Which solid fuel stove do people recommend?

creedp · 11-02-2011 6:41pm

Hi I am currently building a house and installing a stove (no back boiler) probably about 5-7 kw. I was interested with discussion on lined and insulated flues. The builder has built the chimney and lined it with what seems like a std chimney flue even though he knows a stove will be installed. Is this a problem? Should i ask him to change this, although this will be very problematic now as the chimney is finished.

Thanks

moceri · 11-02-2011 7:36pm

I presume the chimney is lined with a Clay Flue liner. You can easily connect the stove with a steel pipe (Usually 5") to an adaptor that connects to the flue gatherer opening (7").

Best choose a stove with a rear flue rather than top flue as you can position the stove further into the room.

creedp · 14-02-2011 11:40am

moceri wrote: »

I presume the chimney is lined with a Clay Flue liner. You can easily connect the stove with a steel pipe (Usually 5") to an adaptor that connects to the flue gatherer opening (7").

Best choose a stove with a rear flue rather than top flue as you can position the stove further into the room.

Thanks Moceri. One less problem to worry about! I was looking at a number of stove suppliers over weekend and found that a lot of them didn't supply stoves with an external air supply. Can anyone suggest a supplier in the Dublin area that supplies these stoves and possibly also recommend a suitable stove for a new build in the 5 - 7kw range.

Thanks

Antiquo · 15-02-2011 9:04pm

creedp wrote: »

Hi I am currently building a house and installing a stove (no back boiler) probably about 5-7 kw. I was interested with discussion on lined and insulated flues. The builder has built the chimney and lined it with what seems like a std chimney flue even though he knows a stove will be installed. Is this a problem? Should i ask him to change this, although this will be very problematic now as the chimney is finished.

Thanks

creedp a badly installed stove could kill you and everyone in the house through fire or CO. Google all you can on stoves and the proper installation then go to a few shops that sell known brand stoves for advice. You will quickly spot the guys who just want to sell you a box.

Cheap stoves off the back of a truck, garden centre, corner shop, hardware store, etc. All trouble - no idea on correct install, regs, or materials. Parts constantly breaking and no chance of getting spares. Ref EN13240

Stoves need a quality insulated twin wall 316L SS or 904L SS flue liner. 316L for multi/wood non boiler and 904L for boiler or ranges. Install a CO alarm and get the liner cleaned at least once a year.
http://www.stovesonline.co.uk/lining_a_chimney.html

Most have top or rear flue (not so you can get it further into the room) Rear flue must be "T" max 6" horizontal.

Make sure you have sufficient clearance around stove and hearth in front also you need an air vent over 6KW - check regs for sizing.

Adapters are supposed to be used in conjuction with a liner not just to vent into 8" clay flue.

http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/BuildingStandards/FileDownLoad,1650,en.pdf

creedp · 16-02-2011 12:41am

Antiquo wrote: »

creedp a badly installed stove could kill you and everyone in the house through fire or CO. Google all you can on stoves and the proper installation then go to a few shops that sell known brand stoves for advice. You will quickly spot the guys who just want to sell you a box.

Cheap stoves off the back of a truck, garden centre, corner shop, hardware store, etc. All trouble - no idea on correct install, regs, or materials. Parts constantly breaking and no chance of getting spares. Ref EN13240

Stoves need a quality insulated twin wall 316L SS or 904L SS flue liner. 316L for multi/wood non boiler and 904L for boiler or ranges. Install a CO alarm and get the liner cleaned at least once a year.
http://www.stovesonline.co.uk/lining_a_chimney.html

Most have top or rear flue (not so you can get it further into the room) Rear flue must be "T" max 6" horizontal.

Make sure you have sufficient clearance around stove and hearth in front also you need an air vent over 6KW - check regs for sizing.

Adapters are supposed to be used in conjuction with a liner not just to vent into 8" clay flue.

http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/BuildingStandards/FileDownLoad,1650,en.pdf

Antiquo, thanks fort he advice above. Im afraid I left the building of chimney for stove in my builders capable hands and he has build a 8" clay pipe lined chimney with std blocks and the gaps between blocks and clay pipe filled with std mortar. I though this was fine until I read the thread "solid fuel stove advice" and my jaw droped open with every comment. I've said this before and it never ceases to amaze me how professionals are so unaware of Regs and new designs/materials. It looks like I am now going to have to go and talk to my builder to explain that I need to line the chimney with an appropriate liner for the stove and all that that entails including removing the existing 'bird cage' chimney top he installed and replacing with a water protector and possibly a device to hold liner in place.

