Franco Belge Monaco stove Hot

Bought stove in november 2010,had one year. stove looks great but thats as far as it goes.Open the door to put on the recommended seasoned wood and smoke billows out everywhere.When it is very windy outside you cannot control fire as settings simply don't work,it will not stay in overnight,disaster from start to finish.Why should you have to make modifications,it clearly is not fit for the purpose it was sold for.

David Treadwell's idea of the steel supporting bar 80 mm high works a treat. However having taken the whole stove to bits, the holes at the back are already blocked and my stove blazes away as ever. When I bought it in 2008, I made a big fuss and Franco-Belge changed it, under protest, 3 times because the top damper didn't work. After that I gave up as it still didn't work. I can light the stove with both dampers closed and have no control over it. Any ideas?

I have three FB Savoys already and bought this Monaco used, though as new, for another 'holiday cottage' I have.

In this kind of location it is important to have the stoves working well and the comments of others below I can sympathize with - but especially the Stove Experts view of the importance of getting the draw of the flue/chimney properly assessed.

I have my stoves in different places in the same large (barn conversion) building. They all have similar height chimneys but each draws very differently and the draw varies from day to day. Still days and windy days, wind direction, even ambient temperatures, seem to be very significant and affect the fires differently. Hence, you have to get to know your stove - like a new pet, or partner even!

The thing to remember is that stoves need to be able to draw some air through to burn the fuel - but the correct amount to burn the fuel as fast as you want it to burn, which depends on the heat you want. This probably depends as much on the chimney as the stove but - as with the modifications to the permanent air-holes at the back mentioned in other reviews - you can change the "default" draught to suit your chimney. I don't think it is reasonable to expect a HETAS installer to be able to set up the fire for the windiest (best drawing) of days if he/she isn't there on that kind of day. And it does depend on wind direction and other things as well therefore you have to do your bit as well.

So, be prepared to tinker a bit and adjust the draught - one way or another (which could be with a flue device) - so that there is sufficient draught for a still day/night but not too much for a windy day. And remember, different fuels have a bearing on this too. Many small logs with a lot of surface area will burn more fiercely than one or two large logs. And different woods, and coals burn differently. You have to find what's best by trial and error. But, ALWAYS, use dry wood - at least 12 months since it was cut and logged.

Have fun - your stove will repay you with years of great pleasure once you've got it matched to your chimney and fuel.

Stove Expert Replied: Sound advice but always remember not to allow the stove to draw ferociously/ uncontrolled for long periods as this may damage them. Logs that are no larger than 4" 100mm diam are best, dry and seasoned this varies on wood type.

Having compared the look of several stoves, online and in store we decided that this was the one we wanted mainly due to the large viewing area/glass frontage. I researched as much as I could and found this site very useful as some potential problems had been listed and overcome.
The first thing I did after I fitted the stove was to block up 4 of the 6 holes in the fire bricks at the back of the stove by simply placing a bolt in each of the holes I wanted blocked, this immediately gave us the control of the stove and with both vents closed the fire burns nicely, open the vents and 'whoosh' the fire roars.
Secondly the baffle/top plate is a bad design, even with the controlled burning this plate warped which causes it to drop down slightly at the back and come adrift of it's resting points at the front. I overcame this problem by simply placing a piece of 1"x2" steel bar underneath the rear of this plate, I cut this at a height of 80mm which now holds the baffle plate in the correct position.
So to summarize, if you want to fit/have installed a stove that is trouble free from day one this may not be the stove for you, If however you are prepared/capable of overcoming these two issues then you will have a good looking stove the performs superbly

Stove Expert Replied: If you modify the stove then you will have invalidated any warranty. As the baffle has warped in such a short space of time I would be looking to find the cause to insure that no further damage will become evident in the near future.

