Should I buy branded or unbranded stove spare parts?

Even though modern day wood-burning and multiple stoves are built to last, a number of items such as door seals, glass and fire bricks for example will need replaced from time to time. Indeed some of the more durable elements such as baffle plates may also need replaced and should be inspected on a regular basis to monitor any wear and tear. So, if you require stove spare parts do you need to go down the branded route or can you look at unbranded spare parts?

Safety in mind

When looking at stove spare parts you should always err on the side of caution if there is any problem regarding safety. In a perfect world you would acquire all of your spare parts from the stove provider who will have an array of branded spare parts available. Like any other area of retail the stove companies make a considerable return from their spare parts business because customers will always need spares going forward.

While there is no doubt that acquiring specific brand spare parts for is the safest route forward there are other options.

Reputable manufacturers

Unfortunately it is not always possible to acquire unbranded spare parts for a particular stove model. This may be because of the unique nature of the stove or perhaps it is just not worth the money trying to undercut the cost of the branded spare part. However, one area which has certainly benefited from unbranded but good quality products is replacement glass.

There will always be some models which have a unique edge to their display glass, maybe a curve or unconventional thickness, but the majority can easily be replicated by reputable manufacturers. It is simply a case of taking the measurements from a stove and then cutting the glass to fit perfectly. If you have ever been in this situation you will very quickly realise that there is a significant difference in the cost of branded glass against unbranded replacement glass. You will be surprised if you have never looked before!

Beware of fake spare parts

Unfortunately while there are reputable manufacturers producing unbranded spare parts which fit perfectly and offer the same durability and safety as branded products, some unscrupulous parties are not as trustworthy. Indeed over the years we have seen a whole flurry of substandard and potentially dangerous unbranded spare parts appearing on the likes of eBay and the popular online sites.

Many of these dangerous unbranded spare parts are actually marketed as the real branded product and to the naked eye there may be little difference. However, there have been some unsavoury incidents where people have acquired fake spare parts, fitted them to their stoves and experienced dire consequences such as fires, etc. Perhaps it is yet another case of the old adage “you get what you pay for” but this does overlook the fact that there are many unbranded stove spare parts out there which are perfectly legitimate, safe and durable.

Reputation is everything

If you’re looking to acquire unbranded spare parts for your stove we strongly recommend checking the reputation of any third parties you intend to deal with. The beauty is that the Internet today offers deep transparency for those who have had unfavourable and potentially dangerous experiences with any third parties. Therefore, if the company were looking to buy an unbranded spare part from has a “dubious” track record then no doubt a quick search of Google will unearth some interesting feedback.

While we appreciate that saving a few pounds here and there can make a big difference to your finances, you need to balance this up with safety and durability. As we highlighted above, there are a whole host of legitimate and trustworthy manufacturers of unbranded stove spare parts many of which will do exactly the same job as branded products. However, if something looks too good to be true then it probably is!