Im so confused at this point Im not sure where to go from here. For instance can I just install a liner and not insulate or should I insulate with rockwool sleeves or backfill with vermicullitte or lecce or some other product. My chimney breast is built inside a wall with a 150mm full filled cavity and a 150mm quinnlite blcok. I presume this doesnt matter as it is the clay pipe that is the problem here. Anyway thanks again for advice I will have to go and talk to some stove suppliers although to-date I've been reliably told that my clay pipe liner is the business and all I need to due is install a reducer from stove to liner and off I go!! No issue of condensate or reduced efficiency!!!

Antiquo · 16-02-2011 2:23am

creedp wrote: »

Im so confused at this point Im not sure where to go from here. For instance can I just install a liner and not insulate or should I insulate with rockwool sleeves or backfill with vermicullitte or lecce or some other product. ---- to-date I've been reliably told that my clay pipe liner is the business and all I need to due is install a reducer from stove to liner and off I go!! No issue of condensate or reduced efficiency!!!

You know what they say about opinions! Do your research and do it right first time.

Your existing chimney is fine you need to install a twinwall flue and insulate it. The size of the flue liner is determined by the size of the outlet from the stove. The only construction issue you may have is the size of the opening left for the stove to fit into as I said do you have enough clearance around the stove and hearth in front.

A flue needs an insulated liner because the flue gasses from a stove are cooler than an open fire. With an insulated liner the gasses remain warm and rise thus providing sufficient draw and removing the combustion gases from the chimney. Also the gasses quickly warm the liner and this prevents condensation which gradually leads to tar build up. Micafil, Chimwrap and K-Wrap insulation would be most installer choices in the UK.

Two flexi flue liner types are 316L Stainless and 904L Stainless

Installers in the UK prefer to use 904L for ranges and boiler stoves as these are slower to heat up and as such can cause condensate in this initial period. The 904L is more expensive but has a greater resistance to Sulphuric Acid and you can get 20 year guarantee on the product.

The 316L is primarily used for wood and multifuel non boiler. IMO if you are going to spend money do it right the first time get the best 904L you can get sit back and wait for next winter.

I've seen some liners on DoneDeal and the like for €100 personally wouldn't waste my time. Some recommend Docherty but then some of the UK guys think its muck. Most agree on Midtherm or Specflue this is one supplier in the UK who does them I'm sure there are others if you google.

http://www.fluesystems.com/liners/info/chimney_liner.htm

When a stove is piped into a normal clay flue with an adapter the gasses quickly cool and can fail to rise causing CO to leak back from the stove especially at night when low burning. Also the gasses cannot warm the clay flue and quickly form condensate and cause tar build up. This can quickly penetrate the flue and chimney breast causing stains. More concerning is the build up of tar can cause a ferocious chimney fire which may result in structural damage to the chimney stack and or fire penetration into the house.

creedp · 16-02-2011 11:53am

Thanks for the very informative reply Antiquo. I agree with you re: multipe threads on this as I have only came across this one last night and found it extremely helpful and confusing at the same time. Btw i came across antother thread in the DIY forum this morning and saw your comment there and replied to it. This reply here is basically a copy and paste as I don't have the technical know how to link threads (probably should visit the computer forum also!!) Personally I didn't access the DIY forum on Boards before yesterday as I thought the C&P forum would be more appropriate to new builds and anyway I wouldn't consider installing a stove to be a DIY job! - That's just me by the way!

Its all starting to look a bit clearer now thats the these threads and it seems the std process is to line and insulate the existing chimney and vent stove preferably from the top. Im just going ot have to pick another fight with builder on this and get him to install this stuff - he won't be happy having to remove the birdcage on top of chimney!!

bty I was interested in the discussion earlier in this thread concerning the pro and cons of cast iron -v- steel stoves. Anyone got anything to add on this. Like a lot of people and it seems retailers of these stoves I didn't even know there was such a debate not to mind issues such as proper installation.

