Rhys

Anyone here got one in their house? If so how easy is it to run and does it smell the house out?

Ian M

I have and wouldnt want anything else to be honest. Mine however is multi fuel and will burn anything. As for wood burning it all depends on whether you have good supply or not. Burning wood causes a lot of tar in the chimney so you need to have it swept yearly as for smell, no it doesnt smell the house out at all.

GAZ W

Just installed one this weekend in my house along with a flue liner , chimney pot etc. Got it all in in one day , not too hard to fit .
It is amazing how much heat it throws out , i have got acces to loads of free wood so its nice when the house is lovely and warm and i know its costing fook all to heat it (apart from the initial outlay of the burner)
And no it doesnt smell at all

Maria.

Ive got one too and i find its a bastard to get lit sometimes!

But no smell at all and it REALLY kicks out some heat when you get going!

mcst

I use one at work, it can heat an entire pub once its going well. We use just wood at the minute and get through a basket(about the size of those big plastic tubs you can get) per 24hrs and its on non stop from monday am to sunday afternoon.

Lights and burns better on a bed of ash so don't clean it out daily. I can leave it 7hrs without stoking it after ramming it full then just disturb the embers fill it up to the brim again, open the bottom vents and its roaring again within 10mins! Close the vents and it burns all night. repeat again in the morning.

Fantastic bits of kit and much better than an open fire (just doesn't look as good) we can open all the doors and it will heat through. Would love one at home.

Sales have gone up 30%+ on these this year according to the news a month or so ago. I'd recommend getting a back boiler on it though if you're spending the money now. Also its worth getting it professionally swept with the kit they have its better than what you can do yourself, they may recommend sweeping more regularly if you're burning wood, at about 40-50quid a time its money well spent.

If you can get the wood for nothing you'll soon see the savings, we paid £300 for about 3.5tonnes which is still cheaper than oil or gas in comparison.

Just my experience of them
hope that helps
matt

BigErn

We have one at work, its a home made one made from a big metal drum with the top cut off and holes bashed in it. Its also multi fuel, it burns anything that gets chucked into it

Lee Ivatt

iTrader: (1)

Yeh we have one, cant fault them.

It heated our house the last 4 years, only just got my centeral heating up and running

No smell, obviously u get that fire smell, but thats a nice smell.

Only down side is they do need attention and regular cleaning, but well worth the effort.

Much nicer "heat" than radiators.

Rhys

Hmm sounds good then, i am puytting a new combi bolier in my house etc so will have a modern new heating system. But i fancy a wood burner in my dinning room where i used to havea baxi bolier. I have a lounge/dinning room in one etc. I presume because i used to have a baxi bolier the chimney should be fine to take a wood stove. I would not use it all the time only every now and then.

I need something to fill the fire space but dont want it just for show and want it to work aswell.

Where is the best outlets to go and look at them etc?

mcst

Look up a specialist in your area sometimes chimney sweeps have people they recommend, you probably won't be overrun with choice but they should know their stuff, they wont be cheap though, lining the chimney can be almost as expensive as the stove. I know someone put his externally and it cost £200 a metre!
Sounds like yours will be a simple job, when they are lined they will burn more efficiently.
Loads of options too can choose the unit, top, door etc to suit. If its going where you had a boiler i'd consider having a back boiler if the pipeworks still nearby. Look at how the price of gas and oil is one day you may want to save some cash. If you can get hold of any old wood(pallets etc) think of the savings.
Other thing to consider is where is your main thermostat located? We had ours moved to a colder spot, only, when we open the doors to heat through using the multi burner its kicking out enough heat it cuts the heating off everywhere else! Ours is that good out of 11 rads downstairs only 6 are on very low! We've not got mains gas so our boiler is oil fired, the burner saves us a fortune.

You probably know this already but even though you can burn any old crap make sure the wood is seasoned so it doesn't tar up the chimney/liner and avoid leylandii. Apple wood does give off a slight apple smell but obviously doesnt burn as long as hardwood. A nice old piece of oak gives off the best smell imho. We burnt some old oak beams last year on an open fire and a 3 foot long piece took 2 days to burn!

Just imagine sitting in all that warmth with the smell and sound of burning oak and a choice malt.

RS 5tu

iTrader: (2)

If you want any liner or accessories i can get them i sell them Any type 904 or 316. rain caps, cowls,Stove pipe everything even down to fire rope if you are after a liner pm me and ill give you my number to see what you need. All come with gaurentee 10year 316 and 20 for 904 grade, And all at a good price dont pay above £16 per meter for 316

5t1g

Exactly what i would have wrote if i'd found this first.

Check out Millborrow Chimney Sweeps 01342 717900 They cover most of the UK and can supply new stoves but sometimes have 2nd hand ones too.

I love walking the dogs and chopping down wood. Makes me feel like a man Plus i get to use the hachet

Rhys

Thanks for your advice people, its much appreciated! Im in early stage tbh of thinking about one, but im deffinatley swaying towards it. It wont be used as general heating for house as im just getting a combi fitted. This will be on when i feel the need etc. and as much room peice as anything. Mu lounge/dinning room is going to be quite modern but im struggling with a woodburner that looks modern. Anyone have any ideas?

Cheers Stu, will keep you in mind for the liners, going to have to get someone to come and look at the chimney for me, obviously it was a working one but not sure it would be lined to accomidate a proper fire.

Lee Ivatt

iTrader: (1)

If its a boiler flue/chimney then it wont be acceptable for a fire? difficult to say with out seeing it.

but most bolier chimneys are a 9" brick skin with a rolled ally liner and asbestos elbows!

take it your having some one in the stove/chimney trade to give a professional opinion.

mcst

We were looking at new ones and theres loads of choice out there now. A simple design would maybe look the best without any traditional features. Have you considered a chimnea(sp) these look great and are many are really modern looking.

GAZ W

Try www.fluestore.com for any liners and accessories