Advice Needed On A Multi Fuel Wood Burner Please?

smalt_2

I had my multi fuel burner installed at the beginning of this year (after being messed around by the original company that I ordered the stove from).

My lounge sounds like a similar size to yours PP. I live in an Edwardian house and the person who installed the CH put all the radiators under the windows, and in the lounge my window is quite tall leaving only 500mm below it. The radiator in the lounge is tiny and way too small. The original fireplace was a gas conversion of an older fireplace and looked good but you'd get more heat off a candle.

I looked around and decided on using a HETAS qualified fitter. He came out to give me the quote for swapping fireplaces over to put an un-used real fire in my lounge. He was so honest that I asked him about wood burning stoves so he quoted on them as well. He suggested that it might be best for me to source the burner (he's probably used to the time it takes to choose the right one).

HETAS have a good comparison bit (under HETAS Guide/ Part 1 (appliances burning solid fuels) on their site which compares solid fuel burners against standard measures and rates their efficiency. I chose a 6kW burner (my stove fitter suggested not going above this unless I wanted to have all the windows and doors open in my house). I chose a model wth 73% efficiency and love it.

My installer recommended lining the chimney as the stove achieves the efficiency quickly by heating the flue (given the age of my chimney I had decided on doing this anyway). The stove does heat up quickly and I use the top down method of starting the fire (there's a link in these forums to a Canadian website that explains how to do it) so I don't use firelighters only wood and old newspapers.

Yes, you have to store and chop the wood (I only to split some of the logs into tinder size and then various sizes for burning; and I tend to do a few days at a time). The cleaning of the stove is not onerous, with dry wood I get little/ no tar build up and simply empty the pan every two days use (the ash will need to be moved about to fall through the grille). Any tar (normally caused by burning at a low airflow) can be wiped off the glass easily with a floor cloth and water.

You can reduce the amount of airflow into the stove to reduce the rate of heat output. I still find that it gets a little hot so end up opening the hall door after a while to cool down. The other benefit of having a stove is that the fire is contained so it is quite safe.

With my experience it is probably one of the best decisions that I've made. It looks great (apart from I still have to redecorate my lounge). The dogs love it and vie for space to lie infront of it, and it is also useful to burn my shredded bank statements etc.

Igol

A.Badgers advice is the best I've seen on here.

I too have a multifuel stove and love it but as has ben pointed out if your not that mobile and unwell; insulate, stick the door on and get a carpet layed.

My burner is the only heat source for the whole house so if I want hot rads and a warm living room someone has to collect, chop/cut the wood store it and bring it in on those icey winters nights.

And it isnt much fun realising that inspite of the rain and gale blowing outside that your going to have to go out and chop some wood or you've got nothing to keep you warm.
But thats the price I pay for nearly free heating.

ageing_biker

hi pennypincher, have you decided yet? I put mine in a couple of months ago and havent used the gas ch since, I have the kettle on top for tea and store hot water in flasks for dishwashing, I started collecting wood last september when I was saving for the stove and reckon I have enough for two winters as for lining any stove will work better with a lined chimney as it will heat up quicker and draw better modern air tight stoves do not put anywhere near the amount of heat up the chimney as open fires or older stoves that is why they are so efficient, a liner reduces the volume of the chimney so it heats up quicker and provides a smooth passage for the flue gas, hope this helps, cheers ab

nubian56

Hi
I have been thinking long and hard about getting a wood burning/multi fuel stove. Its made for interesting reading reading all your comments. I have one more question before my mind is fully made up please if someone could reply to me: what make of stove is the most efficient, oops sorry 2 more questions and in an area which is smokefree are they efficient enough so as not to pollute the air if I burn wood (I have started to collect old pallets to burn, storing them (already chopped) in a big plastic garden bin thingy).

Thanks (in advance) to ayone who replies )

A._Badger

The problem with trying to decide which is the cleanest burning stove is that none of the makers give the precise details of how the tests results they publish were arrived at - save that they conform to an EU standard.

There are several stoves that are passed for wood burning in a smokeless zone - Dunsley makes the one I have heard most good things about.

Hope that helps.

choille

I've had a stove for nearly 30 years - hand made one. Basically it's a box on legs with a baffle plate inside it & a dial that you open or close to control the air flow/heat. It's been in damp cottages & is now in the caravan that we are living in. I cook on it when it's on & always have a kettle on a trivet. We have access to free dead wood on the croft - so costs ziltch to run. Mines is quite a long one - less saws per log. It dries damp clothes in wet weather & is great for getting rid of paper work you don't want going into re-cycle
They are controllable & if it gets too hot I just switch it off - close the air vent.
A bit about lined flues - you often need one for safety. Have the flue tested.
I know a family whose house burnt to the ground - they just got out & lost their pet cats & everything apart from their night clothes.
They are not just for effeciency - they protect the chimney stack and insulate agaist wood lathes/timbers in the house construction.

If I was you I would go to a local supplier - ask them as they will know legislation, size that would suit you etc. Once you have got their advice you could shop around, but if you go to someone in your locality it's easier if you need 'after care' for wont of a better word.

All the best with it - I wouldn't be without mine & once you get into the swing of collecting wood, filling the basket & having a stash of dry wood it's a doddle really.

ageing_biker

good post choille, have to aggree to all of the above, looking forward to winter now that I have my stove

westcoastscot

I love my stove! It honestly isnt that much work - as many have said you can control the air flow to control burn rate - i use mine 24/7 all year around - it turns right down in summer but still heats the water, heats the whole house - a small terrace - 3 beds - in winter. To burn solely smokeless fuel (the cleanest way imho) it takes two bags a week in winter, one in summer - but with extra logs, wood etc we use about 1 bag year around - cost 12.50 a bag. We have the chimney swept twice a year.
An added bonus is that the air in the house is sweeter - you can open the doors and sit by a log fire in deepest winter, and i never feel bad about opening windows for fresh air as its on anyway - costing peanuts when turned right down - you know that way that you want to keep the heat in when you're paying for it????
Pauline :-)

naomig

I also love our wood burning stove and my husband after many quotes from HEATAS installers decided that he was going to do it himself. One HEATS registered guy did not know anything about these burners. My husband read Document J and could not believe the nonsense the installer was trying to tell him. Saying that, out of the 4 visits we had (All HETAS registered), 1 knew what he was talking about but quoted £4,500 but wanted the hole in the wall and the scaffolding to be ready for his arrival (so more cost and hassle), one did not know anything and the other two never got back to us for a quote. (Probably decided they had enough work to warrant a 'difficult' job) In the end, my husband and his mate filled out the building notice needed if you are not HEATS registered and did the work with a mate. Took them 2 days and it is the best installation I have seen since. Everything was verified by the building inspector and its all above board when we come to sell the house. If you need any advice, feel free to PM me and ill pass his number to you.

A._Badger

naomig - As I've said before, I've come to the conclusion that HETAS is a closed shop whose main beneficiaries are its members.