Finding the best companion set for your wood-burning stove

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When you’re getting a wood-burning stove installed, it’s easy to forget that you will probably need a companion set, too.

The trusty set of fireplace tools is commonly associated with the hearth of an open fire, but you don’t have to own a woodburner for very long to work out that they are equally useful for stoves.

For example, if you have a wood-burning stove – as opposed to a multi-fuel stove – there will be no ashpan and you’ll have to find your own way of getting most of the ashes out of the firebox. The small shovel that you will find in most companion sets is the perfect tool with which to do this.

Unless you have the steadiest of hands, you might spill a small amount of ash. In this case, you’ll be grateful of a small fireside brush to quickly clear them up.

Reloading a multi-fuel stove with coal or smokeless fuels? You’ll be grateful of a pair of fire tongs to help your place your fuel where you want it without getting a burn in the process.

And a poker is always useful to keep your fire under control and doing exactly what you want it to do.

The question is, which companion set should you get? We’ll give you a few suggestions…

Best basket companion set
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Basket 4 Piece Medium Companion Set Black
Most companion sets offer the traditional central stand design, with the tools hanging around the edges. If you’re looking for something a bit different to that, this basket design is a nice idea. It is a tidy set that will sit against a wall rather than needing any undue prominence in the middle of a hearth.

Best classic companion set for a wood-burning stove
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Urn Top 4 Piece Fireside Companion 16inch
This neat, compact companion set gives a traditional look that is something a bit different from the cast iron of most traditional companion sets. The urn top design will add an elegant flourish to any fireplace.

Best contemporary companion set for a wood-burning stove
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Ezee Glow 4 Piece Tool Set Beech Handles
If you’ve got modern decor or a contemporary-styled stove it makes sense to find a companion set to match. That’s exactly what this Ezee Glow set offers. It’s also available with steel handles and in a 3-piece version.

Best traditional companion set for a wood-burning stove
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4 Piece Black Companion Set With Caged Handles
There is a wide choice of traditional companion sets, but one of our favourites is this set with caged handles. If you’ve got a classically-style stove – particularly a cast iron appliance with ornate detailing – this is the perfect partner.

See our full range of companions sets.

How to keep a wood-burning stove lit overnight

Dimplex Westcott Inset

Is it possible to keep a woodburner lit all night?

The answer is yes, but there is some skill involved. There’s also likely to be lots of trial and error involved. But with a bit of practice – and perhaps even a bit of luck – you should be able to keep your stove burning through the night.

Is it safe to keep the stove burning at night?
There is inevitably some risk attached to leaving a lit stove unattended for hours at a time. While this was not only commonplace but practically a necessity in many homes in yesteryear, nowadays some people would rather know that their stove is extinguished before they go to bed for the night. Continue reading

The benefits of an inset stove

One of the most popular versions of the wood-burning stove currently on the market is the inset stove. Despite functioning pretty much the same as any other stove, an inset stove simply slots into an existing open fireplace.

So, what are the benefits that are encouraging so many people to opt for an inset stove?

Greater efficiency
In comparison to the open fireplaces they usually replace, inset stoves offer huge efficiency savings. A regular open grate will lose around 70% of the heat it generates straight up the chimney. Once an inset stove is installed, as little as 20% of the heat produced will be lost.

Easy fitting
As we’ve alluded to above, inset stoves slot easily into fireplaces. Most inset stoves are designed to fit perfectly into a standard, tapered fireplace, which makes for an easy installation process and minimal disruption to the existing structures of your home.

Less space needed
An inset stove comes with its own air gap built into the convection box. So, whereas a traditional wood-burning stove needs space for air to circulate around it, inset stoves can be used in a smaller space.

Interior design versatility
Not every room is suitable for a feature fireplace with a wood-burning stove at the centre. In many ways, an inset stove is a more subtle alternative. While you can still make it a feature of the room if you wish, it’s just as easy to let it blend into the existing fireplace so that it only really catches the eye when the roaring flames are licking against the glass.

Click here to see our full range of inset stoves.

The benefits of buying a wood-burning stove

Evergreen Poplar

You’re thinking of buying a wood-burning stove… but you still need a bit of convincing that it’s what you really want. You probably want to know the benefits of getting a wood-burning stove.

After all, what’s so good about owning a wood burner?

You can cut your energy bills
By just how much depends how efficiently you use the stove, but it certainly ends your reliance on the big energy companies. You know exactly how much energy you’re using because it’s you who loads the fuel into the stove! Continue reading