Non horsey about wood stoves

[welshies]

Hi, sorry for the non horsey question but thought quite a few of you might have log burners? I am having trouble finding non bias opinions on stove fans, we have had a burner installed but it is in a recess (inglenook) and we just don't seem to be getting heat around the house that my parents do with theres so wondered if any of you have any experience with them?

 

[margaretb]

How big is the stove and how big is the room?

 

[horsesforcourses]

We got an Ecofan.
We changed our wood burner just recently, when in shop it threw out sooo much heat. But once installed into our inglenook fireplace, we thought we had made a massive error in size of burner. It just seemed so cold, unless sat right in front of it.
OH looked into fans, and found the Ecofan, it was approx £100, and it has made all the difference. The room is now warm all over, instead of just in front of fire.
You do not feel a draught, or anything. Best thing out in my opinion.

 

[posie_honey]

my only advice to anyone is dont set them in an inglenook - sorry i know too late for you but may help others considering one.
we run two multifuel stoves on logs, coal and peat - they keep our who house warm and we have to keep the doors open as the room get too hot - both are set into the room so are the most efficient they can be

 

[NoCollection]

I agree about the Ecofan. It really spreads the heat around the room, all powered by the heat from the stove. They are not cheap but they make a difference.

 

[Ibblebibble]

we've just got ourselves one but have to wait until the chimney is swept before we can install it, ours will be sat out of the fireplace rather than in so that we get all of the benefit can't wait to get it sorted, we have electric storage heaters at the moment which are a nightmare

 

[peaceandquiet1]

Very interested to read about the Ecofan as haven't heard of it, can you put one in an existing burner?

 

[mulledwhine]

We have had a Franco belge for 10 years, we live in a quite modern bungalow, 1970's, keeps us warm and cozy, plus simple in the design, and duel fuel.

I would highly recommend x

 

[mulledwhine]

Ps is in an ingle nook will post as pic xx

 

[mulledwhine]

Sorry for the quality of the picture, it is taken on my phone, so no flash xx it is an ingle nook, and very warm, just go for a multi fuel stove xxx

 

[nicelittle]

We have a small Esse multifuel stove set in a fireplace and it heats most of downstairs and means our gas bill is minimal. We don't have a fan as there is not enough height on top of the burner for it.
We have had it for about 9 years.
However, my sister has a wood burner in a similar set up with a fan and it works well.
I wouldn't say its much warmer though, and the only difference is that they opted for a cheaper make of stove and I don't think its quite as efficient as the Esse.
I'm assuming that your chimney is blanked off round the flue with a register plate? Otherwise all the heat you make will go up the chimney.

 

[SpruceRI]

As nicelittle says, have you got a register plate so that the heat is thrown out into the room rather than going straight up the chimney? It makes such a difference!

I went to stay with a friend in Feb, in a chilly cottage and I couldn't understand why her wood burner threw out no heat AT ALL when my Dad's one of the same size heated the whole of his downstairs.

It was because hers was missing the register plate!

 

[Mrs_Wishkabibble]

I have just ordered one so will have to see!

 

[hairycob]

OH is a chimney sweep so sees a lot of different set ups & problems. If the room isn't getting warm it's usually because there is no register plate.
By the way if you have a stainless steel lined chimney it's a fallacy that it doesn't need sweeping. He did one recently where so much soot came down he couldn't get the brush back down before he took out the soot! If you have a lined chimney it's a good idea to look for a sweep who uses a Viper, especially if it's not straight - it's a more flexible bit of kit that is less likely to damage the liner than standard brushes & replacing a liner is a lot more expensive than the extra you will spend on the sweep.
And use a properly qualified sweep not one who advertises with no surname, no address & only a mobile number just because he is a few £ cheaper. Not many people know that 50% of carbon monoxide deaths in the UK are from solid fires. OH has been to a lot that have allegedly been swept by sweeps like that & have been fire/death traps - 1 had several years of rooks nests despite having been swept in spring when the owner moved in. That did rather explain why smoke filled the room when he lit it come autumn.

 

[welshies]

thanks for the replies, i think part of the problem is we have only just moved in (only had stove a month) and so the decorating etc isn't all done, not all the windows are dressed and we are in quite a windy spot so think there are more drafts that we think! there are holes everywhere in the living room, one in the ceiling into the airing cupborad which won't be helping! I bought a curtain for the front door yesterday, had a small fire last night and there was definatley a difference. It is a Hillandale monterrey made by broseley fires so is a good make and it's a 5kw so should be big enough, my parents have a 4 and theres heats a similar sized house althouhg in a different set up. We do have a rigister plate, you have to by law and it was installed by a proffessional with a double walled chimney liner. we have been thinking of making (my partner is a welding and a wiz kid with metal) a false register plate that sits at the bottom of the cavity so the heat can't sit up there in the first place, and then draft proof everything before i fork out for a fan. We have quite big windows although double glazed and higher ceilings than some, all contributes i suppose. I don't mind spending £100 if they make a diff but would be pretty p***ed if it didn't and i still haven't had enough people say 'yes it will deff work'!