A family member recently installed a stove using a professional and it was simply bunged into an existing fireplace with absolutely no space around it or in front, presumably vented from the rear and definitely no chimney liner! Why is that the norm in this country?

Thanks again

Waller353 · 03-04-2011 5:48pm

Hi there I have a Mulberry beckett stove with a back boiler has any one come across the boiler starting to leak after a few years . I started to fix it so if any one has any ideas send me a message thanks

vicar1 · 30-04-2011 5:50pm

hello Folks,
has anyone used a Waterford Stanley Shamrock stove. I have just bought a second hand one, hope to use it for central heating - has anybody used one or know where I might get the instructions ? Thanks!

coolclogher · 13-05-2011 12:45pm

Hi Folks,

I have a Stanley Solid solid Fuel stove in my shed for a good number of years, not sure what make ( it is on the small side), is anyone aware of anybody out there that reconditions these stoves? The better half is talking about installing a new one in the living room and I am wondering is it worth looking at.
Any help comments appreciated. I live in Kerry.

NIMAN · 18-05-2011 7:50pm

vicar1 wrote: »

hello Folks,
has anyone used a Waterford Stanley Shamrock stove. I have just bought a second hand one, hope to use it for central heating - has anybody used one or know where I might get the instructions ? Thanks!

I recently moved into a 2nd hand house, and have been using the solid fuel stove in the living room for a few months. Was fairly happy with it, but it was old, the enamel was a bit the worse for wear and the glass had a crack in it, so I emailed Waterford to see if they had any info on it or could identify the model.

They were most helpful - I emailed off a photo and last week they identified it as a Shamrock, which is approx 20yrs old !!!

It seems to work quite well, heating quite a few rads in the house, although none of them to a very hot level.

I too am looking for some instructions/technical data on it - did you ever track any down?

vicar1 · 18-05-2011 9:44pm

Hello NIMAN,, got a brochure from Waterford Stanley on the Shamrock stove - it doesn't give the capacity but gives the instructions. If you want a copy send me your email address and I will send one on. cheers

hopelesscase · 05-09-2011 9:08pm

Hi, I need some spare parts for my Charnwood multi fuel boiler stove, and am trying to find a supplier in Ireland,I am prepared to travel but preferable as near to Dublin as possible

randombar · 05-09-2011 9:12pm

I know this crowd do Charnwood stoves, sound fella easy to deal with and very reasonable. http://www.stovesireland.com/

goat2 · 05-09-2011 10:19pm

varney wrote: »

Hello All,

Only discovered Boards recently and find it brilliant as a source of valuable advice, especially as it is specific to Ireland.....Keep it up!!

My question(s):
We have an old cottage which over the years has been restored and extended onto. In the old sitting room there's a largeish fireplace which we hope to put a solid fuel stove into. We really need it to heat the water and link into our existing oil fired rads.

I believe there was a new flue put into this fireplace about ten years back, but am not certain. Should it be obvious from shining a torch up the chimney?

Which stove would people recommend for the job? I tried a local fire centre here in Sligo and they dismissed all cast iron stoves as short-lived. The guy informed me that all the Stanley stuff is Chinese and you'd be lucky to get five years out of one. He recommends getting a steel model by and English company called Charnwood.

I've asked around and people seem to agree. Does anyone out there have one, and how do they rate them?

Thanks in advance to all replies.
Michael,.

whoever told you that these stoves are ****e is wrong, i have one of those little multifule stoves in my sittingroom with 20 yrs, it is as perfect as the day i put it in, and i put some scorchers of fires in it over the past twenty yrs, i just bought a beauty lately, at a great price at, www.discountdepot.eu, this place is on the dingle road out of tralee, i found them through the net, and found them to have the best price, i had searched all over

annadoc1 · 05-09-2011 10:49pm

hi ya
we fitted a charnwood insert stove last feb, the best buy we ever made. bought it in kilkerrin co.galway. the guys name is gordan he had loads of spare parts. maybe check him out. sorry dont have his number but should be easy to check on the net.
hope it helps

jack12a · 18-09-2011 1:41pm

Hi annadoc1,
Is the insert stove you fitted a charnwood 20i slx model, I am in the process of purchasing an insert stove and local dealer advised this was one of the best available also most expensive ??, if any one has one of these models fitted I would be grateful for their views on it.

paulinehalpin · 31-12-2011 7:44pm

Hi, I have a horseflame stove does anyone know excately how to keep the glass clean?

varney wrote: »

Hello All,

Only discovered Boards recently and find it brilliant as a source of valuable advice, especially as it is specific to Ireland.....Keep it up!!

