Stanley Erin Stove with back boiler - help needed pls

annash

Hi there, we have just moved into rented accommodation that has a Stanley Erin Stove with back boiler and were told that it is fab and will heat all the upstairs rads and hot water too and even keep the downstairs snug. I know we are doing something wrong and I have completely read the manual, several times, but we just don't seem to be able to get this going properly! I don't know if it is just how we are trying to set the fire or if we have just messed with the wrong thing?

We are using smokeless coal, and wood, on top of kindling but it just doesn't seem to be getting warm enough to heat either water or rads and it has been going for nigh on 8 hours now. We don't seem to be getting a huge flame from it and although the stove itself is hot to the touch, I wouldn't say the room is mad warm. Nor are the two pipes to the side - if they even have anything to do with it!

Also, whenever we open the door to re fuel, the smoke pretty much gags us, so you have to leave the windows open, hence the cold again. We have the side thermostat set to what I think is 4 and the flue open fully.

I know we are doing something really wrong here and landlord has moved overseas, so we can't check with them. But would really, really appreciate any advice anyone has on setting the fire, keeping the smoke down and just heating our house. This was supposed to be a fab new way for us to keep snug and cosy and all that is happening is that we are completely stressed out trying to get the thing working properly:rolleyes:

Stove Fan

annash wrote: »

Hi there, we have just moved into rented accommodation that has a Stanley Erin Stove with back boiler and were told that it is fab and will heat all the upstairs rads and hot water too and even keep the downstairs snug. I know we are doing something wrong and I have completely read the manual, several times, but we just don't seem to be able to get this going properly! I don't know if it is just how we are trying to set the fire or if we have just messed with the wrong thing?

We are using smokeless coal, and wood, on top of kindling but it just doesn't seem to be getting warm enough to heat either water or rads and it has been going for nigh on 8 hours now. We don't seem to be getting a huge flame from it and although the stove itself is hot to the touch, I wouldn't say the room is mad warm. Nor are the two pipes to the side - if they even have anything to do with it!

Also, whenever we open the door to re fuel, the smoke pretty much gags us, so you have to leave the windows open, hence the cold again. We have the side thermostat set to what I think is 4 and the flue open fully.

I know we are doing something really wrong here and landlord has moved overseas, so we can't check with them. But would really, really appreciate any advice anyone has on setting the fire, keeping the smoke down and just heating our house. This was supposed to be a fab new way for us to keep snug and cosy and all that is happening is that we are completely stressed out trying to get the thing working properly:rolleyes:

If smoke is coming back into the room get the chimney checked for a blockage or soot build up. Can you see if its clean? It may need sweeping especially if the previous tenants used it. We use premium polish house coal on our solid fuel boiler stove and it works great. I tried anthracite on it and was not impressed with the heat output.
To light a good fire I open all of the draft controls fully. Light a firelighter and use plenty of kindling and then put the coal on. This burns nice and hot and less than one hour later after a blazing fire the rads are very pleasant.

Is your heating system actually filled with water? Thought I would ask as it may of been drained down when the tenants left, especially if it's been empty over the cold spell.

With your stove you should set the thermostat to the highest setting as this controls the amount of air. I have never found them to work great and I open the bottom door for a blast.
Please though get the chimney checked as I dont want you to set fire to the chimney. It sounds very much like a faulty chimney and lack of draw.

Stove Fan:)

annash

Thanks stove fan, don't suppose you know anybody in the carlow area to do that do you? Tried building the fire as you said tonight, but exactly same probs, am thinking too could be a chimney problem and not just us and our poor fire building skills!!

joewicklow

Have a look at the hot water tank and see if there is another thermostat on the side of it or on one of the pipes going into the tank. If there is then turn it all the way anti clockwise.
This will turn the water pump for the central heating on and will cause the boiler to cool which will in turn open the boiler thermostat which will put more air into the stove.

annash

Hey Stove Man, just wanted to let you know. We had the range serviced and it turns out that the flue doesn't even reach right into the chimney, there is a 6inch gap between the end of the flue and the chimney, apparently there is a whole piece missing! The engineer told us not to use the stove until this is sorted as we are in danger of carbon monoxide poisoning :eek: So, needless to say, we shall be getting on to the landlord about this!!!

Also, joewicklow, turns out you were right as well! Thermostat on the water tank was set at 90, should be at 60 apparently, then the pump for the rads would kick in, which wasn't happening. Obviously though, we won't be using it until all sorted!

So, thanks guys for your sound advice!