DEFRA Multifuel Stove

BIKER77

Hi ALL,


We purchased a new DEFRA Approved Multifuel stove back in May 2013 but didn't really start using it until the end of October 2013 . Its the first stove that we have had. We have noticed in the 3 months of using the multifuel stove that the firebox liner blocks at the rear and sides in the stove are cracking pretty badly! , should this happen?. We burn Excel smokeless coal and was told by the Coal Merchants Federation would be ok. We also run a Stovax flue thermometer on the flue pipe so the stove never gets into the " to hot area or the lower temperature.
Also we are not sure if the stove glass door should be the way it is after some 3 months of operating as although there is very little soot on the inner door glass its very impregnated and nothing will shift it as we have tried all the usual non abrasive products including Stovax cleaner....any help would be appreciated as the stove is still well in its guarantee, thanks.
I would like to point out that the stove is not a STOVAX and the whole system was installed by a Hetas registered company.

A._Badger

BIKER77 wrote: »

Hi ALL,


We purchased a new DEFRA Approved Multifuel stove back in May 2013 but didn't really start using it until the end of October 2013 . Its the first stove that we have had. We have noticed in the 3 months of using the multifuel stove that the firebox liner blocks at the rear and sides in the stove are cracking pretty badly! , should this happen?. We burn Excel smokeless coal and was told by the Coal Merchants Federation would be ok. We also run a Stovax flue thermometer on the flue pipe so the stove never gets into the " to hot area or the lower temperature.
Also we are not sure if the stove glass door should be the way it is after some 3 months of operating as although there is very little soot on the inner door glass its very impregnated and nothing will shift it as we have tried all the usual non abrasive products including Stovax cleaner....any help would be appreciated as the stove is still well in its guarantee, thanks.
I would like to point out that the stove is not a STOVAX and the whole system was installed by a Hetas registered company.

I think you're going to have to take this up with whoever sold you the stove. Firebricks certainly shouldn't crack so easily but you may well find you are in for an argument about how you use the stove (on the principle of 'any excuse').

Out of interest, who made the stove?

Greenfires

Firebricks do crack sometimes - the main thing is that they're largely intact and in position. Both side bricks have had cracks for several years in our Morso - but they're not going anywhere so there's nothing to worry about.

The glass problem is something I see quite often. It seems to happen more when people are using smokeless fuel than wood. Whether it's down to the heat, or some chemical reaction I couldn't say. It almost seems as if it's the internal structure of the glass that's affected. Only option is replacement if it bothers you I think.

BIKER77

Hi, Thanks for your replys as have looked all over the internet re these two problems, yes, I do take your point re possible excuse's from the seller but there is also the point of fit for purpose too.
As for the glass I am also thinking along the same lines from the HEAT as we have noticed much more heat from smokeless coal (Excel) as to logs/ briquettes (Blazers)...again though after only 3 months should the glass be like this?!...anyway thanks again for your advice as very much appreciated and the stove is the Fireline FX5 Wide....it is DEFRA approved ..but..some say they are Chinese ..but we were told they were manufactured Nr Manachester?...we will be contacting the shop that sold us the stove ...
Cheers...

Greenfires

The manufacturers mention British design quite a lot - but oddly steer clear of actually saying they're UK manufactured - which to me would suggest that they're not.

That's not necessarily an issue of course. The Chinese are perfectly capable of producing very high quality goods. The problems start when a western company goes over there and tells them "we want a ship full of stoves but we only want to pay £50 a shot for them" The Chinese of course, being a helpful lot, say "no problem gents - consider it done" - and produce £50 worth of stove by the thousand.

Don't think I've come across a Fireline on my travels, and prices online are a bit elusive - but they don't seem like bargain basement ones. The glass thing doesn't seem to be stove specific - I've seen the same thing on stoves at both ends of the price scale.

A._Badger

BIKER77 wrote: »

Hi, Thanks for your replys as have looked all over the internet re these two problems, yes, I do take your point re possible excuse's from the seller but there is also the point of fit for purpose too.
As for the glass I am also thinking along the same lines from the HEAT as we have noticed much more heat from smokeless coal (Excel) as to logs/ briquettes (Blazers)...again though after only 3 months should the glass be like this?!...anyway thanks again for your advice as very much appreciated and the stove is the Fireline FX5 Wide....it is DEFRA approved ..but..some say they are Chinese ..but we were told they were manufactured Nr Manachester?...we will be contacting the shop that sold us the stove ...
Cheers...

Despite my fairly dismal expectation about the response, I would take it up with the retailer if it were my stove. That said, I once had major brick cracking problems with a Little Wenlock (one of the ones made in the UK, before Aga vandalised the brand) and neither the retailer nor Aga were interested.

As for glass, I burn wood and/or smokeless fuel and haven't seen this on the four stoves I've owned. Maybe manufacturers have been monkeying with the glass formulation? I would certainly complain.

muckybutt

I've only had on glass problem with one stove we've had, an Aarrow we had the glass first went milky on us then it cracked like crazy paving.

Aarrow replaced it twice under warranty but it still went again, we were burning smokeless back then.

A._Badger

muckybutt wrote: »

I've only had on glass problem with one stove we've had, an Aarrow we had the glass first went milky on us then it cracked like crazy paving.

Aarrow replaced it twice under warranty but it still went again, we were burning smokeless back then.

Seems we need input from an expert in temperature resistant glass. Shame welda no longer seems to post - he had a lot of experience in that sort of area..

greyteam1959

I might be wrong be I have a feeling many stove manufacturers exclude glass under warranty....

aceswest

I would say the issue of the fire bricks cracking is the excel you have used. Excel was developed as a open fire smokeless coal and consists 75% petroleum coke and 25% reactive coke. I was wrongly sold 1/2 by a coal merchant who I will never use again and it dissolved/burnt away expensive steel components in my stove. If you look at the solid fuel association it states excel is suitable for open fires only as it is too hot and corrosive for stoves and WILL cause long term damage. Coal merchants like excel because it is idiot proof i.e. lights burns hot no matter how badly the stove is used by the owner and title complaints about not been able to get along with it and its low ash but thats due to the fuel having almost no quality ingredients i.e anthracite. Use fuels based on anthracite a good coal merchant will not sell excel.