docsquid Posted October 30, 2009 Share Posted October 30, 2009 It may seem odd to everyone here, but despite owning a large wood, we haven't yet got a wood burning fire/stove installed in our house. This is mainly because we have a fairly new gas fire (which as it turns out isn't very good) and also because we live within the boundaries of a town, and I understand that you therefore need a special and much more expensive flue arrangement to be able to comply with the clean air act. Can anybody recommend a wood burning fire or stove that we can put into our lounge to supplement the central heating and that will fit onto an ordinary semi-detached fireplace AND that will comply with clean air legislation affecting towns? It makes obvious sense for us to use the spare wood generated by our woodland to heat the house. Our downstairs area is completely open-plan (thanks to adaptations for my Mum, when she was alive, and using a wheelchair) and we can heat the house pretty well from one fire in the right place. The central heating could then be used only in the mornings for when we get up. All suggestions very gratefully received. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted October 30, 2009 Share Posted October 30, 2009 We have a couple of Morso stoves, the Squirrel and the Dove. Here's some info on them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docsquid Posted October 30, 2009 Author Share Posted October 30, 2009 Wow, that looks like just the thing! Thank you for that recommendation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milly Posted October 30, 2009 Share Posted October 30, 2009 Our woodburner probably wouldn't be allowed in a smoke control area, but is otherwise very good and burns much more efficiently than an open fire. Every so often I covet one of these stoves, which are clean burn Clearview Milly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted October 30, 2009 Share Posted October 30, 2009 a couple of links here about woodburning stoves in smokeless zones, and here from the Newhouse Farm site which might be helpful. There's also a fairly recent topic on Newhouse Farm about 'insert' stoves, i.e. ones that fit into a fireplace. I had my fireplace enlarged to fit a stove into it, there are lots of small models on the market but the smokeless fuel issue is probably your main criterion for choosing a stove. Your set-up sounds ideal, I'm envious because my house is divided down the middle and whichever room I had a stove in, it would never heat the whole ground floor as you are describing. If you have a wood, you should definitely get a woodburner! Remember the wood will need seasoning, so start stacking and drying some now even if you can't get a stove for a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docsquid Posted October 30, 2009 Author Share Posted October 30, 2009 The Clearview stoves look great as well. We are very lucky in that we have a proper fireplace with a chimney that was originally designed for a smokeless coal fire (we live in what was a mining area until all the pits closed). The gas fire is installed but it would be easy to take it out and replace with a log-burner. We have been collecting wood for over a year in anticipation. There is plenty of seasoned wood available at the woods, and we are starting a coppice rotation this year too, provided we are given planning permission for this (tree preservation order is on the whole site so we need planning to cut any wood at all). The same planning application is covering thinning operations, all approved by a Forestry Commission Woodland Management Plan, as is the coppicing. It does look like a good idea to have a stove. Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted October 30, 2009 Share Posted October 30, 2009 Just a warning that stove installers are very busy this time of year. Despite being proactive and keen to get going I'm still not at the point of being able to place an order as I don't have a complete quote from the people we decided to go with a month or so after starting The flue fitting is the most expensive part I've had quotes from 3 places. One was much more expensive than the other 2 for the flue components. One fed us rubbish saying there was a law that meant our house was built just a year or two too early to let us get away without one. (I'm going to have a flue fitted as I don't want to take any risk of emissions seeping into the bedroom the chimney goes through but technically we'd be ok going without). All have been slow to provide quotes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted October 31, 2009 Share Posted October 31, 2009 One fed us rubbish saying there was a law that meant our house was built just a year or two too early to let us get away without one. Er - how early would that be, then? Elizabethan, Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian ... what rubbish! You are quite right to have one fitted though, because woodburners produce a lot more tar and emissions than an open fire. I had mine installed without a liner last year (too long to go into the reasons why now) and I'm trying to get quotes for fitting a liner now, I've been astonished at the size of the quotes so far. I've got one more place to try and then I think I'll have to bite the bullet and pay out. You are quite right though, stove installers are very busy at the moment because stoves are so popular. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 We have a Scan - although they were bought out by Jotul at the same time as we bought (almost 2 years ago) and seem to have a smaller range now. Our house was new build and we still had the flue fitted as we didn't want problems in the future. Most of the stoves websites have an FAQ section and if you have a stove shop nearby they should send out their assessor to give advice. Go for as large a glass area as you can - you'll want to watch the flames ! We've planted trees for coppicing - but we're a few years off that at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 I can't add much to the excellent advice already given but I would certainly endorse the glass doors comment from Lesley - we've inherited a large Jotul which is really on its way out and it has a cast iron door which is very annoying because we can't sit and ruminate in front of it! However, it burns much more efficiently than the open fire in another room and I would thoroughly recommend one especially as all our paper/card packaging goes on it as well. The Jotul is in our fairly large conservatory which is obviously all