STOVES questions and answers here(see mod note in post 1)

paddy147

The amount of threads getting posted each day about stoves is unreal and taking away from other plumbing issues.

Can I suggest to the members and also the mods a dedicated "sticky" thread about stoves and nothing else.


Thanks.:)

Hi Folks. This sticky has been suggested by a regular poster and contributed to quite well. It seems to have generated a lot of interest. While advertising is not permitted under forum charter a balanced view of multiple suppliers is allowed. The rule of thumb is if you are unsure just ask. But keeping it simple and discussing the techanical details of multiple suppliers will be safe. Keep pricing out of the thread and only reply if requested to by PM -Personal message. An instant permant ban will result for breach of charter on advertising.

Stove Fan

Sounds a great idea:)

Stove Fan:)

Joey the lips

If someone writes me a thread on the selection of stoves i will sticky it.

Make it with good detail and it will save questions.

Caitriona

As someone who's partly responsible for the number of stove threads I can only agree Sorry!

Stove Fan

Buying a stove is not only expensive but has to be sized correctly in order to heat your room and rads if a boiler stove.

You need to find out what size boiler stove will suit your home and what heat output is need for where the stove is being installed. You don't want to be too hot in the room with the stove so closing up the fire and so your radiators go cold or colder. There has to be the right balance between room heating and radiator heating.

Any stove showroom would be happy to advice on what kw size is needed to heat your room. For a boiler stove it would be a good idea to get a plumber or heating engineer in to calculate the heat requirements of your home or radiators if already installed.
You can do a very basic calculation yourselves by measuring your existing radiators and noting if they are doubles or single panel and comparing the size to an online radiator manufacturer table of sizes and outputs. Add each radiator output up and this will give you a quide to the boiler size required. Dont forget to add 3kw to the figure for a standard sized hot water cylinder.

What to look for in a stove

When looking at a stove decide if you want a multifuel stove or wood burner only. A woodburner can only burn wood and is cheaper to buy as has no grate to burn coal. If only burning wood it burns best in a woodburner only as there is more room for the wood as there is no grate.
A multifuel stove would be the most popular.
When viewing a stove check that the door(s) close and open nicely and that the welds or castings have a good fit/finish, and has good door rope seals. Basically have a good look. Ask about the length of manufacturers guarante as some are only a year and some a lifetime. Ask where the stove was made and to what standards, BS en etc. Ask about the availability of spares for your stove and the various prices. Grate, door glass, firebricks etc. Compare different stove manufacturers and try to buy a known make. Try and see a lit model of the stove you like and get the shop to demonstate the controls and use. Ask friends and neighbours for their stove recommendations and installers/merchants. Most stoves have Airwash to keep the stove glass clean. Some stove manufacturers have secondary burn at the rear of the fire. A tube with holes in it that ignites the gasses for a more complete burn. Nice flame picture with this feature:)

Plumbing in. A quide
Always seek quidance or better still employ a plumber!!

Your boiler stove must be installed on an open vented system. The main important items are:

Feed and expansion tank (a tank usually in the loft to supply cold water to your radiators)

Gravity circulation to hot water cylinder. This is where the cylinder is higher than the stove and the water circulates itself through the large 1 inch pipes. The water in the boiler and pipework get hotter and therefore less dense and therefore rises up to the cylinder and the cooler water being heavier sinks down to the stove and then repeats itself and creates it's own circulation.

Heat leak radiator. Used on the gravity circuit as well. In the event of a powercut the hotwater in the stoves boiler would have somewhere to dissipate the heat to the heat leak radiator without the need for a pump. Especially if the hot water in the hot water cylinder was already hot.

Safety valve near the boiler. If the feed and vent pipe were to get blocked it's an extra safety device. Spring loaded to discharge boiling water and the water that was lost would be refilled automatically by the cold feed and expansion tank, thus cooling the stoves boiler.

A pump to circulate the water around the radiators controlled by a pipe stat to limit the condensation on the back boiler. Pipe stat to be set at no less than 40 degrees.

If purchasing a boiler stove consider a thermostatically controlled model. The thermostat self regulates the air supply (opens/closes the draft) and saves you regulating the temperature of the radiator yourself manually. It has a dial with different settings. A lot less work for you:) Just add fuel and leave the stove to regulate the heat output itself.

