Who Should Install My Gas or Wood Burning Stove?

So you’ve decided to take the plunge and invest in a stove for your home – a decision we applaud you for – but there is one final consideration that you need to make. How do you install a wood burning stove? Or any other type of stove for that matter.

Who Should Install My Wood Burning Stove?

Our advice to anyone who buys a wood burner is always that you get it installed by a professional installer. Luckily, it’s really easy to find one thanks to HETAS, which is a government approved organisation that, amongst other things, keeps a list of registered installers.

These HETAS stove installers are trained and approved to UKAS (UK’s National Accreditation Body) standards and they can demonstrate that the work they do is compliant with any relevant building regulations. In short, they are the most qualified people to install your wood burning stove.

The HETAS website make it really easy to find a stove installer near you:

https://www.hetas.co.uk/find-installer/

All you have to do is enter a postcode and choose what type of installer you want, whether it’s a dry stove, a boiler stove or some flue and chimney work that needs to be done.

It’s worth mentioning that HETAS do collaborate with the NACS (National Association of Chimney Sweeps). There’s another handy ‘Find A Chimney Sweep’ section on their site where you are also able to search by your postcode.

Who Can Install A Gas Stove?

Like wood burners, we also recommend that gas stoves are installed by approved installers. In this case, you need a ‘Gas Safe’ registered engineer – and they should always be used for any gas works that you need to be done on your property.

You don’t need us to remind you of the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO), but getting badly installed or maintained gas appliances are one of the most severe causes of fatal CO poisoning. It really isn’t worth the risk, so please do use the Gas Safe website if you do need to find an engineer:

https://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/find-an-engineer

Why Does A Professional Need To Install My Stove

Stoves are a really sensible investment if you’re looking to offset increasing fuel prices and need a more efficient way to heat your home. Also, if you’re becoming more aware of the environmental impact of heating your home then a stove can also be a great choice.

With that said, if you want to maximise the efficiency of your stove and how well it works for you, then getting it professionally installed can pay for itself. It also eliminates any unnecessary health risks in terms of carbon monoxide entering the home and reducing the risk of fire.

It’s also about maximising the lifespan of your stove. If you do try to install a stove yourself and get it wrong, it can cost more money to fix than it would have done to install it in the first place. It might also mean that your stove might not last as long as it would have done if it had been correctly installed in the outset.

Complying With Building Regulations

Another very important reasons why it’s good to get your stove professionally installed is that stove, chimney and hearth installations are subject to building regulations. A HETAS installer is qualified to self-certify their work and can provide the necessary details to local authorities.

If you choose to install yourself, that’s another job you will have to do. It’s also worth knowing that local authorities can and do charge £200 to certify a stove installation. If a stove installation doesn’t follow the building control procedures then you leave yourself exposed to the prospect of an unlimited, or even prosecution. It’s definitely not worth the risk.

Find out more: Are There Building Regulations For a Stove?

In short, whether it’s wood burning, multifuel or gas, it pays for itself to get your stove professionally installed.

If you do have any more questions around installation or finding a stove installer near you, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of our experts today and we’ll be happy to help.

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More on the Direct Stoves blog…

Can I Install a Wood Burning Stove in a Conservatory? | What Do You Need to Fit a Log Burner? | Log Burner Ventilation – Why Do I Need an Air Vent?