Multi Fuel Stove - Aga or Clearview

pmurphy1971

Hi, hope someone can help - I am installing a multifuel stove (around 8-9kw, no back boiler) very soon and need to make the final decision on which one to go for ! I have read and read and read - so many opinions, so confusing !!! I think i have narrowed things down to an AGA Berrington or a Clearview Vision 500.

For the Vision 500 its easy - tons written, excellent feedback.

Problem is a local shop has an AGA Berrington which I absolutely love the look of. Its an ex-display (never burned) and its in the enamel finish (stunning looking in my opinion). The girl who owns the shop wants rid of it as they want to make room for smaller stoves which they sell more of. The list price (yeah - I know !) is £2039 and its been offerred to me for £1300 delivered as they want it out of the shop - problem is i can't find any user reviews at all....

Does anyone have any experience of this AGA Stove or AGA stoves in general - Is this a good buy or am i better with the Clearview which seems tried and tested. Is there a price point at which I should go with that deal or is that already reached !???

Many Thanks for any advice anyone can give.

Kind Regards, Paul.

Williwoodburner

Hi, personally I would go for the clearview, only bad thing I have ever heard is the price.:mad:
They both however are top quality British stoves and I am sure neither would disapoint.
The most important thing when using a stove (as long as in good order, fire ropes, chimney draw etc) is the quality of the fuel.
Most problems are caused by trying to burn wood which is not properly seasoned.
Wood should be cut split and stacked outside for at least a year but depends on the species (oak at least 2 preferably 3 years). Open to sun and wind but should have a roof or cover to keep the rain off.
Seasoned wood is a grey colour, feels light in weight and has small radial cracks in the ends, you will get to recognise if seasoned after a while.
If a new user I would advise buying a moisture meter and if buying wood split a big round and test it, should be under 20% if properly seasoned.

Whichever stove you choose, sure you will enjoy for many years to come. :money:

Regards

Willie.

pmurphy1971

Thanks Willie for the great advice - much appreciated. I guess i have just fallen for the looks of the AGA Berrington ! I may be able to get them down a little more on price but i suspect not much. maybe for £1200 at a push...

Advice you gave on the wood is great - i plan to buy a quantity of seasoned hardwood logs to compliment my stock of logs, scrap wood, etc from the garden which have been getting collected and lying for a year or two in preparation !

Interested to hear from anyone who has put in the AGA Berrington or knows someone who has - plan is to heat a medium sized lounge, leave door open and heat large lower and upper hall areas in house to at least keep a big old house warmer in winter and hopefully save something on the insane amounts of oil being used through the winter. May use an 'ecofan' to try to compliment this effort !

Old loft area in house is not insulated and although there is a hatch cannot really be accessed properly to put wool in that area (too small to get even a small person in) - I really need an alternative - perhaps some blown in insulating material to compliment my wood burning efforts !

Need to make decision on the stove next week though - so anyone with knowledge on using the AGA Berrington your thoughts would be highly appreciated ????

norfolk.enchance_2

Paul,

No personal knowledge on either stove, but my friend has the Aga Berrington and it is a great stove. Like you said there are a lot of reviews for the clearview on the interweb. One point though, I see there are a lot of sites selling the Berrington at around the £1270 mark and these are not ex demo. If you can get the price down further than you could get a good deal. Get some exact prices first and use there as ammo to get the price down.
Best of luck and which ever stove you choose you will not go far wrong.

Regards

Ross.

pmurphy1971

Thanks for all the comments. Plumped for the Clearview ... Gut Feel told me it was more proven and less of a risk. Looking forward to getting it up and running now and hopefully cutting down on the oil this winter

Lyming

Hi Paul, sorry to be so cheeky but would you be able to give me the details of the shop that's selling the Aga? I'm looking for one now and the best price I have is £1100 for a matt finish. Thanks Jon

Greenfires

Where are AGAs made these days? I know they closed the old foundry down - and pretty sure I read somewhere that their castings were done in China these days? Happy to be proved wrong though!

A word to Paul - make sure that the wood you're sold as "seasoned" IS! I've tested an awful lot of "seasoned logs madam" over the past few years that have proved to be anything but! I also get told stories week in week out about "we had a couple of good loads off him but the last lot were rubbish" - so keep your wits about you!

Cheers,

Andy

muckybutt

Glad you went for the clearview, they are a cracking stove imo one of the best on the market.

Echo Andy please make sure the wood you get is well seasoned and as dry as possible, if you have the space then season for a good two years, let the air get to it but dont get it wet.

Doddle to sweep, doddle to repair and get parts for. Most common problem I get with clearview's are the baffle plates warping... on the subject of baffle plates one thing I always point out to my customers which isnt in the brochure I believe, is to once every month give the baffle a "jiggle" this will dislodge any build up of ash that collects on top of it, thus maintaining correct air flow to the flue.

Leif

Greenfires wrote: »

Where are AGAs made these days? I know they closed the old foundry down - and pretty sure I read somewhere that their castings were done in China these days? Happy to be proved wrong though!

I can't answer your question except to confirm that many 'British' manufacturers do outsource a lot of components to China and Eastern Europe, Stovax being an example. Nothing wrong with that quality wise as long as the QC is there. I do like the idea though of an all British product. Charnwood are as far as I know all British, assuming the Isle of Wight is part of Britain ... albeit Britain from 50 years ago ...