Cast iron or steel stove?

Cast Iron stoves have a number of advantages.

Can be made into interesting shapes
retains and radiates heat long after the fire is out.

Disadvantages are.
Take a bit longer to heat up.
Heavier to move.
Cast iron can crack.
As the stove is made in sections and bolted together the seals and joins can leak in air.

Steel stoves.

Advantages.
Heats up quicker
More airtight as steel body is fully welded.
Can resist high temperatures.
Lighter to move.
Less fragile.

Disadvantages.
Does not retain heat once fire is out.
Can distort and split.
Can't be made into nice shapes like cast iron.

There are simply loads of stoves to choose from.
This site has reviews of different stoves by owners.
www.whatstove.co.uk

Don't forget that stoves should be fitted in accordance with building regulations and stove manufacturers instructions.
Don't forget the required air supply. Either direct air supply to stoves with this feature or an air vent into the room. The size required will be in the stoves installation manual. Don't forget to fit a carbon monoxide alarm in the same room as the stove. Mandatory in the UK now and could save your life.

If you are not competent in the installation seek the services of a stove installer!!

Please feel free to add anything that I may of missed:)

Stove Fan:)

Mods, please edit if needed:)

Rob_talisman

This is great.

Im just seriously concidering putting in a multistove in for winter.

Im thinking about the Hunter Kestrel 5. Has anyone any experiance with this or any advice?

I currently have a gas fire in place so will be removing it. widening the whole and getting it bricked out.

Ive contacted a local Hetas installer about pulling out the old flue liner and putting a new one in (he recommended a 904/316 liner.)

Stove Fan

Rob_talisman wrote: »

This is great.

Im just seriously concidering putting in a multistove in for winter.

Im thinking about the Hunter Kestrel 5. Has anyone any experiance with this or any advice?

I currently have a gas fire in place so will be removing it. widening the whole and getting it bricked out.

Ive contacted a local Hetas installer about pulling out the old flue liner and putting a new one in (he recommended a 904/316 liner.)

Hi:)Hunter are a reasonable make and are reasonably priced at under £500 for the kestrel. It looks ok for the money. The only thing that is rather mean is only a 1 year guarante on the body:mad: Make sure the glass is not curved as it's much more expensive to replace than flat glass.
http://www.firesonline.co.uk/acatalog/Hunter-Kestrel-5-Multi-fuel-Stove.html
The other stove for under £500 is the villager chelsea. 3 year quarantee. Go for the double door version as the one piece (solo model) glass is curved and costs £65.00 from villager.
http://www.firesonline.co.uk/acatalog/Villager_Chelsea_Duo_Stove.html
If you had a bit more money about £100 more then consider the dunsley highlander 5 if the main use is burning coal. Excellent make.
http://www.firesonline.co.uk/acatalog/Dunsley_Highlander_5_Multi-fuel_Stove.html

I dont think you would be dissapointed with the hunter or villager. Very similar quality. Dunsley quality and function would be far superior to the hunter and villager. Better air inlets and seals and more heavy construction, just a better stove.

Stove Fan:)

Rob_talisman

Stove Fan wrote: »

Rob_talisman wrote: »

This is great.

Im just seriously concidering putting in a multistove in for winter.

Im thinking about the Hunter Kestrel 5. Has anyone any experiance with this or any advice?

I currently have a gas fire in place so will be removing it. widening the whole and getting it bricked out.

Ive contacted a local Hetas installer about pulling out the old flue liner and putting a new one in (he recommended a 904/316 liner.)

Hi:)Hunter are a reasonable make and are reasonably priced at under £500 for the kestrel. It looks ok for the money. The only thing that is rather mean is only a 1 year guarante on the body:mad: Make sure the glass is not curved as it's much more expensive to replace than flat glass.
http://www.firesonline.co.uk/acatalog/Hunter-Kestrel-5-Multi-fuel-Stove.html
The other stove for under £500 is the villager chelsea. 3 year quarantee. Go for the double door version as the one piece (solo model) glass is curved and costs £65.00 from villager.
http://www.firesonline.co.uk/acatalog/Villager_Chelsea_Duo_Stove.html
If you had a bit more money about £100 more then consider the dunsley highlander 5 if the main use is burning coal. Excellent make.
http://www.firesonline.co.uk/acatalog/Dunsley_Highlander_5_Multi-fuel_Stove.html

I dont think you would be dissapointed with the hunter or villager. Very similar quality. Dunsley quality and function would be far superior to the hunter and villager. Better air inlets and seals and more heavy construction, just a better stove.

