My house comes with a Wood Burner/Multi Fuel Stove, what do I need to know?

It's becoming more and more common to buy a house with a wood burner or multi fuel stove already installed. Many customers come to us asking for advise concerning inheriting a wood burner or multi fuel stove from a previous owner. So we have put together a checklist.

Check for a Certificate of Compliance

A certificate of compliance is what confirms that the installation of the wood burner or multifuel stove is compliant. This means the installation has been completed in accordance with regulations and is safe to use. 

A certificate of compliance can come in two forms:

• A HETAS Certificate

Some versions are an A4 sheet usually pink, others are a smaller (Approx. A5) certificate. The version depends on the age of the installation and whether the installer used the paper sign off system (A4 Pink) or the new online portal to sign off (Approx. A5 and supplied directly from HETAS).

• Signed off as compliant through your Local Authority.

Some installations are signed off directly through your local authority. This is usually done by a building inspector alongside other building works.

I've already moved in and haven't got a certificate of compliance.

Don't panic. We strongly advise not using the fire until you have a certificate of compliance, however not having a certificate of compliance provided at hand over doesn't automatically mean that the wood burner or multi fuel stove is non-compliant. In some cases this is simply that the certificate has been lost. 

There are two simple steps to follow if you haven't received a certificate of compliance from the previous owners:

STEP 1:

Contact HETAS and/or your local authority to see if they have an installation on record for the address.

If the answer is:

YES: Simply ask for a copy of the certificate of compliance. This usually has a small cost involved. This will confirm the installation is compliant. If you are still uncomfortable, you can contact a local HETAS installer to inspect the works and advise you.

NO: Do not use the wood burner or multi fuel stove.  Go to Step 2.

STEP 2 (Only if the answer is no to Step 1):

If you would like to use the stove have it inspected and if necessary have it re-installed safely contact a HETAS registered installer.

If you would like to use the wood burner or multi fuel stove contact a HETAS registered installer to inspect the installation to quote for a re-fit to make the installation compliant if necessary.

In our experience, the majority of installations that haven't been signed of with a certificate of compliance need to be reinstalled for safety. This process is similar to installing a brand new stove, you would need to choose an installer, have an inspection, receive a quote and then decide whether or not to go ahead.  The installation would be signed off by the new installer when they complete the works and you would then receive a certificate of compliance.

To ensure you are contacting a HETAS registered installer you can search the HETAS database by clicking here.

If you have decided you would rather not have the wood burner or multi fuel stove we would recommend having it removed, and the chimney capped & blocked off if a new heat source is not going in its place.

Beware of fraudulent certificates.

The influx of fake compliance certificates has been featured in the media in the past few years, and with shows such as Rip Off Britain, we as consumers are becoming more aware of our rights and what to look out for.

Sadly however, we are still coming across (all be it not many) customers who have had fraudulent certificates of compliance. Therefore, we feel we need to help raise awareness, and give our customers the knowledge they need to ensure that they are getting the genuine article. Its simple to check too, you can contact either HETAS or your local authority (depending on which type of certificate of compliance is provided), and confirm that you have a genuine certificate of compliance.

Check when the wood burner or multi fuel stove last had a service and/or chimney sweep.

We often compare owning a wood burner or multi fuel stove to a car, you need an MOT once a year to ensure it's safe. It's why we call our stove servicing a 'Stove MOT'. In simple terms, a wood burner or multi fuel stove needs to have the chimney swept a minimum of once a year. This is to comply with any warranties on the stove and pipework as well as with your home insurance policy (policies my vary, always check with your provider). A stove service goes a step further and includes preventative maintenance to help prevent problems arising at a later date.

Ask for proof that a chimney sweep/stove service has been preformed in the past 12 months.

This should come in the form of a certificate to confirm who preformed the chimney sweep/service & when it was completed. This not only assured you that the stove is safe to use, and wont invalidate your new home insurance policy but also so you will know when the next chimney sweep/service is due by.

No proof of a recent chimney sweep/stove service has been provided.

If you have not received any proof of a chimney sweep or stove service having been preformed in the past 12 months, book in for either a chimney sweep or stove service as soon as possible. Not having a yearly sweep can invalidate your home insurance policy (check with your provider as policies may vary) and any guarantees on the wood burner, multi fuel stove and pipework. It will also ensure your fire & chimney are safe for use.

Check for the wood burner or multi fuel stoves make, model and any manuals.

This is important because it will help you be able to source any spare parts you may need in the future much easier.

Why is the make and model so important when sourcing spares?

While it is possible to sort glass, firebrick, gasket and rope spares without knowing the make and model, it is much harder (sometimes near impossible) to source many of the internal spares such as a baffle/throat plate, riddle bars etc. without knowing the make and model of the wood burner or multi fuel stove. Many of these internal parts are needed for the fire to work efficiently and safely, therefore if the part needs replacing and cannot be sourced, it may mean your stove will be condemned as it will no longer be safe for use.

Manuals make sourcing spares easier and have guidance on how to use the wood burner or multi fuel stove.

The manual makes sourcing spares even easier as often they contain spare parts codes that can be incredibly helpful when looking at spare parts as it ensures you will be getting the correct part and removes some of the guess work. (We have one make and model that have 5 different versions of that model spanning 20 years that all have different parts). It really will make your life easier!

The manuals also contain guidance on how to operate your inherited stove, and with the all the changes in woodburning technologies and the many different manfacturers not every wood burner or multi fuel stove will work the same.

If you have the make and model but no manual, it is often possible to source a copy of the manual directly from the manufacturer.