Log burner/multifuel stove installers

nearlyrich09

If you're thinking of getting a wood burner/multifuel stove, be very careful who you use to install it. I used a HETAS registered outfit back in July and they still haven't sent the paperwork to HETAS, nor did they install the data plate, and they were no help whatsoever when a problem developed with the stove. Luckily, the stove supplier was brilliant and pulled out all the stops to put it right. Get recommendations if you can. If they're a limited company, check them out at Companies House. One HETAS registered guy I got a quote from was offering a really good deal if I paid a big cash deposit up front - I had doubts about him and so didn't take up his offer luckily - he went broke a month later. So, don't be fooled - HETAS registered doesn't mean good. If you're up for it, you can install it yourself and apply for Building Regs - wish I'd done that!

nearlyrich09

I forgot to mention the people who sold me the stove. They were so helpful, and my experience with the stove installers in no way reflects upon the stove supplier (Falkham Tyres & Fires at Longfield, Kent). The stove I bought was the Franco-Belge Monaco multifuel. Shortly after installation, a cast iron supporting lug sheared off, which left the baffle flopping around and loose because it was no longer properly supported. The manufacturer sent a couple of brackets which were meant to take the place of the support lugs, but it was impossible for me to fit them. Karen at Falkham Tyres & Fires found from trying to fit them on the display model in her shop that they couldn't be fitted without also fitting a modified baffle, which the manufacturer hadn't sent. She did all the chasing up with the manufacturer, got the new baffle, and had her own people come to the house and fit the modified parts to the stove for me. Couldn't fault her for service and perseverance. If you live in North Kent area and are looking for a stove, you couldn't do much better than pay a visit to their premises in Longfield. The stove price was excellent too - I've seen it on the internet for around £200 more than I paid. Unfortunately, they don't install the stoves but can give a recommendation, but be careful you get the right one as there are two installers with very very similar names. Unfortunately, I went to the wrong one.

I'm not going to name the installers at this stage, because I have a complaint registered with HETAS against them.

timeportal

Got some brochures from these guys when I had my tyre repaired last week (what fantastic service btw, free coffee, water or juice, free sweets for the kids in a lovelly waiting area while the tyres being done and great ppl working for them)

Looking at getting a woodburner fitted using them for the supply so thanks for the heads up on the fitters, as you say, not Falkham Tyres & Fires fault so will still be using them for the supply

nearlyrich09

Hi, glad my post will prove of some use to you. You're right, they're smashing people. I haven't tried them for tyres yet, only the stove, but I will definitely go to them in for tyres in future. If you speak to Karen in the fire showroom, she's very knowledgeable on all the different stoves, and she'll point you in the right direction for installers. But as I already said, be very careful that you get the right one - the names are very close. By the way, I got a multifuel because it gives you more flexibility. If you get a shortage of logs (which unfortunately happens), you've got something to fall back on. If you have a cheap and ready supply of logs, though, it's fine. However, the smokeless fuel goes for ages without having to top up, whereas logs will burn away really quickly and you'd be surprised just how many you can go through in an evening. Also, we can bank it up with smokeless, close down the air vents and go out for a couple of hours; it just slumbers nicely while we're out and when we get back, we just open up the air again, and away it goes. We absolutely love our stove, so does the cat. Good luck with yours.