Stoves

There are currently several different types of stoves on the market today in Ireland. Finding or trying to understand all the different types can become mind boggling or even misleading. We have put together some small breakdowns to help your understand the different types and terminology.

Wood Burning Stoves

These types of stoves are designed specifically for burning woods and recommend manufactured logs. The grate and the airflow system in the stove is only designed for burning these fuels, by burning other fuels and household waste you may result in damaging or prematurely wearing out parts of your stove. Wood burning only stoves are highly desired by governments as they are classed as environmentally friendly as they are carbon neutral – the carbon released is reabsorbed by the trees which are cut for fire wood – completing a carbon cycle.

Multi-Fuel Stoves

These types of stoves are designed to burn wood and solid fuels. However most stoves are initially designed to burn wood, and by modifying the grate and some air controls they are converted in multi fuel stoves. Mutli-Fuel stoves can burn timber, peat, briquettes, turf, and coal designed for stoves and closed appliances. These are the most common types of stoves on the market in Ireland today as it doesn’t restrict the users to one type of fuel, however always ensure that the fuels you are burning are for stoves or closed appliances.

Free Standing Stoves

Free standing stoves, traditionally known as Pot Belly Stoves are the most common type of room heater. These stoves are placed on hearths just about anywhere in house that is feasible for heating an area, and that is within building regulations from combustibles.

These stoves heat air as it passes over, around and underneath it. Free standing stoves will always have legs which have to be used in order for the stove to work right. Alterations to the legs outside manufacturer recommendations could cause the stove to crack or go on fire.

Insert Stoves

Insert stoves are designed to be placed entirely into the existing fireplace with a front door only visible to the user. These are becoming more popular as many house holds do not have the sufficient space or requirements to place a free standing stove on their fireplace, as fireplaces and surrounds are/were not designed initially for stoves.

The newer models of insert stoves now come with a convection chamber or housing around the stove. This allows heated air to travel around the inner stove and to be convected out at the top of the stove. With most insert stoves it is wise to insulate around the stove and chamber in the fireplace recess to prevent any heat loss up the chimney, unless otherwise stated by the manufacturer.

Gas Stoves

Gas stoves are up and coming in the European market. They require a direct feed from your gas services. These are now much more efficient than gas fires as they contain the heat in the stove and continue to expel heat long after the gas has been turned off. Gas Stoves are now the choice for busy house holds, or by people who want the stove experience or look with out having to deal with cleaning or handling fuels.

Cassette Stoves

Cassette stoves are stoves which are mounted internally into a wall. They are usually flush with the wall or can come with a selection of frames. Theses stoves are designed with a large glass door for aesthetics and have an convection chamber for distributing the heat outwards. The vast majority of these stoves are wood burning but some do have an option for a multi fuel grate.

Boiler Stoves

Boiler stoves are stoves that heat water internally inside the stove. These stoves have the boiler encased internally inside the stove. As the stove heats up, it transfers its heat to the water, which is then pumped through your heating system via a thermostat. These stoves have to be connected or linked to your heating system using the appropriate pipes and pumps, and installed by a competent stove installer and a registered plumber.

These stoves are becoming extremely popular in households as gas and oil prices are rising, and with a solid fuel boiler stove, you can cut your heating annual bills whilst having more heat and hot water for longer periods of time.