Multi fuel stoves

[leftie]

Having shivered for the past 2 winters and with the prospect of a very cold one coming up I decided to install a multi-fuel stove in the lounge.

Getting one fitted is, it turns out, like asking for a breakdown of the regulations to install a nuclear reactor.

Having been bamboozled by the shop where they sell them into the fact I couldn't have one because by hearth was too small "you have to have 9 inches of clear hearth between the stove and the carpet/floor" and my fireplace too narrow (thus not complying with regulations allowing air to circulate with a 6 inch space) I walked out disappointed, but with a brochure, being told I would have to brick uo or knock out part of the fireplace in my 18th century cottage, or have a more expensive inset version.

I then realise that the pictures of these stoves in the brochure don't comply with these 'regulations'. They are inches from the edge of the hearth, have no space around them to allow the air to circulate and are fitted close into the surrounding brickwork.


Any Ph'ers know if I am I being told a load of bollox?

[Parrot of doom]

Stoves can get very very hot; much hotter than an open fire - its important to have that space around them, otherwise you'll have singed walls and carpets.

[grass widow]

When we had ours fitted 18 years ago, we had plenty of room either side for air circulation, but only 2" at most between the stove and the edge of the hearth.

They fitted it anyway, think they felt sorry for us because we didn't have any other form of heating. Then a few years down the line we had the hearth extended.