Here at JMS Wood Burning and Multi-Fuel Stoves, we are leading stove experts. From multi-fuel stoves, to wood-burning stoves, we have a wealth of knowledge, skills and expertise. And we offer professional installation and advice to homeowners and property developers across the area. We have produced this guide to everything you should know about installing multi-fuel stoves for open plan living spaces.

What are the considerations when installing multi-fuel stoves for open plan living spaces?

There are a number of considerations to take into account when installing a multi fuel stove in any open plan living area. These considerations include:

• The direction of the stove
• The size of the stove
• The stove style

The direction of the stove in an open plan living area

In an open plan living area you will need to distribute the heat evenly around the room to effectively warm the ground floor. However, you may want it to become warmer around your main seating area, where you’ll be spending your evenings. As a result the location of the stove can be an important practical consideration.

The size of the stove for an open plan living area

The size of the stove is an important consideration in terms of providing enough heat to the ground floor of your home. A professional team like us here at JMS Stoves can help you determine the size of the stove you need.

Stove style in an open plan living area

In an open plan living area the stove will be visible from all directions. As a result, it is essential that you choose the right stove for the style of your interior decor. Stoves are available in both traditional and contemporary styles so you can make the right choice for your property. You can also choose the shape of the stove as well, including cylindrical stoves and hexagonal stoves, as well as the more traditional square or rectangular shaped stoves.

For more information or advice, or to choose your new multi-fuel or wood burning stove, get in touch with the experts today, here at JMS Stoves.

Storing wood effectively is important for fueling your wood burning stove efficiently all year round. But what should you consider when storing wood for your stove at home? 

What are the considerations for storing wood for your stove at home?

Storing wood for your stove at home is an important task to ensure that you have a reliable source of heat during the colder months. There are a few key things to keep in mind when storing wood, and these include:

• Storage location- The position of your woodpile should be as close to your stove as you can make it. This will reduce the amount of moisture that the wood collects while also making it easier to bring in wood as needed. Your woodpile should be placed in a covered area, like a shed or covered porch, to keep the wood dry and protected from the elements.
• Stacking wood- It’s crucial to stack your wood in a way that permits air to move freely around the logs. The wood will be able to dry out and avoid decay as a result. The term “rick” refers to a prevalent way of stacking wood in which the ends of the logs are facing outward and they are placed in a crisscross pattern. This makes it possible for air to flow around the logs and helps keep moisture from getting drawn in between them.
• Protect the wood- It’s crucial to use a tarp or other waterproof cover to protect the top of your woodpile. In order to prevent the wood from absorbing moisture and losing its effectiveness as fuel, this will aid in shielding it from rain and snow. To prevent water from seeping in, make sure the tarp is tightly covering the woodpile and is attached firmly.

Make sure your wood is sufficiently dry before using it. Using a moisture metre, you can determine how much moisture is present in your wood and verify its moisture content. Choose wood with a moisture level of under 20% as your preferred option. Too much moisture in the wood will cause it to burn inefficiently, producing additional smoke and creosote accumulation in your chimney.

Here at JMS Stoves, we offer an amazing selection of top of the range of stove products perfect for any home. Why not get in touch today to find out more?

Now that the dark nights are drawing in, its the perfect time to be putting your feet up in front of a multi-fuel or wood burning stove.  And here at JMS Stoves, we offer an amazing selection of top of the range of stove products perfect for any home. But once your stove has been installed, how can you keep it looking new? Well, as Birmingham’s leading stove experts, we have produced this guide to everything you should know about maintaining your multi-fuel stove.

What are the important steps for maintaining your multi-fuel stove?

