I have decided not to have a back boiler. The stove is very small having a 4KW output, which I'm hoping will be enough to heat the room without the existing radiator being turned on. If we had a back boiler then 2Kw of that would be required to heat the water. Plus I still remember the nightmare of putting in the oil fired central heating. :shock: Trying to route the pipes with the minimum boxing in. Re: the insulation beads. I'm assuming that is what my chum will be using. I'm very much in his hands. He is HEATAS Registered and has installed many similar stoves. In fact the lady I am working for at the moment has one of his stoves. She has had it for eight years and is delighted with it. It is also a Stovax Brunel , the next size up from the one that I am having installed. I have to say that I am going to miss the open fire, It really did look great when it was blazing away, especially after a hard days beating. Nothing quite like sitting in front of it, Large single malt in hand and two twitching/ dreaming Spaniels at my feet. Happy Happy days.
On Thursday last 20th Oct. I got a phone call from the chap who is supplying and fitting the stove, to say that the slate Base/plinth had arrived fifteen minutes ago, could they come round and put it in NOW! I was working local so no problem. They then said they wanted to fit the stove, liner etc. on Tuesday morning. So, as you do I said, ''no problem.'' today I rendered the inside of the fireplace. didn't make too bad a job................ the sides are Plumb! well nearly. Fingers crossed for Tuesday.
Four men arrived this morning at 1130hrs. Stove installed and gone by 1400hrs. Very efficient team.
Now that's the easy part over. Getting the wife to decide on the finishing of the front is not going to be easy then the room will need decorating and of course a new carpet. Talk about making a rod for your own back. :(
The main man said a soon as I like. But it's so mild at the moment. The Flu has been lined with a flexible stainless steel liner. We decided against having the Flu insulated having spoken to lots of people locally I have become convinced it was not necessary and would have cost a lot of money. We have a new chimney pot with cowl/bird guard. Just ordered a couple of loads of quality hardwood logs Beech/Ash and some Hazel. I have been buying them for years from the same chap they are all fully seasoned and burn beautifully. Just got to order some smokeless stove nuts and we shall be good to go Have enough logs left from last winter for a couple of fires if We need them. Looking forward to a cold snap so we can try it out.
fitted a 5 kw one last year and was snug as a bug in the winter ,the rad in the lounge turns off(stat valves) and we end up with the kitchen and hall getting warmer too .
Good supply of wood from a company that uses pallets and a couple of friendly local tree fellers and we will not be cold this winter ...
One piece of advice if burning wood make sure the fire burns hard as this helps prevents the flue sooting up .and like powder keep it dry.
1 year old logs are ideal for burning
We have one of those stoves in our living room, its very good although I do now regret not having a back boiler stove fitted. The only problem with it is I can't sit in front of it as I go straight off to sleep.
Come on Bambi get some
Imperial Good Metric Bad
Analogue Good Digital Bad
You'll never regret putting that wood burner in. Eleven years ago I put in a Morso Squirrel 4kw wood burner in our snug. Lined the chimney with S/S liner and Vermiculite. Brilliant. Whilst we have also o/f central heating and o/f AGA (40+ yo) 2 years ago decided to put another wood burner in the lounge/diner. A bigish room. Since doing so we now keep the small snug burner going all night , rarely light the lounge one only when with company, and now never have the central heating on at all. Not even during the snow last winter. In two years we have saved some £600 in oil per annum. Mind you we are very lucky having 10 acres of woodland, a tractor (v.old MH35) logging bench and log splitter. We have only ever burnt wood: no coal. By the way when I put in the second wood burner (8kw) I also lined the chimney with s/s liner but was recommended not to bother with Vermiculite. Apparently it is not recommended because it can hold the moisture between the liner and the stack, or so I'm told.
Going to fire the stove up tomorrow morning. Wife is taking the Grandchildren out for the day and I'm not working. I'm told the the initial firing gives off Fumes and smells so going to light it whilst no one is about. On the subject of what should, or should not be burnt, The installer said only to burn seasoned hard wood and/or solid fuel approved for stoves. The manufacturers instructions on that subject say...
Burn only seasoned timber with a moisture content of less than 20%.... Do not burn construction timber, painted, impregnated /treated wood, manufactured board products or pallet wood.
Trying to route the pipes with the minimum boxing in. Re: the insulation beads. I'm assuming that is what my chum will be using. I'm very much in his hands. He is HEATAS Registered and has installed many similar stoves. In fact the lady I am working for at the moment has one of his stoves. She has had it for eight years and is delighted with it. It is also a Stovax Brunel , the next size up from the one that I am having installed. I have to say that I am going to miss the open fire, It really did look great when it was blazing away, especially after a hard days beating. Nothing quite like sitting in front of it, Large single malt in hand and two twitching/ dreaming Spaniels at my feet. Happy Happy days. 
