Heating

Advice on boilers, radiators, central heating systems and keeping your home warm and energy efficient.

Top Ways To Improve Your Wood Burner's Efficiency

17th January 2020

With Christmas a distant memory and Storm Brandon battering at our doors, there is nothing else for it but to batten down the hatches and snuggle at home in front of the fire with comfort food and a warming drink.

If you’re not feeling the heat from your fire, it could be down to your fire lighting methods or the wood that you are using. Here are our top tips for how you can make your fire burn hot, hot, hot even on the coldest days.

Get off to a good start

Starting with the kindling, if you use wood that is dry and which burns quickly and hot, you will be getting off to a great start. Like many things, your fire operates better if it warms up first. Burn paper and plenty of dry kindling to get your stove hot, so that your logs have less work to do.

Use dry wood

Don’t be tempted to burn wood that hasn’t been seasoned. The seasoning process dries out ambient moisture as well as sap from the wood, so that it burns better. Before you use it, wood should be chopped, split and left to season for a year at least; if you use under-seasoned it won’t burn as well, and the residue will build up on the chimney lining, putting you at risk of chimney fire.

Choose the right wood

Different wood is good for different purposes; less dense wood burns quickly, but produces less heat, while hardwood burns longer and hotter. Start off with a softer wood to get your fire hot and add a mix of hard wood once you have a good heat going.

Know your vents

Vents are there for a reason and, when used correctly, can improve the function of your fire. Open both vents at the bottom when you are lighting the fire so that more oxygen reaches the fire. Likewise, once the fire is going, close the vent to stop your fire from burning too fast.

Save wood

A roaring fire looks great, but it isn’t necessarily the most efficient use of your wood. As long as wood is burning, avoid adding more until it dies down.

Clean your fire

A thin layer of ashes can help to improve the burn of your fire, but too much can prevent air circulation.

Maintain your chimney

A clean chimney will improve the draw, which will help your fire to burn hotter. It will also help to prevent chimney fires in the long run. Regularly get your chimney swept by a reliable chimney sweep to protect your home and improve your fire production.

With these simple tips you can make sure that you stay toasty warm, whatever the weather.

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Looking for more heating advice?

Find clear, practical answers to common heating questions, helping homeowners understand everyday issues, know what checks they can carry out safely, and when it is best to contact a qualified professional.

What is the difference between a combi boiler and a system boiler?

A combi heats water straight from the mains on demand - no cylinder needed, which makes it compact and ideal for smaller homes or flats. A system boiler works with a hot water cylinder, storing a ready supply that can serve multiple taps or showers at once without the pressure dropping - better for larger homes with more bathrooms. There's also the conventional boiler, which needs both a cylinder and a cold water tank in the loft - common in older properties. A heating engineer can help you figure out which suits your home best.
Is an air source heat pump right for my home?

Heat pumps pull warmth from the outside air (even when it's cold) and use it to heat your home and hot water. They work best in well-insulated homes, ideally with underfloor heating or larger radiators that work well at lower temperatures. In draughty or poorly insulated properties, the benefits are more limited. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme currently offers a grant of up to £7,500 towards installation, so it's worth getting a professional assessment to see whether your home is a good fit before committing.
How often should a boiler be serviced?

Once a year, by a Gas Safe registered engineer. It keeps the boiler running safely, catches small issues before they become expensive, and is usually a condition of the manufacturer's warranty. Some home insurance policies require proof of regular servicing too. If you're not sure when yours was last done, book one before winter - better to find out before you're sitting in a cold house!
Why is my radiator cold at the top but warm at the bottom?

This issue is almost always trapped air. Bleeding the radiator - using a radiator key to release the air - usually sorts it, and it's one of the few heating jobs you can safely do yourself. If bleeding it doesn't work, or if several radiators are having the same problem, it might be a pressure or pump issue. Worth getting a heating engineer in to have a look.
What are the signs my boiler needs replacing?

Keep an eye out for: frequent breakdowns, energy bills going up without using more heat, unusual noises (banging, kettling, or whistling), a flame that's yellow or orange instead of blue, and any visible leaks or rust around the unit. If your boiler is over fifteen years old and ticking any of those boxes, replacing it is usually the more economical choice - modern boilers are significantly more efficient.
Is underfloor heating worth it and do I need a professional to install it?

For a new build or a big renovation, underfloor heating is often a great investment - it heats rooms more evenly than radiators and can be more efficient, especially alongside a heat pump. Retrofitting in an existing home is more of a job, and how worthwhile it is depends on your floor types and how much disruption you're happy to deal with. Either way - wet or electric - it has to be installed by a qualified professional.
Why does my boiler keep losing pressure?

Some pressure drop over time is normal, but if you're topping it up regularly there's usually a cause: a small leak in the system (which isn't always easy to spot), a pressure relief valve that's releasing water, or air in the system after bleeding radiators. Topping it up via the filling loop is fine as a short-term fix, but if you're doing it more than a couple of times a year, it's worth getting an engineer to look into why it keeps happening.

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