Flue Supplies News

At a time of multiple global crises when thousands of people have been thrown into fuel poverty, wood-burning stoves are playing a vital role in helping families survive these troubled times. So, it’s wrong and dangerous for certain newspapers to misrepresent data to blanket criticise a heat source that is helping so many.

We agree that updating open fires and old wood-burning stoves will make a massive difference to PM2.5 emissions. However, we ask you to take a closer look at the data which reveals that modern ultra-efficient stoves are a big part of that solution.

Twin wall insulated flues are the perfect choice for both new-build projects and renovations. They provide a simple, low-cost and effective solution for removing smoke and gases from building interiors.

If you are installing a new heating appliance, such as a woodstove / log burner, gas coal-effect fire or an oil boiler, you will probably need a twin wall flue system, especially if you do not already have a brick chimney stack. Twin wall can be constructed to produce a safe chimney system for your appliance.

These double walled flues are suitable for the creation of both indoor and outdoor flues and they can be used to pass through roofs and floors. This makes them suitable for use in boats, yurts, log cabins, van conversions and even garden offices. They are waterproof and resistant to corrosion, meaning they will keep your home warm and dry for many years. Additionally, since these products are prefabricated in a variety of shapes and sizes, you simply need to mix and match components to get a system that fits the requirements of your project. 

Fire and Rescue services are advising people to take extra care after a spate of fires involving chimneys and wood burning stoves. People with wood burning stoves, which are growing in popularity due to the spiralling cost of gas and electricity, are reminded to get them correctly installed and regularly maintained. HETAS, the Heating Equipment Testing and Approvals Scheme, provides details of chimney sweeps at hetas.co.uk/consumer/services/chimney-sweeps.

Sweeping your chimney at least once a year and using a quality-assured fuel is the key to prevention. Not only does this remove soot and tar deposits but also gives chimney sweeps the opportunity to check for any problems with the chimney or liner. A typical sweep only takes about 90 minutes and doesn’t make a mess. Professional chimney sweeps use modern methods and tools such as power-sweeping, CCTV and vacuums to ensure minimal disturbance for the homeowner. Customers don’t need to move all of their furniture out of the room. So, if your chimney is overdue for a sweep, now is the time to get it done and not add to the list of chimney fires.

Did you know? Burning the wrong fuels at home, such as wet wood or some types of coal, releases harmful smoke into the air which, when mixed with other emissions in your chimney, can affect your health. If you have an open fire or stove, there are some easy steps you can take to improve the way you burn.

Cleaner alternatives such as dry wood and manufactured solid fuels not only produce less smoke and pollution than wet wood or traditional house coal, but are also cheaper and more efficient to burn. When buying solid fuels, look for the Ready to Burn logo.

Additional rules apply in smoke control areas in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.