FAQs

Can I install a stove in my conservatory?

Yes you can! However occasionally you will have to seek planning permission. This is particularly relevant if you are in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The answer is to install a Twin Wall system. This is a chimney system which has an inner skin, a densely packed layer of insulation and an outer skin. If you have a brick glazed conservatory you may be able to go straight through the bottom brick section of the conservatory and up the outside (dependant upon how many courses of bricks there are in the bricked section) or you can go through the roof of the conservatory. If this is glazed you will need a glazier to cut a hole in one of the glazed roof panels to accommodate the flue. If your conservatory roof is polycarbonate we are able to cut this hole and for both scenarios you will need a flashing to protect the edges of the glass/polycarbonate which will be siliconed in position and may not look that pretty from below. Some customers choose to replace the panel which the flue goes through to a solid one to avoid this.

Should I buy a cast iron stove or a steel stove?

A cast iron stove will take longer to heat up, but will retain residual heat longer. A steel stove will heat up more quickly, but lose its heat more quickly. Advocates of cast iron will tell you that steel stoves will warp and advocates of steel will tell you that cast iron cracks. In our view, this is not a decision breaker. We have installed some 4000 stoves and in all that time we have had one cast iron stove top crack and one side wall of a steel stove warp. In each case we were able to sort the problem out quickly and easily. If you fall in love with a cast iron stove when you were seeking steel - go for it! and vice versa! 

The emphasis has got to be on buying the best quality stove, whether it is cast iron or steel, that your budget can accommodate. We can supply almost any stove, however there are stoves that we feel are poor quality and poor value for money and if this is the case with the stove you choose, please don't be offended if we say so!

What sort of hearth do I need?

Different stoves require different hearth requirements. Before you do anything to your fireplace get us to advise. All too often customers renovate a fireplace and then find they have to alter it again to enable a correct and compliant stove installation.

Can I fit the stove myself?

Yes. You must get it signed off to current building regulations though by the Council and there is a charge for this - sometimes quite a hefty one! Please note - most solid fuel installation problems are DIY installations - it's not just dropping a tube down a chimney!

Is coal smokeless fuel?

No!! Multifuel stoves are not designed to burn it and doing so may invalidate your warranty. Bituminous, house or lump coal burns with long flames which play around and above the throat plate directly onto the underside of the top of your stove which may result in burned out throat plates and cracked top plates. It also creates huge quantities of soot with all the associated blocked flue and black glass issues. Don't do it!!

What is, and when might I need a CCTV chimney camera inspection

CCTV Camera Inspections tell us if it is safe for you to have a stove installed. Lining a chimney involves hanging a stainless steel chimney liner down your chimney through your house. Before you commit to do this, you need to know your chimney is safe and sound. So that it will:

• Hold the chimney liner without your chimney falling down!
• Prevent poisonous gases from leaking into your home should your chimney liner fail for any reason.
• Keep your chimney separate from your neighbour’s chimney (and vice versa of course!)

For the full picture (haha) visit our CCTV Chimney Camera Inspection page. 

Reasons Not to Have a CCTV Camera Inspection - None!! Just because 'you're not dead yet' (we hear this all the time) doesn't mean your chimney is safe. If you can minimise a risk - why wouldn't you? and it isn't just your risk. If something bad happens, someone will be blamed. We minimise our exposure to risk by making sure your installation will be safe, legal and insurable before we start. 

Why should I have my stove or woodburner serviced?

As with any appliance or equipment which is in fairly frequent use, it is advisable to have your stove serviced annually to make sure it is safe, working properly and looking good! This may also be a requirement of your house insurance and stove warranty. Green Man Stoves offers a full chimney sweep and stove servicing service which includes:

• Checking your stove glass for any damage, cleaning it and advising if any replacement is needed
• Checking the door seals for tightness and replacing stove rope if necessary
• Checking all movable controls - top and bottom air, riddlers, dampers and adjusting if necessary
• Examining fire cement seals - rejointing if required
• Examining register plate seals and resealing if necessary
• Sweeping full length of flue liner and removing all debris
• Examining body of the stove and respray if necessary
• Inspecting your installation for leaks
• Advising on fuel being used
• Checking any ventilation fitted is clear of obstruction

We hope you have found these answers helpful – If you haven’t found the answer to your question, please call us on 01989 218328 or 01453 753485 or get in touch.