Keeping your stove in tip top condition isn’t just important for the aesthetics. It’s also important for the efficiency and effectiveness of your stove. So as part of your maintenance, you should be:

• Removing ash and soot- ash soot and any remaining debris should be removed before lighting your stove up again. This will help keep the air circulating inside the stove, and keep the fire well lit, and your home warm.
• Internal check up- every so often you should be checking the internal parts of your stove for damage and obvious build up of soot, ash or debris. Make sure you pay close attention to the firebricks, glass and rope seals.
• Get your chimney swept- its good practice to arrange for a chimney sweep to sweep your chimney on an annual or bi-annual basis. It may even need to be more regular than this. Check inside your stove for any signs of build up of debris above the flue baffle. This is in the upper part of the firebox. You might need a torch to see them.
• Clean the glass- for a stunning stove, you need to keep on top of the glass care. This means waiting for the stove to cool, and cleaning the glass using a specialist glass cleaner for the best results. You don’t want to smudge the ash around, you want to remove it completely.

For more information or advice, get in touch with the professionals today, here at JMS Stoves.

Here at JMS Wood Burning and Multi-Fuel Stoves, we are leading stove experts. From multi-fuel stoves, to wood-burning stoves, we have a wealth of knowledge, skills and expertise. As such, we have produced this guide to everything you should know about multi-fuel stoves for contemporary spaces.

What are the important design considerations for contemporary multi-fuel stoves?

There are a number of important design considerations to bear in mind when installing a contemporary multi-fuel stove. These include:

• Iron or steel- multi fuel stoves are available in either iron or steel. Steel is the most common choice for a contemporary stove, as these are often lighter weight and moulded into more contemporary styles, but contemporary iron multi-fuel stoves are also available. In general, steel stoves will heat your home up quicker, but iron stoves will stay warmer for longer.
• The shape of the stove- for a contemporary design your stove will need to be sleek with curved or straight edges, and no design embellishments or patterns. Circular stoves can also be a great option or even hexagonal shaped stoves. Ultimately, you should choose the design and shape that will best suit your interior design. For example a contemporary living room with curved features would be highly complemented by a multi fuel stove in the same curved design.
• The size of the stove- this is more of a practical consideration than a design consideration, but it is worth mentioning that in contemporary or modern spaces, minimalism is a key design trend. As a result, smaller stoves that are a suitable size for the room, can be more contemporary in style.
• Freestanding multi-fuel stoves- finally, you could consider installing a freestanding multi-fuel stove. This can create a striking visual feature in any contemporary home or property.

For more information or advice, or to choose your new multi-fuel stove, get in touch with the experts today, here at JMS Stoves.

Choosing between a cast iron stove, and a steel stove can be tricky. And that’s before you’ve spent time deliberating between a multi-fuel stove and a wood burning stove. Either a cast iron stove or a steel stove can be incredibly effective at heating your home. But why would you choose a steel stove, instead of cast iron? Well, here at JMS Stoves, we are Birmingham’s leading stove experts, and this is our guide to everything you should know about the benefits of steel stoves.

What are the benefits of a steel multi-fuel stove?

There are a number of advantages of steel stoves. With the main benefits including:

• the speed to heat up
• traditional or contemporary style
• quality material

The speed to heat up

Steel stoves are much faster to heat up than cast iron stoves. And this means that your home can be warmed through in a lot less time, by using a steel stove. Not only will your home warm faster, but it will also cost less to heat. Simply because it will take less time for your room to reach optimum temperature. This means you could be spending less money on fuel.

Traditional or contemporary style

When you think of steel stoves, you probably think of ultra-contemporary stunning design pieces. And while this is true, there are some stunning, contemporary steel stoves out there, traditional steel stoves are also an option.

In fact, there are a wide variety of styles to choose from when opting for a stainless steel stove. And this means that steel can be the perfect choice for a range of households, from the contemporary, to the traditional.

Quality material

You might have heard some horror stories about steel. And cracked or warped stoves. Unfortunately, these stories are entirely possible if you purchase a low quality steel stove. And if you instead opted for a low quality cast iron stove, you’d also see the same effects. It’s not steel itself that is an issue for stoves, its the quality of the material. High quality steel can create some stunning, long lasting, durable stoves.

