multi fuel stove in new build advice please

Smiley_Dan

AIUI burning wood on a multi fuel works but is not quite as desirable as burning on a bed of ash... Personally I disposed of my multi fuel kit and just burn wood.

Greenfires

As far as fitting the stove goes - either get someone HETAS registered to do it (they can sign off their own work) or if you or the builder are doing it, make sure it's all done in accordance with Part J of the building regulations. You can download this off the net for free. And then get the installation signed off by your local building control.

I'm not suggesting for a minute that your builder will fall into this category - but some of the dodgiest and often downright dangerous installations I've had to deal with have been done by well meaning builders! Some examples:

No access to chimney for sweeping - customer advised that access plates were dangerous and stoves burn so clean the chimney doesn't need to be swept!

Disused chimney vent caps fitted on live stoves - "I checked up and this is the cowl they recommend for stoves"

Liner fitted with so much slack it actually formed a U bend above the stove.

Just make sure it's done properly and signed off afterwards!

silverwhistle

nigelatcroft wrote: »

I am currently getting bogged down with too many choices -I am also consciuos after reading posts of actually not wanting a DEFRA exempt stove as that seems to exclude the possibility of shutting right down or making overnight burning difficult.

I haven't got a stove yet but with a pretty well-insulated house myself, I wonder whether overnight burning will be that desirable: it's certainly not efficient. The heat store mentioned above, seems like an excellent idea, and doing hot burns will also help keep your chimney in better condition.

Don't want to give you more choices:D, but I'm looking at Contura stoves - good reputation, and a couple of the models I fancy take 35 cm logs; and having spent a bit of time prepping wood (loads more to go) that might make a big difference!

muckybutt

We have the Charnwood Cove - lovely stove ! made on The Isle of White so British as well.

Steel sides with a cast door, ours has the added boiler as well so it does our heating as well. Easy to light and control, from lighting to getting it upto temp takes me around 15 - 20 mins half an hour and the pump is fully on and circulating. Then just a tweak or two to get it at optimal temp and away she goes.

nigelatcroft

Cheers Im leaning toward the Charnwood C5 but also seriously considering the Aarrow Ecoburn plus 5 which seems to have a superior 'flexifuel' multi fuel grate -also still considering the Esse 500 which a friend has an raves about
anyone got any of these??:)

Chimney_Sweep_3

Have seen a few arrow stoves and dont think much of them, they seem to let too much heat up the flue, have had a couple of people complain that they dont give off much heat, Dont get too carried away with over night burning with such a well insulated property you will not need it and it can be a quick route to chimney fires and damaged flues if wood is used, if you are going to mix fuels do not have a flexible stainless liner installed it will not last long.

Alycidon

nigelatcroft wrote: »

Cheers Im leaning toward the Charnwood C5 but also seriously considering the Aarrow Ecoburn plus 5 which seems to have a superior 'flexifuel' multi fuel grate -also still considering the Esse 500 which a friend has an raves about
anyone got any of these??:)

I am a stove retailer acting for Aarow and Esse among others so can advise.

Your house is a new property I think you said, as such it will be very highly insulated. 1kw of heat per 16 cu m of volume will get the temp in the stove room to 22C if its 1C outside and show good flames in the firebox, while you will get some heat transition to other rooms its wont be a lot, therefore dont go to big heat output wise.

The building regulations require that (as the property is tested to be airtight ) an air vent be installed into an outside wall in the stove room to bring oxygen in for the stove. This is a legal requirement.

Some stoves can connect direct to the air vent, usually this is either inset into the floor or drilled through the wall behind the stove.

The Aarow Ecoburn 5 Plus is a lovely stove, the flexifuel grate is excellent and well thought out. Its my fastest seller at present BUT it does not have a facility for a direct air connection. It would therefore need a separate permanently open 127mm vent installed into a wall.

Esse 500 also does not have a direct air supply facility, good stove, 3.8kw on wood which should be enough heat wise. If you are in a smoke control area then you will need a DEFRA approved stove if you wish to burn wood, there is a Defra version of the 500.

Charnwood make good stoves, sold a Cove and a couple of Islands this month, however my choice given your needs and assuming the wall behind the stove is an outside wall so able to take direct air vent would be the Morso S11-42.

4kw of output, multifuel, can take a direct air supply from underneath ( would need laying into the concrete floor) Defra approved, stainless steel cool touch handle and controls, Terciery air system, range of optional height boxes underneath.

Dont get to hung up about cast iron or steel, steel will heat up faster but loose heat faster once the fire has gone out. Life wise it depends on the quality of the materials used, cast can crack, thin steel plate on stoves will buckle. The brands you are looking at ( Aarow, Esse, Charnwood) are all well made and do not suffer these problems.

But at the end of the day its you and your family who are going to sit and look at it, so buy the one you like the look of best, but buy it from your local dealer rather than the web. Backup and support from web based companies is very poor.

Hope that helps.

A

cottage_stoves_wirral

Hi a 4 to 5 kw should easily do
Morso stoves have a big burning box
the Heta inspire 45 has a very large glass/door and a fairly large burning box, line your chimney and insulate around liner when poss the stove will be easier to light and will come to temperature quicker and be more controllable, have it swept at least once a year