Fireplace Inserts

Mike folan

Hi Guys,

Maybe you could help me on this. My father has been considering installing a fireplace insert, click here, and has heard one or two things that made him think twice. Has anyone here ever got one of these installed or know someone who has and would you recommend them or keep the money for something else more worth while?

Thanks guys.

dudara

Moved to Interior Design and Decoration

dudara

Steven81

I have one, parents have one and sister has one. Best things we ever put in, they sit flush, let out 82% heat and you can put as much in and not be worried if you have to leave the house.

Only bad thing is that it says it is self clean, none are.

Would really recommend one

paddy147

Mike folan wrote: »

Hi Guys,

Maybe you could help me on this. My father has been considering installing a fireplace insert, click here, and has heard one or two things that made him think twice. Has anyone here ever got one of these installed or know someone who has and would you recommend them or keep the money for something else more worth while?

Thanks guys.

Are you talking about an actual "INSET STOVE" or just a fireplace surround to make an open fireplace look like an inset stove???


This is an inset stove (Stovax Riva 66 multi fuel inset stove).:)

Mike folan

Looking at the insert and not the look like surround.

Mike folan

Steven81 wrote: »

I have one, parents have one and sister has one. Best things we ever put in, they sit flush, let out 82% heat and you can put as much in and not be worried if you have to leave the house.

Only bad thing is that it says it is self clean, none are.

Would really recommend one

THat's great to hear Stephen. Thanks for your reply.

paddy147

They are fantastic,that my stove in the pic above.Stovax Riva 66 8kw multi fuel stove



Serious heat off them,I installed a stainless flexi flue liner and anti down draught cowl too.

Mike folan

paddy147 wrote: »

They are fantastic,that my stove in the pic above.Stovax Riva 66 8kw multi fuel stove



Serious heat off them,I installed a stainless flexi flue liner and anti down draught cowl too.

Thanks Paddy. All sounds good.

Audioslaven

I think an standalone stove may be more efficient and release more heat. If you connect off the top of the stove you will probably get more again as a certain amount of heat will come from the flue liner especially if you are looking for bang for your buck but maybe space is an issue.

paddy147

Insulation is also the key here aswell.

No matter what type of fire or stove you install,a house will only hold the heat if its well insulated.

If you have a well insulated house (this also includes energy effiecent windows and doors),then thats half the battle won.:)

firlodge

Hi
I have specified many Insert or Cassette fires over the last few years - all very successful.
I am not familiar with the brand your father is using though......
Stovax as Paddy mentions are very reliable.
What are your fathers specific concerns & we can try to address them?
:-)

Mike folan

firlodge wrote: »

Hi
I have specified many Insert or Cassette fires over the last few years - all very successful.
I am not familiar with the brand your father is using though......
Stovax as Paddy mentions are very reliable.
What are your fathers specific concerns & we can try to address them?
:-)

His concern is with the flue lining. He needs to have it insulated I would imagine but will there be a problem with heat in the chimney itself as most chimneys are cold but I heard that the flue in these are always hot. His major concern is would this cause a fire?

He has heard stories where people are burning more fuel than before and not as much heat from them, but what I am hearing from the is thread is that they are great, so it's just to iron out a few worries before he goes ahead with it.

Thanks Folks.

firlodge

Hi
I know that Stovax use a concentric flue liner, which among other things, keeps the outer wall cooler.
If your father has an open fire now - he will use less wood to achieve the same level of heat (this is one of the big things with these)
But that said -They are so easy to light & keep lit that I believe that some people may use more fuel as the fire is lighting for longer!
I honestly don't know anyone who is unhappy with the change to a cassette fire from an open fire:-)

paddy147

Some people oversize a stove by accident,or because they like the look of it(too big for the room) and thats also how they can burn too much fuel.
The fire box/internal grate is too big and demands more fuel in it.So people are kinda duped into putting in more wood,turf,briquettes to make it look like a nice fire.

Simple way to cure this is to buy a fuel reducing kit.

Basicly its a set of firebricks which are placed into the stove and reduces the stoves internal size,so that you burn less fuel,but still get the heat.

Stovax do a fuel reducing kit,it costs over 100 euro.

A set of fire bricks in a builders providers for 15 euro does the exact same thing.


The next thing to do is get the right liner installed in the chimnet for the stove.
If the stove has a 6 inch outlet,thern you use a 6 inch liner.
5 inch outet,then a 5 inch liner.

You keep the liner the same size as the stove outlet pipe.



Go and get an inset stove installed.

You and your father wont regret it.

Honest.:)

Mike folan

Lads, thanks for the great replies. One other question, he is planning to burn coal. Would this be an issue?

Thanks again.

paddy147

Mike folan wrote: »

Lads, thanks for the great replies. One other question, he is planning to burn coal. Would this be an issue?

Thanks again.

Theres good coal and then there shyte coal that sparks a hell of alot and leaves heavy soot and tar deposits inside the stove and liner.

Some sticks/kindling,a few few zip firelighters and then a mix of wood/logs and good quality coal.

An inset stove/chimney needs around 2 chimney sweeps a year to maintain it propperly.

Use a flexible plastic chimney brush to clean the liner,as a metal bristle brush will scrap and potentialy damage the liner.


Oh and dont buy a cheap chinese stove,as it will fall to bits and parts will be more or less non existant to get a hold of.:(:rolleyes:

Buy a well known make/brand of stove that has a good back up of parts available.:)

Mike folan

How much does the flue liner cost usually?

paddy147

Mike folan wrote: »

How much does the flue liner cost usually?

Around 350 euro for a twin walled stainless flexi liner and anti down draught cowl.

MI Flues in Summerhill,County Meath are very good for making them and supplying them.


http://www.miflues.ie/

They will make you anything that you may need and make one off systems aswell.

Ive used them before,and and very happy with their service and turnaround time too.

firlodge

Hi - this is from the Stovax website & I think may be the info you need:

Wood burning or Multi Fuel

Q: What is the difference between wood burning and multi fuel?
A: Logs burns best on a flat bed of ash, with air for combustion coming from above. Coal and smokeless fuels burn best on a grate, with air entering from beneath the fire and cinders dropping into an ashpan below.

Wood burning models, therefore, have flat fuel beds whilst multi fuel models incorporate grates, but the latter are also designed to allow you to develop a bed of ash upon which to burn logs should you wish.

paddy147

firlodge wrote: »

Hi - this is from the Stovax website & I think may be the info you need:

Wood burning or Multi Fuel

Q: What is the difference between wood burning and multi fuel?
A: Logs burns best on a flat bed of ash, with air for combustion coming from above. Coal and smokeless fuels burn best on a grate, with air entering from beneath the fire and cinders dropping into an ashpan below.

Wood burning models, therefore, have flat fuel beds whilst multi fuel models incorporate grates, but the latter are also designed to allow you to develop a bed of ash upon which to burn logs should you wish.

The stovax Riva multi fuel isnt a typical grate.

Its more of a flat fire brick base with a circular adjustable grate in the middle.

This grate opens and closes to allow air to enter from below and stoke the fire.Open it fully and the stove roars into life very fast and looks more like a blast furnace.:eek::D

Below the round grate is a fire bopx/ash pan for collecting ash.


Theres also a lever for "airwash".

This lets air flow down over the glass door and keeps the door free from ash and soot and allows the fire to breath too

But thats how you will burn lots of fuel and very fast too.