Log burners KW question
Discussion
For a 3 bed semi with what will be an open plan living room /kitchen/ extension what KW should I be looking for?
They appear to range from 4KW not many 11kw and then 30Kw. I've simply no idea what I should go for.
Price seems to be £500-800 and that doesn't appear to be output dependant.
Appreciate views
They appear to range from 4KW not many 11kw and then 30Kw. I've simply no idea what I should go for.
Price seems to be £500-800 and that doesn't appear to be output dependant.
Appreciate views
....or ask a stockist to help. They'll usually give you a calculator of some sort. After that it's down to advice anyway.
We're in the process of buying two. Calcs say 5 in one room, 7 in the other. Stockist says 7 and 11 respectively for the stoves that we want as the KW stated on the stoves are a bit hit and miss.
IMO, trying to price these things up online to save a few quid is not worth it. Local is best, but I suppose I would say that as I have 3 stockists local to me so I just asked all three to quote.
We're in the process of buying two. Calcs say 5 in one room, 7 in the other. Stockist says 7 and 11 respectively for the stoves that we want as the KW stated on the stoves are a bit hit and miss.
IMO, trying to price these things up online to save a few quid is not worth it. Local is best, but I suppose I would say that as I have 3 stockists local to me so I just asked all three to quote.
We have a 50m2 living room and our Dunsley is about 8kw. When it's going full blast you can't breath and it will easily consume £9 a day in fuel if going all day and night.
Do a search on here for a recent thread from a chap in New Zealand who installed a beast (something like 30kw) Most folks told him it was a mistake but I believe he is very happy with his purchase.
Get a multi-fuel burner if you can and you will need a Defra approved Stove if you live in a Smokeless zone and want to burn wood.
It is easily the best thing we bought when renovating the house.
Do a search on here for a recent thread from a chap in New Zealand who installed a beast (something like 30kw) Most folks told him it was a mistake but I believe he is very happy with his purchase.
Get a multi-fuel burner if you can and you will need a Defra approved Stove if you live in a Smokeless zone and want to burn wood.
It is easily the best thing we bought when renovating the house.
Lefty said:
Depends entirely on the volume of the area. The open plan part of our house is about 330m3 and our 14kw is a bit of overkill - we just need to be careful with the amount of wood we shovel in - had it at -20C outside and about 35C in the house!
We have a few local stockists and are off to one this morning (all are Defra and we are in smokeless area) Duel fuel I'd say is a must for those just in case times though I intend only to burn wood - we have a fair amount in our garden built up over the years ready to burn (I'd imagine that will go pretty quickly) thereafter will have to buy it in.
Usage will be only for those lovely bitter winter days when you can have it on + lights out TV off kids in bed nothing better than watching fire burn.
Room I think currently is 18 foot by 13foot but that would change to 35foot by 10meters once the planning and build is complete (that may be down the line though).
I'd like two one small one for a dining room and then a bigger one for the open plan area.
Currently have two open fireplaces which one is gas the other simply a blocked up hole so all they need is lining new fire place and some of these lovely log burners.
Welshbeef said:
We have a few local stockists and are off to one this morning (all are Defra and we are in smokeless area)
Duel fuel I'd say is a must for those just in case times though I intend only to burn wood - we have a fair amount in our garden built up over the years ready to burn (I'd imagine that will go pretty quickly) thereafter will have to buy it in.
Usage will be only for those lovely bitter winter days when you can have it on + lights out TV off kids in bed nothing better than watching fire burn.
Room I think currently is 18 foot by 13foot but that would change to 35foot by 10meters once the planning and build is complete (that may be down the line though).
I'd like two one small one for a dining room and then a bigger one for the open plan area.
Currently have two open fireplaces which one is gas the other simply a blocked up hole so all they need is lining new fire place and some of these lovely log burners.
