Multi fuel stove...

Jennip37

Not sure if I'm on the right page here but I need some advice on purchasing the right stove for an 18 x 12' conservatory. We've spoken to two stove suppliers who say we need a 7 or 8 kw stove but we would kick ourselves if we bought that size and it didn't heat the conservatory sufficiently to use it all year round. I've read that buying a higher output could end up not being cost effective also. I've also been told that the budget stoves (evergreen, firefox etc) even though British made are pretty rubbish and that you get what you pay for. Would appreciate any advice, cheers

bigpaws23

no idea what size you would need - are you planning on heating radiators or water with that as it sounds a lot for a room of that size. Our kitchen, dining room and conservatory is all open plan and we have a 12kw stove, but this is all the heating we have for the entire house. It runs 7 radiators and the hot water.

Not sure if this is helpful, but as no one else answered I figured I'd share my thoughts. I have seen online 'calculators'; but not sure how accurate or helpful they might be.

Jennip37

Hi, our conservatory is 12 x 18' and all glass so when I done the online calculator for the BTU radiator calculations it came up with 3.7 kw but having spoken to two 'experts' they have said 7 and 8 kw. The conservatory has a UPVC frame and apparently you have to be careful about where you place the stove because it can melt the frame. Got a flue installer coming on Tuesday so hopefully he will be more helpful. We're planning on putting the stove on what was the external wall originally, with the flue coming back into the house and obviously up through the roof. We're in an old bungalow. The conservatory is off the kitchen with double doors but we would like to take off the doors and have it all open plan. Where is your stove. I'm just worried that we'll put the stove in, it won't heat the space and we'll be using the conservatory as a very large porch again come the winter. What kind of stove do you have?

Jennip37

Sorry forgot to say, not planning on heating rads. Have a huge one in the adjoining kitchen.

bigpaws23

We currently have a villager stove - the largest one they do, but we're replacing it this year for aYork multi fuel

I hope you get some good advice you feel you can trust

likespizza

We've just chosen a stove and got very good advice from the clearview people in Ludlow. If you can get there they are very helpful, appear to sell the Rolls Royce of stoves, and it's a nice day out. I believe there's a nother stove company a few mile north of there too.

However we came acoross a deal we couldn't refuse and bought a Morso owl convector stove (another company that is held in high regard.) When you are asking around find out if it would be better for your situation to have a normal stove or a convector. A convector has extra panels on the side which shifts the heat upwards rather than just blasting heat out of the sides. This might be better for the glass nearby but I'm not sure what it'll do to the roof.

7kw sounds a bit high, but for an all glass room maybe not.

web_ferret

I'm considering instaling a multifuel stove into a conservatory too as we don't use it half the year as using the 3.2kw of electric heating gets expensive and it takes hours to warm up. My other thought was these air source heat pumps but I'd prefer a real fire as I can source wood locally.

hethmar

Clearview are probably the best on the market, Morso, Dovre, Stovax are also good makes.

Im just wondering about condensation in a conservatory though? Give one of the manufacturers a ring, ask for technical dept and ask their opinion on size/model etc.

Jennip37

We've had a great guy round to do a survey. Says 5kw should be ample. He'sinstalled one in a similar situation but 8kw and the guy is always calling up because his stove is too hot. Condensation shouldn't be a problem in ours because we have wooden floors and we need to install an air inlet to 'feed' the fire. He's estimated the whole job at about £4k but that's because we need to install a concrete sub base and all the trimmings. Think we can do it cheaper but def. worth the money if it means we can use the conservatory all year round...

We also told him we would be going for price over looks as far as the stove was concerned. He sells a range of stoves. People say cast iron is better than steel but he doesn't necessarily agree and he has sold lots of Firefox etc stoves and never had anyone claim on the guarantee. I've also read lots of good reviews on the firefox on 'whatstove'. No decision made yet but slowly coming to a conclusion ...

Jennip37

Forgot to say our stove guy does not think heat will affect the upvc frame as the air is pushed out the top and drawn back in the bottom rather than just radiating up the way!!!