions and only clean the glass once the stove is completely cool.
Further advice from HETAS
For more on getting the best from your stove, safe burning, carbon monoxide and ongoing maintenance, visit the HETAS Advice Hub.
Need help looking after your stove?
Get in touch to arrange your next chimney sweep and service, or for advice on keeping your stove running safely.