Frequently asked questions

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We have dealers throughout Western Canada that provide retail services which includes advice, sales, installation and maintenance. Our job at Northwest Stoves is to provide products and services to retailers.

Dry, seasoned wood is best. The type of tree is not as important as moisture content. Wood must be allowed to dry for a minimum of 12 months, under cover, after being split and stacked. Popular firewood in the Northwest are maple, alder, Douglas fir, spruce, apple and cherry.

Wood-burning chimneys should be cleaned when a quarter inch or more of soot is present. Build-up can be more rapid in a woodstove than in a fireplace. Newer certified clean-burning stoves generate much less creosote than older non-certified stoves.

Make sure your chimney is properly sized. Avoid offset angles and keep the chimney as straight as possible. Size your woodstove correctly for the area you want to heat so you can burn it hot and efficiently. Always warm-up your chimney by burning vigorously for the first 45-60 minutes before you reduce the air supply.

Each stove's installation requirements are different. Clearances to combustible walls and hearth dimensions are critical safety considerations. Every stove's requirements are included in the owner's manual and on the identification plate on the back of each stove.

While the vast majority of jurisdictions within British Columbia allow a certified wood burning stove or fireplace to be installed in new construction, consult local authorities before purchasing. Any product must be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's requirements.

Some do and some don't. There are three kinds of gas stove or fireplace vent configurations: natural or B-vent (vertical through the roof), direct-vent (horizontal or vertical), and non-vented. Non-vented units are not certified in Canada.

When gas burns it releases a significant amount of water vapor. In our climate this moisture inside the house can be detrimental over time. Many non-vented gas stoves also release identifiable odors that are undesirable to some homeowners.

You will receive some heat, but it is impossible to predict how much. Gas logs retrofitted to existing fireplaces are primarily for aesthetic benefit. If heat is your primary motive, consider a gas fireplace insert.

Almost every gas stove, gas insert and gas fireplace we sell is rated as a heater. They operate at efficiencies ranging from 30 to 70% and often can heat an area as effectively as a woodstove. It is important to size properly for your application.

Standing-pilot systems do not use house current. Newer IPI (intermittent pilot ignition) systems use house current but come with battery backup for power outages. Circulating fans do need electricity. Vancouver currently allows only IPI systems to be installed in the city.

Some manufacturers allow field conversion; others require factory conversion or do not allow conversions at all. Check with your local hearth dealer. In most cases a trained technician should complete this work.

B-vent appliances use a single exhaust pipe and draw combustion air from the room. Direct vent appliances are sealed to the room, drawing combustion air from outside. Most new gas stoves and fireplaces use 3 inch or 4 inch diameter exhaust systems.

BTU — British Thermal Unit — is the primary heat measurement unit used by the hearth industry. It is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 lb. of water by 1 degree Fahrenheit.

Most wood burning stoves and inserts are specifically designed and safety tested to burn only cordwood. Burning coal creates corrosive gases that can cause rapid deterioration of wood stoves and metal chimneys and will invalidate your warranty.

EPA regulations mandate that wood burning products sold after July 1, 1992 emit no more than 4.1 grams of particulate matter per hour for catalytic-equipped units and no more than 7.5 grams for non-catalytic-equipped units.

Today's building code requires liners in all new chimneys. Smooth metal or hard clay liners allow a smoother exhaust flow and more efficient operation. Unlined older chimneys can develop holes in the mortar and increase creosote build-up.

These high efficiency fireplaces were originally designed in Canada in the early eighties.

Start with the owner's manual. Most manufacturers recommend an annual maintenance check by a certified heating professional. Watch for soot on the glass or logs. The unit must be off before cleaning. Use the glass cleaner recommended by the manufacturer.