Stove Fan:)

Thank you for the reply. Over the hunter and villager what would be better ( went for hunter as my last name I's hunter lol)

I liked the openness of the kestrel single door over double doors tbh.

Stove Fan

Rob_talisman wrote: »

Thank you for the reply. Over the hunter and villager what would be better ( went for hunter as my last name I's hunter lol)

I liked the openness of the kestrel single door over double doors tbh.

They are very much the same quality wise. If you can view both that would be ideal.

I have had 3 villager stoves and have been very happy with them. villager is owned by arada . I have never owned a hunter but have a look at both hunter and villager reviews by owners. The only thing I would say with both is buy the optional flue damper if you want to keep the fire in overnight:)

www.whatstove.co.uk

Stove Fan:)

Rob_talisman

Thanks

Yup had already planned for the Dampener

Rob_talisman

Unfortunatley neither of those two stoves are reviewed on that site...

Good news is the hunter glass is flat, no curves and replacement is <£20.


Hmmm decisions desicions.

SeaFields

We are trying to decide on whether to fit a non-boiler or boiler stove at the moment. There is already oil central heating in the house but we have plenty of turf so either way we'll be fitting a stove.

Is it possible to fit a boiler stove to compliment the oil heating? Be it that we would be able to switch from one to the other for heating everything or just use one for rads and one for water?

And is it a big job/ expensive to install the boiler stove if we already have a heating system in place? The house is a three bedroomed bungalow with ten rads varying in size. The hot water tank is about two metres from the fire place across the hallway and through two walls.

Any input / past experience welcome

Stove Fan

Rob_talisman wrote: »

Unfortunatley neither of those two stoves are reviewed on that site...

Good news is the hunter glass is flat, no curves and replacement is <£20.


Hmmm decisions desicions.

The glass being flat on the hunter is a big plus and cheap for it's size:).

The Kestrel is a new model launched October 2009.

The only reviews near that size are the hunter herald 5. Not really a lot different I would of thought. Only Door and air inlets.

http://www.whatstove.co.uk/hunter-stoves/hunter-herald-5-slimline-stove.html This is for the slimline hunter herald 5 but not the kestrel!!


The villager chelsea is known as the solo/duo.
http://www.whatstove.co.uk/villager-stoves/villager-solo/duo.html

Stove Fan:)

Stove Fan

SeaFields wrote: »

We are trying to decide on whether to fit a non-boiler or boiler stove at the moment. There is already oil central heating in the house but we have plenty of turf so either way we'll be fitting a stove.

Is it possible to fit a boiler stove to compliment the oil heating? Be it that we would be able to switch from one to the other for heating everything or just use one for rads and one for water?

And is it a big job/ expensive to install the boiler stove if we already have a heating system in place? The house is a three bedroomed bungalow with ten rads varying in size. The hot water tank is about two metres from the fire place across the hallway and through two walls.

Any input / past experience welcome

Fitting a boiler stove sounds very possible as you seem to have a hot water cylinder on an open vented system although through several walls. Can't be fitted easily on a sealed system.
The only problem I see is that you really need coal as well as the turf to get the rads hot.
As regards cost I have no idea, depends on how much the stove is and how much plumbing is involved. I would say 2-3000euro!!:eek: I would get some quotes in.

You may find you are better off just fitting a non boiler stove and use the turf only to heat the room and a bit more. Any extra heat would spread around the house anyway with the door(s) open.
If you have TRV'S thermostatic rad valves fitted any extra heat from the stove would warm other rooms up and the trv's would turn the rads off/down and reduce the oil usage:).

