CATALOGUES AND INSTALLATION MANUALS Our catalogues and manuals contain information on our product range with detailed instructions to ensure your Metro wood fire is installed and operated correctly.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Here you’ll find the answers to the most common questions our Metro stockists and customer service team are asked about our product range.
MAINTENANCE AND SERVICING Regular maintenance and servicing is important to maintain your wood fires performance, safety and longevity.
A Metro fire is an environmentally conscious heating choice for your home
Using wood for warmth has been a practice for well over a million years. Unlike non-renewable fossil fuels, wood fuel is a renewable energy source and when harvested from sustainable forestry, is a far better choice for the environment. As trees grow they capture carbon from the atmosphere and store it in their biomass. Wood biomass is a natural, carbon neutral fuel and when burnt efficiently and cleanly generates no more carbon dioxide (CO2) than if it was left to naturally decompose. The CO2 produced by burning wood fuel is re-absorbed by plants and trees and continually exchanged within the carbon cycle.
Renewable and sustainable heating
Wood is a renewable and sustainable fuel source for home heating and offers many advantages. Wood is a renewable resource as trees are replanted and grown to replace the ones used. This ensures a continuous supply of wood biomass for heating purposes. Additionally, when sourced from sustainably managed forests, wood harvesting can be done in an environmentally responsible manner, preserving forest ecosystems.
To ensure the renewable nature of wood as an energy source, sustainable forest management practices are essential. By choosing sustainably sourced firewood from responsibly managed forests, we can ensure that our heating practices have a minimal impact on our environment.
Carbon neutral heating
Wood biomass is a natural, carbon neutral fuel and when burnt efficiently and cleanly generates no more carbon dioxide (CO2) than if it was left to naturally decompose. The CO2 produced by burning wood fuel is re-absorbed by plants and trees and continually exchanged within the carbon cycle.
Modern wood burners are designed to optimise combustion and minimise emissions. When compared to traditional open fireplaces and older style wood burners, these fires are much more efficient, ensuring that a higher percentage of the energy released from wood is effectively used for home heating, thereby reducing the overall environmental impact.
Cost effective heating
Using wood for warmth is a cost-effective option for many homeowners. Wood is readily available throughout New Zealand and easily accessible at lower prices compared to fossil fuels. especially if you have access to free or inexpensive wood through sustainable means
Investing in an energy-efficient wood fire can provide long-term savings and significantly improve heating efficiency, especially when combined with a well insulated and energy-efficient home design. With responsible burning practices, firewood provides an economical heating solution that not only reduces your reliance on more expensive fuels but also offers the natural warmth and comforting ambience of a crackling fire.
Wood seasoning
Softwoods can take around 12 months to season adequately for efficient burning. However, it’s important to note this is just a guide, and the actual drying time will be influenced by factors such as initial moisture content, the size of the wood, and the storage conditions. Splitting wood into smaller pieces helps accelerate the drying process by exposing more wood to air and helping moisture evaporation.
During the seasoning process, the moisture content of the wood needs to be reduced to a suitable level for optimal burning efficiency. Properly seasoned wood burns more efficiently, provides maximum heat, and minimises the production of smoke and creosote. Plan ahead to ensure a sufficient supply of well seasoned wood for the winter season.
Wood storage
Stack the split wood in a well-ventilated area, such as a woodshed or an open-sided structure, that protects it from excessive moisture but allows air circulation. It’s beneficial to stack the wood off the ground on pallets or a raised platform to prevent ground moisture from affecting the wood.
When seasoning wood, it must be stored in a location that enables good air circulation throughout the stack. Unseasoned wood stored in a closed woodshed without air circulation will still be unseasoned 12 months later.
Wood warmth
Simply because a piece of wood is dry on the outside, doesn’t mean that it is dry enough to burn. Properly seasoned wood is necessary for your fire to operate efficiently. Wood with a high moisture content will result in flue pipe blockages, provide minimal heat output and create many other issues.
The drier the wood, the cleaner the burn, the less likely is creosote formation, and less servicing is required. You’ll also get the optimum amount of heat from burning well seasoned dry firewood. Wood with a moisture content of 25% or less is considered well-seasoned and ready for efficient burning. Well-seasoned wood tends to have a lighter weight, and visible cracks on the ends. It may also produce a hollow sound when two pieces are struck together.
