Wood burning stove repair

[Steph-a-knee]

Recently when using our stove there have been some loud cracks and bangs coming from it when it gets up to temperature, when I say loud, I mean loud enough to scatter the cats and the dog from their dozing in front of the fire and make me spill my tea.
When I took the fire bricks out I discovered that the weld at the back right corner has almost disappeared leaving quite a wide gap. Also now that the weld has gone, the plate with the lip at the back which the baffle plate sits on has warped and is curving into the firebox. I think the picture shows what I am referring to. Has anyone experienced this with a stove before, and can it be repaired and a new plate welded in place, or would I be better off buying a new stove? Thanks in advance.

 

[anzani]

Not economic to repair in my qualified opinion. I suspect the stove has been overfired so if you replace it, buy a stove with designed capacity to meet your needs.

 

[br jones]

As above

 

[Dry Rot]

What make? If it's a long established make, the chances are the panels are known to go and can be replaced. My local blacksmith is currently repairing a Jotul wood burning stove (Jotul F118) for me that is probably at least 50 years old. The stove is still manufactured in the original design (because it works, folks, and doesn't need "improving" so it won't!) and all the panels are replaceable.

Two "burn plates" are consumer items and simply lift out to be replaced when they eventually burn out or crack. And if anyone is interested, the repair in this case is replacing the bolts that hold the panels together as they have rusted out, need drilling out and replacing.

In the sitting room, I have a Woodwarm that was refurbished by the dealer, bought as new but with a 30% discount. I believe they replaced the boiler that was leaking and the whole stove replaced under warranty.

 

[A1an]

That looks like its been burning HOT!

 

[Pistonbroke]

Have an efel cast iron stove here and the whole flue outlet cracked out. £1250 for a new one or £5 of cast rods,so tried it and still in one piece 12 yrs later

 

[Tim G]

What make? If it's a long established make, the chances are the panels are known to go and can be replaced. My local blacksmith is currently repairing a Jotul wood burning stove (Jotul F118) for me that is probably at least 50 years old. The stove is still manufactured in the original design (because it works, folks, and doesn't need "improving" so it won't!) and all the panels are replaceable.

Two "burn plates" are consumer items and simply lift out to be replaced when they eventually burn out or crack. And if anyone is interested, the repair in this case is replacing the bolts that hold the panels together as they have rusted out, need drilling out and replacing.

In the sitting room, I have a Woodwarm that was refurbished by the dealer, bought as new but with a 30% discount. I believe they replaced the boiler that was leaking and the whole stove replaced under warranty.

How do you get on with the Jotul? We have one here and I just can't seem to get on with it at all.

 

[Dry Rot]

How do you get on with the Jotul? We have one here and I just can't seem to get on with it at all.

Which model? They produce quite a broad range and have a very good reputation. I suggest a good chimney sweep as a first call. I was about to spend a lot of money on a fancy new chimney cowel but my sweep put one on that was half the price and removed a thick wad of tar from around the top of the pot that the previous (and twice as expensive) sweep had missed. That cured it.

Incidentally, the installer who had fitted the stove in the first place put some weld mesh over the top of the pot which caused the initial problem. The tar had built up on the mesh almost entirely blocking it. That was replaced with a cowel that allowed birds to enter -- and they blocked it again with a nest. That sweep did not believe it until I produced photos of the birds entering! It was the third man who sorted the problem.

So, if your stove is from a reputable manufacturer, presumably they got that reputation by producing stoves that work. Try another chimney sweep with a good reputation who will offer a guarantee. My smoking stove cost me a visit to x-ray and a report to HETAS when I started coughing up blood! Get it sorted. Smoke can cause cancer.

 

[Highland Mule]

Best stove I ever owned was a Jotul #1 - wish I'd taken it away when we sold the house. Would love one in this place but current stove has a boiler as well and the #1 doesn't.

Worth knowing that some burn best when they are half full of ash - I never emptied the Jotul, but just let the logs burn on a pile of ash and anything that fell out the door was swept out to the bin. Seemed to burn incredibly clean and clear, and left a very neat ash layer with no clinker or half burnt logs in it ever.

 

[milkloss]

Ash also protects the grate and other steelwork from direct heat.

 

[anzani]

Ash also protects the grate and other steelwork from direct heat.

Fine wood ash applied with a pad of damp newspaper is effective for cleaning a stove glass. It does not correct the reason the glass becomes sooted!

 

[Highland Mule]

Fine wood ash applied with a pad of damp newspaper is effective for cleaning a stove glass. It does not correct the reason the glass becomes sooted!

