What to look for in a Wood / Multifuel Burner?

crphillips

i_hate_the_csa wrote: »

A very interesting thread.I'm Looking at the mo also.

I am leaning towards the Dovre Astroline 3cb. Looks good but a touch dear maybe? Has anybody got one/heard reports about them? Other option was the Firebelly Firepod.Been told they are over rated. What do you folks think?

Thanks for any help.

I've installed an Astroline. Very nice stove and resonably priced for a modern free standing type stoves. Not keen on Firebelly although not fitted one of their models for a while. They may have improved.

crphillips

Polly wrote: »

Delighted to have found this thread as we are trying to decide which stove to purchase. We need a stove that will run up to 12 radiators and are considering the Olymberyl 21KW (£800 + VAT) or the Charnwood 15B Country (£1425 inc VAT). I'd really appreciate feedback on these two stoves and also how competitive these prices are - we're in Northern Ireland but are quite happy to buy online if there are significant savings to be made. We really want to buy a good one and don't mind paying the higher price but want it to be money well spent.

Unfortunately the Olymberyl screams cheap chinese and the price reflects this. Charnwood are top notch and one of the highest quality stoves i've come accross. Go and have a look at them both.....there's no comparission between the two! £800 for a 21kW boiler is very very cheap. Check out the Dunsley Highlander or Yorkshire range. Dunsley make the best boiler stoves around and aren't a bad price. Similar to Charnwood.

patjenkins

crphillips wrote: »

Unfortunately the Olymberyl screams cheap chinese and the price reflects this. Charnwood are top notch and one of the highest quality stoves i've come accross. Go and have a look at them both.....there's no comparission between the two! £800 for a 21kW boiler is very very cheap. Check out the Dunsley Highlander or Yorkshire range. Dunsley make the best boiler stoves around and aren't a bad price. Similar to Charnwood.

When we were looking for a boiler stove, we were warned off the Olymberyl range. Cheap and Chinese I think the guy said. At first I thought he was just trying to warn me off onto a brand he sold but then he said he could get me one if I wanted but they wouldn't fit it as they weren't onfident enough in its quality.

patjenkins

We used these guys for our Wood Burning Stoves & HETAS Stove Installers for the installation if either are of any use?

Alycidon

I would strongly advise against buying a stove from any online supplier. As an approved UK distributer for a number of leading British and European brands I am only allowed to sell within about a 30 mile radius, I cannot sell on line. My job is to guide you to the most suitable product that will best meet your aspirations, survey your house to ensure it can be safely installed, arrange the installation ( if required) and be on hand if any problems ever arise.

The on line suppliers are generally NOT approved UK distributers for the products they sell, check their postcodes on manufacturers web site under dealer search. Therefore if you ever have a problem you have to get the stove back to what is often a mailbox address at your cost. On line suppliers buy stoves around the world, the spec of these may be different to the UK supplied products. Buy a Morso Badger from one and you will get a 6kw stove and need an airbrick under the building regs, the UK spec Badger is built to 5kw and does not.

Currently a major trade body had a backlog of several thousand complaints against on line sellers.

For another £100 or £200 it is just not worth the risk.

A

Alycidon

Danny_Lee wrote: »

Hiya guys

long time lurker here just thought id post up as im looking for some pointers regarding wood stoves

Im looking for a multifuel stove prob around 5kw as anything more will result in tropical temps in my little room, no thanks

what im wondering is what should i be looking for when shopping around?

I intend to to try and view any potential purchases in the flesh where possible, but when you walk into a showroom 100 + black boxes is nice and everything, but what points should i be looking for?

bassically, what im asking folks is, if you your self are shopping for one, what would you be looking for in a stove?

Thanks in advice guys and gals

In order,

A, That your proposed supplier sizes the stove to your room, he asks the size of the room and the insulation properties of the house.

B, That he is knowledgeable about the products he sells, knows for example the differences in operation between a steel stove and a cast iron one.

C, That the products are made in Western Europe and that the builder has a UK based distribution site.

D, That the guy is an approved distributer for the makes he is selling.

E, From your room details he recommends a size of stove, shows you his range of stock in sizes around what is ideal for you and then offers a home survey either free or with an offer of a refund if you order a stove from him.

F, That he is able to arrange correct and safe installation, usually using a HETAS regisitered installer.

That is the minimum requirement for a decent supplier.

A

markandkate

Would agree with most of what has been posted but a couple of other points.

