Stove maintenance tip.

How to change the fire rope on a solid fuel appliance.

The rope seal around a stove door is there to stop excess air entering the chamber through any gaps and making your fuel burn faster. For a stove to be controllable, it is important that you keep this rope in good condition. The rope is made from a heat resistant fibre which is soft and easy to manipulate and is held in place with a heat resistant glue.

You should replace any ropes which have frayed, split or are coming away from the stove.

Rope seal sizes and shapes differ between stoves so make sure you have the correct size to replace your damaged seal and a suitable adhesive to hold it in place.

To change your rope seal first remove the door from the stove, ensure there is nothing that can break the glass or scratch the door in the way and lay on a flat surface such as a table top or floor.

Remove any old rope and clean the channel the rope has been sat in, you may need to scrape this with a wire brush or screwdriver to remove any rope which is still stuck firmly and tough tar like deposits can be helped with a stove cleaner or some solvent such as WD40. Once clean wipe with a clean cloth to remove any grease or solvents.

Your door is now ready for its new rope seal. Cut your new rope to the correct length and run a line of glue all the way along the groove, pushing the rope into place starting at one end and moving around until the whole groove is filled and the rope meets itself.

Leave for 10 minutes so the glue can become tacky and then replace the door back onto the fire. Gently close the door, this should close without excess pressure if you can feel resistance do not force the door as this can break the glass, if it doesn’t close correctly ensure you have used the correct size rope an there is nothing obstructing the door and stopping it from closing.

Once the stove door us in place you can have a fire in the stove, this will help the glue to cure and hold the rope in place.

Remember to check your rope seals regularly and replace when required as this small job can save you a lot of money in the long run.

We have Fire rope in stock at our showroom in various diameters, we can also have stove glass cut to any size and delivered to your door. Call us today for a competitive quote 01745 822344 or visit our website and order online 24 hours a day. www.northwalesstoves.co.uk

Featured stove range

Firebelly FB. Is this the stove range that has it all?

After it appeared on our featured installation article last week, this week we would like to take a closer look at the FB range of stoves by Firebelly. 


"Heat reflective technilite firebricks line every face of the firebox keeping the firebed at optimum temperature and helping the stoves achieve their high efficiency rating. 
The intuitive controls and stay cool door handles make the stoves a joy to operate."


Options include a wide range of colours, a drop in multifuel kit for burning mineral fuels, a log box that raises the stove and provides a safe area for log storage underneath, a boiler model to supply domestic hot water and central heating, double sided models and an inset model. 


Made in the UK by a family run business Firebellys FB range starts with the 4kw FBT1 and the original FB which is rated at 5kw, both of which can be installed with no additional ventilation. The FB has the option of an additional log box.  Both come in a wide range of colours. 

If you have a larger area to heat then the FB range has something for you too, The FB1 rated a 6kw, The FB2 at 12kw and the FB3 which gives a whopping 18kw. All these models are available in a range of colours and for that distinctive modern look you can also opt for stainless steel legs. These models are also available as double sided models and with log boxes and the FB2 is also available as a boiler model capable of producing 27000btu of hot water to your system.

In addition to the freestanding models Firebelly have also introduced the FBi inset model, rated at 6kw this stylish semi-recessed inset stove is available in Firebellys full range of colours.

We have a range of Firebelly stoves on display at our showroom, based in Betws Yn  Rhos, Abergele. Just 3miles from the A55. Why not pop along and see if there is one for you….

Featured Installation.

This week we would like to show you what we do best! 

The following installation was completed by Lloyd at solid fuel solutions. 
He is one of the Hetas registerd installers that works closely with North Wales Stoves to give our customers the best service possible. 


Originally when our customer came to see us they were looking for two stoves to heat two seperate rooms which backed onto each other.


However after completing a free no obligation survey at their property the engineer discovered that one of the chimneys the customer wanted to use was a false chimney, which meant that they could not use it for a solid fuel appliance. If the customer wanted a second stove they would either need to have a class 1 chimney built or install a factory made metal chimney both of which were more cost and building work that the customer wanted to avoid.


As a solution to this we suggested the customer use the one working chimney witha double sided appliance to heat both rooms.The chimney was lined and insualted to ensure optimum performance from the stove.
The installation engineer knocked through to the oposite room and lowered the customers hearth to make room for the new larger appliance and a Charcoal grey Double sided Firebelly 2 stove on a log store was installed.

