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

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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 52 ✭✭torres3011


    Stove Fan wrote: »
    Hi, thanks:) It looks great, glad your very happy with your EB12HE:D
    How quick do the rads take to heat up from cold? What fuel are you using?

    Your now ready for some colder weather:D

    Stove Fan:)

    As the pipes are not boxed off at the side just now it means that I can feel when they get hot and use this as my q to tun on the pump.

    I use sticks (pallets from work) as a kindling to get a good flame going and i would say the pump is on within ten minutes.

    From a cold start to very warm rads I would say 20 minutes.

    We were warned by the shop and by the paperwork with the stove not to use coke or other such coals, ie only use smokeless.

    My brother and father-in-law think this is a bit of a joke but at the moment unsure. They reckon the grate will melt either way and not to be too concerned with it. What do you think yourself?

    We have burned turf, blocks, pallets and smokeless coal and all are good. I prefer the wood just to look at the flame. ( and the fact it's free :D )

    Roll on the snow :)

    Torres


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 52 ✭✭torres3011


    DizzyOC wrote: »
    Have mine in since saturday - delighted with it! Good job - looks great!


    Thanks Dizzy :D

    Hope you get the smoking sorted out.

    Could be just theething problems.

    Cheers

    Torres


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29 Countryboymike


    I have just got the offer of a German made stove called the Victoria 25KW.The guy just said it can do up to 18 Rads .I tried to google some info but could not find anything .Does anybody know anything about these Stoves guys.:confused:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 55 ✭✭DizzyOC


    legrand wrote: »
    Hi


    Just a general observation - if you look at UK based Websites they, for the most part provide pricing against their stove products.

    Conversely if you look at Irish web sites practically none (save where they may have promotion/discount offers) show prices stating POA etc. It's a real drag.

    Also, not withstanding Sterling/UK currency and VAT differences - my guesstimate is that here in good old Eireee we're still paying somewhere between 25% and 30% more than UK:mad:

    I hear ye... it's the same on recruitment websites - employers here *never* give a salary... in Britain there will always be a ballpark figure.
    The man here wants to get a look at you to see how much he can shhcalp off ye first.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,081 ✭✭✭Stove Fan


    torres3011 wrote: »
    As the pipes are not boxed off at the side just now it means that I can feel when they get hot and use this as my q to tun on the pump.

    I use sticks (pallets from work) as a kindling to get a good flame going and i would say the pump is on within ten minutes.

    From a cold start to very warm rads I would say 20 minutes.

    We were warned by the shop and by the paperwork with the stove not to use coke or other such coals, ie only use smokeless.

    My brother and father-in-law think this is a bit of a joke but at the moment unsure. They reckon the grate will melt either way and not to be too concerned with it. What do you think yourself?

    We have burned turf, blocks, pallets and smokeless coal and all are good. I prefer the wood just to look at the flame. ( and the fact it's free :D )

    Roll on the snow :)

    Torres

    Hi it sounds as if the quick heat up claims are true:D as ours heats the domestic hot water for around 15-40 minutes depending on how hot the water is and then the pump comes on fully by the pipe stat.
    It takes around 45minutes to 90 minutes to heat all the rads depending on how hot the water in the DHW cylinder is.

    I would strongly advice you to fit a pipe stat as without one if there was ever a problem with the stove the manufacturer would say its not installed to their instructions.

    The reason you have a pipe stat is that it prevents too cool water circulating around the stoves boiler, you get condensation on the outside of the boiler in the stove which causes rust and shortens the life of the boiler. There have been cases on some stoves boilers only lasting 4 years because of this.

    The pipe stat is great as you can't forget to switch the pump on!!! The pipe stat switches the pump on and off automatically. Set it above 40 degrees. A friend many years ago apparantly forgot to switch the pump on for her boiler stove and she flooded the place as the solder ring pipe fittings melted with the extreme heat:eek:!!

    I would strongly advice only to burn smokeless fuel and not fuels like polish coal. It gets very hot and could damage the stove by overheating the metal.

    We have burn premium polish coal on ours but it's very dirty:eek: I think as smokeless lasts longer it's better value and so much cleaner. We have Had no trouble with our stove burning coal but wouldnt risk nackering a new stove. We are always by the stove so never let it get out of control. If the boiler or stove warps/splits the manufacturer wouldn't pay out. Our manufacturer also says not to burn house coal and only smokeless. When we run out of coal were going to use smokeless.

    Stove Fan:)


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,081 ✭✭✭Stove Fan


    legrand wrote: »
    Hi


    Just a general observation - if you look at UK based Websites they, for the most part provide pricing against their stove products.

    Conversely if you look at Irish web sites practically none (save where they may have promotion/discount offers) show prices stating POA etc. It's a real drag.

    Also, not withstanding Sterling/UK currency and VAT differences - my guesstimate is that here in good old Eireee we're still paying somewhere between 25% and 30% more than UK:mad:

    Hi, I know what you mean:rolleyes: This is why I bought my boiler stove from the UK. Some dealers charge a very minimal delivery charge to Eire. The best thing is they will also price match if you have seen the stove cheaper somewhere else.

    Even with the delivery charge I saved 250 euro on my stove:D I would love to keep my money in Ireland but until they get realistic I would always compare prices and if cheaper buy in the UK.

