Richardtr3a Posted October 19 Report Share Posted October 19 Hi We need some help. We are looking to fit a wood burning stove to our sitting room. We need advice on a good working maker. Would it be possible to buy second hand or better to upgrade to an efficient new unit that will work with wood, logs and some coal. Please let me know which would be efficient and affordable. Thanks Richard & B Quote Link to post Share on other sites
iain Posted October 19 Report Share Posted October 19 Hi Richard, you need to seek good professional advice on specification and installation. We use Woodwarm burners, they are exceptional in their ability to be regulated. No connection just a very happy customer. Iain Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rod1883 Posted October 19 Report Share Posted October 19 I echo Iain's comment. I suggest strongly that you need professional advice as the regulations regarding woodburners is ever changing. We have a small Chesney woodburner installed by a local firm here in W Sussex - W&H Supplies. It is, or was, of a small size and Kw output to not require a separate air vent/air brick, but I don't know if rules have changed. We have a CO monitor to ensure no nasty surprises. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlueTR3A-5EKT Posted October 19 Report Share Posted October 19 48 minutes ago, Rod1883 said: I echo Iain's comment. I suggest strongly that you need professional advice as the regulations regarding woodburners is ever changing. We have a small Chesney woodburner installed by a local firm here in W Sussex - W&H Supplies. It is, or was, of a small size and Kw output to not require a separate air vent/air brick, but I don't know if rules have changed. We have a CO monitor to ensure no nasty surprises. +1 Find a registered HETAS installer The solid fuel version of the old Gas Corgi installer. You also need to consider where the fuel will be obtained and stored. Will you buy kiln dried ready to burn or a trailer full of something you will need to split and dry (12-18 months) We have just had 600 kg stillage of kiln dried oak delivered Takes an afternoon to bring it in and stack as it is delivered to the road outside the house. https://www.uklogsdirect.co.uk/kiln-dried-logs-c1/kiln-dried-oak-logs-c3/kiln-dried-oak-logs-large-crate-p13 Think about the types of fuel you want to burn. Wood only, solid fuel only or mixed. Stove type changes accordingly. Your chosen chimney will need a flue liner most probably. Get a stainless steel flue cowl fitted when the liner is dropped in. As stated above if you have a stove of over a certain heat output rating you will have to get a static room vent installed. ( Big hole in wall or floor) You are not in a smokeless zone I guess so you will not need to buy a certified efficiency type of stove to satisfy local regulations, as we do in London. When it is installed take all the bolts out that hold the chimney cleaning plates in place and replace them with anti seize grease coated stainless fixings. The standard steel ones shear off or seize after the stove has been burning meaning chimney cleaning plates will not come out for flue cleaning without damage or drilling. Ask me how I know…… We have two Dovre stoves. A monster 7 1/2 kw wood burner that eats wood at over a kg an hour and makes the room too hot to sit in when going full chat. I have fixed that by reducing the burning grate area with a second lining of fire bricks. The other is a multi fuel 3 to 4 kw unit that is just lovely. Think about buying a stove top fan Lidl and Aldi have them occasionally and they work a treat to push heated air into the room. NOTE Get a big enough gap between top of stove and chimney wall lintel to allow a fan, or a kettle to go in if the stove is recessed. We also have a stove top thermometer to be sure the stove is burning efficiently too hot and you break the stove too cool and you foul the flue liner https://www.vonhaus.com/vh_en/6-blade-double-stove-fan?ppcp_platform=bing&msclkid=f7f96572aed1163b6845026174180a10&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=October | Low Revenue SKUs | Shopping&utm_term=4574724309077118&utm_content=Low Priority https://diygarden.co.uk/heating/best-wood-burning-stove-fan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jerrytr5 Posted October 19 Report Share Posted October 19 We've had Stovax for the last 25 years & does a good job. The glass needs replacing every now & then but it does keep reasonably clean, other than a wipe with pickled onion vinegar before lighting. If you like the look of the enamelled stoves, it tends to chip off quite quickly so probably save your pennies. Jerry Quote Link to post Share on other sites
