Log burning stoves - hints tips & advice

[acme]

Afternoon all,

Just about to have some building works done and I'll be replacing both stoves that the PO put in. I'm looking for lessons learnt, advice etc from anyone who's been down this route before, a bit like the 'bathroom regrets' thread.

Recommendations on Stoves would be appreciated too, but having read threads on this it seems something of a minefield.

Thanks in advance.

[Jonboy_t]

We got a cheap(er) one from eBay a couple of years back, only advice would be that if you go down the same route, the flue fittings aren't the same size as the UK ones you would buy from a regular UK retailer. Other than that, we've found absolutely no difference between the cheap (~£200) eBay one and the more expensive one (~£400) that we got from a local shop for our old house.

[C0ffin D0dger]

Got one of these without the logstore, it's great: https://www.townandcountryfires.co.uk/product/rose...

We had an existing fireplace opened up by the builders who were doing our extension. The log burner sits in the recess they created. Hearth is slate tiles laid onto a concrete floor. The stove installers put a twin wall, flexible, stainless steel liner down our chimney. It burns superbly and chucks out so much heat.

A stove thermometer which attaches magnetically to the flue pipe is quite useful for working out how to control the burn but maintain a good flue gas temperature, essential for a good draw.

If you've got kids then one of these is essential, doesn't look too ugly and is easily removed when not using the burner in the summer: http://www.babydan.com/page1073.aspx?recordid1073=...

[Cactussed]

On this topic, we are looking at stoves as well.
I was originally going to stick with a 5kw rated one, but the room is fairly large (about 70sqm) so may need larger (and thus venting).

I then found this bad boy.
https://www.modernstoves.co.uk/cooking-stoves/triu...

I like the look and the concept but 20kw seems akin to a furnace...

I have no experience so wondering if its a bad idea before I broach it with the O/H...

[CambsBill]

Don't forget it's the cubic metres you need to measure, not just the floor area. Important that you do the calcs properly or you could end up with something that doesn't heat enough, or even worse you can't sit within 15 feet of 'cause it's too hot . . .

We have a 4KW burner in a room of 57m3 (in an old, non-cavity walled house). It's more than enough.

[crankedup]

acme said:

Afternoon all,

Just about to have some building works done and I'll be replacing both stoves that the PO put in. I'm looking for lessons learnt, advice etc from anyone who's been down this route before, a bit like the 'bathroom regrets' thread.

Recommendations on Stoves would be appreciated too, but having read threads on this it seems something of a minefield.

Thanks in advance.

Lots of new manufacturers are jumping into the multifuel stove market right now, my advise is to look at the well established manufacturers products to which are tried and trusted.
Avoid cheap imported stoves.
Make sure you can buy spares for your stove easily.
Measure your room size for cubic metres and make sure your stove has the correct Kw output.
Go for an output much higher will mean your stove will be idling much of the time which is bad and could create sooting.
Go for a multifuel for max flexibility of fuels.
If you are in a smoke free zone make sure your stove is DEFRA approved.
Just do your research properly and once installed enjoy the great benefits.

[Phud]

I know it's too far away from you to visit,

http://www.kuggar-stoves.co.uk

Good selection and will talk things through, I have a stovax brunel and burns anything I want, but being a country bumpkin no neigbours to worry

[jet_noise]

Why are you fitting a stove, for aesthetics or cost?
They look lovely but are expensive compared to other heat sources.

If you're burning wood then hardwood and well seasoned.
You need a log store.
An axe, log splitter and chain saw increase your chances of opportunity fuel.

Clearview. Accept no substitute.

[acme]

Many thanks for the feedback, appreciated.

I'm deep in the countryside so as well as it being appropriate for the type of house I live in there's just something lovely about a real fire/burner. It's not something I'd have considered previously, but now really love, and currently it's my primary form of heating!

A free supply of logs helps too! All seasoned in the biggest log store I've ever seen, think a large triple garage and you're almost there!

