A wood stove is never better than the wood that is burned in it. Wood types act a bit differently, some smoulder and turn into big pieces of charcoal, others burn quickly and intensely, but the common factor is that the wood must be as dry as possible. This provides the best heat and easiest lighting, and makes it much easier to burn wood in an environmentally conscious way.

At Kråkerøy in Fredrikstad we produce some of the world's best and most elegant fireplaces. We are proud of our work and have received several different international awards for design and the quality of our craftsmanship.

We talked to architect Sissil Morseth Gromholt in architecture agency Pushak about the significance of the fireplace in our homes. Even if heating of houses and cabins is a necessity in our corner of the world, the fireplace can also be a source of enjoyment.

Jøtul has the world's biggest and most experienced network of dealers. They are happy to help you through the entire process of buying a fireplace. Whether you choose to do the job yourself or to take it to a dealer, there are certain things you should consider before getting started.

Jøtul recommends regular maintenance of both fireplace and chimney. A clean fireplace provides for a great view of the fire and the wood burns better and cleaner. In addition, if you burn dry wood of good quality and ensure regular sweeping of your chimney, you minimise the risk of soot fires that can cause damage to the chimney. A proper maintenance system extends the lifetime for your product and gives you many years of great experiences.

Jøtul has the worlds biggest and most experienced network of dealers. They can guide you through the process, from when you decide to buy a new fireplace until a new Jøtul wood stove is ready to use in your home. But before you visit the dealers, you need to consider a couple of things.

Jøtul has produced fireplaces from cast iron since 1853. This is an extremely suitable material that endures high temperatures and rapid changes in temperature. That's why Jøtul chooses cast iron for their fireplaces, just like car manufacturers use cast iron for their engines.

Author Lars Mytting has written a very successful book called Hel ved (a book about firewood) which offers advice on important aspects to consider when lighting a fire.

Lighting a fire can sometimes be difficult. Those of us who have arrived at a cold cabin in the winter, know that there are many different ways to get the fire going. However, this is a trusted procedure that makes lighting the fire easy. Also, this procedure is better for the environment.

When you are installing a wood stove or a fireplace, there are some things that you should consider, whether you choose to do it yourself (subject to local building regulations) or you outsource the entire job. Jøtul has one of the biggest and most experienced networks of dealers who are all ready to help you through the process. We got help from one of our dealers to sort out the frequently asked questions. In the following, we answer some of them for you.