For more information or advice, get in touch with the experts today, here at JMS Stoves in Birmingham.

Here at JMS Wood Burning and Multi-Fuel Stoves, we are leading stove experts. From multi-fuel stoves, to wood-burning stoves, we have a wealth of knowledge, skills and expertise. And this is our guide to everything you should know about multi fuel stoves for small spaces.

What are the important considerations when choosing a multi-fuel stove for a small room?

If you are thinking of installing a multi-fuel stove in a small room or home there are a number of important considerations to take into account. These include:

• The positioning of your multi fuel stove- small homes or rooms may not have access to a chimney but this doesn’t mean that you cant install a multi fuel stove. However, it does mean that your stove will need to be positioned in a certain part of the room, against an exterior wall so that a flue can be installed. This is essential for safety.
• The size of your multi fuel stove- it might be tempting to just opt for a standard or large multi fuel stove but this will create too much heat for a small space, becoming overwhelming very quickly. It can also take up a lot more space in your room than you might have guessed which can be very impractical for a small room. As a result, a compact multi fuel stove can be the best option, as these are designed to warm smaller space efficiently and effectively, without wasting heat.
• The style of your multi fuel stove- no matter how large or small your space is, the design of the multi fuel stove should always complement your overall design intentions for the room. Compact multi fuel stoves are available in a range of designs and styles to suit your preferences, from traditional to contemporary.

For more information or advice, or to choose your new multi-fuel stove, get in touch with the experts today, here at JMS Stoves.

A multi-fuel stove can be the perfect solution to the current energy crisis, helping to save energy usage in your home, and ultimately reduce bills and monthly costs. But how can a multi fuel stove help you? Well, here at JMS Wood Burning and Multi-Fuel Stoves, we are leading stove experts. From multi-fuel stoves, to wood-burning stoves, we have a wealth of knowledge, skills and expertise. And this is our guide to everything you should know about how multi-fuel stoves can help to reduce your energy bills.

So, how can a multi-fuel stove help reduce energy bills?

A multi fuel stove can be very effective for saving money on energy bills in a number of ways. These include:

• Heating the home- central heating is one of the most popular option for home heating but this is becoming increasingly expensive. A multi-fuel stove can provide suitable heating for your property, helping you to stay warm all year round, without having to use the central heating at all. But even reducing your central heating reliance can make a notable difference to your monthly gas bill.
• Impressive energy efficiency- during the manufacturing process, new multi fuel stoves are rigorously tested for their functionality, heat output and most importantly energy efficiency. If you are running an older boiler, even an older combi boiler, you might be surprised to know that a multi fuel stove can actually be more energy efficient than this older central heating system. What this means is that more of the fuel is converted into heat successfully, with less heat lost or wasted during the process. So not only is fuel for the stove cheaper to buy and use than energy from the gas supplier, but this can actually heat your home more too.

For more information or advice, or to choose your new multi-fuel stove, get in touch with the experts today, here at JMS Stoves.

With energy bills soaring and looking likely to rise even further, you may be wondering about changes you can make to reduce electricity and gas reliance. A multi-fuel stove can be just such a positive change. But why should you consider switching to a multi fuel stove, from an electric fire? And what are the benefits of this? Well, here at JMS Wood Burning and Multi-Fuel Stoves, we are leading stove experts. From multi-fuel stoves, to wood-burning stoves, we have a wealth of knowledge, skills and expertise. And this is our guide to everything you should know about how multi-fuel stoves compare to electric fires.

What are the benefits of replacing electric fires with multi fuel stoves?

