You choose the Kilowatts of your fireplace based on the size of the area you want to warm. 

Buying a fireplace with too little kWs may result in your unit not being capable of warming the intended space. Overheating a fireplace to make up for this shortcoming may void its warranty and cause internal parts to damage.

Buying a fireplace with too many kWs may result in your unit heating your room to an uncomfortable temperature.

Cast iron is the traditional choice for major producers of wood-powered heating units. High heat retention makes it the ideal for  storing the heat created and evenly releasing it around the room.

Other benefits of cast iron wood stoves:

• It’s a timeless piece.
• Certain units may be used for cooking or boiling water.
• 360 degrees of radiant heat.
• Durable.

This insulating material used in steel wood stoves raises the combustion temperature inside the fire, causing the wood to burn efficiently. The high temperature combustion sends about 70% of the heat out through the door glass as an infrared light wave. 

Other benefits of steel wood stoves:

• Lighter than cast iron stoves.  
• Steel wood stoves are discreet.
• The convection units with an air gap can generally be positioned closer to furniture when space is limited as the sides and back get less warm than the cast iron units.

They are cheaper to run, more efficient at providing heat, safer to use and are eco-friendly. Closed combustion fireplaces make wonderful interior design features that provide a warm ambiance. You also won’t have to worry as much about load shedding! 

More heat in your home, for less – a win!

Closed combustion fireplaces are highly economical. The fuel cost of most well-designed fireplaces is about 45 cents per kilowatt per hour. An independently rated 8 kW closed fireplace should warm a space of 70 – 100 m2  at a cost of only R3,60 per hour.

*Based on South African average in 2020

Yes. Closed combustion fireplaces are typically between 60–80% efficient, where normal open fireplaces are only around 30% efficient. This means 70% of the heat generated from the fuel (wood) in an open fireplace escapes up the chimney and is lost!

Yes. Closed combustion fireplaces are sealed by a glass or cast iron door. Because the chamber is closed and air tight, the fire can safely burn and warm your room while being unattended.

Yes. Burning wood is a carbon neutral cycle. Meaning that The amount of carbon dioxide released by wood is the same as the amount it has extracted from the atmosphere as part of its natural cycle. Whether the wood is left to decay in the forest or is burned, makes no difference. The carbon dioxide will be released and subsequently absorbed by trees – a natural cycle. 

Closed system fireplaces are designed to burn wood slowly using a three way burn. The wood burns, the ashes burn and most of the fumes burn, leaving minimal emissions into the atmosphere and lots of heat in your home.

The number 1 rule is to make sure your wood is well seasoned (dry, with a moisture content of less than 20%).

In general, both hard and soft woods can be used, individually or in combination, but softwoods are better at the start and end of the winter.

Blue gum, Black Wattle and Skelos are popular recommended woods for wood burners. NEVER USE PINE!

Playing around with different options of wood and what works best in your fireplace in terms of heat output and display of flames is part of the fun, as long as your wood is well-seasoned.

NEVER USE PINE!

Pine produces a resin which leaves an invisible layer inside the flue pipe which may lead to a fire hazard over time (chimney fire).

The experts often talk about top down and bottom up lighting. You either start lighting from the top or from the bottom. We prefer top down . This method produces less soot and ashes, ensures better air supply and makes the first wood load last longer.

Anyway, in order to light the fire on the first try, you will need:

• A couple of larger logs of wood
• 8 to 12 pieces of kindling sticks
• Firelighters or newspaper
• Matches

Step 1: Air and logs of wood

Ensure that all air vents in the fireplace are open. Put the logs on the bottom of the fireplace. It is important that the wood is cleft and dry. The logs may be as thick as a fist or thicker.

Step 2: Kindling wood

Add a layer of small logs of about 4 cm, and then one or two layers of kindling. Remember that air is important – approx. 1 cm between the pieces of wood is the perfect spacing.

Step 3: Fire briquettes

Put a couple of fire firelighters on top of the layer of kindling wood or use some newspaper. Be aware that newspaper produces unnecessary amounts of ashes and contributes to more soot.

Step 4: Light it!

The last step is easy, just light it and close the door! Some chimneys take more time to create good draught than others. If the draught is insufficient, it might be an idea to open the door to the wood stove slightly until it is properly burning. If the house or cabin is “too” insulated, you might want to open a window. The same applies if the kitchen ventilator is on.

Some closing comments:

As the wood gradually catches fire, the amount of smoke gases emitting from the wood will also increase. Wood stoves from Jotul are clean burning wood stoves. This means that the combustion chamber is designed to burn flue gases before they enter the flue pipe and in this way reduce polluting emissions.

When the chimney heats up, you will discover that the draught increases. That’s why it can be a good idea to reduce the air supply when the fire is increasing.

If you follow these instructions and light the fire with a couple of large logs, the first wood load will last for about an hour. When this has turned into charcoal, you can gently open the door and add more wood. A good tip is to keep the door ajar for a few seconds before you open it completely. In this way, the draught in the chimney will ensure that the flue gases are removed from the combustion chamber and you avoid smoke flowing into the room.

The three main types and quality flue systems that are generally in the market is a) mild steel pipes, b) 430 grade stainless steel pipes and c) 304 grade stainless steel pipes.

In our opinion it is not advisable to fit mild steel flues on your fireplace as it is not the best at handling the high temperatures of a closed combustion fireplace.

Our opinion is to invest in a 304 high-grade stainless-steel flue system that will last you as long as your fireplace.

The single sleeve pipes are installed inside your home and gives off around 20% of the heat inside the house, a material figure.

Standard installation through ceiling and roof: Double insulated flues are fitted from ceiling level and inside the roof to ensure the installation is fire save as flues inside the roof most probably run close to wooden trusses.

Side wall installation: Insulated pipes outside ensure that the inside pipes stay warm. This ensures that the fireplace works optimally and that the flues have a strong draft.

Single wall pipes installed outside the house may lead to a smoke out of your fireplace, meaning that the smoke (due to the cold pipes in winter) cools down and reverse in the pipe, pushing back out of the vents and into your house.

Double insulated flues are also designed to keep water out during rain season, as the joints overlaps in such a way that water can’t enter the pipes and run down into your fireplace. Water often enters the single pipes when installed outside, leading to possible damage to your interior and your fireplace due to rust. We do not do any installation with single sleeve pipes outside the house.

Yes. Keeping your chimney clean is important to ensure your fireplace works optimally. Your fireplace manual will guide you on frequency of a chimney sweep. As rule of thumb you should book a chimney sweep at least once a year.

Our installations are all done with our high quality imported roof seals. All our installations are covered by a 12-month waterproofing warranty.

Normal roof waterproofing bought from your local hardware store works in certain instances but may have a short life span and require regular maintenance.

Our roof seals are elastic, made of quality material and thus have a much longer life span. Our waterproofing seal may still require periodic inspection to ensure all is intact for the next rain season, but this is conveniently done by our team when you book your needed annual chimney cleaning with us.

We are Resellers of our roof seal, and can be ordered through us

[Add pics of roof seals and add to shop]