Stove Fan:)

Macano31

Hi
Anyone have experience with the Blacksmith stoves. I am thinking of installing the Blacksmith Forge. They seem to be built to German specifications Any advice appreciated?
Thanks

Stove Fan

Macano31 wrote: »

Hi
Anyone have experience with the Blacksmith stoves. I am thinking of installing the Blacksmith Forge. They seem to be built to German specifications Any advice appreciated?
Thanks

I don't know anything about them but the person we bought our house from has the blacksmith forge boiler stove in their home. I should be seeing them in a week or two. I will ask them what they think of it:)


Stove Fan:)

Macano31

Thanks looking forward to the info

Rob_talisman

Well I've ordered the Hunter stove. Should arrive in a weeks time. Fingers crossed.

MicraBoy

Does any one know where I can buy kiln dried logs for a stove in Dublin?

Stove Fan

Rob_talisman wrote: »

Well I've ordered the Hunter stove. Should arrive in a weeks time. Fingers crossed.

Excellent:) Let us know how you get on:D

Stove Fan:)

bungaro79

have seen a stanley oisin on special and the flue installing kit is about an extra €100. the oisin seems to be the perfect output heatwise for our place as its small room and we;re not looking for one to use with a back boiler.

can anyone tell me what it would be for someone to install it???

Stove Fan

bungaro79 wrote: »

have seen a stanley oisin on special and the flue installing kit is about an extra €100. the oisin seems to be the perfect output heatwise for our place as its small room and we;re not looking for one to use with a back boiler.

can anyone tell me what it would be for someone to install it???

Hi:) We really need more info of your fireplace/chimney.

What do you want to create?
Fireplace alterations needed?
Chimney lined/ unlined?
If unlined is the chimney on the roof have easy access?
Are hearth alterations required? 12 inches infront of stove 6 inches to the side.

Stove Fan:)

bungaro79

Stove Fan wrote: »

Hi:) We really need more info of your fireplace/chimney.

What do you want to create?
Fireplace alterations needed?
Chimney lined/ unlined?
If unlined is the chimney on the roof have easy access?
Are hearth alterations required? 12 inches infront of stove 6 inches to the side.

Stove Fan:)

not sure what you mean about what i want to create?! tbh just looking for a simple stove that i can heat the tv room with! we have an electric fire in the fireplace which we never use.
i'm after taking the measurements of the stove and we wouldn't have 12 inches in front (if we were putting it on the marble of the fireplace floor) so does this mean that its a non-runner?? i assume you don't put it actually into the fireplace as the heat coming out the side would be wasted???

thanks for your reply sotve fan

Stove Fan

bungaro79 wrote: »

not sure what you mean about what i want to create?! tbh just looking for a simple stove that i can heat the tv room with! we have an electric fire in the fireplace which we never use.
i'm after taking the measurements of the stove and we wouldn't have 12 inches in front (if we were putting it on the marble of the fireplace floor) so does this mean that its a non-runner?? i assume you don't put it actually into the fireplace as the heat coming out the side would be wasted???

thanks for your reply sotve fan

Yes the hearth would need to be altered to have 12 inches in front of the stove. You can fit it into the fireplace providing there is enough clearance around it for building regs and to let the heat escape from the stove. 6 inches to each side and 12 inches above. Get a stove installer to look at your hearth as if the hearth is ok you may be able to have an inset stove built in.

Stove Fan:)

Aquos76

Does anyone know definitely whats the story with installing a stove insert in a timber surround fireplace? At this stage Ive spoken with so many different people but no one has been able to give me an answer.

This is our fireplace


and Ive been informed that there are special adaptors available to allow me to insert any of the standard insert stoves then, but there is absolutely no mention of timber surrounds



So my question is, If I go down this route will I be able to then put in a stove insert and what would the maximum kw that I should go for. The room I want to heat is 16x13. We are not overly keen on the stove thats in the picture above with the adaptor. As far as Im aware thats a 4kw stove. We are however looking at either of these stoves


San Remo
or The Valentia which is a 7kw



Does anyone have any advice that you can share with me and also, should I consider the stove that included in the adapter picture above. Many thanks.

Stove Fan

Aquos76 wrote: »

Does anyone know definitely whats the story with installing a stove insert in a timber surround fireplace? At this stage Ive spoken with so many different people but no one has been able to give me an answer.

