Kitchen extractor and stove...same room?

wolfman

We'd like to have a stove in 1930's terraced hour in our kitchen diner (a 4.5m x 5.5m room, dining room and galley kitchen knocked together) but we're aware of the obvious dangers given we have a hob extractor in the same room. Especially as we've been working hard at sealing it up.

We've not spoken to any specialists just yet (will be doing that shortly), I was just hoping for a bit of upfront knowledge.

Currently I can see 3 options (4, if we don't have a stove )

1) Drill holes for floor vents in the floor (to the subfloor air space) large enough to supply air for the stove and replace air the extractor chucks out. We can drill two circular vents either side of the fireplace for this.

2) Similar to above but a pipe supplying air from under the house to the stove (sealed stove). This would stop draughts.

3) Drill a hole in the concrete hearth and supply the air from there to directly under or around the back of the stove.

The first two are the most likely. Was wondering if the 3rd is an option? Is it good to be drilling a 100mm diameter hole in the concrete hearth slab?

The 3rd option would make for a cleaner looking install, and a draught free one. The second option, we'd have to drill through the side of the chimney breast to run the pipe from the under floor to the stove.

Any one else had such issues putting a stove in their kitchen-diner?

Smiley_Dan

Have you bought the stove? Get a room sealed one. IMO they are the only type that should be permitted for sale anyway... All other stoves are sources of draughts and if you have been sealing the house up it would be a shame to throw money/carbon/kWh out of those vents.

There's still a concern that if the extractor is running de-pressurising the room and you open the stove you might get smoke coming out of the stove. You'd have to ask an expert on that.

Note many HETAS engineers are not experts and don't even understand the regs around room sealed stoves. No vents are required for these.

matelodave

Our kitchen extractor affects our stove whilst we are trying to light it and we've got a dining room between our stove in the lounge and the extractor in the kitchen. Mind you there's a pretty powerful fan unit in the cooker hood.

Once the stove is going and there's a strong draught up the flue then it's fine.

wolfman

Yeah we'll definitely be going for a room sealed one if we can. It's just a matter of where it gets its air supply from. The other side of the chimney is our neighbour (it's not an outside/external wall)

Definitely want to reduce the draughts.

Once we see a few fitters, I'll pose how do we get the air supply to the stove and see what they say. I'm just warey, like you say, some have no clue and want to meet them with a little upfront knowledge.

silverwhistle

If it's a 5kw rated stove or under it doesn't need an external air supply and I certainly haven't got one for mine. Never had a problem starting it, although some people say they have to temporarily crack open a window.

With an extractor fan the situation is different and it might be just turn it off for a few minutes, but best to find out first. Try the woodburning section of the Green Living Forum for better advice - I'm sure I've seen this subject raised there.

Smiley_Dan

You do need a vent if your house is airtight enough regardless of the 'output'. Although that said unfortunately most houses aren't that air tight.

Although this is partly besides the point - if the stove isn't room sealed, you will also get air ingress through the vents on the stove itself.

Chimney_Sweep_3

problem with room sealed stoves is when you open the door, they then become and open fire and require more air, this can then lead to smoke in the room.
The mechanical extractor will always win, DocJ says not to do it and refers you to Doc F, is there also a vented tumle drier in the same room?
DocJ says not to put an air vent in the hearth or opening as it can get blocked by ash or fuel, or companion set etc.

Chimney_Sweep_3

No vent req for a 5KW stove only if the property was built before 2008, vent would be required after that.

Smiley_Dan

Chimney_Sweep wrote: »

No vent req for a 5KW stove only if the property was built before 2008, vent would be required after that.

Do the regs actually name a year rather than an air permeability number? That would be fairly ridiculous - so many new houses are plasterboard tents.

Smiley_Dan

Chimney_Sweep wrote: »

problem with room sealed stoves is when you open the door, they then become and open fire and require more air, this can then lead to smoke in the room.

Agreed, but no way is that a big enough issue not to recommend them. Non room-sealed stoves should be banned.

Chimney_Sweep_3

Smiley_Dan wrote: »

Agreed, but no way is that a big enough issue not to recommend them. Non room-sealed stoves should be banned.

I neither recommended or non recommended just pointed out an issue with them, when you think of how many times you refuel it can become a nuisance. Non room sealed stoves can be a huge benefit they draw fresh air into properties during the colder months helping reduce condensation where windows are not opened, especially a benefit to older properties with solid cold walls.