Multi fuel stove query!

jorDJS

Hi All, we have a new multi fuel stove, Hunter 6, which is great re heat etc. However, we have an oak lintel, (6"x6"x1.4m hunk of wood) which is getting very hot. There is no manufacturer's guidance on distance above stove to combustable mats and in all Hunter brochures, oak lintels are shown with their stoves! Anyone have any advice?

Also, we haven't had chimney breast filled in yet and not sure if the cavity needs to be insulated, filled in etc. Builder is happy to just brick up, but want to make sure for safety reasons, as it gets very hot around the liner. Flue liner is exposed at moment and has already gone yellow due to extreme heat! I'm assuming this is normal?

Finally, we have been using seasoned logs, but also throwing soft wood on, (husband is a chippy, so loads of scrap). This soft wood seems to create a vast amount of heat very quickly, although it burns very quickly too. Is it okay to use soft wood, or is this amount of heat not good?

Sorry for all questions, but first time i've posted on here, although i've been following threads for ages. Great to join you all and hope i can help with some of your queries too!

John_3:16

I am a wood butcher as well!

Regarding lintel 12" I think is the rule.
If Not
is there anyway of protecting it?.

Mix your wood soft wood to start and perk up, if you have loads as long as it is very dry then just alternate loads on the fire. i think that going down the route of dryness rather than type is the best rule.

If you have a log not fully dry rather than letting it smoulder put some softwood on to keep a flame.
Hope that helps

elisamoose

We had our chimney properly lined when we had our hunter put in . The builder put in a metal liner down from the pot to the stove and then the gap was filled with vermiculite and the opening sealed around the stove. Our stove sits back in the fireplace so our lintel gets hot but not likely to burst in to flames.
I would get a specialist to look at the chimney / stove .

jorDJS

Thanks Both,

The lintel installed is a big chunk of a thing and even the lintel in the pub over the road isn't 12"! I don't think i've even seen a lintel that big.
All wood is dry, as we've been seasoning for over 12 months. Just wanted to check it was okay, as the stove gets so hot, so quickly when we use the softwood.
Re the liner, we had a flexi liner fitted so we know there are no escapes etc, but i think we'll be happier insulating before it is brucked up.

John_3:16

By the way welcome once you start don't stop

Sorry you got me wrong. LoL

I mean 12" away from the stove?

If you think it starts to get hot then close the vents down a bit. Or put a cooling fan at it to get sme of the heat out? Just do a search on wood burning and you will find loads of advice.

jorDJS

Thanks John, i thought 12" was a bit on the large side. We are easily more than 12" away, so should be okay and now that we have reduced heat, the lintel has cooled down.

Thanks for the welcome; i can see me getting addicted to this!!!!

stoveman

jorDJS wrote: »

Hi All, we have a new multi fuel stove, Hunter 6, which is great re heat etc. However, we have an oak lintel, (6"x6"x1.4m hunk of wood) which is getting very hot. There is no manufacturer's guidance on distance above stove to combustable mats and in all Hunter brochures, oak lintels are shown with their stoves! Anyone have any advice?

You should have a distance of at least 18" from top of stove to the wooden beam to comply with building regulations.

jorDJS wrote: »

Finally, we have been using seasoned logs, but also throwing soft wood on, (husband is a chippy, so loads of scrap). This soft wood seems to create a vast amount of heat very quickly, although it burns very quickly too. Is it okay to use soft wood, or is this amount of heat not good?

The heat is ok as long as you avoid wet wood as it cloggs the chimney up.

stoveman

John_3:16 wrote: »

I am a wood butcher as well!

Regarding lintel 12" I think is the rule.
If Not
is there anyway of protecting it?.

Mix your wood soft wood to start and perk up, if you have loads as long as it is very dry then just alternate loads on the fire. i think that going down the route of dryness rather than type is the best rule.

If you have a log not fully dry rather than letting it smoulder put some softwood on to keep a flame.
Hope that helps

The only way you can reduce it is by putting a non combustible material eg fireproof board on the underside of the wooden beam but you must have a 15mm airgap between the board an the wooden beam.

You can then reduce it to 9" but it doesnt look good to be honest

apple_Jack_3

Intresting thread just bought a multi fuel stove and love it!..bit scaired to use it but armed with this information im set ot use it before it gets too cold.
http://www.mkfireplaces.co.uk/stoves.html are these the one you have been talking about???