??? wood burning stoves ???

Ayrshire_Resident

Woodburning stoves are great, and very efficient. However, if you are buying in Scotland, learn from my experience. I recently bought a stove from Woodburning Stoves Ltd in Stewarton, Ayrshire. The stove is OK, but afte only a month the glass has broken. The firm has refused to have anything to do with this problem and today the owner told me on the phone to "!!!! off". I am contacting Tradfing Standards and I'll let you know how I get on. In the meantime, if you are in this part of the world, beware!!

The_Economist

Heres some links might be worth a read;

http://www.hetas.co.uk/public/hetas_guide.html

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=6356863&posted=1#post6356863

http://www.itsnoteasybeinggreen.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10249

LCK73

:mad: My Stovax stockon stove was supposed to be fitted yesterday. The installer couldn't do it so I'm sitting looking at my lovely little stove but it isn't working...yet. I'm gutted as up in here in Cumbria it's a bit nippy!

Turns out my 9inch gap in my fireplace (that I mention in an earlier post - take heed), the same gap that this very same stove fitter said would be okay for him to work with is now too small for him to work with on his own, so I now have to wait for him to come back with a builder in order for one of them to be on the roof messing about with the flue liner whilst the other one works it at the bottom....I don't fully understand why as couldn't think straight due to red mist descending yesterday but it all sounds like added expense and hassle to me.

Wish I'd never gone down this route now as it's driving me bonkers.

I repeat myself in order to save anyone else the hassle I've experienced..... GET A RECOMMENDED INSTALLER OUT TO RECCE YOUR SITE BEFORE YOU DO ANY WORK OTHERWISE you could end up in the same time consuming and costly mess that I have.

I've lucked out with both my builder who built me a beautiful but ineffective fire place to start with (but has now, give him his due, put it right as per stove fitters instructions) and now my fitter is messing me about (I think he is a bit dim). Given stove fitter did do a site visit (twice now) he should have known to turn up on the day with some help incase it was a 2 man job like he now says it is.

ARHHHH - Pull me down from the ceiling as I'm furious right now! Are there no decent tradesmen around anymore?!?!?!?:mad:

Beware anyone living in North Cumbria, I'll share the offending stove fitter details once this sorry mess is sorted.

Ian73

Ok,i'm very tempted to get a wood stove,just one question about cost. On average it looks like with a chimney liner prices are 2K plus....with that in mind,how long would it take to start saving money on heating costs?

savemoney

I should think payback will be many years it all depends on how much you run it, how much woods costs and how much it would costs using other forms of heat, electric/gas

It costs us just over 2K to have chimney lined, installed and the stove

I wouldn't look at it as a short term saving. I use mine to supplement CH. Seasoned logs can be over £100 for a large tipper truck that can last 4-5 months, I got some in September and will probably last until end of Feb maybe March, I dont use it every day

You also have to have some where to store the logs, outside is okay as long as you have something to keep the rain off. I keep mine in a large garage and leave door open during decent days and then dry logs at side of the burner and us the days before for that day and today for tomorrow when I can, they soon dry out as burner can kick out about 7KW

stacey777

BOBS wrote: »

Hi ... as I type the van is in my drive with the guys having a coffee break before installing my woodburner !!!
Went to Granaghan's in Swatragh ..... think these things are selling like hotcakes. Will report back on how it works. Wont be able to light today as have a cover on my chimney pot and have to get someone onto roof to remove it!! Where do you live??
Have spoken to a few folk about these woodburners and everyone raves about how wonderful they are !

wow :j your defo on the ball im still in the pondering stage wish i could decide so quick. Yes iv heard people raving about them too. Let us know how you get on its a cold one today. I live in Banbridge Co Down btw

BOBS

Hi Stacey ... well we have had our new stove on most of the weekend ... my kids absolutely love it and fight over whose turn it is to lie in front!!
The only thing I can complain about it that we were told it has a system that keeps the glass front from blackening but not in my case within half an hour of being lit you can see the soot gathering ... going to ring today and see what the craic is!!
Have looked at other stoves and mine seems very well priced compared to most .... it is manufactured in Dublin by Tripp stoves if that is any help .. maybe someone in your area will stock them .... I am sure you dont really want to be travelling up to this neck of the woods!

suki1964

BOBS wrote: »

The only thing I can complain about it that we were told it has a system that keeps the glass front from blackening but not in my case within half an hour of being lit you can see the soot gathering ... going to ring today and see what the craic is!!

My parents were told the same and the only time the glass stays clear is if they use anthracite, wood (unless its beech) just smokes up the glass straight away

BOBS

Turns out only smokes with a small fire. We put on a full stove last night and wasnt nearly as bad!

discountshoppers

A woodburner shouldn't do that. I love them. Most of these have the damper that you need to adjust - are you sure you have it slightly open? If not the glass would smoke up?