Where are you located?
We are located in Langley, British Columbia, Canada. Langley is
about 45 minutes outside of Vancouver. We are a wholesaler and don't sell direct to the public.
Please visit our Location Map for more info.
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What are your hours of operation?
8:00AM - 4:30PM
(Pacific Standard Time), Monday through Friday. During the autumn
when we are busiest, we will often be here until 5:30PM.
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Why don't you sell direct?
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.
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What's the best wood to burn in a wood burning stove?
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. Another good fuel source is pressed fire logs, manufactured
by pressurizing sawdust, as opposed to wax-based decorative logs, which have limited heating value.
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How often do I need to clean my chimney?
A chimney fire occurs when a build-up of soot and creosote
ignites inside the venting system of a fireplace or woodstove.
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. In a woodstove vent, dangerous build-up may occur in
less a month or may take much longer, depending on burn habits, fuel
and other variables. New woodstove users should inspect their
systems during the first season to learn their rate of soot build-up
and determine cleaning frequency. Newer certified
"clean-burning" stoves generate much less creosote than
older non-certified stoves. Fireplaces do not need to be cleaned as
often as wood-stoves.
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How can I reduce creosote buildup?
First make sure your chimney is properly sized for both flue area
and termination height. Try to avoid offset angles and keep the
chimney as straight as possible. Try to size your woodstove
correctly for the area you want to heat. This will ensure that you
are able to burn it hot (efficiently) and avoid creosote build-up.
Always warm-up your chimney by burning vigorously for the first
45-60 minutes before you reduce the air supply and burn slowly.
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What are the installation clearances for a woodstove?
Each stove's installation requirements are different. Every
manufacturer tests and lists each model. Clearances to combustible
walls and hearth (underlayment) dimensions are critical safety
considerations. Local building officials will rely on these
specifications when inspecting an installation. Every stove's
requirements are included in the owner’s manual and in less detail
on the identification plate on the back of each stove.
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Can I put a woodstove in new construction?
Any certified wood burning stove or fireplace is allowed to be
installed in new construction in British Columbia. It must be
installed in accordance with manufacturer's requirements.
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Do gas stoves or fireplaces require a chimney?
Some do and some don't. There are essentially three kinds of gas
stove or fireplace vent configurations. One is natural or
"B" vent. This means the appliance requires a vertical
(through the roof) vent termination. The second is referred to as
"direct-vent". This means the vent can terminate
horizontally (on a side wall) or vertically. The third is referred
to as "non-vented". This means there is no chimney
requirement. Non-vented are not certified in Canada.
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Why are non-vented stoves and fireplaces not certified in Canada?
Non-vented gas appliances are equipped with Oxygen Depletion
Sensors (ODS). These devices have proven to be very reliable and
will automatically shutdown the appliance if the Carbon Monoxide
(CO) levels reach a dangerous level. However, when gas burns it
releases a significant amount of water vapor (gas can be 25%
moisture). In a climate such as ours, this moisture inside the house
can be detrimental over time. In addition, many non-vented gas
stoves release identifiable odors that are undesirable to some
homeowners.
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Will gas logs in my wood burning fireplace provide heat?
Operating gas logs in a fireplace can be similar to burning wood
in the fireplace. Yes you will receive some heat, but it is
impossible to predict how much. Gas logs retrofitted to existing
fireplaces are primarily for aesthetic benefit. They look great,
provide a large yellow-orange flame and are not particularly
efficient. If heat is your primary motive for retrofitting your
fireplace you should consider a gas fireplace insert. Either way,
you'll have something easy to use and maintain.
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Will a gas stove heat as well as a wood stove?
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%. As a result, they often can heat an area as effectively as a
woodstove or wood insert. Just like woodstoves, they come in many
sizes and output ratings. It is important to size properly for your
application.
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Do gas stoves and fireplaces require electricity?
Most gas stoves and fireplaces operate with a standing pilot.
This means that all the switches and controls that turn the
appliance on or off, up or down do not use house current. They
function very well during power outages. Many gas appliances do have
heat circulating fans…these fans do need electricity (house
current). However, some gas stoves and inserts, with or without the
fan operating, can still heat effectively.
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Can I switch my gas appliance from natural gas to propane or vice
versa?
Some manufacturers use valve configurations that allow burners to
be field converted from one fuel to the other. Others will require
that any conversions occur at their factory. Some will simply not
allow conversions at all. Please check with your local hearth dealer
to see what is required for conversion. In most cases, a trained
technician should complete this work. The characteristics and
pressure levels of propane and natural gas are different and as such
require careful attention.
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What is the difference between B-Vent and Direct-Vent?
B-vent appliances use a single exhaust pipe and draw combustion
air from the room into the combustion chamber and up through the
chimney. These devices are sometimes referred to as
"natural-vent". Direct vent appliances are sealed to the
room. They draw their combustion air from outside and exhaust
through a collinear or coaxial pipe. In either case, efficiencies on
new appliances don't vary much between the two configurations. Most
new gas stoves and fireplaces use very small 3" or 4"
diameter exhaust systems.
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What is a BTU?
BTUs - British Thermal Unit, 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 F.
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Can I burn coal in my woodstove or wood burning insert?
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. Burning a fuel other than cordwood in your
woodstove or insert will invalidate your warranty.
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What is a clean-burning EPA stove or fireplace?
EPA Regulations are government regulations of wood burning
appliances mandating that 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.
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I need tips on starting or rekindling the fire.