    Stove Fan:)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 166 ✭✭about2build


    Which dealer delivers for free stove fan???! PM if necessary. I got quoted a 65 euro delivery from uk which isnt bad but still free would be better!!! that is if they have what im looking for :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 120 ✭✭theduke1


    Which dealer delivers for free stove fan???! PM if necessary. I got quoted a 65 euro delivery from uk which isnt bad but still free would be better!!! that is if they have what im looking for :)


    pm me too stove fan


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,081 ✭✭✭Stove Fan


    I have sent you both a PM:) It wasnt totally free but very reasonable.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,081 ✭✭✭Stove Fan


    I have just got the offer of a German made stove called the Victoria 25KW.The guy just said it can do up to 18 Rads .I tried to google some info but could not find anything .Does anybody know anything about these Stoves guys.:confused:

    I have looked too and found nothing:( I may be wrong but is it a cheap Chinese import? It really depends on price. A good brand stove could cost around 100 euro a kw.

    Most good manufacturers have their own website with their own product range.

    Ask for the phone number of the stove manufacturers and ask them what the address is of the manufacturers:D.

    Ignore the salesmans claim it will heat 18 rads:( Get a plumber in to calculate the load on the boiler and choose a stove that suits.

    Stove Fan:)


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,806 ✭✭✭D1stant


    Great thread!

    I am building an extension to my very old semiD. It currently has storage heating and a G BER rating. Im burning coial like a steam train and the house is of course still freezing

    The rough plan (I am a novice) is to insulate the house up to an BER A or beyond spec, have solar panels for hot water (and possibly rads?) plus gas and wood/combi boilers on the same zoned system. I was looking at a Boru Carraig Mor 30kW combi boiler today

    The space the boiler is in is 15sqm, but can open (sliding panels) onto the kitchen which is 30sqm - so I would like a fair bit of heat coming from the boiler when needed and be able to control what percentage of the energy goes towards heating water versus room if possible.

    The boiler flue will go up 2 storeys as there is a void above where I want to put it (onto existing gable wall) so heat would rise upwards and heat the hall & bedrooms upstairs also

    We will have 10 double rads in the house if I go conventional OR 8 doubles + underfloor heating in the extension downstairs

    So questions and thanks in advance for your replies

    1. Is underfloor really worth it for the 45sqm part - I would still have to install the 8 rads and it might be more expensive to mix the techniques or have other knock ons

    2. Can I vary where the Boru sends the energy (to room or boiler)

    3. Is the Boru sufficient for what I am trying to do

    4. Do I need to ventialte the boiler in any special way as I am going towards airtighness in the house

    5. Is there a maximum distance I should be between the boiler and the water tank

    6. Any concerns with running the flue straight up 2 storeys?

    7. I am a little worried that Boru are not field proven yet. I'd like to buy Irish but if people have suggestions on other brands Id appreciate

    Thanks


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,081 ✭✭✭Stove Fan


    D1stant wrote: »
    Great thread!

    I am building an extension to my very old semiD. It currently has storage heating and a G BER rating. Im burning coial like a steam train and the house is of course still freezing

    The rough plan (I am a novice) is to insulate the house up to an BER A or beyond spec, have solar panels for hot water (and possibly rads?) plus gas and wood/combi boilers on the same zoned system. I was looking at a Boru Carraig Mor 30kW combi boiler today

    The space the boiler is in is 15sqm, but can open (sliding panels) onto the kitchen which is 30sqm - so I would like a fair bit of heat coming from the boiler when needed and be able to control what percentage of the energy goes towards heating water versus room if possible.

    The boiler flue will go up 2 storeys as there is a void above where I want to put it (onto existing gable wall) so heat would rise upwards and heat the hall & bedrooms upstairs also

    We will have 10 double rads in the house if I go conventional OR 8 doubles + underfloor heating in the extension downstairs

    So questions and thanks in advance for your replies

    1. Is underfloor really worth it for the 45sqm part - I would still have to install the 8 rads and it might be more expensive to mix the techniques or have other knock ons

    2. Can I vary where the Boru sends the energy (to room or boiler)

    3. Is the Boru sufficient for what I am trying to do

    4. Do I need to ventialte the boiler in any special way as I am going towards airtighness in the house

    5. Is there a maximum distance I should be between the boiler and the water tank

    6. Any concerns with running the flue straight up 2 storeys?

    7. I am a little worried that Boru are not field proven yet. I'd like to buy Irish but if people have suggestions on other brands Id appreciate

    Thanks

    Hi:) If it was my house I would install a boiler stove heating only rads throughout. The rads simplify the system. I would buy a triple coil cylinder or use a systemlink to link in the three heat sources. Ie boiler stove, gas boiler and solar panels. I would buy a traditional open vented regular condensing gas boiler and not combi or sytem.

    This would be the cheapest way of installing the system. You could also link all three with a thermal store but they are more expensive. The system link or triple coil cylinder would be the cheaper way. I favour the systemlink as it has zoning options built in. The thermal store is very expensive but good as there is very little heat loss from it.
    http://www.systemlink.ie/

    The boiler stove would fit in the existing fireplace and gas boiler anywhere on or near an external wall. It's best for the boiler stove and hot water cylinder to be above the stove upstairs.

    2&3) No, you need to have your rooms heat losses calculated with the new proposed insulation levels first as this will determine what size boiler stove is needed to:
    A) Heat the Kitchen and living room. (Directly from stove)
    B) The back boiler size to heat all the rads.
    I would install rads in the kitchen and living room anyway for when the stove isn't lit. Definately install these rads with thermostatic rad valves.
    The gas boiler sized to heat the whole system.