This saved the customer from having additional building work completed and becaue they only had one chimney to prepare for use and buy one appliance we saved them a lot of money too.


This is the kind of advice you wont get when you buy a stove off the internet so it's always a good idea to visit your local stove retailer for advice when purchasing a stove, you might be pleasantly surprised.


North Wales Stoves showroom is just 3 miles from the A55 (j24) Abergele. We have a wide range of appliances on display and can offer you advice on stoves and flues or arrange HETAS registered installations in our local area. We cover Holyhead, Anglesey, Bangor, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Cheshire and Wirral and surrounding areas. 

Multifuel stove V's Woodburner

Which is best for you?

When we talk about stoves may people often refer to them as woodburners, But in the UK market the Multifuel stove is a more popular choice. So what’s the difference?


A woodburning only stove can burn only wood, Often there is no grate or ashpan as wood burns well on a bed of ash at the bottom of the stove with the air regulator positioned above the fuel. 


Often woodburners have a higher efficiency (fuel to heat) than multifuel stoves, a larger firebox so you don’t need to cut your logs very small and burning timber is carbon neutral, so they are kinder to the environment. 


The down side is you are limited to burning only wood. When burning a hot stove this can mean you will need to load the stove with fuel more often than with a mineral fuel. 


Timber should be burnt when it is seasoned and less than 25% moisture content to help avoid creating a tar build up in your flue way and to produce heat from the fire itself. If you burn wet timber the fire focuses its energy on drying the timber rather than giving off heat. 


If you want to burn wood only you will likely need a way to store your timber so you can season it yourself . Timber can be purchased as seasoned from your wood supplier and buying in bulk is always the cheapest option but if you want guarantees about the moisture content you can purchase kiln dried logs by the bag or wood fuel logs which have their moisture content recorded on the packaging so you know exactly what you are getting. 


Multifuel stoves allow for more choice in fuel. A multifuel stove will have the ability to burn wood but also other solid fuels such as coal and smokeless fuels but you will need to read the manufacturers recommendations as some list specific fuels as unsuitable and using these can void your warranty. 
A multifuel stove will have a grate and an ash pan and many have a riddling mechanism on the grate which can be positioned internally under the grate or externally outside the stove. 


Some multifuels have removable or adjustable grates which allow for more efficient burning of timber on a multifuel stove. Solid fuel likes to burn on a grate with air coming underneath so the stoves air intake regulators will usually be positioned under the multifuel grate to help with this.

Solid mineral fuels will also burn for longer than timber so you will need to load the fire less and also because you are not limited to one kind of fuel you can shop around on price and find one that works best for your situation and available storage. 


If you are looking for a stove and need advice on what kind would suit you best why not call North Wales Stoves Ltd on 01745 822344 or email us northwalesstovesltd@gmail.com

Featured Stove - ACR Earlswood.

Buying a new stove can be a minefield of choices especially if you have no previous knowledge of how they work and what will work best for you. There are many stove manufacturers in the UK and many more across the world so there is no shortage of choice for the consumer, but what makes a good stove? This week we take a closer look at the Earlswood 5kw multifuel stove from ACR Heat Products. Is this one of the best stoves on the British market right now? We will let you decide….

With over 25 years  experience in designing stoves to the highest standards ACR heat products presents The Earlswood stove. The Earlswood has received DEFRA approval which means it can be used to burn wood in a smokeless area and is also suitable for burning a range of smokeless fuels.

Equipped with a very powerful airwash system to help keep the glass clean the Earlswood has a Large glass window which allows you a relaxing view of the flames. The ample sized firebox allows for burning logs up to 310mm in length.

At 5kw the Earlswood is suited to many room sizes and requires no additional ventilation. With a top or rear 125mm flue exit the stove can be adapted to a range of installations.

Finished in traditional matt black the Earlswood prides itself in it’s attention to detail, the stove is easy to maintain and operate. Constructed from high quality steel and cast iron for strength and efficient heat transfer.

With a high efficiency rating of 78.3%, a 5 year manufacturers warranty, and an RRP of just £710.00, If you are looking for design, function and affordability, The Earlswood stove is definitely worth considering when making your stove shortlist.

And for our Blog readers we are offering an additional £50 off the Earlswood stove when you use this voucher code, BLOGOFFEARL,  either by placing your order by telephone 01745 822344 or in store at our showroom in Betws Yn Rhos. Offer limited to one stove per customer while stocks last, Ends Friday 15.06.12.