When starting a fire, use plenty of crumpled newspaper and
kindling. As a guide, fill the firebox completely with loosely crumpled newspaper and hold it down with at least ten pieces of
finely-split dry kindling. Softwoods make the best kindling. Find out where the combustion air enters the firebox of your stove and
light the fire there so that the fire gets plenty of air. Open the air inlets fully.
- Use dry, split kindling and newspaper to set the fire
- Use a separate piece of newspaper formed into a torch and lit at one end to warm the flue, once the damper is opened
- When draft is established, light the kindling
- Once the kindling is burning, add pieces of larger wood. Be careful not to smother the fire with pieces that are too large
- Do not overload the firebox
- Burn fires of reasonable size
- Do not burn garbage or waste materials, especially highly flammable materials such as gift wrappings or evergreen boughs
- Never use flammable liquids to start a fire.
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What is a Chimney liner?
Today's building code requires liners in all new chimneys. These
smooth metal or hard clay liners allow for a smooth flow of exhaust,
and a more efficient operation of the fireplace. It is also easier
to clean a lined chimney.
Before 1954 or so, fireplaces were typically constructed of stone
or bricks and mortar, and were generally not lined. If you have an
old fireplace, the mortar may have broken down into its original
state - sand. That means you might have small holes in the chimney
that could lead to fire in the walls.
The absence of a liner also increases the build-up of creosote, a
tar-like substance. Creosote can be ignited by heat. The resulting
flash fire could be intense enough to crack your masonry, or
generate enough sparks to start a roof fire.
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Why do I need a stainless liner in the chimney when I already have a clay liner?
- The chimney flue should be the same size as the appliance flue
collar. In the past, many chimneys were too large for the
appliance they served. But bigger is not better when it comes to
chimney size. Flue gas flows faster and has less time to lose
heat in a smaller chimney flue. In planning wood-heating
systems, some experienced installers even choose a chimney that
has a smaller inside diameter than the appliance flue collar.
They usually do this when the chimney runs inside the house and
is fairly tall. Chimneys taller than 8 m (about 26 ft.)
sometimes produce more draft than the appliance needs, so a
smaller-diameter chimney doesn't reduce performance. Only an
experienced technician should decide whether the flue should be
smaller than the appliance flue collar.
- Taller chimneys produce stronger draft. A rule of thumb is
that the entire system (from the floor on which the appliance is
mounted to the top of the chimney) must be at least 4.6 m (15
ft.) high. Most installations are taller than this, but those in
cottages with shallow-pitch roofs or in single-storey buildings
with flat roofs may not. If you experience draft problems with a
short system, consider adding to the chimney's height. However,
if your chimney runs up the outside wall of the house, making it
taller may not improve draft, because the extra heat loss
cancels out any benefit.
What are Advanced Combustion Wood Fireplaces?
These high efficiency fireplaces were originally designed in Canada in the early eighties. For more information see:
http://www.canren.gc.ca/prod_serv/index.asp?CaId=158&PgId=823
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How do you clean and maintain a natural gas fireplace?
The starting point is always to check your owner's manual. It will provide guidance on what can be done on your own. Most manufacturers recommend an annual maintenance check by a certified heating professional.
Watch for soot on the glass or logs. In the case of direct venting to the outside, check the outside of the building for soot also. Usually, "sooting" means that the fuel to air ratio on the burner needs to be adjusted.
The unit must be off before cleaning. The manufacturer’s instructions will explain how to release the glass. Use the glass cleaner recommended by the manufacturer or a quality, brand name glass cleaner.
Note the condition of the gasket around the glass, particularly on direct vent models as a worn gasket can negatively impact efficient operation. Gaskets that show signs of crumbling or cracking may need replacement.
If the fireplace takes its air from inside the house, watch for dust around the air intake and the pilot light. It can restrict airflow and potentially snuff out the flame.
Turning off the pilot light in the summer will save $35 to $50 a year in fuel costs and reduce heat build-up. Most fireplaces can be turned off, but many service experts believe it is safer to leave them on, especially in the basement, because it keeps the components dry and the low-voltage contacts from corroding.
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Where can I find Fisher Stoves?
Fisher Stoves were designed by Bob Fisher in Springfield, Oregon in the early seventies. Bobby
licensed the design to about 25 steel fabricating shops throughout USA and Canada. The woodstove brand took off because of the Arab Oil crisis and lots of stoves exist in North America. The stoves had a step top which was made out of 5/16" steel and 1/4" steel sides.
Safety standards at UL (Underwriters Laboratories) and CSA (Canadian Standards
Associations) were pioneered by the Fisher Stove International organization. Most of these safety standards were finalized in 1980 but thousands of Fisher Stoves were built before that date. These stoves sold prior to 1980 were
primarily installed using the building codes of the day. Most insurance companies are now requesting that if you are moving into a new house that has an old woodstove that it you check to see if the stove has a UL, CSA, or WH (Warnock Hersey) label on the back of your stove. This label indicates that the stove was manufactured to the USA or Canadian standards.
If you have a Fisher stove that does not have a label then it is usually recommended by the insurance company that you do not use the stove. On the other hand if you don’t care about the insurance company and are using in a cabin or something a good rule of thumb is to have a 36 inch clearance from the stove to a
combustible wall.
Another reason you should consider replacing the old wood stove is the in the mid-eighties the industry
developed clean burning standards. An old Fisher Stove could put out 50 to 80 grams of smoke for every kilogram of wood burned while a new clean burning EPA stove will put out less than 6 grams for every kilogram (2.2 lbs) burned.
Fisher Stoves are not manufactured in North America anymore. Parts are not really available and we have been encouraging owners to up grade to new EPA clean burning stoves.
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