My parents bought a Franco Belge Monaco multi-fuel woodburner about 2 years ago, having been advised by the dealer that this was one of the best makes available.
After about 4 - 5 months the top plate buckled and everytime the door was opened to re-fill our living room was filled with smoke. After contacting the dealer we were told that part was not under warranty and we had to pay for another one. They also said we were burning the wrong wood (but all our wood was 2yr old seasoned), also they said we were burning the fire too hot! When both vents are turned off completely, how do you burn it cooler??
We have now been through 4 top plates since we have had the fire and the same problem has occured with all.
After a very heated discussion with the dealer, they agreed to talk to Franco Belge on our behalf. Franco Belge have now admitted that there is a design fault and have offered to supply us with a new woodburner (next model up) FOC.
My advise to anyone having the same problems is DO NOT give up and keep hassling your dealership.

Basically, the design of the fire cannot cope with the heat it produces and it's very hard to control the heat produced with such a basic venting system.

Stove Expert Replied: If when the new model is installed you still seem to have lack of control, it would be worth investigating if the flue draw is excessive as this can be controlled thus preventing distortion of components due to the stove running at too high a temperature. It is not always a manufacturing fault!

have had this stove for a bit more than a year, and was so fed up with the lack of controllability that we were going to change it this summer! then found this site, read the review by David Bell, identified totally with his comments, spent two minutes with a tin of fire cement blocking four of the airholes, and lo, we have a stove which is so different it's unbelievable. And this after repeated complaints to the supplier only elicited the response that the draught was factory set, and not alterable apart from with the top and bottom controls. READ THESE REVIEWS, FRANCO-BELGE! Thanks again, David, I owe you, mate!

Stove Expert Replied: It is only when you use a stove that you get to know it. Useful tips from other users can be invaluable. Glad to hear you now have good control.

Bought this stove end of Dec 2009 installed mid Jan 2010, after the first few fires the main air control situated at the bottom of the stove did not feel sturdy and then fell apart. The small rectangular metal plate on the end of the rod came away completely (with nothing more than an shaped cut in the metal for holding it onto the rod by gravity) and the fireproof cladding which had been glued on had all but disntigrated.

Appears to have been a design change as it differs from the markings on the cast and that in the brochure, its a push pull design as opposed to a sliding side to side action. Quiet frankly its not fit for purpose and in comparison to the rest of the stove is of poor build quality. As i have not had a real chance to test the stove adequately i can now look forward, it appears, reading some of the comments to having the baffle warp as well!!

The stove does punt out a good heat rate but even with the controls in perfect working order i get the feeling that it would not be the best to control.

Fire box size good - but again due to so much air the fire is so fierce that im left with fine dust.

The air wash works well - but then ive got more air than i would like pouring into the fire so i would expect to be clean in the circumstances.

At present im in discussions with the supplier so im waiting to see how repairs / spares pans out.

A potentially good stove blighted by a poor and flimsy intake device. I even attempted to contact Franco Belge direct re this but no response as yet and thats from begining of March 2010.


stove expert says: I would try to reduce the draw on the chimney for starters either by fitting a draught stabiliser or flue damper.

Had exactly the same problems as many contributors.

Baffle plate literally disintegrated after only 6 months. Buckled very badly allowing smoke to billow out when opening to refill. Really unhealthy and worrying.

Plate was replaced FOC by the company who fitted it, but, 6 months later, the same thing has happened again!!!! Supplier onto this problem again.

My overall impression was that there was little or no control over the ferocity of the fire. With 6 vents at the back, they were constantly firing the fire pit and many evenings we were struggling with the heat being belted out,and having no control over it. I have now pushed in 4 bolts to close 4 out of 6 vents and the difference is amazing. Fire very controllable, flames literally dance around the fire box and it gives out a more gentle, consistent heat.

The plate issue still remains unresolved, but I am pretty sure that the plate has been damaged by the ferocity of the heat. With the bolts in place to tamper the air intake I am sure the fire is now fully controllable and the baffle plate will (when replaced) stay in its correct shape.

Having said all that, the fire is stunning to look at. The very large glass door shows off the fire superbly and despite the problems, I would go for Franco Belge fires again as their design is first class.

