Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Smallhold Farming and Rural Living => Property, Buildings, Equipment and Alternative Energy => Topic started by: John on September 07, 2010, 14:09
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We're looking at installing a woodburning stove, maybe around 5 to 7 Kw output and there's a lot on the market with a wide range of prices. Has anyone got a favourite make they could suggest?
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We've only ever had the Stovax John, never had any problems with it, but it doesn't give us hot water or central heating, just HEAT! oh and with the flat top I can cook my winter stews on it for free!! :D
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We have a Charnwood which we fitted into the old open fireplace space and closed it in, so it doesn't have a lovely flat top to put your kettle on, but it does have central heating capability.
:)
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We're not planning on a back-boiler with it - but Val loves the idea of slow cooking as a by-product in the winter.
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And I've got my le creusot kettle which sits on top whistling away to me!
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We've got a Morso 'Squirrel'. Absolutely love it. No back boiler, just for heat but we have boiled a little kettle and boiled eggs on the top and cooked jacket potatoes wrapped in foil inside! Husband had the knack of damping it down and keeping it going through all the snow last winter and we kept it going for 4 days whilst we were all snowed in!
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Hi John, we had one fitted last year. It is a Franco Belge or the other we were recommended was a Wenloch which is an aga I believe. Not the cheapest but it is really good and can burn wood, coal and paper bricks. There is enough room on ours for a kettle and small pot but ours is the smallest so a larger one might have more room or you could have the flue from the rear which would give you all the top.
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That's a good point about the flue - I think we'll have to go straight up but worth checking. There was a woodstove there so think the flue is properly lined. I'll get it checked though - houses burning down not being a good idea!
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Hi John, certainly worth getting the flue checked out. We had to have our chimney lined but it actually improved things as they put vermiculite in which helps reflect the heat into the house.
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we are going for a Rayburn - with solar panels to support it - it should support all heating and hot water for the house - and you can cook on it as well!!
Expensive - but only intending to leave in a box so will save money over time
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agree with acatcalledElvis - opt for a rayburn (you can get multifuel ones - mine is LPG though), radiators, hot water and they cook cakes wonderfully (or at least so I have been told but have to wait for Jim to build the extension before installing it - only had it about 4 years ::)), plus if you have an orphaned lamb a good source of comforting reviving heat for it :)
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Initially we'll just go for a multi-fuel woodburning stove in the hearth, but the master plan is to put some evacuated tube solar panels up and change the heating from LPG to a ground source heat pump.
Can't do everything at once unless I win the lottery and you need to buy tickets to be in with a chance.
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Ours is a multi-fuel, but we only use it for free wood, and our flue does go out the back then up into the chimney! The surround still isn't quite finished! :(
oooh John, this is so exciting!!!!
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In my 2nd last house I had a freestanding stove with a pipe out the back then up through the cathedral ceiling. It wasn't a large stove but the flat top gave me enough space to boil a few pots at a time, particularly during power outtages. We installed a flue heat gauge so we'd know if we were burning hot enough to eliminate creosote but not burn down the house. And definitely get a damper installed close to the stove so you can control heat on windy days (rather than have it all sucked up the flue) If you're not familiar with burning, I highly recommend taking a free course through suppliers. Your insurance company will love you for it.
Whatever you buy, avoid the cheap knockoffs. The casting is the worst and will likely crack during a hot burn, and the gaskets are usually not well lined up to the door and stove, so lots of unwanted air wasting your fuel and burn.
I currently have a built in set into the former fireplace. It was installed by the previous owner, and I hate it. Even with built in blowers, most of the heat goes up the flue and there's nowhere to warm a pot or kettle, only a small ledge to place the eco fan which pushes out more warm air.
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A really good site to help you work out which one is best for your situation, and room size, is stovesonline It really helped me decide what the best one would be for me. They are very helpful indeed. There is a size calculator on there too so you know what size to get
I was able to pin point very quicky which would fit my room and which one was smokeless and it narrowed the choice right down so making the final decision was very quick
I got an Esse SE100 which is great as it's not too deep but has a big door so you can see lots of fire :) So far it's worked a treat and it kicks out lots of lovely heat. Great flame action too, the flames dance and flicker with the airwash or whatever it's called
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Nice one, thanks :)
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Glad to see you're preparing somewhere warm for the AVG work teams to warm their socks.
