Clearview vision 500 stove Hot

Having had a British built Logfires Stove and an American cast iron Vermont Stove over 20yrs all I can say is that the Clearview Vision 500 is in a league of its own. It does absolutely everything that is claimed of it and it is incredibly economical. Very little ash is produced from either hardwoods or softwoods and the glass remains as clear as promised. Compared to the competition a Clearview is the least expensive. Avoid the rush to buy in the autumn and get it installed Spring/summer when the fitters are less busy. Easily the best present you can give your home.
Stove Expert Replied: Clearview giving a good performance for this customer. Nice review.

Good stove lights easy, gives out plenty of heat,Wasn't sure about buying steel bodied stove after owning a Coalbrookdale Severn, but seems all in all a good stove (bit expensive to buy.) added a 4inch refractory lining to the firebox to protect the lower fibreboard lining bought off ebay

Stove Expert replied: If the firebox linings are not a genuine spare extra care should be taken to insure that they are the correct density etc

Very happy with my stove,plenty of heat and easy to control.One of my best buys ever and would buy one again tomorrow.Have had this one a full year already and am over the moon with it,first class stove.

Stove Expert Replied: A very happy customer.

After having tried and tested many, many stoves in the market and pretty much all of the leading brands I had to complete my mission and bought the epitome of the 'English' stove a Clearview 500 to find out for myself how it compares to my Scandinavian all time favourites. Initially I was very impressed with the ease of lighting and its ability to burn a relatively small amount of wood effortlessly. However, after a short while the stove started to make clicking and banging noises which turned out to be a faulty weld somewhere in the stove. Clearview swiftly replaced the faulty stove and I had the joy of continuing my studies on version no. 2, which sadly also turned out to be faulty (this time another welding problem in a different place) Again, Clearview exchanged the stove without any fuss and I'm pleased to say that version no. 3 is now in place and does not exhibit any of the faults of its predecessors. Minor issues like the door not being aligned with the stove body, missing locktite on the brass handles are all problems easily solved if you are mechanically minded. On the plus side the stove works well, the glass stays very clean indeed and all the replacement parts are relatively cheap so ownership should be fairly cheap in the long run. Because the stove is very well insulated the heating efficiency of the stove is relatively low at around 65% but this can easily be improved by changing the vermiculite plates to steel fire brick plates to increase heat output and a more even heat distribution. The steel fire brick plates are also much more robust and will last longer than the relatively soft vermiculite. All in all it has to be said its a good product and apart from some quality control issues, which I'm sure Clearview will overcome I would recommend the stove to anyone.

Stove Expert Replied: It is refreshing to hear that a manufacturer exchanged the stove when a fault manifested itself, even if more than once!! Lets hope third time lucky!

Had my stove for about 4 years and in general very happy, but not happy with the state of the baffle which has sagged heavily and burnt away so that the flames go directly vertically and directly up the chimney now (I just burn wood). A new one for 60 quid is just too expensive for what it is..a thin (4mm?) bit of bent steel. Should have been thicker from the outset and when I replace it I will weld some extra sacrificial strengtheners onto it..and take measurements so that I can construct my own in future- This should not be necessary if it is built to an appropriate standard in the first place. This contrasts with the top plate of the oven, which does not get as hot, but which is made of steel approx 10mm thick, It always peeves me somewhat when necessary spares are made super expensive. Similarly, the stainless steel boiler I bought with it (not yet installed) was expensive, but very crudely constructed. I would consider going to another maker for one of these if I had to make the choice again.

I like the stove, but I will definitely look at other brands when I buy another one for a new extension that we are due to get built. Another fault is that the handle gets too hot..not a big deal, but I see that others have a brass wire 'cage' formed around them which makes for greater comfort- It's just attention to detail. Last point. When I bought the stove I was under the impression that I could add a cold air feed in directly to the bottom from outside the building. If you want this I understand you have to ask for it upfront as the stove does not come pre-drilled otherwise. Again not a big deal, but handy to know beforehand.

Stove Expert Replied: Get the flue checked if the baffle is failing quickly, it may be due to an over-drawing flue system which can be rectified if causing a problem.

