PRACTICAL INFORMATION SETTING UP YOUR SDS STOVE
As a general rule, if you are going to place your stove close to combustible materials like wood furniture and drywall, make sure that these materials have a minimum clearance of 40 cm from the back, 90 cm from the front and 60 cm from the sides of your stove. Although there is not a general rule for stoves to be located in front of the non-combustible materials, it is recommended that you leave at least 10 cm clearance between the back of the stove to ensure favourable heating efficiency and room for easy cleaning. On another note, wallpapers hanging on the walls built of fireproofing material such as brick are not considered as combustible material.
CHIMNEY CONNECTION
You can connect your SDS stove to a chimney having another solid fuel burning heater connected provided that there is at least 25 cm distance between two connection points. Your chimney must be at least 175cm2 in width or 15 cm in diameter. A good drafting chimney is the most important factor for a good heating stove; in other words, the chimney acts as the engine to the stove. If it doesn’t have a good draft you cannot get the expected efficiency from your stove.
THINGS TO DO FOR A GOOD DRAFT
Chimney drafts because of the temperature difference between the cold air outside and the hot air inside. Chimneys operate on the principle that hot air rises above cold air – thus, the hot gas in a chimney rises because it is less dense than the air outside the house. You have a good and efficient chimney draft when:
• There is a big temperature difference between the chimney air and the outside air. The bigger the temperature difference the stronger the draft. (Namely your chimney drafts better when the weather is cold.)
• The weather is clear.
• The chimney is of the correct height. (The distance between the top of your stove and the chimney opening should not be less than 4 or more than 5-6 metres. If this distance is more than 5-6 metres, then you may need a fan on your chimney.)
Following are some possible causes for improper draft:
• If there the temperature difference between chimney air and the outside air is too small. (In other words, the draft of your chimney is worse when the weather is hot. Besides, poorly insulated chimneys may cause bad draft even in the cold weather.)
• In days when there is no wind.
• If your chimney does not have the proper height and is surrounded or covered with roofs or trees around.
• If you have cracks in your chimney causing air to rush out creating a lower pressure inside the chimney.
Advantages of Cast Iron (also called pig iron casting) SDS uses cast iron for all the chambers where combustion occurs. Compared to other materials, cast iron has the following advantages:
It is resistant to deformation and retains its shape during use. For instance, the door of your stove will always close tightly for years.
It is a flame-resistant material.
It is particularly suitable for heating as it retains the heat for longer and ensures an even and comfortable heat distribution. For example, if you want to fire the stove overnight, cast iron is the most proper material.
A SMART WAY TO SAVE ON HEATING COSTS
Burning wood is the most economical way to heat your home. When compared to the cost of operating other central heating systems burning fuel oil, you will save a minimum of 50%. Even compared to electric and gas heating, wood burning also offers good value for money.
A WARM PIECE OF FURNITURE
Your SDS stove is not just a heat source for your home, but also an attractive and functional piece of furniture that creates a lovely feeling of warmth and cosiness with the living flames.