glass - but once its going its does heat the kitchen which is open plan off it and our little sitting room as well if we leave the doors open. Our neighbours have an inglenook and a large woodburner and they manage to heat all downstairs with it (tho we live in small cottages)! I'm sure you already know this - but it does pay to have a variety of sizes of cut wood, and to mix the woods as well. Some are much harder and slowburning (eg hornbeam) than others, which are great to use once you've got the fire going. I'd love a coppice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms Marple Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 Hello. We had multifuel stove fitted last December. It has been a fantastic addition to our old house and well worth the money. It fits into our existing fireplace. We did not need a liner which certainly saved some money as our house a is very high Victorian detached. Have a look at these which are Defra approved for smokless zones. Sadly you have to be rural to get away without Defra approval - 2 miles further down the road and we would have been ok! http://www.euroheat.co.uk/HarmonyWood.php Ours is the H23 and is really great at belting our heat in a very large fireplace where previously we had an open fire which was very poor due to the efficient 'draw' of our chimney apparently. Lots of good advice here already re log sizes etc, but you do need to get on the case smartly. We ordered at halfterm last year and it was fitted on December 20th. Edited as I got excited when I realised I had finally got to 700 posts and wanted to shout out loud Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 We had a local stove installer come round last night to give us an estimate for a multifuel stove Hopefully he will be back this evening with a price, if the price is right he can install it in two weeks time. He was very impressed with the victorian fire with its two little ovens we have and said it was a shame we wanted to put a stove in its place. The fire has been there for over a hundred years and is in need of complete restoration, some parts are broken and are being held together with some sort of heat resistant gaffer tape. He did say an antiques dealer might be interested in buying it. The installer also supplies logs and wood for burning. His best seller is forty year old Oak whiskey cask staves. I can just imagine the aroma they give off. The stove I chose was a Blacksmith, Anvil I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 I finally got to the point where I could pay the deposit on my stove and mantle work. Installation scheduled for 10th Dec Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms Marple Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 Sounds good Ali. Would love to see a pic of your little old fire too any chance of you uploading one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 Congratulations, that's quite soon for both of you! I went back to the people who fitted my stove last year, to try and sort out getting the chimney lined; they've admitted that they messed up a bit last year, and they're going to give me a quote for lining which (I hope!) will reflect that ... but they can't fit me in before New Year. He said they are constantly busy and there's a delay on getting stoves delivered from some manufacturers because there's so much demand. Would love a pic of your stove, Ali-S - it sounds as if it's definitely worth saving, could you eBay it do you think? Even if it's broken, someone might want to restore it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 I've got photos of the fire somewhere, I will dig them out and post them on here later. The installer gave us an early date for a fitting because he had a cancelation. He has four teams of fitters working flat out installing stoves. He has been so busy he has been taking stock from the showroom for fitting. I hope the country doesn't run out of wood We have a woodstore here left by the previous owners of the cottage which is full of odd pieces of wood and logs. Andy can get hold of broken pallets from his work. I was wondereing if you can burn drift wood there is a plentiful supply on the local beaches. The estimate for the stove didn't arrive last night so I hope he comes tonight, I am feeling stupidly excited about the prospect of a stove. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 my uncle had a pile of wood and driftwood collected over many many years. We've been burning it ever since - just check for nasty tarry substances. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 Nothing stupid about it at all - I was hugely excited about having mine fitted and I still love it. You can burn almost any wood, as mentioned look out for tarry deposits and don't burn painted or treated wood. At the moment I am getting through a load of old roof battens that my neighbour (builder) gave me last year, and I have some old bits of skirting and pallets which need sawing up, underneath them is an old pine bed frame, and eventually I'll get on to the logs I have been given. I have a garage full of wood and none of it has cost me a penny so far! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted November 6, 2009 Share Posted November 6, 2009 Archie dog will be getting lots of walks along the beaches in future so I can collect driftwood for the stove The estimate has arrived for fitting the stove. Waiting for a call today for a definate day the week after next Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted November 6, 2009 Share Posted November 6, 2009 Date now confirmed, 18th November. Same week as the builders start on the loft conversion and Andy is off work for a week to dismantle my kitchen units, plaster parts of the kitchen where he knocked down two walls one wet weekend when he was bored and rip up the kitchen flooring, what I have I let myself in for Can't wait Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted November 6, 2009 Share Posted November 6, 2009 well, when everything else is falling apart around you, you'll be able to light the woodburner and gaze into the flames! You might even be able to cook a few things on it if the kitchen isn't functioning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 Oooh, dear.... you do realise that from installation date onward, you'll never to anything useful or consturctive on any winter evening.... instead you'll be staring at the flames being slowly hypnotised! They're great, and I'm sure you'll be delighted with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