This is the third stove we have owned so we had a good idea of what we wanted. We took the view that, considering also the installation and long-term running costs, the initial purchase price was only part of the calculation. The stove being made in the UK and not too far from us was also a factor, and this worked out well as the supplier, installer and fireplace builder were all well known to each other; the work was done on time and an early miscalculation was sorted out very quickly.
The stove lights easily and warms the whole house (we use an Ecofan). It is easy to control and seems to use fuel very efficiently.

The big glass panel is definitely a plus - the appearance is very much like an open fire. We also like the classic and simple design which would fit in with any style of decoration.

We have not owned the stove long enough to comment on its durability, but it certainly seems solidly built.

We are very pleased with this stove and would recommend it to anyone.

Stove Expert replied: These stove fans move the heat to give a balanced room temperature, they are quite expensive but worth the investment.

My first stove, I hoped it would change the feel of the house. It has delivered all I expected. The stove is clean burn multifuel but I have mostly used wood. Wood gives fast lighting , responsive adjustment. I don't try to keep it in overnight, I think it would do with solid fuel.

It lights with a single match, no need for fancy firelighters or special kindling, and will be giving out heat in ten minutes.

Only downside is don't underestimate the overall cost of installation, flue lining etc, it all added up. But it's one of the best investments I've made and the gas bills have dropped spectacularly.

Stove Expert Replied: Installation costs can be high compared to the stove cost but it will make all the difference to its performance so in the long term worth the initial outlay.

This is quite simply the best you can buy in my opinion, but it is very expensive. I have owned mine for 18 years & it still works extremely well. I have just had to replace the firebricks & the internal iron baffle plate (£60 inc delivery). Clearview were the first to use the airwash system but now most stoves have this incorporated. Other makes of stove are almost as good though & significantly cheaper.

Stove Expert Replied: Not a bad price for a spare baffle after 18 years of use, can't be bad!

I had just bought this stove and it is rubbish, the heat is pants, the price is to much, it cant burn over night, the fire box is tiny but for the stove size its size is good, the handle gets very hot, the grate system gets jammed, I went onto the roof to see how sturdy the metal chimney cowl was and noticed there were extreme heat coming out, and I wasn't having a chimney fire as it has only been in for 1 week. May be the stove is lacking efficiency.

Stove Expert Replied: Oh dear, one unhappy customer. Get the installation checked to insure it complies with the manufacturers requirements as this stove should give a good performance!

This is my second winter with my Clearview stove.I can only say how impressed I am with it. The glass stays clean and it heats a very large room efficiently.
Burning well seasoned hardwood is best as with any stove I guess.
We now very rarely use our central heating on the ground floor of the house and we have noticeably reduced our gas bill in comparison to before the stove was installed and that's taking into account what we spend on wood.
I tend not to deliberately overnight the stove as it is so easy to light but more often than not it still has glowing embers in the grate the following morning and can be brought back to life with some kindling in minutes.
I ordered my stove with the satin chrome handles and fittings for a slightly less traditional look ( can't stand anything brass!) and it looks mighty handsome.
Overall I am extremely pleased with my choice and if I were ever to move house this is the one item I would take with me.

Stove Expert Replied: Another great review for Clearview stoves.

We bought a bungalow with an Aga and a Clearview this summer. Initially it was all about the garden, but now it's all about the woodburner. Previous owner said she only put the central heating on when there was snow on the ground. We didn't believe her, but she was right!
We are burning seasoned oak from France and the fire stays in for 9 hours on ONE LOG. We are using 4 logs a day. Get an ECOFAN, leave the doors open and it heats the whole bungalow. Fab!

Had this stove now for a few months and it could not be better. It lights easily, the airwash is efficient, the heat out put is controllable (seem to get more controllability with well seasoned logs) and the big glass door gives a lovely view of the flames. I haven't tried to burn overnight, however one one occasion the fire did keep going overnight, so maybe a score of 3 is a bit mean.

Most importantly the stove is heating a large room which is part of a single storey extension, this room has always been difficult to heat but this stove is keeping us "well toasty". It isn't the cheapest stove out there, but so far I would say you get what you pay for.....and this was worth every penny.

