Expert HETAS Registered Stove Installation

Examples of 3 stove installations

Why choose Fire and Ash?

At Fire and Ash, we specialise in the installation of wood and multi-fuel stoves across the North East, bringing over six years of experience to every project. Our bespoke approach ensures each installation is tailored to your property’s unique specifications, including custom-made register plates crafted in-house for optimal durability and performance. We carry out thorough assessments of existing chimneys, conducting comprehensive sweeps, CCTV inspections, and smoke tests to determine the need for flue liners. Our goal is to provide safe, efficient, and aesthetically pleasing stove installations that enhance the warmth and character of your home.

Areas We Cover

We provide wood burning stove installations across:
Sunderland, Seaburn, Seaham, Washington, Chester-le-Street, Houghton-le-Spring, Consett, County Durham, Lanchester, Hartlepool, Bishop Auckland, South Shields, Stockton, and surrounding areas.

Contact us today

For a quote or to book an installation, call or text Alex directly on 07757 684 881 or email alex@fireandash.co.uk

The installation process with the finished tiled and installed fireplace

Our Expert Installation Process

Consultation & Chimney Inspection

We conduct a full assessment of your property to determine the best installation approach. A professional chimney sweep, CCTV inspection, and smoke test ensure your chimney is safe and ready for installation. If needed, we can advise if a flue liner is required.

Custom Preparation & Stove Installation

We manufacture bespoke register plates in-house for a secure and professional fit. Your wood or multi-fuel stove is expertly installed using high-quality materials and craftsmanship. Every installation is tailored to your home’s unique requirements for maximum performance.

Safety Checks & HETAS Certification

A final inspection ensures your stove operates safely and efficiently. We provide full HETAS certification, ensuring compliance with UK building regulations. You receive expert guidance on safe usage and maintenance for long-term performance.

Do I need to line my chimney?

Lining a chimney is often the first question we are asked when installing a stove. We are frequently met with statements like, “I thought you had to have one” or “It’s a legal requirement.” In short, no, it is not. Flexible flue liners are a temporary chimney solution with a lifespan ranging from 10 to 20 years. They will slowly degrade and need to be replaced in the future. Our view is: do you need one?

A Class 1 flue does not require a lining. The register plate becomes the most important part of your installation. This connects your stove to the chimney, creating a sealed barrier that allows flue gases to exit the appliance safely. A good register plate will be gas-tight, ensuring air is drawn through your appliance to give you full control over your stove.

As long as your chimney has been swept, CCTV checked, and smoke tested, it will be safe to use as it is.

Pros and cons of lining your existing chimney

The Pros

  • Lining provides an easy-to-install, quick option for home-installers and professional installers on a time limit.
  • It acts as a second skin, or second protection within your existing chimney – this however does not supersede your chimney if there is obvious damage, bricks missing or your chimney is in a bad state of repair.
  • Easy & quick to clean – from a sweep’s perspective, no access hatches to undo or empty.

The Cons

  • In effect, you are attaching a drainpipe to your stove. With heavy rainfall you will get water trickling down the pipe which, over time, will corrode/pit the liner and eventually deteriorate your stove. A chimney cowl is required at all times when using a liner, this will need to be replaced periodically to prevent water coming directly down the pipe.
  • There are no thermal advantages to using a steel liner, as this provides the perfect environment to create a creosote build-up. Heat is lost whilst the flue gases exit the appliance and into the liner, this then meets moisture/dew point in the flue and un-burnt fuel will then collect as creosote. Creosote is highly flammable and hard to remove without using chemicals.
  • Blockages which are mainly due to the accumulation of creosote deposits – usually caused by miss-use of the appliance, wet fuel or an inefficient stove or a highly efficient stove with a liner too small in diameter / flue gasses too cold to exit safely.
  • Noise – badly installed liners can rattle or create howling noises in heavy gusts of wind
  • Cost – both to install and to replace in future
  • Lowered chimneys – if your chimney used to be taller than it is now, there is a reason for that, your chimney may not work with or without a liner

Contact us today

For a quote or to book an installation, call or text Alex directly on 07757 684 881 or email alex@fireandash.co.uk

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Pros and Cons of Existing Brick Chimneys

The Pros

  • It’s already there, so other than the relevant checks or a bird guard, not usually much extra to commission.
  • If you already have a working open fire, it will also be safe to use with a stove – tests recommended as proof.
  • Soot shelf – it acts as a pre-built rain stopper so unless you have issues with nesting jackdaws, it’s best not to put a bird guard on. This also will be appreciated by your neighbours’ as smoke will rise up and be directed high into the atmosphere, rather than hitting a cowl and spreading more widely.
  • Heat – the holy grail and main differential. Whether you have an open fire or stove fitted, a warm chimney is a happy chimney, cold damp chimneys do not draw well and will struggle. Brickwork retains heat remarkably well and is similar to a potter’s kiln. Once you start using your stove after the summer season it will take a few days to dry out entirely but once it has, it will stay warm for long periods of time when in use. The retention of heat helps with the draw of your stove and also acts as a secondary heat source to burn any un-burnt material when exiting the chimney. It is very unlikely you will build up creosote in a warm chimney when burning the correct fuel and using the stove efficiently.
  • Heat – your chimney will no-doubt run through a bedroom, this also will become warm and retain the heat throughout the night. The Victorians knew what they were doing when it came to chimneys, an old version of central heating. The downstairs fire would be working 24 hours a day and likely the upstairs too thus providing radiant heat from the fire itself and also heat from the chimney run from below.
  • Heat – keeping the fabric of your house warm is essential to combating dampness and mold. Alongside ventilation, a heat source such as a fire in an existing chimney keeps everything nice and toasty.
  • Very rarely is there a need to install a steel liner in the future so no further installation or removal costs required.

The Cons

  • Birds nesting – this can be a problem if you live in an area with jackdaws, A strong top-hat type bird guard is recommended to prevent a blockage. With adequate access hatches, a nest can easily be removed.
  • Lowered chimneys – if your chimney used to be taller, there is a reason for that, your chimney may not work with or without a liner.

Take a look at some of our installations & re-installations

Contact us today

For a quote or to book an installation, call or text Alex directly on 07757 684 881 or email alex@fireandash.co.uk