Stove sales are soaring
In the past decade, thousands of Irish homeowners have installed solid fuel stoves to replace open fireplaces.
These stoves are not only at least three times more efficient than an open fire, but they also burn roughly 60pc less fuel.
They are relatively inexpensive to purchase and install compared to oil-fired systems but many stove owners have little knowledge of how to maintain them or what fuel to burn. Ask any experienced chimney sweep how people in general look after their stoves and he will tell you that most have no idea how to use them properly.
Chimney sweeps and maintenance men have to deal with the results of burning improper fuels, which can mean corroded interiors and flues and heavy deposits of creosote in the chimneys. The resultant fire risks and the damage to the stoves themselves can prove very expensive, especially if chimneys are not cleaned annually.
There are now many stoves on the market of dubious origin, which may be cheap to purchase initially but will prove far more expensive in the long run than the better and more proven makes. The quality of the iron can vary enormously, as can the efficiency of the heat and air control systems.
The best stoves have sophisticated controls that burn fuel at its maximum efficiency and thereby save substantially on running costs.
Coal and peat are not really appropriate fuels for stoves, as apart from the carbon they emit into the atmosphere they are dirty to handle and produce far more dust and ash than wood fuel.
Emissions
It is also important not to burn household waste or other foreign materials in stoves, as apart from the risk of toxic emissions, they can damage the system and flue.
Dry logs leave little ash behind and are very cost effective for home heating when compared to the alternatives.
Good quality dry firewood from Irish woodlands is the cheapest and best fuel for stoves, and purchasing it helps support the rural economy and the environment.
- Joe Barry
Irish Independent