This stove is good for a large room or, if you have a small cottage leave the room doors open and it will do the whole house. It is simple, robust and very well engineered. I've had mine for 15 years now, resprayed it a number of times to blend with the decor and would not be without it. The amount of money it has saved me in oil and electricity would buy another 3 or 4 of them. In that time I've lost a knob during a move (replaced foc by Clearview) relined it once using standard block insulation cut to size, replaced two machine screws holding the top plate into my low hood and replaced the fire rope seals once. Everything else is original, including the glass which remains clear and bright....and they appreciate in value!

How could it be improved? A device that holds the stove surface temperature to a pre set figure would be useful...I saw something like it on an old Franco Belge range, it controlled the air flow into the fire box....any chance Clearview?

Stove Expert Replied:
Great review and what value, little extra expense since purchase!!!

Would highly recommend these stoves but the explanation and instruction about how to use the Airwash, when and what affect it has on the burn rate would not go a miss. None was given in the literature that came with my stove. Could the "stove Expert" give an explanation below? useful to know the following.

With Airwash open and air supply turned down presumable this gets maximum heat from the burn but does not increase the rate of burn? or does using the air wash increase the rate of burn?

Stove Expert Replied: The airwash is mainly to keep the glass clean but allowing more air into the stove will allow it to burn at a slightly higher rate.
The primary air is the main control for this.

A first class stove - clean, simple and stylish. The build quality and attention to detail are excellent and it is a joy to use. Lighting and controlling once lit are quick and easy; the airwash works very well and the generous dimensions of the glass door provide a wonderful clear view of the fire within. If I had more houses I would buy more of these; expensive, but worth it. Regards.

Stove Expert Replied: Great review, nothing more to say as customer has said it all!

Like most others here, we rate this stove very highly - Like most blokes, I love just staring into flames (no - I'm not a pyromaniac! - it's just therapeutic). The airwash is very effective, quality is excellent, smoke control works a treat (observations of the lack of smoke from the chimney)

wrt to the person who though that it was an ornament, I suggest a visit to a local seller and a request for how to use it - or possibly use logs that have been air dried for a year or so - wet logs need quite a bit of the energy to boil off the water. I'm not being sarcastic - it's just that the unit belts out more than 4kW when used properly so if it's not fitted into a vast hall I just don't see how it can't warm a room up.

wrt the person who spoke of having to fit it into a small alcove, I semi-agree - we have 20cm at each side, 5cm behind and 25cm above - the stove sits on 12cm legs that are stuffed with kindling.

The alcove does heat up, but that helps to keep the room warm towards the end of the evening when we allow the fire to burn down. The heat output is so great anyway that the cry in the house has changed from "close the door" to "open the door" - it keeps the hall, stairs and landing comfortable! But - you can create a fan heater effect. I was given a small (7.5cm) diameter retro style "desk" fan - dinky little thing - Black like the hearth and stove. Put on the corner of the hearth for 5 minutes and angled at the edge of the stove it moves the heated air from the alcove about incredibly quickly - an instant boost! We rarely need to use it anyway and usually only at the start of the session to get the room warmed up - the stove manages perfectly well after that! Popped on a high book shelf and angled across the room it stirs the risen hot air, again giving an overall warmth boost.

wrt to the comment about smokeless fuel - we went in eyes wide open and are happy burning logs, rafters, joists and any other scrap I get from work - not ply, mdf and heavily painted wood of course!

We did a lot of research - Clearview came out very well. Our local seller confirmed the choice and we haven't regretted it. I only regret that we can't have one in another downstairs room - we could lose the central heating totally then! (and give me a second boys' toy to play with!)

Stove Expert Replied: Only use dry seasoned wood with a moisture content of less than 20% for best results. Great review.

We purchased our stove (which has the smoke control system) for just over a year, and would thoroughly recommend it.

However we have run into potential difficulties with smoke emissions - we live in a smoke control area.

We were naive in thinking when we purchased the stove that we would legally be able to use DEFRA "authorised fuel" ie smokeless coal as well as firewood.