Our 2 Jack russells literally fight over the prime spot and visitors are impressed with its appearance.

We've had this stove since September 2009 and as instructed only burn seasoned dry wood on it. It is never used at full capacity and never overloaded. I found yesterday that when i opened the door the stove belched plumes of smoke out into the room and flames were coming out and licking around the top of the stove. I called the engineer that fitted it to see if the flue could already be blocked but he had never heard of this after only 5 months worth of use.
I then saw that the flue baffle was warped, stopping the fumes escaping up the chimney. I called the supplier having found the reviews on this site stating the same had happened to other stoves. I spoke to a woman who rudely and abruptly told me that I had overfired the appliance and used innappropriate fuel. I use dry seasoned wood from a stove firewood supplier. She refused to accept that there is a problem with the stove and told me she didn't like my tone of voice or the implication that these stoves are not fit for purpose. Thats it, no offer of help, assistance or further advice on how to avoid this happening again. Simple advice, don't buy from ACR Heatproducts in Birmingham. If your stove fails, it'll be your fault. You've been warned.

Update to review: ACR have e-mailed me to say that as a gesture of goodwill they will be sending a replacement baffle 'free of charge'. The reason i wanted to pass this on is because I thought it unfair to not give ACR credit for their change of heart.

V Good stove

This is a great Fire, looks great, air wash is good; heat out put is high but not east to control. BUT. . .

As with the previous 2 comments I have also had the flue baffle warp. The fire is only 1yr old. We only burn wood, (free from the local golf course) and have been accused by the manufacturer of over firing or using a non specified fuel, which I might add we didn’t as we have had fires before with no problems.

I am an engineer by trade and I deal with cast parts all the time.
I argued with dealer and supplier and eventually they supplied a new part at cost £15.

I am still a little unsure if this is the modified part that is discussed below, following up with ' This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it '.

The replacement part is a solid plate and at the bottom there is a half moon extension bolted on. The bolts on this part also failed. They are too small and sub standard for its required job.

Also in my opinion flue baffle looks to be missing a vital 3rd cross rib in the center which allows the panel to warp in the 1st place.

As per Mixed Ratings statement - "think the manufacturer should have alerted all suppliers to ensure that the modification was made to the stoves before they were sold, instead of leaving it until users complained"


Stove expert says: I have spoken with the importer for these stoves and am assured that the problem with the baffle has been fixed for quite a while now (it is Nov 2010 as I write this).

This is a great Stove. I love the large clear view of the fire.
The big glass gives you the large clear view of a modern contempory stove but with a more traditional frame. This stove will look great in almost any style of room or property.
Just like some of the other reviewers I did have some problem with the baffle, but was issued with the modified part and securing plates free of charge.
The biggest problem i had was of control, I couldn't shut the fire down to slumber. Dry timber would roar away even with both dampers fully closed and the glass would discolour around the area of the latch.
I have had the stove for 18 months now, and during the first winter I enjoyed using it but found that wood burned much quicker than I wanted. There are 6 holes in the vermiculite material at the back of the stove, three on each side, that can bee clearly seen through the glass. It was quite obvious that even when the dampers were fully closed the strong chimney draught was pulling air through these holes and feeding the fire. I also found that air leaked through the door seal next to the handle and this cased an area of dirt to form on the glass around the leak. One evening I opened the door and the door seal stuck to the stove as I opened the door the seal tore into three parts.
I visited the approved distributor / installer I had used and offered to come out to repair the seal however I accepted his offer to give me a length of new seal rope and fire glue to complete the repair myself.
Whilst I was repairing the door seal I made two other deliberate modifications and the Stove is now a joy to use.
1. I removed the fire bricks and using DIY Store bought fire cement. I blocked the holes in the back wall of the stove (I used some short bolts to plug the holes first so I could remove them if it was not an improvement) and re-fitted the firebricks
2. I used the fire cement to fill in the small gaps above and below where the door latch is bolted in in the surface where the door seal makes contact with the stove. I sanded this down when it was dry and painted with stove paint.
The new door seal rope was the same diameter as the original but of a more dense material and provided a tighter seal.
The result of this modification is a tremendous amount of control. Once the stove is lit and hot I can close down both dampers and hypnotic flames appear in pockets around the top of the stove light the northern lights, pale blue and translucent yellow flames move in slow motion off the logs.
The glass also stays much cleaner and only just discolours slightly at the very bottom after a day or so but it can be wiped off or burnt of by giving it air and burning the fire hotter.