This is our fireplace


and Ive been informed that there are special adaptors available to allow me to insert any of the standard insert stoves then, but there is absolutely no mention of timber surrounds



So my question is, If I go down this route will I be able to then put in a stove insert and what would the maximum kw that I should go for. The room I want to heat is 16x13. We are not overly keen on the stove thats in the picture above with the adaptor. As far as Im aware thats a 4kw stove. We are however looking at either of these stoves


San Remo
or The Valentia which is a 7kw



Does anyone have any advice that you can share with me and also, should I consider the stove that included in the adapter picture above. Many thanks.

Hi:) Sorry I don't know what distance the fire has to be from the wooden surround:(. You could send an email to each stove manufacturer or ask the stove dealer to have a look in the installation instructions for clearance to combustibles on each stove.
I would imagine each stove has different clearances. With regards to stove choice it's a personal thing. Fitting an arch plate against your fireplace and fitting either inset stove could be dissapointing. I see there may not be an outlet for heat to escape from the sides/top of the valentia so that in effect you only have the heat from the front of the inset stove. The stove and arch kit would be the easiest option but the heat output may not be great.

4kw should be perfectly adequate or 5kw if the room has bad insulation or a drafty room.

Hope someone on here who has the arch stove kit can advice if it throws out a good heat and was worthwhile doing:)

Your hearth may not be suitable if its over a wooden floor and may crack as its one piece. Normal to fit in 2 pieces. I would get an installer to look. Is it a gas or electric fire? The cast iron arch may not be suitable for solid fuel. An installer should know.

Is removing the surround not an option?


Stove Fan:)

Aquos76

Thanks for your reply Stove fan, tbh removing the surround in a non runner, Id be killed if I even suggested it, The two stoves pictured both have outlets in the top and sides ok, this is the reason why I'm not too keen on the one pictured with the adapter. I've spoken to two guys who work in stove centers and both are saying that the 4kw should be fine with the timber surrounds, but they are not 100% certain. Ill ring around a few more places tomorrow to see can I get clarification.

Also, the Valencia also comes with an attachment that clips to the top of the stove to divert the heat outwards rather than upwards and I've seen this in operation and in fairness is seem very effective as the underside of the marble fireplace which it was fitted too didn't seem to warm.

Mindme

A candle-powered stove may be of use to those with imagination and adaptability see info on the link. An economical way of staying warm this winter.

http://irelandtoo.blogspot.com

Caitriona

What does anyone know about Inis stoves, the Inis Meain boiler model specifically?

Mindme

Caitriona wrote: »

What does anyone know about Inis stoves, the Inis Meain boiler model specifically?

See http://www.mullendomestic.com/inis-stoves?product_id=67

It could also use 10 hour candles as fuel. Quantity to be ascertained by trial and error.

Candle-powered stoves may be the future?

Caitriona

Thanks, Mindme; I was really looking for more personal knowledge though; I've looked at them on plenty of sites but I'd like firsthand knowledge of how good they are: reliability, standard of support from the manufacturer, that sort of thing.

I'm a bit nonplussed by the whole candle thing. It seems unlikely that they could produce enough heat! Not that I'm denying it, mind you, I just don't know enough about it.

Mindme

Caitriona wrote: »

Thanks, Mindme; I was really looking for more personal knowledge though; I've looked at them on plenty of sites but I'd like firsthand knowledge of how good they are: reliability, standard of support from the manufacturer, that sort of thing.

I'm a bit nonplussed by the whole candle thing. It seems unlikely that they could produce enough heat! Not that I'm denying it, mind you, I just don't know enough about it.

Yes Catriona it is wise to get first hand experience. We have been burning all sorts of fuels in our stove for about 15 years.

Our small multi-fuel stove heats up very well and is hot enough using candles to keep us nice and warm. Kettles on top reach near boiling temperatures.
http://irelandtoo.blogspot.com
Increasing the number of candle will be the test in colder weather. Watch this space. :-)

Duiske

Aquos76 wrote: »

Also, the Valencia also comes with an attachment that clips to the top of the stove to divert the heat outwards rather than upwards and I've seen this in operation and in fairness is seem very effective as the underside of the marble fireplace which it was fitted too didn't seem to warm.

Thanks for mentioning that Aquos. We have been considering an insert stove and one of my concerns was most of the heat being directed up and out the chimney, as only really the door of the stove would be exposed to the room . I will ask about that attachment when talking to suppliers.