However, be warned... as the Clearview Vision 500 is classed as an exempt appliance within a smoke control area (if installed, maintained and operated in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions), we have been told by our local Environment Protection Officer that it would be illegal for us to use DEFRA "authorised fuel", or anything else except firewood that has been split, stacked and air dried. (This is set down on the Statutory Instruments 1993 No. 2277)

The Clearview website states "This means that “Clearview Smoke Control Stoves” can be used in smoke control areas throughout the UK to burn wood and any smokeless fuel authorised".

However it's a really great stove if you are allowed to use it to its full potential.

Stove Expert Replied: Smokeless fuels can be used in a smoke controlled area, why you have been told that you can't use on a Defra Approved stove is very strange. Providing you have a grate system this should not be problematic. For a comprehensive list of suitable smokeless fuels please contact the Solid Fuel Advisory Association.

Simply the best Stove I've ever owned. The controllability is fantastic and the airwash system means I ever hardly ever clean the glass at all. Once the stove is up to heat, the central heating switches off (I live in a bungalow).

I could not recommend Clearview stoves enough

Stove Expert Replied: Good review again for Clearview stoves, controlled easily, airwash great happy customer.

I spent weeks on the selection and full marks to the whatstove website for help in the decision making. In the end it was a choice of three, Clearview, Aga and Franco Belge. I liked the looks of the Cast Iron stoves better than the Clearview but the final decision was based on the suppliers advice - " if you are going to use the stove regularly then Clearview is your best option".

I installed the stove myself, replacing a baxi open fire. This proved to be quite difficult because of the low level position of the two lintels. One supporting the internal wall above the fireplace and one supporting the bottom of the 'clay liner'. This meant, in my case, leaving the lintels in place to avoid a really large building job! However, this resulted in two problems. Firstly the Clearview flue adaptor (still not supplied yet after two months) will not fit on the bottom of the clay liner and , secondly, the resultant height restriction above the stove. I did not install a flue liner and so far everything seems to be fine, ie draw is good and no signs of condensation.

If you are installing a stove I would recommend that you need a minimum 450mm above the stove on order to fit the flue fittings. Also, the stove needs to be as far forward from any alcove as possible. Again I was restricted in what I could do since I did not want to have bends at the rear of the stove and complex openings for the chimney sweep, so had to use the top flue exit.

The end result means that the alcove heats up to really high temperatures because of the stove position and, having insufficient height above the stove means that I cannot fit a stove top fan.

There is room for improvements in respect to Clearviews' service levels. They did not respond to my email with technical enquiries so I had to make phone calls, the Installation and Operating handbook is poor compared with, say, Franco Belge and I'm still waiting the delivery of the flue adaptor, which they claimed to 'have in stock'. (I've had a fitting made.)

On the stove itself, there was some difficulty in lighting but leaving the door slightly open overcame the problem. Air controls are very good once you have tried them out and overnight buring has not been a problem, just a few pieces on smokeless fuel and a large log, close the main air control and leave the secondary air control 'just open'. The fire will still be alight 9 hours later and can be restarted with a couple of small logs. Heat output is simply a matter of how much fuel you put in the stove and how far open you have the air controls. No rocket science here! The glass door does need cleaning but maybe this is because of the overnight burns. No back on the firebox, adjustable feet very useful, handle gets hot.

Finally, the major advantages from the conversion are huge reductions in fuel burnt and no smoke or smells of smoke in the room.

Stove Expert Replied: Min clearance above the stove should be 450mm ideally and Documnet J should be adhered to. Installing a stove DIY is risky and should now be signed off by the local Building Control Department. Don't forget the CO2 alarm.

This stove was worth every penny. We ve had cheaper ones in the past and they've been hopeless. We've had it for just over one year and already got our money back as we haven't used our heating at all since (although we do have a well insulated house). At our last house we had the next size up - 650?- which was good too but used a lot of wood. It depends on the size of your room/house but overall I'm really pleased with this, it's transformed our home.

Stove Expert Replied: A case of you get what you pay for, great review!

It's been burning non stop since September, since replacing an old Jetmaster & lopping off the Aga's backboiler (which used an extra 49kg tank of propane each month on hot water).

