wood burners - Kent

Chicken casserole, Leek and Potato soup and hot water for a cuppa. Just the job on a cold day.

We have an Ottowa Cleanburn 12Kw stove which is very efficient and heats a large area. We installed it ourselves with the help of a builder who built the hearth.

DD lives in our bungalow which has a smaller woodburner set into the fireplace. The chimney isn't lined but the flue from the stove needs to pass through a register plate (6" hole in the middle) which seals off the chimney.

We have two wood burners, one for wood and the other a multi fuel burner. The multi fuel burner keeps in all night if you wish. Whatever you do a wood burner must be fitted by a HETAS registered fitter. CO2 can escape from badly fitted stoves, and they must comply with building regs. Flues, cowls, hearths etc
A CO2 monitor must be fitted in the same room as a stove.

We have two Charnwood stoves, which we bought separately and the fitter fitted them. I'd suggest viewing the stoves first and then getting the cheapest price for the model, online.

Costs depend on the model chosen and KW output, the engineer will advise you. We had 3 quotes for fitting and had some extra work done to the fireplaces, the cost for fitting was around £1500.
Hope you enjoy your stove, when you get it.

We used to have a Clearview in a previous house and if you can afford it I would recommend it as the controls are so good. We now have two Charnwoods (also British made) which are good and do heat the rooms beautifully but I miss the extra controls of the Clearview. But even the clearview window needed cleaning despite what the salesman may tell you, especially if you the burner on a very slow heat, but dampened kitchen roll dipped in the ash from the stove is all it takes, with a dry sheet to polish off.

Bear in mind that an inset wood burner heats the room less efficiently as there is only one panel facing the room whereas even if you have a small gap around the stove the radiation of heat from those extra sides and top help warm the room itself rather than just the chimney. If your chimney is an internal one the rooms behind and above sharing that wall also benefit from its heat.

Yes you definitely need a cowl!

Definitely get a cowl fitted - not only does it stop birds nesting, but next door got a squirrel down their chimney and the problem they had getting it out! I'm glad to say it eventually emerged very black but apparently unharmed . We have a Clearview stove which I can really recommend but I don't know whether you can get them in Kent. Ours has the updraught directed right by the glass so it rarely gets any deposit on it - and any that does settle is easy to clean off

Ours has a flat top - I have not tried the potato trick but now plan to!

Thanks for your responses so far, which are helpful. was hoping that someone may know of a good supplier they can recommend in the Kent / south east area where we can go to for a look, guidance and advice. it's a bit if a niche market I know.
I just found another thread from spring and it was useful because someone mentioned it's nice to have one with a flat top where jacket potatoes can cook...mmmm sounds lovely.

We've got an inset woodburner, and we did have to have the chimney lined. The liner is just a metal tube inserted into the chimney. I can't tell you what make the woodburner is. We bought it from my Sis in law as it was extra to requirements when they altered their bungalow. It's very efficient, and warms our large living room up nicely. I didn't want it to begin with, as I liked my open fire, but now I wouldn't change it.

Or even efficient!

We have a woodburner, an Austroflamm, and there is no chimney lining - it works fine. We inherited it in the bungalow we have just moved in to. It is very stylish - it is bright red!!!! We find it very eficient. We had to have the cowl changes to the relevant one.