Mindme

Hope you guys will give the 10 hour burn candles a try. Very economical.

http://irelandtoo.blogspot.com

Caitriona

We've been getting a clearer idea of how much installing a boiler stove is going to cost us, and honestly I'm not sure it's worth it.

The stove we're looking at, the Inis Meain, is around €1700 generally, excluding installation; the one quote we've had so far for connecting it to the heater (and converting the heating from closed to open) was €1750, plus there's all the flue stuff and the actual installation of the stove, and the changes to the fireplace to make room for it. I reckon it's probably not going to come in under €4000.

We have a fire lit every night in winter, and for most of the day when we're at home; for years just heating the sitting room was enough for us, we don't really feel the cold once we're in bed. But now we've a toddler and another baby on the way so the house needs to be cosier. The logic was that for about the same amount of coal and wood we're burning on the open fire now, we'd heat the whole house rather than just the sitting room, so there'd be no real change in our heating bills.

Are we mad to even consider it? Would we be better off to just put a dry stove in the sitting room and bite the bullet of going through a tank of oil every winter? Given the price of oil, that's probably €800 a year or so, so if we did keep using the same amount of solid fuel that we use now, the stove would have paid for itself in 5 years.

On a scale of 'no, you're being perfectly logical' to 'get back in the loony bin, you're a danger to yourself and everyone else', tell me how mad I'm being?

Stove Fan

Caitriona wrote: »

We've been getting a clearer idea of how much installing a boiler stove is going to cost us, and honestly I'm not sure it's worth it.

The stove we're looking at, the Inis Meain, is around €1700 generally, excluding installation; the one quote we've had so far for connecting it to the heater (and converting the heating from closed to open) was €1750, plus there's all the flue stuff and the actual installation of the stove, and the changes to the fireplace to make room for it. I reckon it's probably not going to come in under €4000.

We have a fire lit every night in winter, and for most of the day when we're at home; for years just heating the sitting room was enough for us, we don't really feel the cold once we're in bed. But now we've a toddler and another baby on the way so the house needs to be cosier. The logic was that for about the same amount of coal and wood we're burning on the open fire now, we'd heat the whole house rather than just the sitting room, so there'd be no real change in our heating bills.

Are we mad to even consider it? Would we be better off to just put a dry stove in the sitting room and bite the bullet of going through a tank of oil every winter? Given the price of oil, that's probably €800 a year or so, so if we did keep using the same amount of solid fuel that we use now, the stove would have paid for itself in 5 years.

On a scale of 'no, you're being perfectly logical' to 'get back in the loony bin, you're a danger to yourself and everyone else', tell me how mad I'm being?

I supose if you have the 4 grand and dont mind spending it out now to save later, then thats good or prefer to keep back some of the money for other things more pressing.

I love my boiler stove and have no other boiler and it is cheaper than oil.

If you were happy heating just your living room with your open fire then installing a non boiler stove would greatly improve the efficiency and a massive difference in the heat output. You may find this satisfactory.

If you leave the door(s) open to other rooms you would let the heat circulate to other rooms. If you have thermostatic radiator valves fitted they would close down as the stove heats the room or rooms and reduce your oil consumption.

If your room and stairs is more open plan it would work very very well.


Stove Fan:)

Caitriona

The sitting room and dining room are open plan but with the fire lit and all the doors open, the kitchen stays cool and the hall is freezing (it's the biggest space in the house and only has a single rad - stupid builders! Though we were thinking that if we got a stove we could swap the big double rad from the sitting room with the single from the hall, it'd make much more sense that way). Certainly none of the heat reaches the bedrooms we'll have two very small people sleeping in this winter, which is why we're considering this. We figure it makes sense to pipe some of the nice heat from the sitting room up to them instead of sending it up the chimney!

Thermostatic radiator valves - I doubt it! The whole system is very basic - the builders did everything on the cheap.

It's not that we have four grand hanging around spare, but an interest free loan could be arranged if we thought it was worth it in the long run, which is why I'm asking.

Incidentally, thank you, Stove Fan, you've answered many stupid questions from me lately, you must have the patience of a saint and I really do appreciate it : )

Mindme

Catriona, Having 15 years of stove heating and still a cold bathroom can I not persuade you to try metal and glass candle lanterns in the colder rooms? Bought our small stove second hand for 150 punts it has paid for itself time and again.