harlequin Posted October 19 Report Share Posted October 19 We have a Franco-Belge Montfort which burns wood and coal. Works really well and cheap to run, we get 1/2 ton of smokeless coal delivered which will last all winter. We also burn logs which have come from a neighbours garden and pallets both of which come free George Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dic Doretti Posted October 19 Report Share Posted October 19 I have a Jotul No.3 in a 300 year old house with minimal insulation, 8Kw max and it just about copes using scrap wood from the boatyard next door. It has a separate ash pan which means I can run it 24 hours a day and still empty out the ash. Jotul 118 in the kitchen for when it is really cold, no other means of heating apart from the mild effect of the Gulf Stream. The greyhounds seem happy with the arrangement. Cheers Richard Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dave McDonald Posted October 19 Report Share Posted October 19 We have had a Stovax wood burner for 12 years. Very pleased with it. The requirement for a ventilation brick starts above 5kw. This (I think the model wax a Stockton) is rated at 4.9kw so avoids the unsightly and draughty air brick. It is more than adequate for our lounge, often too warm. I’ve only ever bought one small load of logs. I’ve acquired trees, logs, pallets , etc in and around our area. Many tree fellers/arboriculturalist are more than happy to give you timber for free. My chain saw and Machine Mart hydraulic log splitter keep me fit. As mentioned you’ll need a flue liner with an anti bird nesting crown on it. Any fireplace lintel needs to be non inflammable. The oak beam on my photo is aesthetic only. There’s a steel lintel behind it. You’ll also need a non inflammable hearth area for a certain size around it. CO detector needed. We wouldn’t be without it. Dave McD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
harlequin Posted October 19 Report Share Posted October 19 As an aside the little fan things that stand on the top of the stove are supposed to be a real help in circulating the heat around. Unfortunately I have not been able to find one low enough to fit our setup George Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlueTR3A-5EKT Posted October 20 Report Share Posted October 20 11 hours ago, harlequin said: As an aside the little fan things that stand on the top of the stove are supposed to be a real help in circulating the heat around. Unfortunately I have not been able to find one low enough to fit our setup George The one I linked to earlier is quoted as 16.5 cm tall. https://www.vonhaus.com/vh_en/6-blade-double-stove-fan?ppcp_platform=bing&msclkid=f7f96572aed1163b6845026174180a10&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=October | Low Revenue SKUs | Shopping&utm_term=4574724309077118&utm_content=Low Priority We too have an height issue and this type fits nicely. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Harbottle Posted October 20 Report Share Posted October 20 13 hours ago, Dave McDonald said: We have had a Stovax wood burner for 12 years. Very pleased with it. The requirement for a ventilation brick starts above 5kw. This (I think the model wax a Stockton) is rated at 4.9kw so avoids the unsightly and draughty air brick. It is more than adequate for our lounge, often too warm. I’ve only ever bought one small load of logs. I’ve acquired trees, logs, pallets , etc in and around our area. Many tree fellers/arboriculturalist are more than happy to give you timber for free. My chain saw and Machine Mart hydraulic log splitter keep me fit. As mentioned you’ll need a flue liner with an anti bird nesting crown on it. Any fireplace lintel needs to be non inflammable. The oak beam on my photo is aesthetic only. There’s a steel lintel behind it. You’ll also need a non inflammable hearth area for a certain size around it. CO detector needed. We wouldn’t be without it. Dave McD Simples Quote Link to post Share on other sites
harlequin Posted October 20 Report Share Posted October 20 22 minutes ago, BlueTR3A-5EKT said: The one I linked to earlier is quoted as 16.5 cm tall. https://www.vonhaus.com/vh_en/6-blade-double-stove-fan?ppcp_platform=bing&msclkid=f7f96572aed1163b6845026174180a10&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=October | Low Revenue SKUs | Shopping&utm_term=4574724309077118&utm_content=Low Priority We too have an height issue and this type fits nicely. Thanks for the link, that with a bit of jiggling with a redundant baffle plate will work George Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trev Good Posted October 20 Report Share Posted October 20 Glass cleaning cheat! Forget all the proprietary cleaners or other concoctions, an expert on stoves told me this when I had my first woodburning stove fitted over 50 years ago. Get a piece of kitchen paper towel, wet it and then dip it into some of the ash in the tray, use this to clean the glass and fold over to buff off! Works every time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Steve-B Posted October 20 Report Share Posted October 20 We went through this research ~4 yrs ago and in the end decided on a gas fired one from https://www.stovax.com/products/fires/freestanding/gas-fires/ Part of our decision was the cost of wood in our area combined with the particulate emissions and one of our neighbours' houses flue catching alight. Not that gas may be for everyone, but the almost instant heat combined with a remote control which has a temperature sensor keeps our lounge toasty. The fire we have has a tiny fuel pipe to it smaller than a fag and we used a dual flue (draws air in + out) which heats the room as well. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