Dual fule needs a twin wall SS liner, about a grand to install.Duel fuel I'd say is a must for those just in case times though I intend only to burn wood - we have a fair amount in our garden built up over the years ready to burn (I'd imagine that will go pretty quickly) thereafter will have to buy it in.
Usage will be only for those lovely bitter winter days when you can have it on + lights out TV off kids in bed nothing better than watching fire burn.
Room I think currently is 18 foot by 13foot but that would change to 35foot by 10meters once the planning and build is complete (that may be down the line though).
I'd like two one small one for a dining room and then a bigger one for the open plan area.
Currently have two open fireplaces which one is gas the other simply a blocked up hole so all they need is lining new fire place and some of these lovely log burners.
Simpo Two said:
Stickyfinger said:
Dual fule needs a twin wall SS liner, about a grand to install.
Really? My duel fule 
stove is fine with a clay pot-lined brick chimney.I have a 5Kw stove and that seems to work fine for a lounge diner roughly 24' x 11'.
This kinda of makes sense as my mates has a liner, mine does not. They are the same burners yet he seems to get more heat out of his than I do mine. No idea why.
Yep, have the existing chimney flue smoke tested before you forking out loads for a liner - EVERY stove shop will try and sell you one, but if your existing flue is fine, there is no need for it for a 3-7kW range stove.
I have a 5kW one and if I keep it going full blast it would nearly roast me out of the room! Room is about 30m2, house has rubbish insulation, but I have unlimited free wood, just need to cut it and split it.
I have a 5kW one and if I keep it going full blast it would nearly roast me out of the room! Room is about 30m2, house has rubbish insulation, but I have unlimited free wood, just need to cut it and split it.
Edited by guindilias on Saturday 29th August 11:35
Wozy68 said:
You dont have to have a liner, however they seem to generate more heat if a liner is installed.
This kinda of makes sense as my mates has a liner, mine does not. They are the same burners yet he seems to get more heat out of his than I do mine. No idea why.
I will rephrase, it is best to have......This kinda of makes sense as my mates has a liner, mine does not. They are the same burners yet he seems to get more heat out of his than I do mine. No idea why.
as said above, and, that you become more dependent on the moisture content/type of your wood.
We have a long living/dining/sunroom which is quiet narrow (50ft x 13ft) so I opted for a 4.5kw stove as I thought anything more would be too much given how close we sit to it; I find that with decent wood (I sometimes use smokeless coal when it's particularly cold outside) it's more than enough although it is a recent self build which is well insulated.
Wasn't there a thread on here with a chap who was installing a massive wood burner in a relatively small space? I wonder how he got on..?
Wasn't there a thread on here with a chap who was installing a massive wood burner in a relatively small space? I wonder how he got on..?
Wozy68 said:
You dont have to have a liner, however they seem to generate more heat if a liner is installed. This kinda of makes sense as my mates has a liner, mine does not. They are the same burners yet he seems to get more heat out of his than I do mine. No idea why.
The kind of wood you burn makes a big difference. I agree an unlined installation might take longer to warm up initially, but I reckon after half an hour it evens out. The chimney breast gets nice and warm too!tim0409 said:
Wasn't there a thread on here with a chap who was installing a massive wood burner in a relatively small space? I wonder how he got on..?
I got on quite well.I asked the same question here http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... and got lots of great input which I completely ignored and ended up installing a 26.4kw burner for a small but high ceiling living room.
It uses no more wood than a small burner and I can chuck on big (600mm long) logs
It takes a little longer (maybe 5 minutes) to initially heat up due to the sheer mass but from then on it heats the area much faster than a small burner and retains heat for hours and hours
If it gets too warm I just turn it down and let it simmer away and as I like some fresh air every now and then I can open doors or windows without worrying about losing all the heat, in summary it's brilliant and I'm glad I chose a high kw output
I'd suggest that you don't buy one with too few kw's that struggles to heat the area, you'll always regret it
Edited by cheddar on Saturday 29th August 22:27
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