It's well on its way to consuming 8 tons of logs each season (saving £~700 on propane, but by no means a false economy; 8 tons is a LOT to personally fell, cut, split & stack each year!

I specified a 10,000btu backboiler which does 2 'half' baths of water a day, but not much more; one small radiator is the limit! I installed a second small radiator, but if I use it the water can't keep up. Aside from an Aga, it is the only source of heating in the cottage.

Considering that it's burning 24/7 it's hardly missed a beat; although if stoked with logs on bed of embers (not flames) in a firebox thats still hot- 150deg+, the gases released by the wood can suddenly ignite with a hell of a bang (user fault, not design fault) Riddling overcomes this, and a bit of kidling thrown in which catches light quickly.

It also billows smoke out of the door if the baffle plats gets dislodged (user fault from stoking to the brim before over-nighting) Easily remedied.

The ash tray could be bigger, it needs emptying daily. Hot handle is a bit a nuisence. The whole unit is well buit though with reassuringly detatchable parts for easy servicing/replacement.


Most complanits are down to under calculating the heat requirement for my house & user error, so may replace it for something bigger. With the quanities i'm burning, i'd also like a wider firebox; but our consumption is exceptional.

It's a great bit of kit, but just not right for our needs. Hope this was useful for anyone considering heating their house solely by firewood.

Stove Expert Replied: It is most important to ensure that the stove purchased meets the customer / properties requirements, a little extra time at the beginning can mean satisfaction in all areas first time. Good feedback though.

WITHOUT ANY QUESTION , THE BEST STOVE IVE EVER OWNED , THE CONTROL , AND RUNNING COSTS ARE UNBELIEVABLE - THE STOVE IS EXCELLENT IN EVERY SHAPE AND FORM - I PROMISE , IF I EVER MOVE HOME , THAT MY STOVE WILL COME WITH ME !!

Have had her 3years, the Calor gas bill is 1/4 of what it used to be !!!
we burn both stove fuel and wood that a builder brings when he finishes a job, we are cheaper than the tip.We have a chainsaw , saw the logs just smaller than the door n in they go..the house has never been as warm, these fires are fantastic,very sturdy and excellent quality, n boy did I do my research before I bought.These firs are not cheap, but are deffinately the best.
Ours has a back boiler which I would seriously recommend, free hot water GREAT.
It will stop in all night, damp it right down , put stove fuel on (a good shovel full)tiny amount of draft n its still bright at 7am from 11ish the night before.
Next purchase is a gizmo that attaches the fire to the central heating then all the house will be warm for nothing.
If in doubt buy a Clearview with a back boiler and you won't be sorry.

we install clearview woodburning stoves amongst other manufacturers and by far they operate the best. the control is fantastic the build quality is super. yes they are not the cheapest but by a long way not the dearest. for excellent results from your purchase or your proposed purchase then this stove and all the others in the range are the stove we reccomend hand on heart.

We bought the stove in March this year.
The stove is really easy to light and once it has reached temperature is very economical. We bought a thermometer which tells us of the ideal temperature. We burn coal as well as seasoned wood, the stove will easily stay in all night. We have left the stove for twenty four hours and it still burns up when you open the damper.
Our lounge is about 19 foot square. The recommended stove for this area is 10 kw, however our 8 kw Clearview is more that adequate. Once the stove gets going the room quickly warms up and this valuable heat then heats into the kitchen. The central heating is now redundant. We are saving a fortune in heating costs and the stove will pay for itself very quickly. It is a simple design with basically nothing to go wrong. I understand that the door seal will need to be replaced every so often, however, this is basic fire rope and I understand very easy to do.
I now would not be without a multifuel stove but would only go for a Clearview. We bought a coloured Clearview stove and expected that after a time it would show signs of burning, to date it shows no sign at all of blackening on the outside.
It is such a pleasure to come into a warm lounge and to be able to sit down without multiple sweaters in an attemt to keep warm. Well done Clearview.

This is an expensive stove and one would expect a high quality product that works well. Thankfully, I am delighted with this stove (after one of the coldest winters on record!) and consider it an excellent investment.