My question(s):
We have an old cottage which over the years has been restored and extended onto. In the old sitting room there's a largeish fireplace which we hope to put a solid fuel stove into. We really need it to heat the water and link into our existing oil fired rads.

I believe there was a new flue put into this fireplace about ten years back, but am not certain. Should it be obvious from shining a torch up the chimney?

Which stove would people recommend for the job? I tried a local fire centre here in Sligo and they dismissed all cast iron stoves as short-lived. The guy informed me that all the Stanley stuff is Chinese and you'd be lucky to get five years out of one. He recommends getting a steel model by and English company called Charnwood.

I've asked around and people seem to agree. Does anyone out there have one, and how do they rate them?

Thanks in advance to all replies.
Michael,.

baby builder · 01-01-2012 2:47am

The glass on the stove can be cleaned by using the ashes in the grate the next morning.

Basically, you wet some kitchen roll and dab it in the ashes. Then wipe the ashes over the glass and clean with some new kitchen roll. Works fantastically well, promise!

(it's the top tip in the 2012 Moores Almanack)

GY A1 · 04-01-2012 3:02am

have a stanley here, absolutely brillant

heating the whole house :pac:

varney wrote: »

Hello All,

Only discovered Boards recently and find it brilliant as a source of valuable advice, especially as it is specific to Ireland.....Keep it up!!

My question(s):
We have an old cottage which over the years has been restored and extended onto. In the old sitting room there's a largeish fireplace which we hope to put a solid fuel stove into. We really need it to heat the water and link into our existing oil fired rads.

I believe there was a new flue put into this fireplace about ten years back, but am not certain. Should it be obvious from shining a torch up the chimney?

Which stove would people recommend for the job? I tried a local fire centre here in Sligo and they dismissed all cast iron stoves as short-lived. The guy informed me that all the Stanley stuff is Chinese and you'd be lucky to get five years out of one. He recommends getting a steel model by and English company called Charnwood.

I've asked around and people seem to agree. Does anyone out there have one, and how do they rate them?

Thanks in advance to all replies.
Michael,.

rehab1000 · 06-01-2012 12:48am

varney wrote: »

Hello All,

Only discovered Boards recently and find it brilliant as a source of valuable advice, especially as it is specific to Ireland.....Keep it up!!

My question(s):
We have an old cottage which over the years has been restored and extended onto. In the old sitting room there's a largeish fireplace which we hope to put a solid fuel stove into. We really need it to heat the water and link into our existing oil fired rads.

I believe there was a new flue put into this fireplace about ten years back, but am not certain. Should it be obvious from shining a torch up the chimney?

Which stove would people recommend for the job? I tried a local fire centre here in Sligo and they dismissed all cast iron stoves as short-lived. The guy informed me that all the Stanley stuff is Chinese and you'd be lucky to get five years out of one. He recommends getting a steel model by and English company called Charnwood.

I've asked around and people seem to agree. Does anyone out there have one, and how do they rate them?

Thanks in advance to all replies.
Michael,.[/Quote

Hi Michael.
I am also in Sligo. We dealt with cosey stoves at Duncan island. We have our essie insert stove about two r three years. We love it. Half a bucket of coal will do it for the night, but note there is no back boiler in in. There is a moudle that has the back boiler called green switch. One of the neighbours got one. They like it but obviousely it takes more fuel to heat water abs rads.

These guys done a great job at fitting. They should be able tell u if the chimney is ok.

U will need a good plumber, John Hession from Sligo town is very good, he is hard to get as he is always busy.

Good luck with it.

