WhatStove?

Review of Bergen stove

A powerful and attractive "pure" woodburner

Mr David 9 years ago

I'm in a bungalow with 5m of twinwall insulated flue, straight all the way off the top of my Bergen, and up through the roof. The flue works very well and shows practically no sign of soot after two years of use.

The fire is amazing and on most winter evenings provides ample heat for our big 5x6m room from a single 25cm log. Mind, this is after lighting the thing correctly and getting the stove hot.

The first rule of running a Bergen is; Get the stove hot before trying to heat the room. By hot I mean burnt clean inside! Try throwing on a big log when it's still cold and you'll quench the fire and just make smoke.

Like any quality woodburner it needs loads of kindling, stacked up like a funeral pyre on top of a well split down log forming a base. Let the kindling burn fast and hot with all the air vents wide open and the door ajar. The kindling embers will then heat and ignite the split down log underneath. So long as all the wood is split slender and seasoned it will catch and heat the stove fast.

Remember you have 120kg of thick quality steel, cast iron and massive firebricks to heat up. This is not a flimsy little multifuel with an open grate and primary air to feed a coal fire. It's a quality woodburner that needs attention and effort to light correctly.

My Bergen usually accumulates about 1 to 2 months worth of ash before I need to empty any out. It's a joy to live with, the whole firebox and air system is so well balanced that the air controls need very little adjustment beyond opening fully at initial lighting and before going to bed. As others have commented the Bergen can provide an output of between 3 and 7kW with ease, you just add fuel as required.

Overall rating:

5 flames

Build Quality 5 flames (avg 4.5)
Quality of finish 5 flames (avg 4.7)
Value for money 5 flames (avg 3.8)
Ease of use 4 flames (avg 3.7)
Ease of lighting 4 flames (avg 3.6)
Firebox size 5 flames (avg 4.5)
How well does the airwash work 5 flames (avg 4)
Controllability 5 flames (avg 3.4)
Handle operation 5 flames (avg 4.3)
How likely are you to buy it again? 5 flames (avg 3.7)
What is your overall satisfaction? 5 flames (avg 3.8)