FAQs

We would be delighted to meet you! Our showroom is open from Monday to Friday – 9am-12pm and 2pm-6pm. You can also come and meet us at trade fairs, such as those in Paris and Grenoble. To know where we will be, follow us on social networks or on the News page!

Our team is indeed working on several projects to bring you new and beautiful experiences around wood burning. But hush, for now, it’s a secret !

This is the main question that comes to mind when we renovate, optimise or simply restart a fireplace? Which wood should I use for my fireplace? First of all, let’s keep in mind that wood is still the cheapest and certainly the most ecological fuel. Very popular, it often raises many questions, which wood is the least polluting? Which wood will best preserve my fireplace, which wood will best heat me?

Let’s start from the beginning, when burning, the gases obtained release 75% of the energy contained in the wood. When we technically provoke an arrival of air (combustive) heated to a temperature above 800°, we obtain an afterburner. Post-combustion, of which we are experts, is also called double combustion, which allows even more energy to be recovered by re-burning the gases and allowing almost all of the unburnt gases from the first combustion to be ignited, thus increasing the yield considerably. As soon as the temperature rises, combustible gases are released from the wood, mixing with the oxygen in the air to ignite and produce heat. As you can see, the quality of the wood will have a major impact on the quality of the fireplace and its combustion.

Dry wood for optimal use!

In order to keep your fireplace as clean as possible, but also to obtain a better, longer draught and therefore more heat, dry and dense wood will be ideal for lighting, as it will carry less smoke and therefore less ash. Other advantages to be taken into account are less smoke and especially less pollution (carbon monoxide and fine particles). It is therefore clear that damp wood will clog your flues, reduce the performance of your chimney and spread more smoke, which will therefore be much more polluting.

Warning: Avoid wood that has been previously treated or painted, such as parquet, pallets, furniture, industrial wood… They will inevitably give off strong odours and thick smoke, not to mention the toxic vapours they will carry, which will be highly harmful to the user.

Here is a comprehensive list of the different types of wood that can be used:

Hardwoods: Oak, ash, hornbeam, beech and elm.

They have an optimal calorific power. Logs burn more slowly and produce heat over a longer period. They allow you to have abundant embers and prolong the heat production.

Semi-hard woods: Robinia (false acacia), as well as fruit trees (apple, cherry, pear, cherry…), Chestnut (not recommended for open fireplaces, risk of burning). These woods from fruit trees are not used very much, they are less calorific in power, but they still give off a pleasant smell during combustion.

Softwoods: poplar, maple, birch, willow, alder, lime.

Ideal for lighting, as they are easy to ignite, these woods produce beautiful flames without achieving a high heating performance.

Softwoods: Fir, spruce, pine, larch.

To be avoided, they project embers and slag when burning and inevitably clog the flues due to their resin.

NO

The appliance is placed in the hearth of the chimney. It adapts to the existing chimney, without any work, as the temperature of the smoke does not require the flue to be lined.

3 WEEKS

We guarantee delivery within three weeks of signing the quotation.

YES

The width of the open fireplace inserts is made to measure so that they fit perfectly into existing chimneys. This also applies to trapezoidal chimneys.

NO

There is no impact on the price because each product is made to measure. Our prices are fixed.

Open fireplaces often have draught problems of multiple origins, among which :

– Lack of air supply in an insulated house

– Too much distance between the fireplace and the flue

– Obstacles in the flue

– Lack of chimney sweeping

All these points can be easily solved.

We advise all our customers to ensure that their chimney is working properly before purchase, i.e. that the chimney does not smoke when burning wood.

2 TIMES A YEAR

It is compulsory to have a working chimney swept. It must be carried out at least twice a year by a professional who will issue you with a sweeping certificate.

YES

We install our open fireplace inserts in all kinds of existing open fireplaces, whether they are open on one or two sides. This does not affect the functionality of the product.

YES

Our appliances have a legal two-year manufacturer’s warranty.

IN THE GRENOBLE REGION

The Finoptim manufacturing plant is located in Fontaine, in the Grenoble suburbs. All the devices are assembled on site. Moreover, most of our suppliers are located in the Rhône-Alpes region, for products that are 100% made in France.

NO

The open insert works on the principle of radiation, itself based on the heat of the embers. Compressed logs are made of sawdust and do not make embers: in fact, the combustion is complete. If there are no embers, the open insert will not heat up.

Prefer wood logs such as beech, oak or hornbeam, always with a moisture content of less than 20% (i.e. storage for more than two years).

NO

When sweeping, we advise you to cover the open insert with a cloth, which will protect it from waste projections. However, as the open insert is not fixed to the floor, you can easily move it if necessary.

Designing environmentally friendly wood-burning appliances is one of our main reasons for being. Here’s how. When wood burns, it emits carbon monoxide and fine particles. However, these pollutants are only released into the air when burning in an open fire. Our creations are designed to be extremely efficient, thanks in particular to our patented technology of triple combustion in an open environment (Flamalpes). In short, you can enjoy the joys of a wood fire while respecting the environment.

Absolutely, it is even one of the most economical solutions for heating your home, especially compared to electricity and fuel oil. This is even more the case with our creations, which guarantee record yields.

And unlike other energy solutions, the price of wood remains relatively stable over time, so there are no nasty surprises !

THERE IS NO LIMIT

We manufacture the Flamadusta flue lining to measure. Therefore, we are able to produce an installation with a ceiling height of several dozen metres. Our installations have an average ceiling height of 6 metres.

YES

The fireplace is supplied with a floor installation. However, we offer finishes that allow you to raise the product: several forms of bases, a wall chair placed at the desired height, etc.

IN THE GRENOBLE REGION

The Finoptim manufacturing plant is located in Fontaine, in the Grenoble suburbs. All the devices are assembled on site. In addition, most of our suppliers are located in the Rhône-Alpes region, for products that are 100% made in France.

2 TIMES A YEAR

It is compulsory to sweep a working chimney. It must be carried out at least twice a year by a professional who will issue you with a sweeping certificate.

Top lighting is a more ecological method that has many advantages:

– Reduction of smoke: as the fire is placed at the top, the smoke is automatically burnt off.

– Optimised draught: the flame, located high up, will gently preheat the flue, which will improve the draught

– Saving logs: combustion is slower, log after log, which reduces wood consumption.

Watch the video of top lighting