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

Well after a bit of investigation on my issue I feel a bit stupid

We have the Stanley Erin, it was in the house when we bought it. We were told it heated the downstairs radiators, but in truth thats about all it manages. Its not seperate or anything. So it struggles trying to heat all the radiators in the house (21!) instead of just downstairs, so I'm guessing thats why we might not get much heat into the room also?

So, 21 radiators, quite a lot, but they are of various sizes, some single, some double, some narrow etc.. Its a two storey house with the attic converted. I did some measurements and used a formula I found online to get a rough idea of the BTU for all of the radiators, worked out around 81,000 BTU. Given that the Erin does 45,0000 if I recall correctly, its a bit of a problem! Not sure why the previous owners chose that stove....

Radiators were also supposed to be zoned, with there being switches for upstairs and downstairs but dont seem to have much effect.

So my next question. Do many on here have any experiences with the 25-30kW stoves? I've seen the Stratford Eco Boiler 25kW which says max of 85,350 BTU. Also seen some Boru, Henley and Yola. Not certain on the brands to be honest but I did see someone somewhere mention the Stratford as the "rolls royce" of stoves :P

Calahonda52 wrote: »

My guess is that they went for the smaller option because
1. if you put a 25-30 kWh stove in the room, especially the older ones maybe 10 would go into the room so it would be bermuda shorts time because if u want the rads heated the room will be getting the 10 whether u like it or not
2. if u want to be getting 30 kWh out, you will need your own coal mine.
Its a lot of fuel, a lot of ash and a lot of work

So people with larger houses don't use stoves?

I've seen the Stratford 25kW mentioned as :
Heat Output : 25kW / 85350 BTU
Heat Output to room : 3.5 - 12kW to room
Heat Output to water : 21 - 25kW / 71694 - 85350 BTU/Hr

Calahonda52 wrote: »

sticking with the math

I've seen the Stratford 25kW mentioned as :
Heat Output : 25kW / 85350 BTU
Heat Output to room : 3.5 - 12kW to room
Heat Output to water : 21 - 25kW / 71694 - 85350 BTU/Hr

Not a data presentation I am familiar with as this suggests that the 25 in the name is just the water circuit heat output which is unusual but perhaps is correct.

Assuming it is correct, if u want 25 for rads then the room is gone to have 12 which is a lot of heat.
Whats the heat requirement of the room where the stove is located. Say it is 8, then the 4 is wasted. End of.

Yeah I'll admit, the data doesnt seem to match up. I was thinking 25kw would be split, so 25kw minus whatever is going to the water goes to the room. I thought the majority of the heat would go to heating the water then once that hit a certain temp the heat would begin increasing to the room?

Calahonda52 wrote: »

Some have a 1/3 room 2/3 water spit but they usually are rectangular with a deep firebox around the boiler: need a navy shovel to stoke back that far!!

There are no controls like u mention because safety is paramount, if the power to circulation pump dies with stove at full blast with a few bags of polish coal on board, your heat sink better be up to it or else have a backup power supply.:)

Ha! Yeah, I'm new to the workings of stoves. Initially thought, great, throw in a bitta coal and it'll magically heat the house More I look into it the more there is to it! So what way do the likes of the Stanleys and Stratfords work? What dictates what heat goes to the room and what to the water?

advice on replacing gas fireplace with a stove guys. Basically looking at the potential cost of getting and installing a stove into where our current gas fire is housed (in a fireplace with a chimney). The room is a living room approx 16ft x 25ft in size with a bay window. Im looking for advice on which heather to look at getting, its potential cost including installation and whether its a worthwhile switch. Not looking for a boiler option at all, moreso just a stove.
Thanks in advance

SoapFan27 wrote: »

Hi, can anyone point me in the direction of a moisture thermometer for wood fuel that works well for you and didn't cost the earth?

Plenty on ebay, about 15 euro, works well

SoapFan27 wrote: »

Thanks, do you know name or brand?

Had a quick look and there's one for just under €12 but postage is €16!

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/4-Pin-PRO-Digital-Moisture-Damp-Meter-Detector-Tester-Plaster-Timber-Wood-Sensor-/251865801963?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3aa45f24eb

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/sis.html?_kw=%23QZO+4-Pin+Moisture+Meter+Wood+Timber+Damp+Humidity+Tester+Detector&_id=141303422304

or

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/QZO-4-Pin-Moisture-Meter-Wood-Timber-Damp-Humidity-Tester-Detector-/141303422304?hash=item20e6571d60#shpCntId

Big Nelly wrote: »

Thanks.....was wondering what the difference, guy was saying the cassette is better than a stove.

I have a Meg Cassette (Meg Contemporary 4.5 its called) and its just superb. 4.5kw in a small room. Looks the biz. Great heat output and great control. One of the best things ive ever bought.

gomamochi1 wrote: »

Can I ask what stove would be best to suit our needs?
Stratford eb 25 kW boiler stove or the inis mean mk 2 boiler stove?
17 odd rads in gaff, large open plan kitchen living room space to be heated -500 sq foot, 3 rads in that room also. Joining into oil fired central heating too.
Advice welcome.
Thsnks

I looked at both of those and saw both in live settings. Went with the Inis as I wanted more room heat in a room that has a lot of glass windows. Been very pleased since. 17 rads is probably pushing the Inis Meain a bit but if you are zoned, they wont always be on at once. Also, you will definitely have the 3 rads in that room turned off as its a super room heater, so now you are down to 14. So its well within Inis's comfort zone. Saw the Stratford in another house. A good water/rad heater and was also doing an excellent job on room heat - and this guy was only using turf and wood. The Stratford 20 would probably be closer to the Inis Meain.

Both a good choice but as room heater is a big part of your requirement, i would go with Inis.

Hi just wondering, we are going to relocate our boiler stove from our kitchen as I've decided to get a non boiler solid fuel range for the kitchen diner area. Only thing is the stove has a huge heat output, too much for our small sitting room. The only other place to locate it is the hallway in the house, the area is big enough but I've never seen a stove in a hallway before. I guess I'm wondering if it's a totally crazy idea to waste the heat in the hallway instead of a room. Our sitting room is a cold room in general, North facing, but I know the heat from the stove would totally overpower it. Any advice please?

Big Nelly wrote: »

Fire me PM....first post on thread is not to discuss pricing....

I did go with the Vitae http://ballymountfireplaces.ie/products/cassette-stoves/vitae-6-kw/

Very happy with it, it was posted on here that the dust box is small and I think I have that in the back of my mind all the time....probably wouldn't have known any better if it wasnt mentioned....

Not a huge thing for me, it is never overflowing. I can burn all day and night and then will empty the next day, normally the removal tray is just full.....very easy to remove to empty

Got the vitae 6KW put in last thursday aswell. Hoping to light it tonight, I should have moved faster as the weather is so much milder this week

Has anybody any dealings with thestoveshop in New Ross Co Wexford ?

Anyone know of a stove guard that is childproof?

This Crannog one is lovely but it says it is not childproof, don't think door is secure enough.

http://www.topline.ie/plumbing-and-heating/cooling-and-heating/fireside-accessories/fireside-accessories/crannog-hearth-surround-stove-screen-42in