harrytr5 Posted October 20 Report Share Posted October 20 First picture self install 20+ years ago. Wood and coal.No flue liner and was 65% efficient. Second picture. Professional install. Flue liner. Stove made in England by Burley. Has secondary burn and complies with all the latest regs 94% efficient leaving hardly any ash to clear out Just love it and burns hardwood only from local Forrester with less than 20% moister to comply with the regs. The difference in heat output and burn from my first to this latest one is night and day. A huge leap. Regards Harry Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MilesA Posted October 20 Report Share Posted October 20 Two years ago we installed what I think is the smallest log burner available, The Hobbit, as we wanted one to fit in our Edwardian surround. Like everyone else, best thing we did and easily heats a decent sized, high-ceilinged, sitting room. In addition to all the above good advice, we also budget for the chimney (flue) to be swept before each winter. Not particularly expensive but useful maintenance and he also advises on any maintenance needed on the stove (none yet). Miles Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DaveB66 Posted October 20 Report Share Posted October 20 On 10/19/2024 at 5:27 PM, BlueTR3A-5EKT said: When it is installed take all the bolts out that hold the chimney cleaning plates in place and replace them with anti seize grease coated stainless fixings. The standard steel ones shear off or seize after the stove has been burning meaning chimney cleaning plates will not come out for flue cleaning without damage or drilling. Ask me how I know…… If you get a Clearview stove there are no bolts to remove to sweep the chimney. I agree with those that have said you need a flue and a suitable cowl and get it swept annuallly, it's a condition on our house insurance. Dave Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted October 20 Report Share Posted October 20 Nope. Central heating here no cleaning out ash nor dragging loads of wood through the house, having somewhere to store the wood etc etc, my Heritage stove in the kitchen supplies all the heating/Hot water and cooking needs, house is just at a nice temperature always Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
harlequin Posted October 20 Report Share Posted October 20 Our stove was installed professionally 12 years ago, they didn't put in a liner as the flue was constructed from hollow pots. This proved to be troublesome as we got dirty condensate running down the flue. I installed a steel flue liner and it solved the condensate issue plus it increased the draw. So yes make sure you have a liner which connects directly to the stoves outlet George Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dave McDonald Posted October 21 Report Share Posted October 21 18 hours ago, MilesA said: In addition to all the above good advice, we also budget for the chimney (flue) to be swept before each winter. Not particularly expensive but useful maintenance and he also advises on any maintenance needed on the stove (none yet). Miles I sweep the flue myself each year, using a set of flexible drain rods with a round brush from Screwfix. Plenary of dust sheets around, it takes less than an hour and doesn’t bring down much soot. Soon cleaned up with my industrial vacuum cleaner. Dave McD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rogerguzzi Posted October 21 Report Share Posted October 21 On 10/20/2024 at 1:33 PM, Trev Good said: Glass cleaning cheat! Forget all the proprietary cleaners or other concoctions, an expert on stoves told me this when I had my first woodburning stove fitted over 50 years ago. Get a piece of kitchen paper towel, wet it and then dip it into some of the ash in the tray, use this to clean the glass and fold over to buff off! Works every time. Hello Trev Thanks for that tip we have been using wood burners for nearly 50 years(down to one now!) I tried your method today and it works a treat. We installed one of these 2 years ago to save cleaning 2 fires each day and it is flueless so 100% efficient Amberley Flueless Gas Stove Black Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
iain Posted October 22 Report Share Posted October 22 On 10/20/2024 at 1:33 PM, Trev Good said: Glass cleaning cheat! Forget all the proprietary cleaners or other concoctions, an expert on stoves told me this when I had my first woodburning stove fitted over 50 years ago. Get a piece of kitchen paper towel, wet it and then dip it into some of the ash in the tray, use this to clean the glass and fold over to buff off! Works every time. +1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.