stove not heating room

I've also had the Fiachra Inset 7kw installed recently and am so disappointed with the heat output. I use a mixture of wood, turf, coal. I seem to spend most of my time refuelling stove and opening/closing/half opening the vents to get some heat. I was told by my installer that I'd have to open my living room door after 30 mins with the heat - I wish! I'm at my wits end. Any additional advice would be really appreciated!

Oh lads, ye have me worried now..... I'm having a stove fitted tomorrow, and was hoping it'd be the solution to all my problems (high ceilings, two rooms knocked into one, single-glazing, north facing).

It's a free-standing, as opposed to insert, but I hope to god it performs a bit better than the ones in this thread :eek:

Have you guys been back to the fitters to see if they can identify the problem?

You should be seeing an improvement after 3 hours, to test my stove which is a 5KW Green insert stove I did the following.

I left the secondary air vent half way open, I left the 2 primary air vents at the base of the stove open.The room was about 20 with the radiator also on as the other heat source in the room.

I used a thermometer and the room was 26 degrees after it was on for about 2 hours. It maintained that level for 3 hours after I added the last fuel source.
I used a combination of briquettes and smokeless coal.
The room is approx 16 x 11 feet.

To answer "Colser" if you are getting no heat at all I would put in a thermometer in the room and ask the installer to come back and advise what's gone on. At least then you can show the temp and proof the heats going up the chimney and not being throw out into the room.
If your not happy with his explanation, I'd go back to the supplier and get them to check it was installed correctly.

Is your stove a free standing or insert version?
When its on does the cast iron get really hot to the touch? If i touch the sides or top of mine its red hot.
Does the room have radiators, and what's the temp with just those on and not the stove and vice versa.
What are the dimensions, is it a large space?
This website provides a calculation to see if the stove output is right for the room size.

http://www.waterfordstanley.com/stanley-stoves/room-heat-calculator.aspx

Hi Colser

I was just wondering how you got on when the installer called to look at your stove. Did he solve the problem or give you any useful hints for improving the heat output?

Briany3 wrote: »

HeidiHeidi, please let us know how you get. I am thinking of putting a 7KW in my room. It is double room.28x13 x9.5 heigh.

Hope to hear from you.
Brian .

Hi Brian,

I'm still getting the hang of it - and there was all-out war between it and the smoke alarm for the first few days, but they seem to have made up and become friends lately - but it's the absolute business!!!

My room is 12x24x9 (ish, can't remember the exact figures) so sounds very similar to yours. The thing takes about 30 seconds to light (two twists of paper, three or four kindling sticks and off it goes), and once I get the heat of the actual stove up, I can turn it right down and a single briquette will burn for an hour or more. Being used to constantly poking at and feeding an open fire, it's a totally new experience to just stick in a log or briquette and LEAVE IT ALONE. But I'm learning that you have to.

For the moment i'm burning briquettes (some - they create a lot more ash) and some eco-logs that the installers gave me to try. They're great, and are by far the handiest from a storage point of view (I have very little room outside for log-piles) and create the least ash, so I can see me using those and maybe getting some actual logs for occasional use. I like the idea of using wood from a sustainability point of view.

There was an unmerciful pong of (non-toxic, or so I was informed :eek:) paint fumes off it for the first couple of burns (which I suspect was what offended the smoke-alarm so grievously - it didn't look or feel smoky at all), but that seems to have cured nicely now, and it's burning away no bother at all.

I haven't seriously tried the overnight burn yet, but last night I left it fully open burning almost-gone briquettes and this morning when I raked the ashes they were still red hot - so I can absolutely see the potential for a log and/or a few bits of coal keeping going all night no bother. (I'm not sure overnight burn is a feature of all stoves though - if that bit interests you you should make enquiries)

Best thing I ever did - how I wish I'd got it years ago

Thank you very much for the information. I am looking forward to getting my stove.
Briany

Colser wrote: »

Just wondering if anyone has had any luck increasing heat output from their stoves..Ive tried changing the type of coal and blocks but no real difference..Thanks

I suppose mine is not just a stove it is a large solid fuel cooker used for heating 14 rads.
I was burning polish coal but found it really did not last long enough.
Now I use the small bags of coal as sold on offer by Supervalue to start the fire. The lumps are small and easy to light.
When lighting I put in bord na mona black diamond premium stove fuel and on top of that I put some Cosy Glo nuggets.
When lighting I top it off with the day befores cinders mixed with slack, mixed with water.
That way I get all the rads on full heat for up to eight hours on one builders rubber bucket full of fuel.

Colser wrote: »

`Thanks timmy4u2...I think my problem isnt really a fuel problem as I am getting a nice fire from the coal and blocks...it would be throwing out great heat if i had an open fire(i would think) but the heat is not being thrown out and yet it must be going somewhere...Lining the chimney is an option but I dont think this will suddenly throw the heat out ....Im begining to think i should have opted for the non insert stove as it seems an insert isnt going to work in the room...seemingly all chimneys are different and this maybe the problem that the heat is going up the chimney...the stove has been checked and no fault found so that is not the issue..Im going to try the different coal over the weekend and hope that this may help.

You might need slow burning fuel as I use. It gives out some heat. The stove manufacturers should designate what size flue you need.
I saw on a forum, and I think it was boards, a gadget that sits on top of the stove and the rising air operates a fan.

Hi rpmcmurphy...You have written exactly the same problem as I am having...I have spent hours in front of the stove feeling around for any bit of heat..i can put my hand within an inch of the stove even after the fire is lighting for hours and just a little heat that would have to be there from having a fire lighting but its not been thrown out if you know what I mean...I have tried to private message you to get a little more detail but Im not allowed as Im a new member...Can I ask you that if you open the top vent(thats meant to clean glass) does your fire take off and burn very very quickly as mine does ...also did you get your stove checked by someone...I described the area I am in earlier(up very high ect) would any of that be similar to your house? thanks

Hi
I just had a boru fiachra 7kw insert stove installed, there is poor heat from the stove and there is whistling noise is coming from the chimney. Same symptoms as “rpmcmurphy” and “Colser”.
I have a feeling the whistling noise is excessive draft, which is drawing the heat up the chimney ?
Has anybody remedied the above problem ? or is the boru fiachra insert just a bad stove ?
HELP !!!!