Quality/durability of different makes of wood burning stoves.

[NJA]

On 01/12/2023 at 10:02, Alycidon said:

Stoves that stand the test of time are generally those made from scratch in the UK or western Europe.   The issue now is that there is a lot of importing not only of chinese etc junk but also by UK brands buying in semi finshed stoves from China and eastern Europe mainly and perhaps fitting a door handle or glass in the UK,.  These can then be sold as made in the UK.  

 

Sooner or later your stove will need service parts so its important to select a brand that is well estabilished and financially sound with a good parts back up.

 

I have rebuilt grates on Charnwoods and Morso stoves that are 40 years old plus,  Arada outer casings are  warranted for life,  Esse are a very robust product,other decent brands to consider,  Woodwarm, Heta, Hwam, Jotul.

 

Dont like Burley,   the circular air flow in every one of theirs I have seen within the firebox puts ash up the left hand side of the glass,   Chesney someone mentioned,  they went bust 2 or 3 years ago,  then reformed a few weeks later minus a lot of debt,  they buy in stoves from other manufacturers and re sell so quality and parts support would be a lottery.   

 

Somebody else mentioned Clearview,   really good stoves in their day but that was 20 /25 years ago and technology has moved on.  Most of their models are not compliant with the current emissions and efficiency requirements,   the buisness is for sale as the owner wishes to retire so their long term future is questionable.  

 

As a stove retailer I believe that the current world leader in combustion technology is Charnwood,   they have a big price ticket yes but very low ownership costs linked to a long product life makes the cost per year far lower than cheaper brands.

 

A

Found this v helpful thanks, didn't realise this about Chesney.  After looking at Charnwood they look a good stove probably go for one of them I expect.  Any thoughts on Dean Forge and Esse?

[Muddy42]

11 minutes ago, NJA said:

Found this v helpful thanks, didn't realise this about Chesney.  After looking at Charnwood they look a good stove probably go for one of them I expect.  Any thoughts on Dean Forge and Esse?

I have a small esse one and its OK but I wouldn't recommend it enthusiastically.  Yes I can get it going but its on the hard side to light and smokes a bit.  The top of the door is too close to the flue exit. Its been installed properly with a decent double skinned liner, flue insulation and a cowl. I used an equivalent 5kw Charnwood the other day and it was excellent.

 

[carbs for arbs]

On 01/12/2023 at 10:02, Alycidon said:

Somebody else mentioned Clearview,   really good stoves in their day but that was 20 /25 years ago and technology has moved on.  Most of their models are not compliant with the current emissions and efficiency requirements,   the buisness is for sale as the owner wishes to retire so their long term future is questionable.  

 

Is this official - available to read on the internet - info/news?  Or on the insider's grapevine?  

[NJA]

On 14/12/2023 at 16:39, carbs for arbs said:

 

Is this official - available to read on the internet - info/news?  Or on the insider's grapevine?  

After reading this comment I was at Loxwood burners yesterday who used to do clearview but stopped.  The owner said non of their (clearview) stoves meet current regs for efficiency so can't be signed off, as haven't really developed them much in the last few years.  They have enough business trickling in from their reputation to keep the (old) owner busy till he retires in the near future.  Suppose he hasn't got the drive or passion to invest in developing the business as he's had his day.  Loxwood said they're still good stoves but they don't want to be fitting them.

So kinda confirms exactly what Alycidon said.

[Alycidon]

On 11/12/2023 at 13:38, NJA said:

Found this v helpful thanks, didn't realise this about Chesney.  After looking at Charnwood they look a good stove probably go for one of them I expect.  Any thoughts on Dean Forge and Esse?

Dont act for Dean Forge so cant fairly comment on them,   Esse I do act for,   very tough robust stoves,  100% built in Barnoldswick on the Yorks/Lancs borders but more basic in air managment than other brands.  If they were a car they would be a Ford or a Vauxhall,  good solid decent bits of kit but not as advanced as an Audi or BMW say.  

[AHPP]

I’m very pro Barnoldswick. That’s where Hope hubs are from. 
 

 

[Alycidon]

16 hours ago, NJA said:

After reading this comment I was at Loxwood burners yesterday who used to do clearview but stopped.  The owner said non of their (clearview) stoves meet current regs for efficiency so can't be signed off, as haven't really developed them much in the last few years.  They have enough business trickling in from their reputation to keep the (old) owner busy till he retires in the near future.  Suppose he hasn't got the drive or passion to invest in developing the business as he's had his day.  Loxwood said they're still good stoves but they don't want to be fitting them.

So kinda confirms exactly what Alycidon said.

I understand that one or maybe two do meet the requirements,  the rest have not gone forward for testing,   but independant testing by others has revealed efficiency levels well below the current 75% minimum requirements.   This is unlikely to change in the short/meduim term I feel. 

 

A

 

[NJA]

48 minutes ago, Alycidon said:

Dont act for Dean Forge so cant fairly comment on them,   Esse I do act for,   very tough robust stoves,  100% built in Barnoldswick on the Yorks/Lancs borders but more basic in air managment than other brands.  If they were a car they would be a Ford or a Vauxhall,  good solid decent bits of kit but not as advanced as an Audi or BMW 

Thanks appreciate the reply v helpful

[NJA]

After doing stacks of research narrowed it down to Charnwood, Burley or Dean Forge.  Went for a Charnwood C7 which was fitted a week or so ago.

Had to take out wood mantle and no proper hearth as yet, so bit of work to do.

So far the C7 seems a lovely stove, really well built, lights easily etc.

Appreciate everyones comments which pointed me in the right direction, @Alycidon particularly. 

[Alycidon]

Sorry a bit late here.

 

I am a Charnwood major dealer so am perhaps a bit biased but in my opinion Charnwood are probably the world leaders in combustion technolgy at this time.    The bigger C series ( 6,7 and 8 ) and great stoves but most people dont have rooms large enough to allow them to work hard.   The smaller C4 and C5 are by far the more popular and I usually have 6 or 8 of each in stock at any one time.  

 

I have a Skye 7 live in my local showroom in Northants and live Aire 5 and live Haven in my Buckinghamshire one,  and my daughter has an Aire 7 in her home.      Usually for bigger stoves we sell Aire 7, Skye 7 or Island 2 as they have slightly larger glass areas although I did sell a C6 around Xmas time. 

  

I rebuilt a grate on a Charnwood boiler stove installed in 1984 a couple of summers ago,   all it has had done to it previously was a couple of door ropes,  38 years use for almost zero maintainence cost.  .    My Skye 7 in the showroom has now done around 7000 service hours,    the only part that required replacement was the baffle fire brick,  cost about £70 from memory,    cost of ownership with these stoves is very low as they are all well made in the UK from British made steel and cast iron.

 

Many of the cheap stoves  I see championed here would be nearing the end of their service life in 7 years.

 

Enjoy,

 

A

Edited March 7 by Alycidon