The candle powered stove as seen here has great potential. The implications for the wood starved third world are enormous. http://irelandtoo.blogspot.com

MINDME you have already discussed the candle powerstove above. Unless you get requests for techanical aspects you are indanger of being classed as spamming and your posts will be deleated.

(Sorry about that. Should have realised. Mindme.)

emg74

Definitely look into upgrading your insulation. At least that way whatever you are spending on heating will be maximised by keeping the heat in the house.

We have a stove in our livingroom which just heats the water, no rads - I normally have the doors to the kitchen and utility room open so the living area of the house is pretty open plan. The stove leaves the top part of the house very warm - we have a bungalow too. I often just open the hallway door to let the heat into the corridor.

Definitely upgrading the insulation has made a huge difference to the way our house holds the heat. We got the attic done and the cavity pumped in the spring - Cost €1450 and got €750 back in the grant - think the grant has been reduced since then.

mollzer

Anyone have any experience, good or bad with either Blacksmith Forge or the Olymberyl Aidan?

Thanks

GY A1

The stove we're looking at, the Inis Meain, is around €1700 generally,

thats crazy money, there are numerous other irish companies selling quality cast iron stoves for just over half that price.


I reckon it's probably not going to come in under €4000.

the instalation cost is large, copper pipes and fittings are expensive but labour is cheap now, price around and you should be able to get the seperate trades cheaper than that

Caitriona

GY A1 wrote: »

The stove we're looking at, the Inis Meain, is around €1700 generally,

thats crazy money, there are numerous other irish companies selling quality cast iron stoves for just over half that price.

Unfortunately I happen to particularly like the look of that one!

bryaner

Hello all

I'm thinking of a stove but have problems, firstly we have a limestone fireplace which I'm told is not capable of taking the heat from a stove or open fire, so I'm looking at a fireplace replacement too.

Secondly there is a back boiler that would have to come out because it looks impossible how someone could flue up a stove with it in place, don't ask how we got into this kinda of mess (me thinks celtic tiger type decision).

Would it be possible for a good fireplace man to take ours down unbroken so we could sell it and the back boiler? And does all this work sound economically viable to do..

We were thinking of a stove with a built in boiler and the current opening is 18" in a 4 bed semi..

Cheers in advance, Bryan

Sligo Stoves and Fireplaces

GY A1 wrote: »

The stove we're looking at, the Inis Meain, is around €1700 generally,

thats crazy money, there are numerous other irish companies selling quality cast iron stoves for just over half that price.


I reckon it's probably not going to come in under €4000.

the instalation cost is large, copper pipes and fittings are expensive but labour is cheap now, price around and you should be able to get the seperate trades cheaper than that

The Inis Meain is an Irish made steel bodied stove. There are no cast iron stoves made in Ireland. There are Irish companies that manufacture cast iron stoves, mostly in China, but Inis is an Irish stove in the true sense. The quality of the Inis stoves is far superior, in my opinion, to "Irish" (Chinese) cast iron stoves. Most good stove retailers will have different stoves, both cast iron and steel, budget to top-quality to suit the needs of all customers.

scropmc

hi all i've been looking at getting a 7kw non-boiler multi-fuel stove for my house. as a starting point i've been looking at the stanley oscar. can anybody tell me if this is the best on the market and wheteher there are equals that are cheaper etc etc i'm in ireland so i'm not sure if that limits my choices? any help and advice really appreciated.

nophd08

Rob_talisman wrote: »

Well I've ordered the Hunter stove. Should arrive in a weeks time. Fingers crossed.

I fitted the Hunter Kestrel 5 in my living room a few months back. Excellent little stove, I'm burning wood (well seasoned) and it whacks out the heat.
Only criticism I would have is small bits of embers can get lodged between grate and glass and can fall out when refuelling, also fire box is small but it is only 5kw.
Not sure how the flue damper will work out,(I didnt fit one) I think overnight burn wont work with just wood. Maybe smokeless coal will work.

Putty Man

Great thread, thanks for all the advice so far!

