Thursday 4 October 2012

Which wood burning range cooker?

As part of trying to plan the house layout we have been thinking what we would like the room arrangement to be (to help visualise how we will use the 'space'). We will eventually need this also for the plumbing and wiring layouts. Particulary the kitchen is quite difficult. I want to have a wood burning range cooker and there are so many to chose from. Which one does make a difference to possible layouts as the size varies as does the gap you need round it to avoid burning the house down. The location of it in the kitchen is fairly fixed as it needs a chimney.
It makes sense to get something that can take 50cm wood minimum as this is the most common length wood comes in. I haven't seen ones that take longer, this would obviously be convenient though as it would mean less cutting up of wood.
I am not sure what heat output we need, generally more is not better as we will have central heating (under floor) and don't need a huge amount of heat pumped out although some will be nice I am sure. A lot of cookers like these can also heat water. The disadvantage of this for us is that it is in the kitchen so you could not use it in the summer for hot water. We are planning on having a wood boiler dedicated to making hot water which will live in the garage/boiler room so we can run it summer and winter (as long as we make sure insulation between that room and the bedroom is good).

Opinions welcome :)

The ESSE Ironheart (£3,695 - inc UK delivery)
Width - 900mm
Max output - 9.7kW
Efficiency - 81.8 (insert needs to be purchased to achieve that)
Log size - 50cm

This is the one I really want, but it is quite expensive relative to some other options.
It looks gorgeous though and is very solidly built (weighs a ton).
Other possibilites are
The Broseley Savrana (£1,520)
Width - 970mm
Max output - 6.5kW
Efficiency  - 87.7
Log size -

Reviews say it looks and feels much more flimsey than the Ironheart and doesn't maintain oven temperature as well. But it is less than half the price. It still has the visible flames which I like

Wamsler 900 Creative (£2,500)
Width - 848mm
Max output - 7kW
Efficiency-
Log size -

This stove is made in Germany and gets good reviews for efficiency and durability as well as controlability of the heat in the oven. I am less keen on the look of it than the ones with visible flames although it does still look pretty smart.



The Firebelly Raven (£3,395)
Width - 897mm
Max output - 10kW
Efficiency - 72%
Log size - 50cm
Very modern looking. It doesn't have hob covers as far as I can tell which is a bit of a downside. The sleek modern look is an interesting alternative, but on the whole I think a more 'ye olde' would suit the farm house better.

DeManincor Monoblocchi Combination Cooker (£6,685)
Width -
Max output -
Efficiency -
Log size -
This one is interesting because it is woodburning range cooker, electric oven and gas hob combined in to one (v expensive) unit. Looks pretty cool. Don't you think it sounds a bit dangerous having your gas and your fire so close together??? Not sure if the gas hob would run on bottled gas, most can though so probably - price might rule this option out before practicality did...

La Nordica Romantica (£1,185)
Width -
Max output -6kW
Efficiency -
Log size -

This one is a 'budget' option according to the blurb, ideal for holiday homes, cabins and yurts. I read in someones blog (can't find the entry now) about using this in their summer kitchen for wood cooking in the summer when it was to hot to have their inside (Ironheart) running.


Nectre Bakers Oven (can't find price in UK but guy we got the pigs from bought one somewhere)
Width -550mm
Max output -6kW
Efficiency -
Log size -

This is a much smaller stove. Some reviews mention problems with them sooting up but others are nothing but positive.


Staub (3500EUR)
I have heard of Staub because they make iron pots similar to Le Creuset (they are French too), apparently they also make range cookers.
I really love the look of this one. As pretty as the Ironheart. Similar price I guess.

and they do one with a visible flame too (the Vulcano Elegance) but I don't like this nearly as much.

Perhaps these would be easier to source in France :)

There are thousands more for example more traditional looking Aga's and Raeburns, or some really old ones available on 'leboncoin' (online buy/sell anything in France) Perhaps they don't have the exact same efficiency as modern ones...

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