Woodburning stove recommendations please

peterpan567

I would recommend multifuel wood burning stove, so no need to use wood all the time, its quite handy and saving money.

wileycat

peterpan567 wrote: »

I would recommend multifuel wood burning stove, so no need to use wood all the time, its quite handy and saving money.

They're local to me here in Southampton, I've seen you've recommended them before...are the staff fitters any good? prices?

Man_Overboard_2

jf1976 wrote: »

We do currently have an open fire. Our fireplace is big enough to fit all of the 5KW models that are on the market, but probably not much bigger. We've been told by a couple of HETAS installers that the max dimensions of our stove should be 600 wide x 550 high x 500 deep. We shouldn't need to alter the fireplace - it seems about the right size for our living room.

We've been told by the same installers that the chimney needs relining - we have gone on their word

It is good to know that you have a flue which is in regular use, and which appears to work satisfactorily. I wonder why the installers consider that re-lining is necessary.

You mention a depth of 500mm - this suggests that you are currently burning your fire in the 'builder's opening', and that there is no 'fireplace' installed (a 'fireplace' usually consists of a shaped fireback with a narrow throat).

Do you use (or want to use) your fireplace/stove as a main source of heat, or do you also have central heating, and simply want to have an attractive feature in your lounge?

Greenfires

Many installers insist on re-lining chimneys as they're the ones who get it in the neck if there are problems further down the line such as staining and smells in upstairs rooms for instance, which can occur in part due to the very different conditions inside chimneys serving open fires and stoves. Leakage between flues is also pretty common to find and potentially dangerous - sometimes it will show up with a simple smoke draught test (if you get smoke coming out of more than one chimney) and other leaks will only show after a proper chimney pressure test. Liners put paid to any possibility of this as well - and stoves almost always work better fitted to a liner. Also of course, a lined chimney is much easier, cleaner and quicker to sweep than working through doors in a register plate, stopping any soot escaping, and then having to drag it all out through the doors off the plate afterwards.

So - partly covering their own backs, partly for safety, and partly for convenience later. It's not as simple as saying they're just trying to make more money out of the job.

jf1976

Man_Overboard wrote: »

It is good to know that you have a flue which is in regular use, and which appears to work satisfactorily. I wonder why the installers consider that re-lining is necessary.

You mention a depth of 500mm - this suggests that you are currently burning your fire in the 'builder's opening', and that there is no 'fireplace' installed (a 'fireplace' usually consists of a shaped fireback with a narrow throat).

Do you use (or want to use) your fireplace/stove as a main source of heat, or do you also have central heating, and simply want to have an attractive feature in your lounge?

A bit of both - partly heat and partly an attractive feature.

Man_Overboard_2

jf1976 wrote: »

A bit of both - partly heat and partly an attractive feature.

If your stove is to be fully 'inset' into your fireplace, then it can only radiate heat from it's front (just like an open fire)

A more attractive option might possibly be something like the Jetmaster/HeatHarvester which are twin-skinned open-fronted 'fireboxes' which work by heating the air between the skins and jetting the heated air into the room, whilst retaining the visual/tactile attractions of a completely open fire

Man_Overboard_2

Man_Overboard wrote: »

If your stove is to be fully 'inset' into your fireplace, then it can only radiate heat from it's front (just like an open fire)

A more attractive option might possibly be something like the Jetmaster/HeatHarvester which are twin-skinned open-fronted 'fireboxes' which work by heating the air between the skins and jetting the heated air into the room, whilst retaining the visual/tactile attractions of a completely open fire

ps - if problems with the flue become apparent after installation, then it it very simple to retro-fit a liner

Greenfires

Aaaarrgghhh - don't get a Jetmaster - chimney sweeps nightmare!!

Greenfires

Yes it's simple to retro fit a liner - but if you have tar coming through the bedroom wall it's not such a simple job to put it right once it's happened. Fitting a liner in the first place will reduce the risk of this happening.

Man_Overboard_2

Greenfires wrote: »

Aaaarrgghhh - don't get a Jetmaster - chimney sweeps nightmare!!

it's not a nightmare - it's a professional challenge!