Adding a stove to a pressurised system?

sat matt

Hi folks,

*Preface: I know damn all about plumbing!

A few evenings back I called into a neighbouring new-build for a gander where I got speaking to the plumber. They had just installed a stove and I noticed they had piped in what I would have called an "old heating system" - as in it wasn't pressurised, it had the small header tank in the attic. I asked the plumber why this was and he said you can't have a stove on a sealed system

I didn't hold him on it but I could hear the alarm bells starting as I'm just about to start getting measured up myself for a stove with a back-boiler and I have a pressurised system. I've gave it a quick google but I'm finding it hard to get a definitive answer as to whether you can add a stove to a sealed system or not. There seems to be mixed opinions but also many are talking about more elaborate systems with panels, oil, a stove and underfloor heating

In my case, I've got just an oil burner heating the rads and a cylinder. Again, the system is pressurised so I'd hate to think that I'll have to get the system converted back to an open system (is that the term?) just to add a small stove with a boiler


What's the concencus here? Can a stove be run on a sealed system as I've described? To be honest, I don't really mind if I do have to remove the pressurised system it's just the work involved and added cost that I'm thinking of

K.Flyer

The simple answer is that you Cannot Directly Connect a stove into a sealed system, unless you use a system like a Heat Genie or something similar.
If this has not been mentioned by the installer do not deal with him.
Also it has come to my attention that some stove installers are converting "sealed" heating systems to "open vented" with disastrous results, absolute cowboys.

Calahonda52

Why bother with the back boiler, just put in the stove.

The different plumbing ideas can be found under support here
http://www.systemlink.ie

sat matt

K.Flyer wrote: »

The simple answer is that you Cannot Directly Connect a stove into a sealed system, unless you use a system like a Heat Genie or something similar.
If this has not been mentioned by the installer do not deal with him.
Also it has come to my attention that some stove installers are converting "sealed" heating systems to "open vented" with disastrous results, absolute cowboys.

Thanks K.Flyer

I haven't yet approached an installer... in fact I haven't even looked at what stove I might get so I've a bit to do on my own end first!

I've had a quick peek at the Heat Genie device you linked to. It's detail-heavy but am I correct in saying that it requires a header tank be put in for the stove and that the device itself looks after mixing between the systems and also dumping the water from the stove if the power fails?

I've saw the power failure scenario questioned on a few forums online but it's one I'm struggling to understand. We had a beast of a stove back in the homeplace and while the power often failed, the heated water would still circulate by the laws of physics I guess! Why would power failing on a sealed system with a stove be a problem?

Calahonda52 wrote: »

Why bother with the back boiler, just put in the stove.

It's not entirely my call unfortunately. I'm in a long-term rental and while I just want a simple stove, the property owner would rather a back-boiler stove be put in when the work is being done

Considering he'll be paying for it... I wont argue