Maggie Benson · 02-10-2012 12:21pm

I tried and tested various methods to clean stove glass with little success and a lot of hard work. Finally I found a product which is brilliant for the task called HG stove glass cleaner.

malcolmh · 13-10-2012 9:01am

yep - ash from the fire is the best for cleaning the glass - removes it instanly

we fitted a Olyberyl Aiden last week - really please with it - we now have a warm house it can more than handle the 14 radiators we have - doing a better job than the oil and cheaper as well

Poor Uncle Tom · 13-10-2012 10:21am

Using smokeless coal keeps the glass clean.

Maggie Benson · 13-10-2012 11:34am

I don't burn coal, just wood, briquettes and turf.

Ruby Tuesday1 · 16-10-2012 6:56pm

Does anyone have similiar comparisons between Inset stoves purely for heating a room e.g Stanley Cara (approx Eur1200) vs Dimplex Westcott (approx 550) or any other makes?

Audioslaven · 17-10-2012 9:48pm

Ruby Tuesday1 wrote: »

Does anyone have similiar comparisons between Inset stoves purely for heating a room e.g Stanley Cara (approx Eur1200) vs Dimplex Westcott (approx 550) or any other makes?

I know alot say that there is no heat loss from an inset stove but it is hard to believe that the same level of heat is returned from an inset in regards to a standalone stove. Now you can argue that you heat the wall and this in turns returns heat to the room but i would think the same level of heat is not returned to the room. This is just my opinion on the basics that there is more of the stove exposed so in turn returns more heat.

I have a stanley and a morso in. I have the morso 1448 only in a few days or so but I was very surprise how fast it heats up in comparsion to the stanley.

Take a look at this link URL

lostinashford · 28-10-2012 10:15pm

Hi,

Planning to put a multi-fuel boiler stove into a big renovation project. I have a couple of queries you guys might be able to help me with:

Firstly, the living room will be upstairs, is there an problem locating a stove there, bar getting it up there?

Secondly, hoping it will feed in with solar and oil boiler to run UFH downstairs apart from 4 beds, will have 8 aluminium rads and 2 heated towels rails. Any suggestions welcome - architect is tendering for a Charnwood slx45.

Thanks in advance

DI Dwyer · 28-10-2012 10:51pm

Removed a backboiler/open fire this summer (had very little use in 25yrs) and replaced with a stove. I must have considered every stove ever made.... eventually settled on a Boru 22kw boiler stove..... Have been using for only the past few weeks and must say, so far
it's been great. Have only been burning wood in it and it is keeping the bungalow (1400 sq ft. 11 rads, incl 5 lrg doubles) like toast. haven't been burning big fires really... about 4 pieces of wood together....may need the back-up of the OFCH when it gets colder....
Doesn't answer your question but just a bit of info....

Maggie Benson · 01-11-2012 3:19pm

paulinehalpin wrote: »

Hi, I have a horseflame stove does anyone know excately how to keep the glass clean?

Pauline
I have tried and tested a lot of products for cleaning stove glass including ashes method but the one that I found to be excellent is HG stove glass cleaner available at some hardware stores or online if you have no success there.

iora_rua · 02-11-2012 12:19pm

Re: cleaning the glass on stove - I use that Doktor Power stuff in the yellow plastic container and finish it off with a piece of damp kitchen roll. You can get it in Heatons and some of the big DIY places. It's not the cheapest, but lasts for ages.

Qualitymark · 21-11-2012 6:36pm

When I got my Clearview, the sellers told me that I could clean the big glass window by using wood ash.
Not, they emphasised, coal ash, which will scratch the glass. I'm not even sure about turf ash.
What I mostly do is just wet a wad of kitchen paper - not too wet and cold, just a bit - and give it a wipe down when it's hot, carefully wearing big thick suede fireproof gloves supplied with the stove.
Thanks to those asking questions about inset stoves and heat, and using a stove upstairs to run boilers downstairs - would be great to have information about this. Also, how much disruption would this cause if you were to add it to an existing build?

Willie Culkeen · 26-01-2013 10:31pm

I have an open fire and wish to install a multi-fuel stove.
I want to run my heating from it in conjunction with my oil range, the house is two story with 12 radiators.
What type of stove do you recommend and are they available in the Mayo Galway region? What is the average cost of these stoves?
Thanks. Willie.

Which solid fuel stove do people recommend?

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