Looking for a high output Inset Stove

davidod1

I would like to replace my current open fire 20” Grant Back-Boiler with an inset boiler stove.

I live in a 1970s dormer bungalow that was originally built with single 9” hollow blocks and timber flooring. It was also built with 9’ ceilings.

Within the last few years I have completed significant levels of insulation. While the house is definitely easier to heat, a cold draught can still blow through the house downstairs. I firmly believe that a major reason for this draught is the colder air from the dormer area falling through to the ground floor and heading up the chimney in the living room.

I feel that fitting an inset stove will; aside from other obvious benefits effectively close the availability of the chimney to this draught and thereby considerably reduce this effect.

The current plumbing arrangement with the open fire and back boiler is as follows:
There is a line that rises from the back boiler to the first floor on its way to a dual-coil cylinder. This line also passes through two small radiators with thermostatically controlled valves on the way to the dual-coil hot water cylinder. This has proven not to have had any serious impact on the heat of the water in the cylinder. In the beginning if there was a decent fire in the grate; despite these in-line radiators the water in the cylinder used to boil. These are the only radiators upstairs.
There is also a second line from the back boiler that connects with the oil-fired central heating. There is a circulation pump on this line that is activated automatically if the temperature on the surface of the copper part of the hot water cylinder reaches a pre-set temperature. It can also be activated manually. This was put in to prevent the water in the copper cylinder from getting too hot.

I'm not expecting to be able to heat all the radiators on the current loop with this stove as I do not believe that this would be achievable. The main downstairs loop comprises six double panel radiators plus 8 single panel radiators. The living area is ‘U’ shaped in that it opens in to the dining area and then the kitchen. The fireplace is in the wall between the living room and the dining/kitchen area. This overall area equates to approximately 100M2.

I do want to provide sufficient heat in to the living area eliminate the flow of air up the open chimney. I would also like as much of the spare heat as possible to be directed to the hot water cylinder and then to the radiators. This is how I am currently set up, although I would hope to be able to get a much increased amount of heat going to the radiators.

The largest inset stove that I have seen is 17kw. It is delivering approximately 12kw to the radiators and 5kw to the room. This level of heating would probably be sufficient to put a reasonable level of heat into the rads and should definitely provide enough room heating.

The make that I was thinking about is the Henley Achill but I'm wondering about the reputation of these stoves. I am concerned about it's Chinese origin and some of the questions being asked on this forum about it.

I would appreciate any advice that may be forthcoming on any of the aspects that I have raised here.

davidod1

In relation to the above post; I was hoping to hear from either users of the Henley Achill inset stove or professionals who have installed them about the suitability to do the job and/or about the build quality of the stove. Or indeed a suggestion of an alternative manufacturer of a more suitable stove.