No glass in a Jotul #1, although you can run it like an open fire with the whole front open and slid underneath, and a mesh screen on front instead.

Best stove I ever had.

 

[anzani]

What make? If it's a long established make, the chances are the panels are known to go and can be replaced. My local blacksmith is currently repairing a Jotul wood burning stove (Jotul F118) for me that is probably at least 50 years old. The stove is still manufactured in the original design (because it works, folks, and doesn't need "improving" so it won't!) and all the panels are replaceable.

Two "burn plates" are consumer items and simply lift out to be replaced when they eventually burn out or crack. And if anyone is interested, the repair in this case is replacing the bolts that hold the panels together as they have rusted out, need drilling out and replacing.

In the sitting room, I have a Woodwarm that was refurbished by the dealer, bought as new but with a 30% discount. I believe they replaced the boiler that was leaking and the whole stove replaced under warranty.

Yes, BUT if it is steel with welded seams, there will be no bolts. Cast stoves are bolted together as the castings are 'flat', using fire rope seals. While steel plate could be welded again, stresses may result and warping occur. Generally, its either a warranty issue (FOC exchange by supplier), misuse by overfiring*- replace with new.
* due to enthusiasm or cracked/missing liner bricks- operator error

 

[Dry Rot]

No glass in a Jotul #1, although you can run it like an open fire with the whole front open and slid underneath, and a mesh screen on front instead.

Best stove I ever had.

I had one when I lived in Glenlivet. They certainly give out some heat. Unforrtunately, the purchaser of the house made it a condition of the sale that cetain items were included and the stove was one of them. He also got the wardrobe in the bedroom because it couldn't be got back down the stairs. (I'd moved it in through the window). I've always felt a bit guilty for not telling him it hid a hole in the bedroom wall and whenever the stove was lit, the room filled with smoke......

 

[Highland Mule]

I had one when I lived in Glenlivet. They certainly give out some heat. Unforrtunately, the purchaser of the house made it a condition of the sale that cetain items were included and the stove was one of them. He also got the wardrobe in the bedroom because it couldn't be got back down the stairs. (I'd moved it in through the window). I've always felt a bit guilty for not telling him it hid a hole in the bedroom wall and whenever the stove was lit, the room filled with smoke......

There was a #1 at Dingwall Implement sale last year. I spent a lot of time pondering where I could fit in another chimney...

 

[Dry Rot]

Yes, BUT if it is steel with welded seams, there will be no bolts. Cast stoves are bolted together as the castings are 'flat', using fire rope seals. While steel plate could be welded again, stresses may result and warping occur. Generally, its either a warranty issue (FOC exchange by supplier), misuse by overfiring*- replace with new.
* due to enthusiasm or cracked/missing liner bricks- operator error

Serves them right for buying cheap rubbish! Apparently, the Jotul 118 has been made to a similar design since the 1930s.

 

[anzani]

There was a #1 at Dingwall Implement sale last year. I spent a lot of time pondering where I could fit in another chimney...

Jotul No1, Refurbished

Jotul No1, Refurbished

www.knight-stoves.co.uk

Without endorsement nor recommendation. A museum piece beneath modern efficiency standards but you could use
150mm Twinwall insulated flue for no- chimney applications.

 

[Steph-a-knee]

What make? If it's a long established make, the chances are the panels are known to go and can be replaced. My local blacksmith is currently repairing a Jotul wood burning stove (Jotul F118) for me that is probably at least 50 years old. The stove is still manufactured in the original design (because it works, folks, and doesn't need "improving" so it won't!) and all the panels are replaceable.

Two "burn plates" are consumer items and simply lift out to be replaced when they eventually burn out or crack. And if anyone is interested, the repair in this case is replacing the bolts that hold the panels together as they have rusted out, need drilling out and replacing.

In the sitting room, I have a Woodwarm that was refurbished by the dealer, bought as new but with a 30% discount. I believe they replaced the boiler that was leaking and the whole stove replaced under warranty.

It's a Yeoman, which I think is Stovax.

 

[Highland Mule]

Jotul No1, Refurbished

Jotul No1, Refurbished

www.knight-stoves.co.uk

Without endorsement nor recommendation. A museum piece beneath modern efficiency standards but you could use
150mm Twinwall insulated flue for no- chimney applications.

300mm log length is a laugh. I once fed a 3m tree trunk through one over the course of a weekend. Just pushed it in a bit more every time I passed.

Twinwall flue would be fine, but not in keeping with my (300 year old) house.

 

[anzani]

It's a Yeoman, which I think is Stovax.

They offer 12 months warranty with the option to insure for a further 4 years at extra cost at time of sale. How old is your stove?