22 Mar 2013 1:04 AM:

 Just picked up on this somewhat aged thread but felt I had to comment. talking of efficiency of wood stoves, most wood or multifuel stoves use an airwash system to keep the heat in the stove for longer. This makes the wood burn at a higher temperature. Wood burns in three stages, and the most efficient use of the fuel doesn't occur until until the fuel (wood) reaches a target temperature. At this point, the fuel will burn clean and produce fewer emissions and less smoke, and ultimately, more heat per log. Burning with the doors open may give a nice 'open fire' feel around the stove, but output less heat per kg fuel burned and produce more tar and creosote up the chimney. As a chimney sweep in Spain and the UK, I am finding that more flues are in a poor state, cloged with tar etc in Spain than I would expect in the UK. This is largely down to the poor quality of the fuel, but also the effect of 'slumbering' the stove, trying to keep it going all night. 

A word of warning for anyone considering pellet stoves - It has been found in the UK that pellet storage produces carbon monoxide. The longer the pellets are kept, the greater the problem. Pellet storage must be kept away from living areas and should be well ventilated.

Thread: Log Burners Help

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22 Mar 2013 12:46 AM:

 Sadly, fumes don't care about regulations. The physical dynamics that effect wood stoves or any solid fuel appliance are the same all over the planet. In the UK, the regs are designed to minimise the effect of downdraught and the effect of smoke on people below the roofline! You can download section J of the UK building regs that cover this for free, but in brief, the important bits are: a solid fuel flue (chimney) must be a minimum of 600mm above the apex if the stack is within 1.8m of the apex. If the stack is more than 1.8m from the apex, it must be either 600mm above the apex or 1.8m above the roofline horizontally and vertically. It must be a minimum of 4.6m above ground level in any event, and no window or ventilation opening may be within 1m of the base of the stack in any direction. 

In Spain, it's my experience that regs either don't exist, or no one knows or cares what they are. I'm surprised that your neighbour isn't having a similar problem. Perhaps a friendly word would be the best start. 

As a chimney sweep in the UK and Spain, I find installs in Spain to be a whole new ball game and most would be condemned in the UK - including the one in my own new build!

Thread: Wood burning stoves...

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