There are a number of reasons why a multi-fuel stove can be a more effective option than an electric fire. These include:

• Reducing energy bills- electric fires can be expensive to run, and this is a cost you might not notice until the end of the month, when the electricity bill arrives. With a multi-fuel stove, you can cut down drastically on your bills, as you wont need to use electricity to keep your home warm. You can also cut down on the gas bill, as a multi-fuel stove can warm your whole house, so you don’t have to rely on central heating.
• Effective heat distribution- there is no doubt that a multi-fuel stove provides a much more effective and efficient heat distribution, heating both large and small spaces effectively. The heat will also stay around longer, after the fire has been extinguished.
• Heating in a power cut- with a multi-fuel stove, you will still have heat and warmth from the fire, which is not something that an electric fireplace can offer.

Important considerations

Although multi-fuel stoves offer more advantages than an electric fireplace, there are some considerations, including:

• Multi-fuel stoves need a chimney and this will need to be well maintained too
• Electric fires can simply be plugged in, which is easier than building and maintaining a real fire.

For more information or advice, or to choose your new multi-fuel stove, get in touch with the experts today, here at JMS Stoves.

With wood burning and multi-fuel stoves increasing in popularity over recent years, there has also bee a rise in the number and type of different fuels. With a wood burning stove you should be sticking to FSC wood, but there are more options for multi-fuel stoves. So what are the suitable fuel types for multi-fuel stoves? And which type of fuel will best suit your requirements? Well, here at JMS Wood Burning and Multi-Fuel Stoves, we are leading stove experts. From multi-fuel stoves, to wood-burning stoves, we have a wealth of knowledge, skills and expertise. And this is our guide to help choose the right fuel for your requirements.

Choosing the right fuel for multi fuel stoves

There are a number effective fuel options for steel or cast iron multi-fuel stoves. These include:

• Wood and logs- you can burn wood on a multi-fuel stove. Just like logs for a wood burner, you should only choose wood that is FSC approved.
• Smokeless fuel briquette– these are specifically crafted briquettes that can be used on a multi-fuel stove, without creating smoke. These are very popular as they are easy to light, and reach a very high heat. These also leave no waste, just ash.
• Anthracite- this is a naturally occurring smokeless fuel, with a long burn time. However, it is not as easy to light as the manufactured fuels, like the smokeless briquettes.

Fuels to avoid for your multi fuel stove

There are some fuels to avoid for your multi-fuel stove as well. These include:

• House coal- Unless specifically stated in your manufacturer’s guide, you should avoid using house coal in your stove at all costs. This is because the house coal burns at a much higher temperature, which could cause damage, while the smoke will also blacken your stove’s glass.
• Peat- Peat is not a renewable source of energy, and could cause environmental damage.

For more information or advice, get in touch with the experts today, here at JMS Stoves.

Here at JMS Wood Burning and Mutli Fuel Stoves, we are Birmingham’s leading stove specialists. We install all kinds of stove, including wood burning and multi-fuel stoves, as well as cast iron or stainless steel varieties. But why is Autumn a great time of year for stove installation?

Why should you consider installing a wood burning stove this Autumn?

There are a number of reasons why Autumn is the perfect time to add a wood burning stove to your home. These include:

• Darker, colder nights– most home-owners with a wood burning stove start to use this more regularly as soon as Autumn arrives. This is because once the nights begin to draw in early, and the temperature drops outside, a roaring fire is perfect. Lighting a wood burning fire can fill your home with warmth and energy, and if you install now, you will be a wood burning stove expert by the time the depths of winter arrive.
• Relax and unwind- a real fire is the perfect way to unwind and relax during the Autumn and Winter period, especially when the weather becomes more unpredictable. A wood burning fire is perfect for meditating, as you can watch the dancing flames and find peace and tranquility. This is sure to help combat the stress of the outside world!
• Great quality heat- a wood burning stove offers a high quality of heat that will keep your whole home warm this Autumn and winter.
• Quicker installation- finally, one of the biggest practical advantages is that installing your wood burning stove in the Autumn can mean you miss out on the long waiting period associated with the winter months, when demand surges and installers are busy.

For more information or advice, or for installation of your new wood burning stove, get in touch today with the experts here at JMS Stoves.