solid fuel built in stove

Hi everyone
Just considering putting in a solid fuel built in stove (Not a stove sitting in the fireplace an inset fireplace) in the sitting room, for reasons of their efficency and looks, instead of an open fireplace. Just a few questions before the final decision, How well does turf burn in this type of fire? Does the fuel have to be really really dry? Is there much ashes and how much to buy and have fitted? I'd like to hear views from someone who has one fitted. Thanks

Briquettes burn well but the ash content is very high. I would avoid sod turf (hopper turf) - I don't think it burns well and it certainly will coat the glass door with an oily ash. Wood works very well provided it has been dried - somewhere between 6 and 18 months and the ash content is the lowest of all solid fuels I believe. Connacht Timber sell the chipped wood logs - wholesale about 350E/ton + delivery.

Have had one for the past five years and generally use a mix of turf with a bit of coal for best effect. Turf on its own can be quite dull unless it is absolutely bone dry. I think they start at around €500 for a smallish, basic model and then go well over a grand for the more rolls royce type. The one thing about them is that a small amount of fuel can produce great heat comapred to an open fire. Of course the stove also retains heat for a longer period. If you are considering one with a back boiler then heat output will reduce and it would be only suitable if a fire is being lit on a fairly continuous basis.

but, if you have a stove with a back boiler can you not switch it off if you want to heat just the room? perhaps that,s a stupid question....

JR, is it the cassette type flush mounted stove you are loking at or is a stove that is built in from the start, I like the idea of a cassette stove but they seem to be all made in Italy and very hard to get a back boiler with them?

You mean one ofhttp://www.juststoves.co.uk/?p=194 (these?<br />)
We have one and turf is a dog - the amount of ash is cruel.
The best fuel for it is wood - great heat and there's very little ash. Coal works well, but can leave a soot build up on the glass (fortunately there is an airwash system to remove the build up).

It cost us the guts of 2,000 since we had to get the hearth and marble surround replaced because there needs to be expansion cuts in them due to the heat. The lads installing it told us that in a new build you can vent off it to provide heat to other rooms

For us it replaced a gas fire that neither of us were particularly impressed with, and we both love a natural fire, so were very happy.

Edit: As for the wood being dry, I was chopping logs yesterday in the rain, and put them straight in and it was fine.

There are plenty of options like those linked below some are english others dutch etc
http://www.stovax.com/products.htm?cid=2&sid=2&pid=50
[broken link removed]
http://www.barbas.nl/en/products/woodfires/insert-wood-fires/?id=39

All vary in price depending on size and heat outputs etc and can be built into a fireplace or mounted into the wall but if mounting either use a high temp plaster or be prepared to tile the wall.

endag. said:

but, if you have a stove with a back boiler can you not switch it off if you want to heat just the room? perhaps that,s a stupid question....

Click to expand...

The bother in law has one of those in built stoves - he just turns off the circulator pump when he doesn't want to heat the rads around the house. He's had the stove for years so may be the more modern stoves are different?

I have a stovax riva large model for 3 years, with electric fans. The wood does need to be dry - unseasoned wood smoke will (did) erode the interior baffles, needing replacements. Ashes need to be emptied once/week with everyday and night use. Takes very big logs, but the heat output from our freestanding cast iron stove is better. Main advantage is aesthetics, and takes much less room.