    4) Yes definately. Your stove installer will advice. You can get freestanding boiler stoves with an external air kit. This would be best if your house is very airtight. There are very few inset boiler stoves with external air kit.

    5) I would have the cylinder upstairs above the boiler stove. I would say 5m max. The less pipework linking to the systemlink or cylinder from the boilers the more efficient the system is.

    6)Which flue would this be? Is it for the stove? Is there a chimney in the house already? If there is, the boiler stove could use this chimney once lined. The gas boiler would be balanced flue with a small round outlet terminal on the wall.

    7) There are many brands, but until we know the total required output I can't advice on which stove would be best.

    I would get a heating expert in to calculate the required loads with the new levels of insulation on the boilers and then get quotes in based on these facts:).

    Woodwarm, Morso, Charnwood, Clearview are all excellent.

    Other makes are: Arrow, Hunter, Stovax, Dunsley. As well as Irish brands.

    Stove Fan.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,806 ✭✭✭D1stant


    Stove Fan wrote: »


    Thanks for the advice Stove Fan


    Hi:) If it was my house I would install a boiler stove heating only rads throughout. The rads simplify the system.

    Yep - I was coming to the same conclusion

    I would buy a triple coil cylinder or use a systemlink to link in the three heat sources. Ie boiler stove, gas boiler and solar panels. I would buy a traditional open vented regular condensing gas boiler and not combi or sytem. This would be the cheapest way of installing the system. You could also link all three with a thermal store but they are more expensive. The system link or triple coil cylinder would be the cheaper way. I favour the systemlink as it has zoning options built in. The thermal store is very expensive but good as there is very little heat loss from it.
    http://www.systemlink.ie/


    So I cant turn off zones with a triple coil cylinder but I can with a system link? Any idea on the rough systemlink total cost (unit, installation, plumbing)

    The boiler stove would fit in the existing fireplace and gas boiler anywhere on or near an external wall. It's best for the boiler stove and hot water cylinder to be above the stove upstairs.

    The Gas and stove boilers will be dowstairs and hot water tank upstairs about 4m and 9m away resp.

    2&3) No, you need to have your rooms heat losses calculated with the new proposed insulation levels first as this will determine what size boiler stove is needed to:
    A) Heat the Kitchen and living room. (Directly from stove)
    B) The back boiler size to heat all the rads.
    I would install rads in the kitchen and living room anyway for when the stove isn't lit. Definately install these rads with thermostatic rad valves.
    The gas boiler sized to heat the whole system.

    Makes sense - so no stove boiler allows you to mix where heat is directed between room and water?

    4) Yes definately. Your stove installer will advice. You can get freestanding boiler stoves with an external air kit. This would be best if your house is very airtight. There are very few inset boiler stoves with external air kit.

    5) I would have the cylinder upstairs above the boiler stove. I would say 5m max. The less pipework linking to the systemlink or cylinder from the boilers the more efficient the system is.

    Im looking at about 9m. Is this a big thing in terms of efficeincy if the pipes are well insulated?

    6)Which flue would this be? Is it for the stove? Is there a chimney in the house already? If there is, the boiler stove could use this chimney once lined. The gas boiler would be balanced flue with a small round outlet terminal on the wall.

    The stove boiler flue will go up 2 storey through a void. I am not considering putting the stove in an existing chimney at the moment

    7) There are many brands, but until we know the total required output I can't advice on which stove would be best.

    I would get a heating expert in to calculate the required loads with the new levels of insulation on the boilers and then get quotes in based on these facts:).

    So insulate and put in Gas boiler first then decide on stove boiler make and spec?

    Woodwarm, Morso, Charnwood, Clearview are all excellent.

    Other makes are: Arrow, Hunter, Stovax, Dunsley. As well as Irish brands.

    Stove Fan.

    Thanks again


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,081 ✭✭✭Stove Fan


    Originally Posted by Stove Fan viewpost.gif


    Thanks for the advice Stove Fan
    Your welcome:)

    Hismile.gif If it was my house I would install a boiler stove heating only rads throughout. The rads simplify the system.

    Yep - I was coming to the same conclusion

    I would buy a triple coil cylinder or use a systemlink to link in the three heat sources. Ie boiler stove, gas boiler and solar panels. I would buy a traditional open vented regular condensing gas boiler and not combi or sytem. This would be the cheapest way of installing the system. You could also link all three with a thermal store but they are more expensive. The system link or triple coil cylinder would be the cheaper way. I favour the systemlink as it has zoning options built in. The thermal store is very expensive but good as there is very little heat loss from it.
    http://www.systemlink.ie/


    So I cant turn off zones with a triple coil cylinder but I can with a system link? Any idea on the rough systemlink total cost (unit, installation, plumbing)
    You can if you fit seperate zone valves to the various radiator circuits. It's normal to have 3 zones. Upstairs/Downstairs and Domestic Hot water. You can have more zones if wanted. The system link would look neater and save time. No idea as to cost:(
    The boiler stove would fit in the existing fireplace and gas boiler anywhere on or near an external wall. It's best for the boiler stove and hot water cylinder to be above the stove upstairs.

    The Gas and stove boilers will be dowstairs and hot water tank upstairs about 4m and 9m away resp. Ideally you want the hot water cylinder nearest to the boiler stove. Your plumber will check your location to see if it's suitable. 9m is too far really to allow gravity circulation.