The link above was similar to what I'm thinking of, free standing with a plinth inset into the wooden floor and fairly close to the wall.

Currently they're 8 & 5kw's, using online tools they look about right, possibly the 5 being slightly too much for the smaller room. My main issue is the difficulty of getting them lit and then controlling them, though I think the quality or lack of the current ones doesn't help - inevitably with them being the main source of heat at the moment I've had to become rather adept at lighting a fire every night!

Cheers

[TooMany2cvs]

acme said:

My main issue is the difficulty of getting them lit and then controlling them, though I think the quality or lack of the current ones doesn't help

We've got a Villager and a Clearview - and the Clearview is a lot easier to control. When you get the hang, they're an absolute doddle, though - five minutes max to clean the ash out and lay, and they both light damn near instantly - with none of those revolting paraffin cube things, just old newspaper.

My granny's firelighters... Take a double-page newspaper spread, ideally broadsheet. Roll it diagonally, not too tightly. Flatten it, and put a 90deg fold in the middle, then plait it. Tuck the loose ends in, and pull it out to length. Three or four of those on a bed of scrunched paper and some kindling, maximum air to start with, and job jobbed. If the glass is sooting, you need a bit more air. ALWAYS make sure the rope seals are good - the fire should die down almost instantly you shut the air off completely.

[Wings]

Did any of you watch BBC1’s Newsnight last night, first it was diesel vehicles, next could be wood burning stoves:- https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b09qjhzm/new...

[TooMany2cvs]

Wings said:

Did any of you watch BBC1’s Newsnight last night, first it was diesel vehicles, next could be wood burning stoves:- https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b09qjhzm/new...

Must have been a slow news night.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-414392...

[Mykap]

We have an 11kw Lacunza stove in our 40m3 kitchen in Spain. It's for example and I wouldn't say too hot. Ours us a typical uninsulated (thats sbout to change) villa so the losses will be high.
Great for slow cooks and we have a pizza stone for use in the fire box. Never regretted installing it.

[Phud]

oh yes

dry wood, and more dry wood.

If it's damp then it's tough.

[Trophy Husband]

We have a 16kW in a room 36ft by 18ft which is 14 ft high at the apex. Roughly about 240m3. With the stove fan on it isn't difficult to get the room to north of 30 degrees! We paid about £700 for the stove (multifuel). Great hobby chopping wood! They're great fun and a lovely focus in a room. Get a flue temperature gauge, they're only cheap and help you to keep the burn efficient which means a cleaner burn and less emissions.

Enjoy.

[abzmike]

Yes it's all about the wood.
Last couple of batches of softwood and hardwood have been big and cheap, but in retrospect poor value because they don't produce so much heat, and get used up quicker. Latest batch is a mix of ash and oak - Boy do they get hot, so we use about a third of the amount of logs an evening.

[crankedup]

Phud said:

oh yes

dry wood, and more dry wood.

If it's damp then it's tough.

Yup, must be dry wood, less than 25% moisture content. I found out that my wood pile was not dry enough causing all sorts of problems with our stove. Dry wood purchased and all problems solved.

[tombar]

[quote=Get a flue temperature gauge, they're only cheap and help you to keep the burn efficient which means a cleaner burn and less emissions.

Enjoy.
[/quote]

Wise advice. I managed to shatter the top plate of our stove from running it too hot. Like a rifle going off.

The nice thing with these is, above stupidity excepted, they last really well. Ours must be 25 at least (we've been in the house 22 years) and still work a treat.

[acme]

Totally agree about the hard wood burning better/slower, least once up to temperature. Though there's far more softwood available, and I can't complain when I get it for free!

It's incredible just how much you can get through of a weekend if say it's running morning 'til late.

Edited by acme on Wednesday 31st January 18:36

[ST_Nuts]

My log store (summerhouse) decided to leak from everywhere possible so I'm running out of dry logs. Cheapest I've found is £60 for dumpy bag load of seasoned hard wood

Stove wise - you can't go wrong with Clearview, stovax and contura.