Help Please!!! Baffled by Stoves!

jr77

Hi everyone

I'm hoping someone out there can help me!

For about 3 months now I have been searching the internet for a Multifuel Stove for our kitchen. We currently have an open fireplace so will be getting the chimney lined.

My problem is is that we want a Multifuel Stove with an integral boiler. We have about 18 rads in our property but obviously, know we won't be able to get a stove that will keep all them rads boiling hot but are wanting something pretty close. We're also wanting to connect it up to our oil central heating system so we can have the oil as a 'back up' supply.

I have sought advice from local stores but I keep getting conflicting advice as to which stove to buy.

I did see that the Hunter Herald 80b was a large stove but then looked at reviews of the stove and only found a couple of good reviews - the majority were bad. I also looked at getting just a multifuel stove and then adding a boiler but that is a definite no no from what I can gather, especially in a large property.

Can anyone help me or does anyone know of someone or somewhere that can give me good advice?

Thanks

Gloomendoom

Have you totted up how many KW output you need to heat the rooms? Your existing boiler will give you a good idea but there are plenty of online radiator sizing tools that will do it for you.

wuthton

Would it be worth a look at replacing your oil bioler with a biomass boiler. They are much more efficient than stove boilers and there are plenty models that will heat your house?

Obviously any cost savings depend on availability of fuel and they require some work with loading etc unlike oil.

jr77

We've just recently had an oil boiler fitted and we were told that we needed one with 90,000 BTU to heat the house. I'm sure that's about 26-27kw for a stove.

I can't find anything as much as that but obviously we have the stoves to keep the rooms warm as well and we don't want the house to be boiling hot!

Thanks for the replies.

Gloomendoom

Have a look at this French site. It may give you some ideas...

http://www.stovesellers.com/central-heating-stoves/

This diagram showing a combined system came from there.

muckybutt

As gloomendoom says

I would look at something like a charnwood country - a 13kw stove. This will heat 10 rads with ease, the remainding rads / system flow temp would be upped then with your existing oil boiler.

Two systems can be linked but the do have to go through either a dunsley neutraliser or a H2 panel, my recommendation would be the H2 panel, the reason they have to be linked is the two system pressures are not the same, the stove would be gravity pressure where as the oil would be a pressurised system therfore they need the technical gubbins to make the systems compatible.

Other makes of boiler stove are available btw....have a look on stoveonline for a whole load of different makes models and sizes. DONT go for a clip in boiler though, go for a wrap around / integral boiler.

smcqis

13kw would not be big enough

Gloomendoom

smcqis wrote: »

13kw would not be big enough

No, and speaking as someone who worked in a steam ship's boiler room, I can't help thinking that that kitchen is going to be a very unpleasant place to be when a higher output stove is going at full chat.
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Leif

Not that I know anything, but how do you intend to refuel this wee beastie? Manually shoving in wood, and collecting the wood, would be a real chore. Surely a conventional oil/gas boiler is the way to go, and perhaps get a small stove as a centrepiece in your living room if desired.

muckybutt

smcqis wrote: »

13kw would not be big enough

Gloomendoom wrote: »

No, and speaking as someone who worked in a steam ship's boiler room, I can't help thinking that that kitchen is going to be a very unpleasant place to be when a higher output stove is going at full chat.
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I'm quite aware that 13Kw wont heat the full house ! if you care to read my post again you will see that I mention linking the two systems together, thus meaning the oil wont be going full pelt, the stove will be working and the oil simply topping it up or vise versa :cool: you would also still have the option of having heating on a timer in the winter months first thing, then stove on later.

Gloomendoom

muckybutt wrote: »

I'm quite aware that 13Kw wont heat the full house ! if you care to read my post again you will see that I mention linking the two systems together, thus meaning the oil wont be going full pelt, the stove will be working and the oil simply topping it up or vise versa :cool: you would also still have the option of having heating on a timer in the winter months first thing, then stove on later.

Yes, I missed that and it does seem to be the most sensible solution.

I do wonder, given the complexity of the installation, if it is really worth it. Only the OP can answer that though.