    2&3) No, you need to have your rooms heat losses calculated with the new proposed insulation levels first as this will determine what size boiler stove is needed to:
    A) Heat the Kitchen and living room. (Directly from stove)
    B) The back boiler size to heat all the rads.
    I would install rads in the kitchen and living room anyway for when the stove isn't lit. Definately install these rads with thermostatic rad valves.
    The gas boiler sized to heat the whole system.

    Makes sense - so no stove boiler allows you to mix where heat is directed between room and water? No, you can only buy a boilerstove with different room outputs and boiler outputs Generally 30% to room and 70% to boiler. This is why choosing a boiler stove has to be sized correctly for your home. If the room output is too high, hence too hot in the room with stove you would close the fire up and so your rads wouldnt be heating to the required temp.

    4) Yes definately. Your stove installer will advice. You can get freestanding boiler stoves with an external air kit. This would be best if your house is very airtight. There are very few inset boiler stoves with external air kit.

    5) I would have the cylinder upstairs above the boiler stove. I would say 5m max. The less pipework linking to the systemlink or cylinder from the boilers the more efficient the system is.

    Im looking at about 9m. Is this a big thing in terms of efficeincy if the pipes are well insulated?

    See previous.

    6)Which flue would this be? Is it for the stove? Is there a chimney in the house already? If there is, the boiler stove could use this chimney once lined. The gas boiler would be balanced flue with a small round outlet terminal on the wall.

    The stove boiler flue will go up 2 storey through a void. I am not considering putting the stove in an existing chimney at the moment

    Yes this is possible to create a new chimney by using a twin wall insulated chimney but far more expensive than using an existing chimney. It must be installed to the flue pipe manufacturers instructions.


    7) There are many brands, but until we know the total required output I can't advice on which stove would be best.

    I would get a heating expert in to calculate the required loads with the new levels of insulation on the boilers and then get quotes in based on these factssmile.gif.

    So insulate and put in Gas boiler first then decide on stove boiler make and spec? Yes, you could do that first, or do both together, it's really up to you and of course budget. If the budget is tight install gas first. I presume piped natural gas? If this is the case the gas will be cheaper to run than a boiler stove if paying top prices for fuel. If this is the case consider a non boiler stove:). Save on expensive plumbing but still gives heat to main rooms. You could still have domestic hot water only from it. If using tank LPG gas the boiler stove would be cheaper to run.


    Stove Fan:)


    Woodwarm, Morso, Charnwood, Clearview are all excellent.

    Other makes are: Arrow, Hunter, Stovax, Dunsley. As well as Irish brands.

    Stove Fan.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 688 ✭✭✭legrand


    Hello Stove Fan

    Have been following this thread with keen interest as currently shopping for multi-fuel stove (~6Kw). Like many others hoping you can offer some advise here :)

    We did the house up some years back and relocated the kitchen. We moved the aga to this new kitchen area. Where the aga was we now have an opening in readiness for a stove (or indeed regular fire place).

    In a thread above you mentioned a flue may need to lined - in the context of former use of this flue (where aga used to heat water and some rads) does a flue need to be lined for regular stove use or would a 'regular' flue be okay?

    I see also that you recommend some manufacturers above -any thoughts in the Dovre range (I was looking at the Dovre 250 or 425).

    incidentally, if a stove is (say) rated at 8Kw - is that an average figure or something that is only achieved after a couple of hours at max burn?

    Final question (is there such a thing? ;) ) Current opening is lined with plasterboard which in itself has default fire rating. At this time I'm probably looking at a clearance of ~150mm either side of a stove. Would I need to add fire-board or would current plaster board be sufficient?

    Many thanks for any advise given.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,081 ✭✭✭Stove Fan


    :)
    legrand wrote: »
    Hello Stove Fan

    Have been following this thread with keen interest as currently shopping for multi-fuel stove (~6Kw). Like many others hoping you can offer some advise here :)

    We did the house up some years back and relocated the kitchen. We moved the aga to this new kitchen area. Where the aga was we now have an opening in readiness for a stove (or indeed regular fire place).

    In a thread above you mentioned a flue may need to lined - in the context of former use of this flue (where aga used to heat water and some rads) does a flue need to be lined for regular stove use or would a 'regular' flue be okay?

    I see also that you recommend some manufacturers above -any thoughts in the Dovre range (I was looking at the Dovre 250 or 425).

    incidentally, if a stove is (say) rated at 8Kw - is that an average figure or something that is only achieved after a couple of hours at max burn?

    Final question (is there such a thing? ;) ) Current opening is lined with plasterboard which in itself has default fire rating. At this time I'm probably looking at a clearance of ~150mm either side of a stove. Would I need to add fire-board or would current plaster board be sufficient?

    Many thanks for any advise given.

    Hi:) With regards to the flue it depends whether its clay lined or not. If the aga was gas/oil fired it may have a stainless steel liner already but its unlikely that this would be a solid fuel grade liner. You get liners suitable for gas/oil and Gas/ oil and solid fuel. A picture up the chimney would be great:)

    I have no experience of the dove range but you could look at reviews here by owners. http://www.whatstove.co.uk/reviews/stoves/stove-reviews/_c34.html
    The ratings are not accurate.http://www.stovesonline.co.uk/stove-heat-outputs.html
    I would of thought the outputs quoted would be the maximum:confused:

    If it's a decent manufacturer you could check the HETAS website. This gives efficiency figures and the refuel periods and heat outputs. Click each stove your interested in:)
    http://www.hetas.co.uk//appliance/search?manu=--select--&app_type=--select--&model=&fuel_type=--select--&eff=&submit=Search
    Not every stove is listed as it hasn't been tested by hetas.