1 Try to buy British if you can they are superior , you are supporting the British economy and you are more likely to be abelt to get spare parts easily.

2 Think about what you are going to burn as well as the size of the room, you will need to consider the size of logs. The physical size of the opening will dictate what you can burn and the size of the logs so you need to consider where you are going to ge tthem from and if you can cut them yourself.

3 Wood will need to season so any wood acquired this year will most likely not be suitable for burning until next year ( unless you buy it) so you will need a place to store wood for this year and next year too.

4 Even if you don't think you need a chimney liner or a professional to install it , it is your home and what are the chances of your insurance company paying out if you don't and something goes wrong ie a chimney fire?

5 There is often a 8-12 week waiting list so you will need to consider ordering now for the winter. Our fitter did alltheinatallation work and then came back when we had the fire delivered so that we could get on with the decorating.

6 We chose a Villager Bayswater because it had two doors rather than one which means that you do not need such a big hearth as when the doors are open they take up less space than one big door.

7 Sometimes whenit is very cold you may want to burn some coal and a mutli fuel offers a bit more felxibiilty

We love ours and would not be without it

crphillips

Patjenkins:

Can't help noticing that every post you have ever made has a link to The G.r.e.e.n.e.r. Company in it!

I am an installer but have tried (and i feel succeeded) to remain impartial with my opinions. I don't know what your connection is to them but it is becoming very obvious that your more than a happy customer.

Beware of a company that offers a nationwide fitting service.....I could easily boast nationwide fitting and then contact a HETAS installer in the area and take a percentage of their fee. We have 3 teams of fitters and i quote every job myself. I cannot see how you can get a quality service by a quote over the phone/email. There are so many unexpected things that can occur that a firm price cannot possibly be given over the phone. Only a ball park figure. Either that or your prices have to be so high to account for any unexpected problems you may come across.

Like any trade or profession, there are some dodgy ones about. Stay local, do your homework....get someone who comes recommended. The cowboys will eventually fall if everyone does this.

A._Badger

Alycidon wrote: »

I would strongly advise against buying a stove from any online supplier. As an approved UK distributer for a number of leading British and European brands I am only allowed to sell within about a 30 mile radius, I cannot sell on line. My job is to guide you to the most suitable product that will best meet your aspirations, survey your house to ensure it can be safely installed, arrange the installation ( if required) and be on hand if any problems ever arise.

The on line suppliers are generally NOT approved UK distributers for the products they sell, check their postcodes on manufacturers web site under dealer search. Therefore if you ever have a problem you have to get the stove back to what is often a mailbox address at your cost. On line suppliers buy stoves around the world, the spec of these may be different to the UK supplied products. Buy a Morso Badger from one and you will get a 6kw stove and need an airbrick under the building regs, the UK spec Badger is built to 5kw and does not.

Currently a major trade body had a backlog of several thousand complaints against on line sellers.

For another £100 or £200 it is just not worth the risk.

A

The main content of this post is absolute rubbish. The only reason for restricting online sales is a desparate attempt to try to enforce (an illegal) resale price maintenance in the stove trade.

The business is riddled (pun intended) with uncompetitive and sometimes extremely dubious sales practices which I hope, before too much longer, will be investigated by the Competition Commission.

patjenkins

crphillips wrote: »

Patjenkins:

Can't help noticing that every post you have ever made has a link to The G.r.e.e.n.e.r. Company in it!

I am an installer but have tried (and i feel succeeded) to remain impartial with my opinions. I don't know what your connection is to them but it is becoming very obvious that your more than a happy customer.

Beware of a company that offers a nationwide fitting service.....I could easily boast nationwide fitting and then contact a HETAS installer in the area and take a percentage of their fee. We have 3 teams of fitters and i quote every job myself. I cannot see how you can get a quality service by a quote over the phone/email. There are so many unexpected things that can occur that a firm price cannot possibly be given over the phone. Only a ball park figure. Either that or your prices have to be so high to account for any unexpected problems you may come across.

Like any trade or profession, there are some dodgy ones about. Stay local, do your homework....get someone who comes recommended. The cowboys will eventually fall if everyone does this.

Not true. I haven't in the post above about Olyberyl stoves and also quote a competitor of theirs - HETAS Installers. I only talk about my experience with a subject I am interested in and try to help others with a link.

Any how - in response to Alycidon - surely preventing firms from selling on the internet is illegal? Also what is wrong with getting advice, finding the product cheaper and then having a HETAS approved installer fit it? Surely that is just an intelligent way to shop?

Pat