ClaireG Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 The house we went to look at yesterday has a solid fuel Rayburn. How easy are they to use? Do they use a lot of fuel? At the moment it's the only cooker, will it be too hot to use in the summer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Licken Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 I have an old Rayburn in my kitchen - Mine is a Regent which is one of the older models - dating back to the late 1950s. When I moved in it was not in working order. I have had it refurbished and it is wonderful. My one runs on anthracite or taybrite and is not plumbed into the heating and hot water - on its own it belts out enough heat to keep the house warm. It heats the kitchen and upstairs bedroom that the chimney runs through brilliantly - it has been fantastic this winter when it has been really chilly. I only use it when I am at home all the time - It is pretty easy to keep running 24/7 as long as you riddle the ashes and empty the ash box. Mine is not my only source of heating - I have a gas boiler and also a gas oven and hob for cooking on. I think as long as you are prepared for a bit more work than central heating offers and are prepared for a few woolly pully days in winter then it is do - able. This is the link for the man who mended my one - must get him back to service it this summer!! He travels nationally I think http://www.solidfuelboilers.co.uk/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..lay a little egg for me Posted May 4, 2009 Share Posted May 4, 2009 Interesting info about solid fuel Rayburns on this site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClaireG Posted May 4, 2009 Author Share Posted May 4, 2009 Thank you both It's not the only form of heating as theres storage heaters and an open fire as well an immersion for hot water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miffy Posted May 4, 2009 Share Posted May 4, 2009 If you go for the house , I would thoroughly recommend converting open fire to multiburner much more efficient!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Licken Posted May 4, 2009 Share Posted May 4, 2009 In terms of running costs a bag of Taybrite costs about £9 a bag. If all the vents are shut down then the rayburn will burn on a couple of firebox fulls over a 24 hour period. A sack of coal does about 3 to 4 days burning 24/7 - ish. I love my rayburn. It gives a lovely gentle heat to the whole house and is much more reliable on a cold day than my dodgy gas central heating. Well worth having, and especially with fuel prices being so erratic. I also burn some wood on mine, but it really is designed for solid fuel. I wouldn't let it put you off the house -see it as a bonus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted May 4, 2009 Share Posted May 4, 2009 We've got an old rayburn regent too... It's a bit decrepit but I still love it! We burn taybright & wood on it and it heats our hot water. We don't have central heating- just an open fire in the sitting room but the rayburn does a splendid job of keeping the whole cottage cosy! We also have an immersion heater which we use in the summer if we don't want the house to get too warm and we have another cooker which I tend to use for things that need a more accurate temperature. I'd hate to be without it now- on a cold morning I'm drawn to it like a magnet! We have a sheila maid hanging in front of it and it dries and airs washing beautifully! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClaireG Posted May 4, 2009 Author Share Posted May 4, 2009 If you go for the house , I would thoroughly recommend converting open fire to multiburner much more efficient!!!! If it was actually our house and not a rented property i would seriously consider a multiburner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