    The plasterboard would have to be removed as it's not completely fireproof. You would need something like monolux or supalux or vermiculite board to line the opening out. You could just use sand and cement direct to the wall and plaster it although the heat may crack the plaster. This would be much cheaper.

    Stove Fan:)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 89 ✭✭doniepony


    Stovefan

    I have been advised that with stoves that a straight flue is better but unfortunately this will not be possible with my new build as I would end up with very tall chimney stacks-this will look awful (and would not be condusive to my planning). I will therefore have to have have a turn in my flue-is this a problem do you think? Is there anything I should be telling the builder to do to make things work effectively in the long run.

    Also, the builder was asking me today about the size of the clay pots to use in the flue-I understand that an 8" is standard and I can use connectors to tie it onto the stove. At present I am looking at the charnwood Island 1 (think 8" is right here as there is a 6/8" connector). I will not be putting a stove in one room for considerable while (due to budget) so would 8" pots be the safest option here.

    Thanks again


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,081 ✭✭✭Stove Fan


    :)
    doniepony wrote: »
    Stovefan

    I have been advised that with stoves that a straight flue is better but unfortunately this will not be possible with my new build as I would end up with very tall chimney stacks-this will look awful (and would not be condusive to my planning). I will therefore have to have have a turn in my flue-is this a problem do you think? Is there anything I should be telling the builder to do to make things work effectively in the long run.

    Also, the builder was asking me today about the size of the clay pots to use in the flue-I understand that an 8" is standard and I can use connectors to tie it onto the stove. At present I am looking at the charnwood Island 1 (think 8" is right here as there is a 6/8" connector). I will not be putting a stove in one room for considerable while (due to budget) so would 8" pots be the safest option here.

    Thanks again

    Hi:) Yes the 8inch clay pots would be the best and is standard for an open fire. 8inch being the minimum size for an open fire. For your stove to connect into the clay lined pots you can as you say buy a clay liner adapter to go from the stoves outlet size to the 8 inch clay pots. This adapter is very important as it keeps tar/ condensation inside the flue to evaporate away safely.

    If your chimney with the clay pots needs to change direction, ie needs to use a bend in the flue use the least tight bend as possible ie 15 or 30 degree at the most. It's fine to have a 15 or 30 degree bend with clay pots between each bend to get away from any obstacle. This is providing your chimney is wide enough to accommodate this.
    The more vertical though the better:) This will make any future liner in an easy job to lower down.
    The charnwood Island is a fab stove:D

    Stove Fan:)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8 Valleys


    Hi Stove fan
    I wonder could you give some advise to me please, I have recently had a inset stovax studio2 installed in a false chimney. What should the false chimney be slabbed up with, what type of boards? Also should a single or twin wall flue be used? The stove is 2 feet off the ground and the flue is going approx 8.5 feet to before it turns at a 45 degree angle
    Thanks in advance


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,081 ✭✭✭Stove Fan


    Valleys wrote: »
    Hi Stove fan
    I wonder could you give some advise to me please, I have recently had a inset stovax studio2 installed in a false chimney. What should the false chimney be slabbed up with, what type of boards? Also should a single or twin wall flue be used? The stove is 2 feet off the ground and the flue is going approx 8.5 feet to before it turns at a 45 degree angle
    Thanks in advance

    Hi:)

    The false chimney breast should be built out of non combustible materials. If it was me building it the chimney breast framework would be the metal stud railling system and then clad in monolux/supalux/scamolex or vermiculite board. I don't think the pink fireproof plasterboard would be suitable as it's paper lined?

    The chimney to the inset fire would be all twin wall insulated. The inset stove itself supported on concrete blocks.

    I have only built one false chimneybreast but the base and closure plate was all concrete block and cast concrete. The top being metal rail and plasterboard. The chimney exited out through the wall below the cast concrete closure plate so the plasterboard was well away from the heat source.

    Stove Fan:)


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 166 ✭✭about2build


    Hi Stovefan and everyone else!!
    Looks like my decision is between the Esse 350 GS and the Mulberry stoker...both provide what i was looking for i.e. insert, back boiler and with an external air supply (mvhr friendly)....any thoughts on either....the mulberry looks better on the eye and also has convection heating to the room whichmight sway the decision


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6 DaisyBeeton


    Hello Stove Fan, or anyone who can help, please,

    I would greatly appreciate your superb, expert advice, please.
    I am really at my wit's end with a new build with my heating system. I have had three plumbers look at the problems and each one is contradictating the other and having conflicting solutions. I contacted the manufactuers as well, who told me have a plumber look at it - a 4th one??!
    I am so confused now that I don't know where to turn, or what to do.

    I have a Hamco Glenmore 30B Boiler Stove. It is supposed to offer 23 KWs to the water and "service the largest of homes and the most demanding of central heating requirements". But, it won't even heat 8 double rads for me! My new build house is 3,300 sq feet, with excellent insulation.

    I have oil central heating with a Firebird Boiler C44. The back boiler stove was an after thought. It is located in a recessed inglenook style fireplace, (see the photo of the location that I have attached, please), with 8" clay flue pipes, with a 30 degree bend on it, through masonry wall. The room is an open plan area of 25' X 20', with 8' ceilings, with excellent insulation.