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I love mine and the way it heats up the room very quickly. If we get too hot we open the door to let the heat permeate its way into the hall and upstairs
We built a proper log store last week and are about to begin mark 2
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The Morso stoves are very good, We bought one second hand, but had to stop using it because the room got too hot!
In the end, we bought a small "Firefox" which is in the heat output range you've mentioned. It was quite reasonably priced, and has proved to be very well built.
Don't forget that if you buy one new, you should always light a few small fires in it first, before going the whole hog and turning it into a furnace, the metal has to "settle in" first....
Have a look at the range of stoves from "machine mart" as well, they're not too bad price-wise and you may find one in your area.
Country wise sell stoves as do scats.
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We have an ancient Jotul stove and they are worth buying even secondhand, very easy to keep going 24/7 which is imporant as you want to come down in the morning, open the door and chuck in more wood and find that it just carries on with no need for paper etc.
I have to admit that the older Jotuls may not pass Val's appearance criteria ::) though, they are efficient but a bit on the ugly side
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I've seen Jotuls running in Norway - very warm to say the least! It was +28 in the lounge and -28 on the terrace!
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we fitted ours last year, although i cant remember the name lol. we didnt have a chimney so ours has a twin wall external flue running outside the back of the house, best money i have ever spent!
i done lots of cooking on mine last winter including rice pudding stews, bananas & chocolate wrapped in foil and the obvious, toasting marshmallows. I LOVE MY WOODBURNER
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Hi
Last year I bought 3 small ones from saltfire stoves on the internet they were a good price and the company was very helpful as we had to fit diy because of a low income. They helped us size them and comply with building regs.
Two replaced open fires and I was amazed by the heat they throw out for the size I can beleive that they are 70% more effiecent.
The third is in a tiny space in the kitchen and the space on top just fits two very small pans where i heat soup, veg and water for my hot water bottle.
I heated the house totally on free wood and newspaper think I have enough for this year already.
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I remember those ugly old Jotuls. A friend had one and loved it. She also covered her ceiling in skid boards rather than plasterboard, so there you go.
Jotul seems to have improved in appearance, no doubt to high demand to do so. I'd buy this one if I had the money:
http://www.jotul.com/en-us/wwwjotulus/
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Thanks Rachelk - I'd looked at those and was worried about them maybe being too cheap. Nice to know they're OK :)
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Another thumbs up for Saltfire stoves the pic from needsomehelp looks like mine, a "Dorset" from Saltfire.......15kw max, steady 12kw. and thats pretty hot. Most expensive part was the stainless insulated flue to get out of the roof.
I treated myself to this for the workshop!
I am also rigging up some old radiators to run from it, using microbore pipe coiled around the fluepipe as the heat source with header tank, vent pipe, CH pump etc.
Also just been to my local sawmill and noted that they sell a ton of hardwood offcuts for £45, local tree loppers want triple that for logs!
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I've just been given about 1 ton of horse chestnut logs, a branch came down in the local churchyard and the chap that cut it up insisted it was my turn to take free wood home, result!
I will need to borrow a friend's log splitter though as the logs are up to 18" diameter.
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read this post now I want one as well :nowink:
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Ours is a Clearview. Great heat, flat top, has what i think was called airwashed doors or something along those lines. :)
The flue goes up through the floor and on up through the bedroom above so its warms upstairs as well. Not everyone would want a big silver tube in their bedroom but i quite like it. :lol:
(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c176/Codswolop/logburner2.jpg)
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Rayburn every time,not one of the flat-packed tinny things go second hand save a packet,get something thats loads better,you can always get an oil-fired job for£400-800 and convert to multifuel.Morso in the living room,squirrels are good,doves will also run some rads.
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Personally we're not looking for a cooker nor a back-boiler as the plumbing would be a big job. Just a simple stove to keep the room warm and hopefully drive out some of the damp :ohmy:
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You can't beat an Aga, We're using a "Little Wenlock",it's the smallest one they make -it heats our living room, passage, and two bedrooms. The living room gets too hot, and we have to keep the door open !
Morso is another good 'un
I've also had a french Chapee (?) which was great for it's size (try e-bay)
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Hi
We have a BOSKEY 8)we have had this one in about 10 yrs and has worked perfect. The overn is electric or off the stove and can handle 17 radiators. The fire box size can be altered whilst lit and will take logs upto 17 inches long and 10 inch wide. :) We have kept it lit for 3 months in the past.
peter rooster