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Multi-Fuel vs. Wood-Burning Stoves
Customers are often comparing multi-fuel stoves (which burn coal, wood,) to wood-only models for flexibility and efficiency.
Whats the difference between a Wood burning Stove and a Multi-fuel Stove
Example of a Wood burning Stove
Example of a Multi-fuel Stove
Wood-burning Stoves will burn seasoned wood or approved wood products only, whereas Multi-Fuel Stoves can burn approved solid smokeless fuel or seasoned wood. Generally, Wood-burning only stoves do not have a grate or ash-pan, and the wood-fuel will be burnt directly on the base of the stove. Multi-Fuel stoves will have a grate (either a static grate or an riddling grate) and a ash pan for removing the ashes.
There are some Wood burners which do come with a static grate and ashpan which are wood burning only. This is quite common in some Scandinavian Contemporary Woodburners.
Why does it matter if I burn Wood in a Multi-fuel Stove.
Generally, a Multi-fuel Stove will have less space in the Firebox as it accommodates the grate and ashpan.
The multi-fuel grate will allow air to flow through the bottom resulting in a faster burn rate.
There is an exception to this rule with the Charnwood stoves with the Converting grate. An innovative converting grate which allows you to have a flat bed to burn wood more efficiently
The Charnwood Covering Grate is used in the following Stoves
Why choose a Wood burner?
If you are only burning wood, then it is much more efficient to use a dedicated Woodburner. This is because you burn logs a bed of ash directly onto the stove base. It is true that different log types will vary in burn rates. However, you will get the most from a log with the correct designed stove for wood burning only.
What is Wood burning stove efficiency?
Wood-burning stove efficiency refers to how effectively the stove burns wood fuel to heat your home. Typically, this is measured as a percentage, where higher percentages indicate better performance. Used correctly, a more efficient stove will produce more heat with less wood, reducing both fuel costs and emissions. If a stove has 80% efficiency, it means only 20% of the potential heat from the fuel is lost in the combustion process. (Charnwood Stoves Article https://www.charnwood.com/news/what-are-the-most-efficient-wood-burning-stoves-in-the-uk/)