    But, the stove/plumbing system aren't heating my rads. The upper inch or so of the rads gets bearly luke warm, while the rest of the rad remains ice cold. This is in spite of a coal fire for 10 or 11 hours a day. The water in the taps is steaming hot and even the skim on the wall where the clay pipe is passing through, above the mantle beam, has a single crack on it (another upset), so there seems to be massive heat being emitted from the stove itself.

    I have attached a photo of the stove's enamel flue pipe attached to a stainless adapator, which in turn is attached to the clay liners. Should this adapator be clay too, to suit the clay liner? Is this why the clay liner seems to be absorbing so much heat from the stainless adapator, which might have caused the crack on the wall, above the mantle beam?

    There are four pipes at the back of the stove, but only two are connected. Only 1 out of the 3 plumbers said that the 4 pipes should be connected. The other said that 4 pipes won't make any dramatic difference. The pump and stat are located on the opposite side of the masonry wall immediately behind the stove, I attached a photo of this too.

    The stat is set at 50 degress, but the pump only comes on for two minutes, every 10 minutes, regardless of whether I burn turf, wood, or coal, for 10 hours a day. Surely it should remain on for longer than just 2 minutes. Is the stat located on the correct pipe? One plumber moved it to vertical pipe and then the 2nd plumber came and put it back on the horizontal pipe again! It didn't seem to make any difference.

    I have 15 double rads installed and there are 6 more yet to be installed (3 cast iron Victorian style rads - totalling 18,300 BTUs and 3 towel rails, totalling 10,100 BTUs.

    The 15 rads that are presently installed comprise of:-
    2 X (1600mm wide x 500mm high), double
    1 X (1400mm wide x 500mm high), double
    1 X (1300mm wide x 500mm high), double
    4 X (1000mm wide x 500mm high), double
    3 X (800mm wide x 500mm high), double
    4 X (500mm wide x 500mm high), double.

    I know that this is a very high demand on the stove, so I tried to reduce the load on it by closing down 7 of those rads, which left just 8 double rads to be heated, but there wasn't any big difference in the temp of the rads - still just bearly lukewarm on the top area.

    I have a 300 litre triple coil, unvented Joule cylinder in the hotpress if that information is needed.

    I would be grateful for any advice, please.

    Thanks a million for your time.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,081 ✭✭✭Stove Fan


    Hi Stovefan and everyone else!!
    Looks like my decision is between the Esse 350 GS and the Mulberry stoker...both provide what i was looking for i.e. insert, back boiler and with an external air supply (mvhr friendly)....any thoughts on either....the mulberry looks better on the eye and also has convection heating to the room whichmight sway the decision

    I have never seen these stoves to judge their quality so can't say which is better:( Personal choice is the thing:)

    Stove Fan:)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,081 ✭✭✭Stove Fan


    Hello Stove Fan, or anyone who can help, please,

    Hi:) I have had a look!!

    I would greatly appreciate your superb, expert advice, please.
    I am really at my wit's end with a new build with my heating system. I have had three plumbers look at the problems and each one is contradictating the other and having conflicting solutions. I contacted the manufactuers as well, who told me have a plumber look at it - a 4th one??!
    I am so confused now that I don't know where to turn, or what to do.

    I have a Hamco Glenmore 30B Boiler Stove. It is supposed to offer 23 KWs to the water and "service the largest of homes and the most demanding of central heating requirements". But, it won't even heat 8 double rads for me! My new build house is 3,300 sq feet, with excellent insulation.

    I have calculated you need 23kw just to heat your 15 double rads plus 9kw to heat the new rads to be installed:eek:. Then there is the heat needed to heat the hot water cylinder although this would heat up first with solid fuel and sounds like it's working.
    Too me the boiler stove just wouldn't be big enough as it's at it's maximum load already with the 15 rads. You would need to keep shovelling in coal to keep this heated.
    It should certainly run around half of the 15 rads. Have the oil heating on and then once the fire has been going switch off the oil heating. Try only having the first 5 rads on.
    How is the draw on the chimney? Does the thermostat work on the back of the stove?
    You can test this when the fire is lit by turning the thermostat knob down to it's lowest setting. The flames should subside and fire should slumber, conversly on the highest setting the fire should be very lively with plenty of flames until the temperature setting is satisfied by the stoves thermostat.
    Always set the thermostat on the stove on position 9 when lighting and turn down once rads and room are hot enough. The fire would need to blazing to get the rads hot for at least 90 minutes.
    The crack in the plaster is unusual unless it hadn't set before the fire was lit. Is the baffle plate correctly fitted in the stove? Follow baffle plate installation in the stoves user instructions if the stove has a baffle plate.
    On the plumbing photo with the pipe thermostat try moving it to the vertical position onto the left vertical pipe and set it to 43 degrees. There should be an injector tee fitted inside the compression tee on the compression tee fitting to the right of the pump
    These vertical pipes on the left of the photo do they connect to the hot water cylinder in the hotpress? On the pipework to the cylinder from the stove is there any valve on the return from the cylinder? A photo would help massively here:)
    On your pipes connected to your boiler stove it's only using the side outlets and not crossflowed. The bottom pipe should connect to the other bottom connection, so you have the pipe connections diagonally opposite.

