Fitting a solid Fuel Rayburn

stussyvw

HI

new here, but im hoping someone may be able to help

I have recently moved to a 20's house, at the moment in the kitchen is a bricked in fireplace with a nasty gas fire, i also have gas central heating, but iv picked up a solid fuel rayburn and seeing as i have access to free wood, seems stupid not to fit it (plus ive always wanted one!)
I know the chimney has a flue, and once knocked out the rayburn will go in the hole.
but.. is it gonna be a total nightmare to just connect it to the hot water, its an old royal with a back boiler, but from having one previously i know it wont touch the central heating but i could use it to top up my hot water supply.
I did speak to someone about this and they mentioned i would need a new hot water tank, and well it all started to sound very expensive. Im a pretty practical person with zero spare cash and was kinda hoping i could do a lot of it myself
So my other question is, can you run them with a dry back boiler? then i could get in in place, heat the house cheaper and worry about the water connections once i have some spare pennies
Sorry for the long post, im actually using the rayburn as my desk at the moment lol!

asharon

I am no expert and can only go by my situation. I recently had a Hunter 14 with a back boiler installed and I was told no way could I run it dry.

It might be different with this but I'm guessing nope.

Gloomendoom

Again, no direct experience with Rayburns but I once bought a stove with a back boiler that had been used dry. The boiler was badly distorted and and had burnt through in at last two places.

muckybutt

Installing any solid fuelled appliance requires building regs approval and sign off, I heartily suggest you find a Rayburn specialist in your area that can fit it and sign it off.

If you do go down the self install route which I would not recommend you do then do not fire it up until the boiler is connected, using it will result in the boiler getting distorted and beyond repair very quickly.

nande2000

youll need to fill the back boiler with kiln dried silica sand. That way the boiler will keep its shape. its common practice on the continent.