Don't be put off by the only moderate efficieny rating of this stove - my experience suggests that it is very honest, whereas others may be 'overstating things' somewhat! Once up to temperature it will provide more than enough heat for a very large living room whilst consuming about 1 - 1.5 kg wood per hour. Infact, this stove heats most of my home (a resonably large 4-bed house) through the winter with only the support of an AGA at the opposite end of the house. However, as with any stove the efficency is only as good as the fuel and if one is relying on wood alone then it is important to use well seasoned logs to achieve optimal performance. The ease of lighting the stove will, of course, depend on individual chimney configurations etc. but with dry, softwood kindling and well seasoned fuel it lights very quickly (normally just one match) and is up to optimum burn temperature in about 40 minutes.

The firebox is a great size - especially if you rely on splitting timber from rounds whose length may vary (i.e. it can accomodate relatively large logs for an 8kw stove). It burns both coal and wood very well - although if you are intending to burn through the night you'll need to bank up with coal - it won't take you through to the morning on wood alone (however any stove of this size is unlikely to achieve this). Some others here suggest that you can't overnight this stove - this is NOT my experience as long as it is fully banked with coal at about 10.30 pm, set to burn on minimum rate, and re-stocked with wood by about 7.00 am.

There is little doubt that the build quality exceeds almost any other stove. The design is simple and there are few frills - but this means that the product is exceptionally well designed and you are paying for quality rather than fancy looks. Features such as double glazed glass are uncommon on other brands yet standard on a Clearview. Similarly, easy-to-adjust hinges mean that door draughts can be eliminated in a few seconds as the ropes compress (so you don't need to replace rope seals anything like as often). Similarly, all handles are solid brass - there is no 'coated' steel here - but they do get very hot and you'll need to use stove gloves. This is a minor irritation. The airwash is exceptional - I burn every day and wipe over the glass about once every two weeks.

In summary - you'll pay more for a Clearview. However, if you are looking for a stove to rely on every day, that will heat well, need little attention and can take you through an overnight if necessary then you really should consider spending the extra and buying one.

Burns well, but then so do most.
Airwash works, but so do all if you use the correct fuel.
Efficient, only 70% so nothing special.
Left with the feeling that this is more marketing hype over real substance.
An expensive yet ordinary product, packaged in a seducing way...........a bit like my 1st wife.

It's an excellent, well made stove, but I think a little balance is needed here...

As well as this, we also have an East European stove (Copy of a Danish one apparently) which is the taller, more contemporary type. It cost half what the Clearview cost; and, in my opinion, is just a little bit better all round - it's made of thicker steel, it gives out more heat when wanted but is more controllable, and the airwash works much better. The taller contemporary stoves work and look better than the squat British type, in my opinion - the view of the fire is far superior too.

In comparison the clearview is a tad over-engineered and over-priced.

I don't want to criticise clearview unneccessarily - you will enjoy owning it, no doubt, but there are other stoves out there which obviously most of the reviewers here have not tried, and if you haven't tried it, don't knock it.

I bought this stove on the reviews it received from this web site. I had no knowledge of wood burners at all.

What a fantastic stove easy to light and the way you control the wood burn rate is fantastic, I can slow the stove to stay in all night and adjust it so a single flame just flickers across a single log.

It took two men with a trolley to position the stove the guy remarked cheaper ones he can put in himself with out assistance they are that much lighter. Obviously the cheaper ones last no time at all.

The glass stays clean but can be brought back to as new with a damp cloth.

With the logs I was gullible enough to just think you throw them on and get your self a bonfire, you don't just place a few on and watch them burn down to nothing then put a few more on and do the same.

If Simon Cowell rated this stove it would be the X factor winner

Moving back out to the countryside from a town, I wanted something that helped to remove me from the shackles of the cost of oil fired heating.

After visiting a local stove shop I was recommended the Clearview 500 vision, and haven't looked back in the three months of ownership. It lights easily, and the air wash keeps the glass very clear, using it every evening and most weekends it only needs a wipe of the glass weekly.

It handles all types of wood really well, and the large glass doors means that you really get the full benefit of the gas like dancing flames - in face the first time this happened I was concerned the wood has chemical in (it didn't). The stove even remains hot through most of the night, and with some careful planning and a good bed of embers I have got it through the night some weekends.