    [/COLOR]I have oil central heating with a Firebird Boiler C44. The back boiler stove was an after thought. It is located in a recessed inglenook style fireplace, (see the photo of the location that I have attached, please), with 8" clay flue pipes, with a 30 degree bend on it, through masonry wall. The room is an open plan area of 25' X 20', with 8' ceilings, with excellent insulation.

    But, the stove/plumbing system aren't heating my rads. The upper inch or so of the rads gets bearly luke warm, while the rest of the rad remains ice cold. This is in spite of a coal fire for 10 or 11 hours a day. The water in the taps is steaming hot and even the skim on the wall where the clay pipe is passing through, above the mantle beam, has a single crack on it (another upset), so there seems to be massive heat being emitted from the stove itself.

    I have attached a photo of the stove's enamel flue pipe attached to a stainless adapator, which in turn is attached to the clay liners. Should this adapator be clay too, to suit the clay liner? Is this why the clay liner seems to be absorbing so much heat from the stainless adapator, which might have caused the crack on the wall, above the mantle beam?

    No this is fine in steel, but the wood should be removed!! Too close to the flue pipe.

    [/COLOR]There are four pipes at the back of the stove, but only two are connected. Only 1 out of the 3 plumbers said that the 4 pipes should be connected. The other said that 4 pipes won't make any dramatic difference. The pump and stat are located on the opposite side of the masonry wall immediately behind the stove, I attached a photo of this too.

    Only using two pipes is ok so long as the pipes are diagonally crossflowed. Some manufacturers state to link each of the 2 flows and two returns together.

    The stat is set at 50 degress, but the pump only comes on for two minutes, every 10 minutes, regardless of whether I burn turf, wood, or coal, for 10 hours a day. Surely it should remain on for longer than just 2 minutes. Is the stat located on the correct pipe? One plumber moved it to vertical pipe and then the 2nd plumber came and put it back on the horizontal pipe again! It didn't seem to make any difference.

    Set this to 43 degrees after moving to the left vertical pipe. What coal are you using? Is the wood well dry?

    [/COLOR]I have 15 double rads installed and there are 6 more yet to be installed (3 cast iron Victorian style rads - totalling 18,300 BTUs and 3 towel rails, totalling 10,100 BTUs.

    The 15 rads that are presently installed comprise of:-
    2 X (1600mm wide x 500mm high), double
    1 X (1400mm wide x 500mm high), double
    1 X (1300mm wide x 500mm high), double
    4 X (1000mm wide x 500mm high), double
    3 X (800mm wide x 500mm high), double
    4 X (500mm wide x 500mm high), double.

    I know that this is a very high demand on the stove, so I tried to reduce the load on it by closing down 7 of those rads, which left just 8 double rads to be heated, but there wasn't any big difference in the temp of the rads - still just bearly lukewarm on the top area.

    I have a 300 litre triple coil, unvented Joule cylinder in the hotpress if that information is needed.

    I would be grateful for any advice, please.

    Thanks a million for your time.

    Stove Fan:)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6 DaisyBeeton


    Hi Stove Fan,
    Thank you ever so much for taking the time to reply and help me. I really appreciate it.

    You suggested changing the stove's own thermostat. I have tried this, but it had no effect whatsoever on the flames or fire. So, I dismissed that a long time ago.

    It's just the top inch of the rads that get luke warm, the rest remain cold. This is still the scenario even when I close off the upstairs rads, which leaves me with 8 doubles to be heated and the stove cant even manage that quantity on a bucket of coal every hour! The expense of it and absolutely no benefit for it. I am so disappointed with the stove's pathetic performance.

    The baffle plate seems to be fitted correctly. There isn't even a reference to it in the Manufactuer's Manual. But, it seems that it can only sit one way on the lips.

    Yes, the vertical pipes to the left of the pump photo do connect to the hot water cylinder in the hotpress. Yes, there is a gate valve on the return from the cylinder, which one plumber set it half open, and another plumber closed it almost completely, just left it open enough to let a trickle of water through, apparently. Which way would work best, in your opinion, please?

    I will need to get the pipes crossflowed alright at the back. I suggested that to each plumber that arrived ( as I tried to do my own research beforehand), but each thought that it wouldn't make all that much of a dramatic difference.

    Your suggestion about putting an injector tee inside the compression tee fitting to the right of the pump - is that to trigger the pump to come on more frequently?

    I burn Polish coal. I know you have recommendated to burn Smokless coal in your previous posts, but it's just I had the Polish coal bought already. There is a very strong draw on the chimney, which made me wonder if fitting a damper on the base of the upright flue out of the stove would help to retain some more of the heat in the stove body, maybe?

    What would your opinion be of my theory for the vertical crack over mantel - since the chimney has such a big draw, there seems to be raging heat travelling up through clay flues which seem to absorb and soak this heat behind the masonry and consequently crack the skim. The crack continues onto the overhead wall upstairs, in a vertical line as if following the clay flue.

    I thought that a twin wall insulated flue would help to retain the heat within the clay liner and not allow it radiate out into the surrounding lime mortar and masonry, but, I was told it's not an option for me to line the existing clay liners with an insulated flue now, because apart from it narrowing the stove's flue diameter, it would also be physically impossible to fit the twin wall up into the existing liners.

