The short answer
A wood burner installation has four main parts: the flue, the hearth, the stove and the compliance checks. If you have a chimney, the installer usually drops a stainless steel liner down it and connects the stove; with no chimney, they build an insulated twin-wall flue up through the roof. A non-combustible hearth of the right size goes under the stove, an air vent may be added for combustion, and a carbon monoxide alarm is fitted in the room. The job finishes with a smoke test and, from a HETAS installer, a Certificate of Compliance.
Knowing the steps helps you understand a quote and spot anything left out. A proper installation is as much about the flue and the checks as the stove itself. Here's the typical sequence.
The main elements
- Chimney surveychecks the flue route & condition
- Liner or twin-wall fluelines or builds the flue
- Hearthnon-combustible, correct size
- Air supplyvent for combustion if needed
- CO alarm + smoke testsafety checks & sign-off
The installation, step by step
- Survey: the installer inspects your chimney (often by CCTV) or plans the flue route if there's no chimney, and checks clearances.
- Flue: an existing chimney is usually fitted with a stainless steel liner; with no chimney, an insulated twin-wall flue is built up and out through the roof.
- Hearth: a non-combustible hearth of the size required by Building Regulations is laid under and in front of the stove.
- Stove & air supply: the stove is positioned with correct clearances to combustibles and connected; an air vent is added where the stove output requires it.
- Safety & sign-off: a carbon monoxide alarm is fitted, a smoke test confirms the flue draws and is sealed, and a HETAS installer issues the Certificate of Compliance.
Why the flue is the part to get right
The flue does the work of drawing smoke safely out and making the stove burn efficiently. A liner that's the wrong diameter, or a twin-wall flue with too many bends, leads to poor draw, a smoky room and an inefficient burn. This is why a survey comes first and why the smoke test at the end matters — it proves the flue is sealed and drawing properly before you light it for real.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a chimney liner for a wood burner?
Usually, if you're fitting a stove into an existing chimney. A stainless steel liner correctly sized to the stove improves draw and efficiency and helps the installation meet Building Regulations. An installer confirms it after a chimney survey.
Can I have a wood burner with no chimney?
Yes. Where there's no chimney, an installer builds an insulated twin-wall flue up through the wall or roof. It costs more than lining an existing chimney but lets you fit a stove in almost any room.
What hearth do I need under a stove?
A non-combustible hearth of a minimum size set by Building Regulations and the stove's clearances. Your installer sizes and fits it as part of the job.
What is the smoke test at the end?
A test that confirms the flue is sealed and drawing properly before first use. It's part of a compliant installation and is carried out before the installer signs the work off.
Sources & further reading
Figures on this page are typical UK ranges drawn from published sources and depend on your specific home. They are guidance, not a quotation or guaranteed saving.