I now use the stove to heat water for drinks, cooking veg etc. rather than the electric. I could not recommend this product more, and even though it's one of the more expensive stoves, I think that it's worth that little extra.

Ok, so the handle gets hot, but the gloves supplied are excellent, and at least the vent controls remain cool. I wouldn't be without it now that the frosts have arrived.

We've had our smoke-free Vision 500 for ten years and when we moved we brought it with us.

In our previous house it was perhaps a bit big (hot) for the room we had it in, but we dealt with that by having a good burn and letting it die down until just embers were visible, and then going for another burn.

In this house, it is perfect, it heats the open plan living room/kitchen and the bedroom above. Since getting a Clearview Pioneer in the other downstairs room, we haven't had to use our central heating at all! No gas used for space heating means our annual gas bill is less than £100. But I do get through about 5 tonnes of renewable logs a year!

Our Vision is a flat-top and we cook on it, with a kettle for hot drinks, pans for potatoes, pasta and rice, soup, frying pan, a big 4 gallon pan for washing up water and baths, and two huge 8 gallon pans for bathwater. On top of these big pans we have cake-racks with slices of fruit drying, even 'stove-dried-tomatoes'! With the door open for a few minutes, we toast bread and crumpets with a toasting fork.

We keep it in overnight easily, the window doesn't soot up, and parts are replacable. The double glazed window came loose once and one of the panes broke... we were easily able to replace this. We have also replaced the firebricks once as the back one wore away with logs being (oops!) chucked in.

Be careful to burn the stove with the under-grate air closed (unless when lighting or getting it going) as it can brn too hot, and someome (!) damaged the turbobaffle, partly melting it so we had that replaced too!!!

BUT, despite this apparent catalogue of repairs, we love our Vision hugely and it's a big part of our low carbon lifestyle.
John Cossham, York

What a fantastic stove, had this stove for three weeks now and not one regret. The cost of the stove was rather more than we had first planned, but after much research and talking to people our decision as made. Last winter we ran an open fire in a grate, although it gave the effect we wanted the work involved with supplying of wood and dust and cleaning out every day was rather time consuming. The stove is far better, it uses a 1/4 of the wood and pumps out 3 times as much heat. It only needs the ash emptying once a week and lites so easily. The airwash works fine, we have the smoke control kit fitted which I think always allows a small amount of airwash and doesn't allow you to close it down completely, so stops the glass from sooting. It has a good sized fire box with a lovely large glass door so you can see all the dancing flames, which when it is burning well is magnificient.
One point to note don't get too bigger stove for your room, we are sat with all the doors open to let the heat into the rest of the house!

The best stove we have ever had. You really do get what you pay for with woodburning stoves...!

Burns really well and stays in overnight if sensibly managed.

We bought it on recommendation from the chaps at Sarsen Stoves, and it does all we need it to do.
We are now looking to fit the back boiler option to the stove, as its output is so very good.

Not the cheapest one on the market, but we have had this model now for almost 5 years, and it still looks as good as the day we first fired it up.

Airwash is great, and you need to get a decent bed of ash for it to really show its stuff.
When it is working perfectly i.e: the wood is being "charcoaled", the flames dance a few centimetres above the logs, and "non woodburning" people think its a gas fire - we soon put them right !

The fully lined chimney helps, and I wonder whether those who have left poor reviews for this stove have actually been shown how to use it correctly, or , have their chimneys correctly lined ?

We have the flat topped version, with enough room for a kettle, stockpot, frying pan etc, and its great fun "brewing up" in the lounge...!

Works best with big lumps of well seasoned hardwood, but equally happy - though obviously burns down quicker - with softwood logs and less well seasoned wood.

Would thoroughly recommend the Vision 500.

After trawling through a mountain of brochures, visiting endless showrooms and online review sites we finally settled on the Clearview Vision 500 and had it installed in February. We couldn't be happier with it and it looks even better in the flesh than in the brochures. The simple design and large window, easy controls and ash pan mean that it is a pleasure to use and the heat output is impressive. The handle does get hot but useful gloves were included so have had no problem there and we have not managed to keep it in overnight yet - but that is probably down to our wood rather than the stove. Highly recommmend for an 8KW stove, especially its British roots.

