Wood burner heating some radiators

[Vegfarmer]

Hi,

Looking into running some radiators off the log burner which would have a back boiler. Thinking two radiators upstairs and one downstairs ideally a simple gravity fed system.

This would be an independent circuit to the combi boiler as id presume that'd be more simple and could still have instant heating.

Anyone else looked into what system is the best (most simple, reliable, cheap to install and effective)?

Advice appreciated. Cheers!

 

[Top Tip.]

Hi,

Looking into running some radiators off the log burner which would have a back boiler. Thinking two radiators upstairs and one downstairs ideally a simple gravity fed system.

This would be an independent circuit to the combi boiler as id presume that'd be more simple and could still have instant heating.

Anyone else looked into what system is the best (most simple, reliable, cheap to install and effective)?

Advice appreciated. Cheers!

If you are wanting to buy a wood burning stove to heat the water as well youwill need to hurry up as they become illegal at the end of this year, something to do with emissions .
.

 

[renewablejohn]

If you are wanting to buy a wood burning stove to heat the water as well youwill need to hurry up as they become illegal at the end of this year, something to do with emissions .
.

Have you a reference for this as I nust have missed it. Is it not just a case that they have to be approved like the Dunsley Yorkshire already is.

 

[Flatlander]

Might want to add some more radiators to the loop. Had this back home thirty years ago and there is nothing worse than having the ti expand the system one you realize the wood stove has more heat than your able to make use of. We have a cast iron wood burner in our cabin. It’s the only source of heat as it’s off the grid. You’ll be amazed what heat the wood will produce. capturing that heat is another problem.

 

[Kidds]

Look up what a Dunsley Neutraliser is and get someone to fit one.

 

[Top Tip.]

Have you a reference for this as I nust have missed it. Is it not just a case that they have to be approved like the Dunsley Yorkshire already is.

I am in the process of fitting a new wood burner at the moment and this is what I have been told by three different suppliers. The reason being that having the boiler included makes them unable to meet the emissions regs because they basically don’t get hot enough.

 

[renewablejohn]

I am in the process of fitting a new wood burner at the moment and this is what I have been told by three different suppliers. The reason being that having the boiler included makes them unable to meet the emissions regs because they basically don’t get hot enough.

That quite frankly is suppliers in a panic as there selling stoves that are not approved to meet the regs. The boilers that are approved like the Dunsley Yorkshire have a combustion chamber of fire brick reaching very high temperatures and the exhaust from that is then used to heat the boiler.

 

[Top Tip.]

That quite frankly is suppliers in a panic as there selling stoves that are not approved to meet the regs. The boilers that are approved like the Dunsley Yorkshire have a combustion chamber of fire brick reaching very high temperatures and the exhaust from that is then used to heat the boiler.

I take it that will be at a cost though?

 

[renewablejohn]

I take it that will be at a cost though?

The initial cost is more but long term the stove is far more efficient due to burning at high temperature rather than smouldering that you soon recover the additional costs by burning far fewer logs. The other point being you can normally get external air supply kits for these stoves as well which is a big plus. Think my Dunsley was 1000 more than the cheapest chinese boiler from machine mart but after 12 years its still running 7 radiators and heating the whole farmhouse whereas the chinese would be worn out.

 

[rollestonpark]

My sister has a boiler stove, been in for about 10 years+
It is plumbed in with an oil boiler heating the whole house (underfloor downstairs and rads up).
Biggest problem they have is getting rid of the heat and the system boiling.
Doing this again, I'd do the following:
Install a buffer tank in the garage, maybe 1000 (- 2000 ?) litres depending on house size / stove size.
Get a good commercial plumbing engineer to draw up a system that sends excess to the tank and uses it when the stove is out.
Use an undersized boiler stove and burn HOT, otherwise chimney blocks with soot.
Burn HOT and for long periods on an undersized stove rather than slow on a big stove.
Then let the boiler kickin maybe to take up the slack on the coldest of days.

Correct plumbing will be the biggest issue, you need a system designer for that.

 

[br jones]

I done it with a Rayburn ,smallest boiler (10000) I think ,separate system ,rads upstairs creating a drying room for clothes ,and a tank of steaming hot water ,3tap on the bath ,

 

[Bald n Grumpy]

Despite being told it wouldn't work I ran 2 wood burners with boilers on the same copper cylinder. No problems but couldn't run burners to capacity, plan was to add radiators but didn't get that far. Had to put a new burner in and didn't go to expense of a back boiler this time so back to one.

 

[mo!]

Put a proper log boiler with a thermal store in an outhouse and keep all the muck out there. Somewhere you can get to with a telehandler. I used to love our stove but I don't miss it now I have a warm house when I come in.

 

[Vegfarmer]

My sister has a boiler stove, been in for about 10 years+
It is plumbed in with an oil boiler heating the whole house (underfloor downstairs and rads up).
Biggest problem they have is getting rid of the heat and the system boiling.
Doing this again, I'd do the following:
Install a buffer tank in the garage, maybe 1000 (- 2000 ?) litres depending on house size / stove size.
Get a good commercial plumbing engineer to draw up a system that sends excess to the tank and uses it when the stove is out.
Use an undersized boiler stove and burn HOT, otherwise chimney blocks with soot.
Burn HOT and for long periods on an undersized stove rather than slow on a big stove.
Then let the boiler kickin maybe to take up the slack on the coldest of days.

Correct plumbing will be the biggest issue, you need a system designer

 

[Vegfarmer]

Thanks all for the advice. I'll contact a local heating engineer and see what system/design they recommend. Separate system may be the way forward with a few more radiators

 

[90hp farming]

Put a proper log boiler with a thermal store in an outhouse and keep all the muck out there. Somewhere you can get to with a telehandler. I used to love our stove but I don't miss it now I have a warm house when I come in.

I agree with this - we had a outdoor furnace in circuit with the old oil boiler. this way the house was still warm if you are not there to stoke the furnace.
I looked into it all and reached the same conclusion as @mo! - why cart all the wood into the house and all the ash out. plus you only have to stoke the furnace twice a day.