We're picking 2 stoves for our new house and pretty much decided on a Charnwood Cove 1 (or possibly a C-Four) for our small room.

For the big room tho we want to include a boiler, and have narrowed it down to a Stanley Reginald or most likely an Inis Meain.

I've played with both and keep thinking the Inis is more 'solid', tho that could be in my head. Is there any difference in the Chinese cast stoves comapred to an Irish made steel stove? Cost of both is about the same.

Any comments welcome.

Stove Fan

Putty Man wrote: »

Great thread, thanks for all the advice so far!

We're picking 2 stoves for our new house and pretty much decided on a Charnwood Cove 1 (or possibly a C-Four) for our small room.

For the big room tho we want to include a boiler, and have narrowed it down to a Stanley Reginald or most likely an Inis Meain.

I've played with both and keep thinking the Inis is more 'solid', tho that could be in my head. Is there any difference in the Chinese cast stoves comapred to an Irish made steel stove? Cost of both is about the same.

Any comments welcome.

With regards to your charnwood stove the C four in my opinion is their best looking and best designed stove they have ever made.:D
Made in China generally has a bad quality reputation. If it was between the two I would buy the inis mean unless it was expensive compared to premium brand boiler stoves. Charnwood etc.

Stove Fan:)

Putty Man

Thanks Stove Fan for your advice.

We like the C Four but for a lack of a multifuel grate as standard and lack of Quatroflow. Also I'm not sure you can fit the external air supply kit to the C Four. The CF Four is £150 cheaper than the Cove 1, what makes it such a good design?

For the big boiler stove; the Inis Meain is about £270 more than the Stanley Reginald, and about £500 cheaper than a big Charnwood. So the Inis Meain is a lot cheaper than premium brands, but a fair bit more expensive than a Stanley.

In real life use tho, how would an Inis Meain be better than a Stanley Reginald?

Stove Fan

Putty Man wrote: »

Thanks Stove Fan for your advice.

We like the C Four but for a lack of a multifuel grate as standard and lack of Quatroflow. Also I'm not sure you can fit the external air supply kit to the C Four. The CF Four is £150 cheaper than the Cove 1, what makes it such a good design?

For the big boiler stove; the Inis Meain is about £270 more than the Stanley Reginald, and about £500 cheaper than a big Charnwood. So the Inis Meain is a lot cheaper than premium brands, but a fair bit more expensive than a Stanley.

In real life use tho, how would an Inis Meain be better than a Stanley Reginald?

I didn't realise the multifuel grate was extra. I think it looks pretty. It's the stove I would choose. It's a good stove as it has a lot of features of the more expensive Cove and Island range. It's a more updated Country 4:) Whats quatraflow?

You may be perfectly happy with either stove, but generally the better made stoves have better air seals/inlets, ie more controllable. More airtight so use less fuel. Made of carefully crafted quality materials . Stove Production from start to finish all made in house so quality can be controlled and kept up to standards. Hand made/ finished. What did you think of each stove for quality when you viewed them? It's generally better to spend more. You do get what you pay for. For me in desirability/function it would be 1 Charnwood. 2 Inis Mean and 3 Stanley. A stove is not just something to burn fuel in they are all different with regards quality and function. Exactly like cars.

Charnwood have a long reputation of producing good quality stoves. Well tried and tested.
Inis are a very recent manufacturer.
Stanley have been around a while but mass produced in China.

You really need feedback/reviews from owners from the various make/models.

The choice is yours though:)

Stove Fan:)

Putty Man

I agree the CFour looks lovely, and seems very well made when I poked at it in the showroom. We are still tempted by it, but the extra £150 you pay for a Cove 1 must go somewhere. Also we like the higher stand you get with the Cove 1.

Here's the sales blurb on Quatroflow, tbh it seems like a fairly big deal I would say?
http://www.charnwood.com/QUATTROFLOW-air-management-system.aspx#

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The more I hear about Stanley/Chinese stoves the more I'm moving towards an Inis. So at the moment the Inis Mor/Meain is winning our big stove competition. The guy selling the Inis is a local fella too, and a plumber by trade, which is a good combo I think.

We looked into a Charnwood Cove 2B or an Island 3B for the big room, but you cannot have both an external air supply, and a back boiler on these. Which rules them out for us.