Insert Stove vs Freestanding Stove

feetofflames · 07-10-2014 04:33PM #1

Hi there, I am just looking for a bit of advice. I have had a Stanley Cara Insert stove for the past 4 years in a sitting room that has a very high roof and that is open plan too and runs into dining room and kitchen. The Cara Insert was okay but just wasnt good enough on a real cold day. I sold it yesterday and am planning on getting an Olymberyl Gabriel 5.kw freestanding (non boiler) Have heard from people in local DIY store that Insert Stoves are far less superior for throwing out heat than a freestanding one. I am not sure if the problem is because of the high roof or having the lack of a cowel on the chimney. Anyway I am not sure if I have done the right thing now getting the freestanding but all I know if it throws out more heat than the Insert then I have made the right decision. Has anybody any ideas on this ? Would appreciate any advice ...thanks very much

macjohn · 07-10-2014 07:04PM

What are the dimensions of the area you are trying to heat? That will give a clear indication of the output that you need from a stove.

The stanley cara is 6.6kw so would seem strange to replace it with a stove of 5kw.

It sounds like the output of the stove is too low for the area you are trying to heat.

From what you describe it sounds like you are trying to heat a very very large area.

What type of fuel were you using in the cara?

Before I bought my research suggested that the insert and freestanding were roughly comparable. Not everyone agrees

7276887e · 07-10-2014 07:33PM

I am looking at getting either a free standing stove or inset stove. I did the calculations and i need a 4.5kw stove for my room so I'll get a 5kw but should i get a higher kw stove if i was getting an inset stove? Any advice is much appreciated

moonshadow · 07-10-2014 07:37PM

Hi , I needed by calculations 3.9 kw , I bought a 7 kw insert stove, fitted it correctly with flue and vermiculite etc, it works a treat , doesn't need to be overloaded with fuel and comfortably heats downstairs of a 2600 sq ft house.
Boru 400 I

macjohn · 07-10-2014 07:41PM

moonshadow wrote: »

Hi , I needed by calculations 3.9 kw , I bought a 7 kw insert stove, fitted it correctly with flue and vermiculite etc, it works a treat , doesn't need to be overloaded with fuel and comfortably heats downstairs of a 2600 sq ft house.
Boru 400 I

At that q ft presumably the 3.9kw just refers to the room it in in? Rather than the space it is now heating?

moonshadow · 07-10-2014 07:42PM

Correct.

macjohn · 07-10-2014 07:46PM

Do you ever find then that it is too hot in the room with the stove if you had the doors closed? ie if room needed 3.9kw but using a 7kw stove
Or do you just leave it openplan type or something

Edit - just saw you only put in the stove few weeks ago. Apologies assumed you had cold winters experience. Sorry

moonshadow · 07-10-2014 07:55PM

Certainly if its loaded and doors are closed it would get too hot, it was the same with the open fire also... Depends on how big a fire is on, but we open the doors and the heat naturally shifts.

macjohn · 07-10-2014 07:56PM

Thanks. My edit crossed with your post.

Sanchez83 · 07-10-2014 10:47PM

As MacJohn said a 5kw insert and 5kw freestanding will give the same heat.Under the assumption the insert is fitted and insulated correctly.
There are a lot of cowboys out there fitting inserts who don't have a clue.
If the Stanley Cara 6.6kw was not enough then you will probably need to move up to 7-8kw.

Insert Stove vs Freestanding Stove

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