Wood Burning Stove for under £1500

[dig-dug-dan]

15 minutes ago, Johnsond said:

We went down the route of getting the two stoves we have had in our current house fitted by recommend HETAS fitters, both stoves were morso models the first a cassette type and the second a free standing model as per pic. First guy fitting the cassette type was clueless and fitted it totally wrong the result being that it would not draw. Eventually sorted it but he baled out of finishing the hearth etc as he said there was no money left in the job ??. Second free standing morso was fitted by the suppliers and we have been plagued with down draft for about 16 months, supplier came out and fitted a new cowl for £170 which had no affect in reality. Just had the chimney swept for first time and the guy who also is a registered installer said straight away that one of the vermiculite boards in the upper part of stove was fitted incorrectly and upside down ?‍♂️. He showed me how it should be located and the difference in the how the fire operates is night and day. As he said at the time just because the supplier is HETAS registered does not mean that everyone of the fitters they send out are highly proficient. This sweep has gone on to fit the lads stove and he did a cracking job. 

As I understand from my supplier, the round stoves are not as efficient as they do not have as much surface area of metal, plus using square fire bricks inside a round chamber reduces the log length you can use

[trigger_andy]

7 minutes ago, Johnsond said:

We went down the route of getting the two stoves we have had in our current house fitted by recommend HETAS fitters, both stoves were morso models the first a cassette type and the second a free standing model as per pic. First guy fitting the cassette type was clueless and fitted it totally wrong the result being that it would not draw. Eventually sorted it but he baled out of finishing the hearth etc as he said there was no money left in the job ??. Second free standing morso was fitted by the suppliers and we have been plagued with down draft for about 16 months, supplier came out and fitted a new cowl for £170 which had no affect in reality. Just had the chimney swept for first time and the guy who also is a registered installer said straight away that one of the vermiculite boards in the upper part of stove was fitted incorrectly and upside down ?‍♂️. He showed me how it should be located and the difference in the how the fire operates is night and day. As he said at the time just because the supplier is HETAS registered does not mean that everyone of the fitters they send out are highly proficient. This sweep has gone on to fit the lads stove and he did a cracking job. 

Thats a nice Stove. I had one very much like it when I was in Norway. I had the Jøtul F377. Cracking wee 5kw Stove. 

 

Sounds like a right pain in the ass with your installers. Might just do it myself after all.  

[trigger_andy]

15 minutes ago, dig-dug-dan said:

As I understand from my supplier, the round stoves are not as efficient as they do not have as much surface area of metal, plus using square fire bricks inside a round chamber reduces the log length you can use

My Round 5KW Stove pumped out so much heat I was constantly in my boxers.  But Norwegian Houses are very well insulated. Hardly had to fuel it all all. But getting logs in was tricky. 

[Johnsond]

3 hours ago, trigger_andy said:

My Round 5KW Stove pumped out so much heat I was constantly in my boxers.  But Norwegian Houses are very well insulated. Hardly had to fuel it all all. But getting logs in was tricky. 

Agree Andy that stove of mine is 5kw but I end up with every door in the place open. Exposed insulated flue is like a giant radiator too, Mrs loves  it but way too hot for me. I cut my own wood as you know so getting the log length correct is no hassle. Yeah it’s been shit it always made good heat but smoked badly whenever the door opened at all,  but it’s like a different stove now so happy days. 

Edited February 19, 2020 by Johnsond

[Johnsond]

54 minutes ago, dig-dug-dan said:

As I understand from my supplier, the round stoves are not as efficient as they do not have as much surface area of metal, plus using square fire bricks inside a round chamber reduces the log length you can use

Toasty hot bud way too much for me.

vermiculite boards in side of stove are curved to fit profile. 

[dig-dug-dan]

20 minutes ago, Johnsond said:

Toasty hot bud way too much for me.

vermiculite boards in side of stove are curved to fit profile. 

Ah yes, I heard that also, so you have to buy the manufacturers ones and they are expensive!

[Johnsond]

2 hours ago, dig-dug-dan said:

Ah yes, I heard that also, so you have to buy the manufacturers ones and they are expensive!

Yep morso ones only so I tend to be careful when putting logs in. 

[pancakedan]

My third stove finished an hour ago, really pleased with it and cannot wait to light it.

[trigger_andy]

13 hours ago, pancakedan said:

My third stove finished an hour ago, really pleased with it and cannot wait to light it.

Big J will love that!

[Alycidon]

On 18/02/2020 at 21:59, trigger_andy said:

Thanks for the heads-up.   Saves a lot of cash.  

 

I'll most likely get a slap on the wrist for saying this but I dont believe you need Stove installed by a qualified installer in Scotland? Does not need to be signed off either as far as Im aware? But I await to be corrected.  My Local and respected Sweep who is also an installer is happy to install whatever I buy. 

Not sure about the regs in Scotland but cant see why they would be any different from the rest of the UK.   

 

In the UK anyone can install a stove,  but it then needs signing off as safe to use by a qualified person, usually a building inspector for which there is a charge.  Hetas and Oftec both have solid fuel qualified persons schemes.

 

If an unqualified person puts it in and its not signed off if you ever have a fire your insurer will pass your claim to a loss adjuster.  He gets paid a percentage of how much he is able to reduce your claim.  So your Hetas/Oftec engineer or building inspector will register the installation of a stove in your property in whatever room its in with your local Building Control office in your town hall..   You have a fire, your insurer sends your claim to the loss adjuster, first thing he does is to ring building control and ask if there is a record of a stove being installed in whatever room of your house,  if not then your insurance is usually invalidated and your claim refused.   Loss adjuster then collects on your claim while you have a badly damaged house and no cover.

 

By all means get your mate to put it in but make sure he is conversant with the regs,  Approved Doc J 2014,  the front half of the document.    Then get it certified as safe to use.    Or use a qualified installer who will install and self certify.

 

A