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chez
Joined: 13 Aug 2006 Posts: 35934 Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset
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Posted: Thu Jan 30, 14 6:34 pm Post subject: |
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I can't answer the tech questions without a lot of grind and a spreadsheet, I am sure that there are other people who can do that more effectively. However, as someone who has had various heating systems with a variety of shonkey solid fuel appliances, I think as gz says, if you are out all day, keeping it going on wood alone might be an issue.
Sean is probably going to shout 'bingo' if I mention a Dunsley Baker Neutraliser. But it might be worth considering, if you are prepared to change out your combi boiler as you do need to run it with a tank. You could then integrate the gas system with a solid fuel system. We had one in our house in Meifod linking both the oil boiler and the range and solar panels; and once we had it working properly it did a very good job of cutting the fuel bills. The solar kept the water in the tank at an ambient temperature (and very hot in the summer), the range heated it up from that in the winter; and the oil topped us up if we needed it. The radiators were also integrated to the system - solar panels don't do much for them, obviously.
Hope that gives you another angle, and welcome. |
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jonestimetravel
Joined: 30 Jan 2014 Posts: 4
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Posted: Thu Jan 30, 14 9:28 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the reply. I am just weighing up the possibility of using wood as the main source as the wood I get is 100% free and sustainable. The trouble is that I am unsure about what quantity I would require - and based on some responses so far, I am guessing that wood just wouldn't not last the 9 hours that we could potentially be out of the house.
So the two main factors are - if we burn wood - how long will it stay in for? And how often does it need to be topped up. If I have to use anthracite- then how much will I need to use based on my demands stated above? If I am looking at figures of 60 ton of wood per year, (one chap who has a similar model says he burns about a cubic meter per week during peak winter), then realistically I need storage for 120 ton to allow seasoning, and 60 ton is was beyond my guaranteed amount for free and definitely not viable to buy. So back to anthracite dilemma - how much would I have to use for that to sustain my needs, I.e. If It will need more than 2-3 tonne then that's going to cost about £1,000 so once again far too much.
Yes I have a gas supply, but I like the thought of being off the grid, and being able to source my wood fuel for free - although as I have said the amount needed for this rayburn may be way beyond what I can have for free.
Plus I like the fact that I am cooking with wood - it sounds daft, but there is something that makes it feel good!
Thanks all - I hope I get more response to the consumption rates. In the meantime I have found the Esse 990 CH, which in the brochure claims to be able to slumber burn for 24 hours on anthracite, and run for 5 hours on maximum output - I can't find any clear concise literature like that of the rayburn - which suggests that it may be inferior? Who knows? Anyone??? |
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gz
Joined: 23 Jan 2009 Posts: 8617 Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
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chez
Joined: 13 Aug 2006 Posts: 35934 Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset
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mochyn
Joined: 21 Dec 2004 Posts: 24585 Location: mid-Wales
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mochyn
Joined: 21 Dec 2004 Posts: 24585 Location: mid-Wales
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sean Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 42207 Location: North Devon
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mochyn
Joined: 21 Dec 2004 Posts: 24585 Location: mid-Wales
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Nicky cigreen
Joined: 25 Jun 2007 Posts: 9717 Location: Devon, uk
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Posted: Fri Jan 31, 14 3:33 pm Post subject: |
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I also have a wood fired esse - ironheart
its plumbed into a thermal store, which is also heated via a separate coil by a efficient gas boiler. We also have a spare coil to plumb in solar hot water if and when we get to it. This set up means we have mains pressure potable hot water - handy to fill up pans etc.
Although We are home a lot, we are not always in the house, and light the esse when we are in and feeling cold - makes the kitchen - which is the room we live in most - toasty, and makes lots of hot water and is easy to cook on
I don't find it hard to light or get hot at all - so I guess that comes down to how good the draw on your chimneys are. I can get it from unloaded and cold to frying on the hot plate in 20 minutes. Can easily get it hot enough to roast spuds on.
Other esse ironheart owners keep the fire in all night keeping the house warm and making hot water for the CH, but we don't, and allow ourselves to use the gas boiler for the times we are not in for long etc.
Previously we had a gas rayburn and the bills were killing us, even with letting it out in summer. We were going to go for a woodfired rayburn but liked the idea of being able to see the fire - and we haven't regretted the esse once - its just fab.
We haven't had the esse for a year yet, but over the winter months our gas bills are halved, and the house is a lot warmer. |
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jonestimetravel
Joined: 30 Jan 2014 Posts: 4
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Ty Gwyn
Joined: 22 Sep 2010 Posts: 4563 Location: Lampeter
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Posted: Fri Jan 31, 14 8:41 pm Post subject: |
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To be honest Jones,you are expecting a lot of performance from very little fuel.
It does`nt sound as if you have had a coal fire before by the questions on consumption,
An open fire would use 2 cwt per week,OK you could have a back boiler for hot water,say 1/2 ton per month to be sure=6 ton per year,
For a rayburn to cook on,supply hot water and central heating,it will be on full power for a good spell,Full Power = More fuel,
But of course you can supplement with wood when you are at home,so reducing your coal bill. |
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little blue duck
Joined: 01 Nov 2013 Posts: 13
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Posted: Fri Jan 31, 14 9:48 pm Post subject: |
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we have just had a Rayburn Royal MF (the older version of the SFW) fitted.
She ("Betty") runs 7 radiators, hot water & fabulous cooking facilities.
We can shut her down with a few mini-shovels of eco-coal and sometimes some logs on at night & just "riddle," open up her "flaps" and chuck on another shovel or three at 6am when I get up and she runs all night & day if its cold enough!
We use logs in the day eg for cooking.
You need a HETAS registered engineer to certify chimney work, plus any fitting bits - some won't do plumbing, or electrical work (pumps etc) so be sure you know what you need somebody else to do and get decent quotes. I think the certification on its own is £80-100, but I could be mistaken. We had quotes that were thousands of pounds different, so be aware!
And if you're buying second-hand - for goodness sake have a back up fund!! We've had to have a replacement boiler & new fire bricks (the ones it came with were wrong, possibly to disguise the boiler leak) plus fittings - hob screws, caps, insulation.
At least now we know how long the boiler is guaranteed for - and we're lucky enough to live close enough to a foundry (if that's the right word!) that make them for Rayburn - so a quick turnaround! |
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john of wessex
Joined: 18 Jun 2007 Posts: 2130
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shopgirlsue
Joined: 26 Jul 2006 Posts: 197 Location: Nr Shaftesbury
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Tavascarow
Joined: 06 Aug 2006 Posts: 8407 Location: South Cornwall
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