The handle is made of metal and heats up and burns your fingers. This stove is very expensive when compared to other, similar products on the market. The user has good control over the fire through the two air intakes, however.

Just purchased my third Clearview, and my second Vision 500. Cracking stove, run it hot and it's at its most efficient. Nice looking & extremely controllable. The Clearview's aren't cheap, but in my view you get exactly what you pay for. Glass stays clear, a fine focal point for any room. Roll on winter......

The Clearview is robustly constructed (and indeed quite heavy for its size at I think about 120Kgs). I understand that all of the seams are welded which means that there shouldn't be any panel gaps as the stove ages. This will help in burn control as air won't leak in (or smoke out). I think that the single door is preferable to a double door model as it is easier to seal and you get a better view of the fire. The option to have the 2 inch legs was a boon to us as our fireplace is not very high. The complimentary leather welding gauntlets are a nice touch as they mean that you can place the logs accurately on a hot fire rather than throw them in from a distance - they also have a multitude of other uses such handling a difficult cat.

The design manages to avoid the overtly baroque embelishments of some traditional stoves as well as the rather industrial looks of some ultra modern ones.

If you are installing it yourself (as we did) then plan the logistics carefully due to the weight - going down a step is do-able but you wouldn't want to go up one. we used lots of wooden blocks and a trolley made from an old kitchen work top and 4 heavy duty castors. Watch out for the air inlet control rod which sticks out at the bottom and seems comparatively fragile compared to the main body. The instructions are refreshingly no-nonsense and avoid those worrying technical drawings.

A good all round stove. We have the multifuel version and if you use a little coal overnight burning is easy otherwise with dry seasoned logs they tend to burn out. A good stove with great heat output. Hardly had the heating on all winter in a good sized house. We even boil an Aga kettle on the top.

Having lived with woodburners for 40 years the Clearview 500 is by far the most efficient and pleasant stove to live with that I have used. Current model has been in use for 14 years and provides warmth and comfort on wood and coal. Now we avoid mixing the two fuels as it is hard on the chimney liner. The stove can be freshened up for looks with an annual or bi annual spray with stove paint. The glass stays clean with wood or coal when not damped down. The design is simple, robust and efficient. No experience of back boiler but wish we had one.
If you can't accommodate an Aga the stove provides a similar useful heat source with its flat top giving a useful cooking surface for Jams, Marmalades, etc. any long slow cook, assuming of course that it doesn't upset your domestic Yin, Yang or Zen. Recommended.

We have had this stove for 18 months and love it. It lights easily and burns through at the end of the day; we pull the wood burning control fully out then. We once tried it with coal and that was a success too. We find it useful to wipe the interior of the window after about 5 days of burning. This stove replaced an open coal fire and the convenience of a controlled and safe fire with minimal mess has turned us evangelical about this wood burner.

This is an excellent piece of kit that is well made, puts out plenty of heat and if turned up high will keep a clean window. The back boiler was simple to install and is effective at providing hot water. Combined with a solar water system we rarely need to use the immersion heater.

I have had this stove for over 10 years and have burnt everything from broken pallets to split hardwood. it burns clean with a beautiful lazy flame. and during all this time I have only had to replace 1 fire brick. In my new house I will be fitting a clearview stove.

Superb stove, had it 5 years. I have had it on for 3 months at a time. Clean burning with minimal ash deposit. It looks good and the heat can be controlled extremely well. Even heat up scones and muffins (in silver foil) if inclined. Lights out in winter and you get a great flickering fire. As we have occasional power cuts the back boiler gives plenty of hot. Recommend unreservedly.

We are just in the process of buying our third clearview stove,(one was left in previous property)

Clearview are more expensive than other stove manufacturers, but is the price reflected in the product? I can only answer this with a resounding "yes!" my Clearview burns all winter-morning, noon and night without any trouble (and usually with poorly seasoned wood). If you are looking to buy a new stove, looking at prices will definitely cause false economy.