Selecting a woodburner

Grenage

We've an open fire which we use a few times a week; I've decided to get a stove fitted so that we get more out of the logs and to stop a howling gale that comes though the living room door and up the chimney.

I'm generally quite skeptical and suspect that it's basically a metal box with fire inside, so there can't be much difference between a  £5-600 and a £1500 stove - material thickness aside.

I'm often wrong about things, so has anyone bought a 5kw wood burner on the lower end of the price range?  If so, is it any good and what did you get?

Martin_the_Unjust

I bought a cheap 5kw one about 11 years ago, it’s still going strong but it is starting to look a bit tatty now. No idea what make it is though.

If (or when) I replace it I’ll buy another cheap one.

skycatcher

I got a Hamlet Solution 5 compact which is a 4.8Kw multi fuel stove. It was recommended by my installer though he didn't supply them as it was a quality make and conforming the the incoming DEFRA standards. I needed the compact version as my fireplace opening is quite small.

I can thoroughly recommend it - it is very controllable, easy to clean glass and has airflow settingd for both wood and coal. Its really the controllability I like as with smokeless coal I can get 4 days heat from 1 25kg bag.

Grenage

Cheers guys; good to know that cheaper options are viable.

skycatcher

I think the Hamlet cost me £550. I've been burning it for nearly a year now and its like new inside and out. Some of the cheap Chinese ripoffs will burn out grates realy quickly - at least thats what I was advised!

A._Badger

There are plenty out there will tell you buy a Clearview and noting less - and not all them stove retailers. While they are, no doubt, good stoves, there are plenty to be had for less money that will do an excellent job..

I would echo the advice about avoiding cheap Chinese stoves, though. Also, don'[t be talked into a cast iron stove on the basis that someone claims they are inherently better. In many respects steel is as good or better and less prone to problems. To avoid lack of spares and service, I'd also suggest buying a British made or European stove from one of the long established manufacturers. Since stoves became fashionable, a lot of companies have popped up like mushrooms and haven't established a track record yet. 

Two British brands that possibly fit the bill would be Stovax and Hunter. Both have been around a good few years and seem to offer affordable, well made stoves.  

dunstonh

I'm generally quite skeptical and suspect that it's basically a metal box with fire inside, so there can't be much difference between a  £5-600 and a £1500 stove - material thickness aside.

Money alone doesn't work when measuring quality.  However, there are very wide differences in quality.

A top end stove with poor installation can give a worse outcome than a cheap stove with good installation.     One of the most important things is air control.   The top quality stoves will give you almost immediate reactions to the air controls.  The poor quality ones will take upto 5 minutes or have very poor air controls which can lead to you burning quicker and with less heat generated.    Therefore requiring you need to burn more wood which will cost you more in the long run.

Even things like the chimney cowl can have an impact.

Heavier users may have a preference for cast iron. It takes longer to heat up but it will retain the heat longer.  Much longer   Steel will be quicker to warm up but quicker to cool down.       We are heavy users on our burners and at least one of them will typically run 12 hours a day.  That favours cast iron.  Whereas if it's only going to run for 3-4 hours in an evening, then steel may be better.

gm0

If you end up considering an inset due to installation constraints.  We started out looking at freestanding classics and modern cylinders but ended up driven to an inset + external air + chimney liner. 

We went Morso as I didn't like the appearance + fit and finish of the budget insets I found at the time I looked though the choice was more limited than freestanding - or so it seemed.  Happy with it after several seasons.

Grenage

Thank you all for your input.

lemondrops69

The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.

Grenage

Just wanted to say thanks again. We've narrowed it down to a Stovax Stockton 5 and a Charnwood Country 4.