The best feature of the modified stove is the long slumber properties of smokeless fuel pellets. I now use a re-formed smokeless coal and I can load the stove full of fuel, close both dampers fully and the stove will give off a consistent steady heat for up to 24 hours. I’ve even left it 32hours and still had enough glowing embers to re-light kindling without paper.
I use well seasoned Oak and Ash logs and each log will last between 1 to 2 hours, surprisingly the stove actually gives out just as much heat for longer now I can shut it right down than it did when it was pulling through more air. I love the smell of the Oak and Ash wood smoke if you open the door quickly and little wafts into the room.
Very pleased with this stove but the modifications have made it even better.

Slightly mixed feelings about the Monaco. Had the same problem as a previous reviewer, in that a cast iron supporting lug for the baffle sheared off, leaving the baffle lopsided and the fire unusable. Having said that, once I made the supplier aware and she pulled out all the stops to get the modified baffle and supports fitted. Since that was done the fire has been excellent. I only rated the "burning overnight" as a 3 because I haven't actually tried it yet, so don't really know about that element. I'm not convinced that the airwash works properly, despite burning very dry logs the glass still gets a bit tarred at the bottom. However, a damp kitchen towel dipped in a little bit of ash gets it off easily enough. Controllability is not great - the difference between fully open and fully closed at the top vent is very small, and so it's a bit hit and miss when trying to adjust it. This stove is great, but only if you get the modified part fitted. The trouble is that you only become aware of the problem when the baffle fails. I think the manufacturer should have alerted all suppliers to ensure that the modification was made to the stoves before they were sold, instead of leaving it until users complained.

Wonderful fire. Great view of the fire as glass is so large. This was one of our main requirements as our last multi-fuel was a lot smaller and hence the view was not so good.

Belts out lots of heat. Easy to use. Impresses all our guests with its looks and
efficiency. There is nothing better to greet friends than a roaring fire and a pile of cut logs in a basket on the side on a cold winters day.


Dogs adore it too !!!!!

Really happy with this, it is our first stove and replaced a terrible inset gas fire. It produces a huge amount of heat yet can be set 50mm from a rear wall as it has a built in heat shield at the rear. It has a large glass front which allows you to see the flames and the airwash system works well. Coal/anthracite based fuel burn overnight without a problem but soots the glass somewhat, get some wood burning hot and the glass is clear again in no time.

If I keep it going 24hrs a day it will heat my entire home with the interior doors open to allow the heat to travel (1930s 4 bed detached).

No looking back, I now own a chainsaw, axe, log grenade and have a wood pile :)

We bought our stove in late 2008. I genuinely did not realise how cold our house was before we bought the stove. I was used to it - well as used to it as is possible under 5 layers of clothes! The stove is very easy to light and heats up the room within a really short space of time. It is a very large room 32" with high ceilings with an aga at one end and now the stove at the other, a wall of east facing windows and a large south facing bay window. The airwash system works well if you have really dry wood and the vents open. If you let it sit and simmer the large window does soot up but it is really easy to clean.



The handle comes off which is good as it means you don't just grab it and forget it may be hot.



The ash box is a good size so it doesn't have to be emptied every day. If you build up the ash it burns even better!



We have a multifuel stove and when the North Northumberland wind blows we put on a layer of anthracite and it belts out the heat.



I LOVE THIS STOVE! It is a great design classic and contemporary so will fit in with most property styles.



We had it fitted by a stove expert which I think is key to getting the best from your stove.



We want another one!

detachable handle not ideal & no riddler, otherwise very good stove.