    Would the regular, solid fuel, flexi flue liner be of any benefit in retaining the heat within the clay liners, or is it, in itself, a conductor of heat?
    Yes, it sounds like the plaster wasn't dry alright, but the baffling thing is that the plaster was dried out for over two years before the stove was lite. Plus, I slowly tempered the stove by gradually burning small fires in it when I first lite it, for the first 3 or 4 days, so it wasn't as if I lite a raging lite in a cold new house. So, it's a very difficult situation.

    Thank you vey much.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,081 ✭✭✭Stove Fan


    Hi Stove Fan,
    Thank you ever so much for taking the time to reply and help me. I really appreciate it.
    No problem, If I can help I will:)

    You suggested changing the stove's own thermostat. I have tried this, but it had no effect whatsoever on the flames or fire. So, I dismissed that a long time ago.
    It sounds very much like the stoves thermostat isn't functioning, the control knob marked up to 9:rolleyes: This would make a big difference as the stoves thermostat regulates the fires burn rate by controlling the air supply to the fire. I would try to get the manufacturer to visit as the stove should heat at the very least 5 double rads.

    It's just the top inch of the rads that get luke warm, the rest remain cold. This is still the scenario even when I close off the upstairs rads, which leaves me with 8 doubles to be heated and the stove cant even manage that quantity on a bucket of coal every hour! The expense of it and absolutely no benefit for it. I am so disappointed with the stove's pathetic performance.

    A bucket of coal an hour is a lot of coal for no rad heat:(

    The baffle plate seems to be fitted correctly. There isn't even a reference to it in the Manufactuer's Manual. But, it seems that it can only sit one way on the lips.

    There may not be a baffle because the boiler itself forms one.

    Yes, the vertical pipes to the left of the pump photo do connect to the hot water cylinder in the hotpress. Yes, there is a gate valve on the return from the cylinder, which one plumber set it half open, and another plumber closed it almost completely, just left it open enough to let a trickle of water through, apparently. Which way would work best, in your opinion, please?

    I would say the latter, open a bit. Also move the electrically operated pipe stat above pump to the far left vertical pipe and set it slightly above 40 degrees on the dial.

    I will need to get the pipes crossflowed alright at the back. I suggested that to each plumber that arrived ( as I tried to do my own research beforehand), but each thought that it wouldn't make all that much of a dramatic difference.

    Crossflowing will help as it's a combination of factors that can affect performance.

    Your suggestion about putting an injector tee inside the compression tee fitting to the right of the pump - is that to trigger the pump to come on more frequently?

    No, The injector tee is always mentioned to fit in any boiler stove circuit using a 2 pipe system like yours. I'm not fully sure why it should be fitted, but from a guess/looks yours may not have one.

    I burn Polish coal. I know you have recommendated to burn Smokless coal in your previous posts, but it's just I had the Polish coal bought already. There is a very strong draw on the chimney, which made me wonder if fitting a damper on the base of the upright flue out of the stove would help to retain some more of the heat in the stove body, maybe?

    Polish coal burns very hot and your main problem could well be the excessive draw on the chimney. Fitting a draught stabilizer or a damper may well help, This stabiliser needs to be installed by a competent stove installer as your air supply may need to be enlarged. Also check the stoves door seals to make sure they seal well. It looks as if most of the heat isn't being transfered to the boiler rather the chimney.


    What would your opinion be of my theory for the vertical crack over mantel - since the chimney has such a big draw, there seems to be raging heat travelling up through clay flues which seem to absorb and soak this heat behind the masonry and consequently crack the skim. The crack continues onto the overhead wall upstairs, in a vertical line as if following the clay flue.

    This needs investigating to make sure its only the plaster that has cracked.

    I thought that a twin wall insulated flue would help to retain the heat within the clay liner and not allow it radiate out into the surrounding lime mortar and masonry, but, I was told it's not an option for me to line the existing clay liners with an insulated flue now, because apart from it narrowing the stove's flue diameter, it would also be physically impossible to fit the twin wall up into the existing liners.

    The liner would of been ideal but as the stoves outlet is 8 inch and the clay liners are 8 inch, there wouldn't be any room to fit the new stainless liner down the clay flue:(

    Would the regular, solid fuel, flexi flue liner be of any benefit in retaining the heat within the clay liners, or is it, in itself, a conductor of heat?
    Yes, it sounds like the plaster wasn't dry alright, but the baffling thing is that the plaster was dried out for over two years before the stove was lite. Plus, I slowly tempered the stove by gradually burning small fires in it when I first lite it, for the first 3 or 4 days, so it wasn't as if I lite a raging lite in a cold new house. So, it's a very difficult situation.


    Thank you vey much.
    Has there ever been a chimney fire? This would explain the cracking.

    I think you really need the manufacturers to visit to verify everything and test the flue for over drawing. It should certainly perform much better than this:(.

    Good luck and I hope you get it resolved. Stove Fan:)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 186 ✭✭rpmcs


    looks like 3/4 inch pipes coming off stove, should these not be inch?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 186 ✭✭rpmcs


    i would have esse gswich before stoker any day, seen both in action


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 906 ✭✭✭JMSE


    esse 350gs with traditional cast iron door (rest of stove is steel having said that)

    IMGP3120.jpg


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,081 ✭✭✭Stove Fan


    rpmcs wrote: »
    looks like 3/4 inch pipes coming off stove, should these not be inch?

    Could well be, but very difficult to tell from a photo? It should still work better than it is even if the pipes are only 3/4:(. The pipes to the cylinder should be 1 inch certainly.

    Stove Fan:)


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