Franco Belge Montfort stove Hot

Have had the stove now a couple of years after a bit of research. A tossup between a Morso squirrel and the Montfort, chose the Montfort multi fuel as the glass was larger and better for wider logs. We live in a small terraced house. The stove has completely transformed the front room and heats the whole house up if its on most of the day. It lights with ease and is very controllable. It does not stay in all night even with coal but sometimes just a few glowing embers are there in the morning, But the fire needs to be made the next day. Being cast iron it tends to retain the heat for a long time after it dies down. One little downside the glass tends to blacken easy if the air is reduced before the fire is fully lit. Its very frugal to run 5 or 6 logs and a couple of shovel fulls of coal lasts all evening.the air supply needs to be adjusted to get the most out of it. We are very please with this stove and would buy this product again.

Stove Expert Replied:The glass should clear once the stove is up to working temperature providing the wood is dry and seasoned. Household coal is not recommended and smokeless fuels should be use, this may be why the glass blackens!!

Did absolutely loads of research before taking the plunge with this stove - choices were more limited as we needed a DEFRA approved stove because of the area that we live in. This is our first stove, we had it fitted by a Hetas approved engineer who did a very good job. Saved about £1000 by buying the stove on-line and getting in an engineer, rather than paying for a company to do the whole lot. Did suffer some hassle though as one company took my money and ran - managed to get my money back through visa and bought from Stores Direct who were very good (guess this is one of the cons of not using an established company to do the lot). Had to buy the smokeless kit with the stove, which I feel Franco Belge should really have included with the stove. Anyway, now fitted, we're really really pleased with the stove, it's transformed our lounge. Gives out plenty of heat and we are happy with the large viewing window which was an important factor for us. Takes a bit of practice to get lit, but I think this is the case with all stoves. Pumps out the head and is more than adequate for our through lounge. Haven't tried overnight burning yet, but will do once I find a smokeless fuel. Came well packaged, would certainly buy again. A worthwhile investment.

Stove Expert Replied: Nice review but supplying a kit that is not required in most areas would seem not practicable hence the extra for smoke controlled areas.

Bought after much research and deliberation and very pleased. Thought it would be too small for the large living and dining room, but as per other reviewers, it pumps out the heat indeed! I sometimes think more than the advertised output.

We installed it with the outdoor vent kit, so it draws air from outside. Also could close off the horrible drafty air-brick as well - so win-win. Works like a charm!

We burn 5-6 logs of well-seasoned wood and 5-6 coal ovals a night, so it is pretty frugal as well. Especially when compared to our older Jotul that was very hungry indeed!

There are a lot of stoves out there, but if you want one to fit in a standard opening with minimum fuss and want a nice controllable stove, then I strongly recommend looking at this one!


Stove Expert Replied: Very economic and controllable, good feedback and resolves an air vent if direct air control kit is available.

Great burner with high heat output BUT major problems with door hinges locking so that door pins gradually screw themselves out so that the door will no longer close. After several attempts to repair the door my supplier fitted a new door which gave the same problem after only a few days of use. The seal on this new door also fell out and had to be refitted by the supplier.
I am now awaiting a replacement burner to be fitted by my supplier which may not be another Franco Belge product!!!!!!!!!!

Thrilled with this stove!! We burn HomeFire briquettes and it is brilliant. Sooo toasty. Looks wonderful, nice thick glossy enamelling. Lovely big wide window....and if you pile it up before bed it stays lit overnight. Looks totally classy. Just love it! Well palleted when it arrived from Franco Belge. I would definately buy from this range again. Usage is childs play.

all i can say is fantastic stove could not choose better.

I too never normally write reviews but this stove has transformed our sitting room and I cannot recommend it highly enough. It is incredibly efficient, a doddle to light and control and it looks fantastic. We have the cream enamel version which looks perfect in a light and airy period sitting room. The only negative comment is that the airwash system has not kept the glass 100 per cent clean but this is probably due to us overloading the small (but adequate) firebox so that the logs touch the glass and also the poor quality of some of the wood we have used.

We have been so impressed we are about to buy a bigger Franco Belge model for our other fireplace.

Firstly, I would like to say I never normally write reviews, but am so happy with this burner, that I felt obliged to spread the word!

We spent a while reading up on all the reviews and then went and looked at quite a few different makes and models.

My neighbour had actually installed this exact model in his house about a year ago and was really pleased with it.

Overall this burner has been brilliant.

Excellent build and really easy to use. Feels very solid, sturdy and the handles are good too. (We looked at some cheaper makes at a "countryside chain", and the handles were a real giveaway as to their lesser quality.

The stove kicks out plenty of heat and some reviews suggest more than its 5KW. We have it in an open plan downstairs, semi and its been plenty warm enough.

It does die down over night with wood, Its a smaller burner so I think thats fair enough. I reckon if you load it up with a woodburner multifuel "coal" at the end of the evening, then it would probably still be going in the morning.

The Airwash system is pretty good, but not excellent. I quick rub with a scrunched up newspaper over the glass works for me every couple of weeks.

The ashpan works well, collecting all the ash and is easy to remove without spilling everywhere.

Franco Belge is quite an expensive make, but its so true about getting what you pay for. Dont pay the RRP £750, there are some good deals to be had out there. Im not sure if I can say how much we paid (Please Edit if you want),but more like £600 inc delivery. Try buying in the summer!
(Dont buy a cheap woodburner, I have two friends who have regreted it, one has already replaced his after only two years.)

When our burner was delivered, Franco Belge had really packed it well and obviously on a crate. We lifted it, crate and all straight into the fire place, but couldnt understand how it weighed so much more, when we tried to lift it off the crate. After much back ache and rude words, my wife pointed out that it was attached by bolts through the bottom of the crate!

Anyway 10/10 for a cracking stove and really recommended.

I did plenty of research before I decided on this stove. Good value for money, easy and simple to use and belts out plenty of heat for a 15 x 15 high ceiling room. I don't leave it in over night.

We've had our stove for over 10 years and it's wonderful. Good choice of colours to suit your decor. Some of the parts have been replaced recently (grate and back) but getting spares was easy and quick to install.

In the last decade we've had to buy wood just once when I was too poorly to forage for wood. we must have saved a fortune in fuel costs because once the stove is going, it heats most of the house and the central heating goes off.

I find that elm and beech are the best woods to burn (beech must be at least a year old since felling).

Just one niggle - when we have a gusty wind from the East, we get smoke blow back of smoke when the stove is first lit, but it soon settles.

We couldn't do without our wee stove - it's part of the family!

Stove expert says: the smoke problem is a chimney problem and would be very likely to be fixed by fitted an anti-downdraught cowl.

EXCELLENT CHOICE OF STOVE

Nice modern looking stove, with clean lines. I have looked at many stoves and find it difficult to find anything as attractive. I particularly like the fact that the handle is not a removable handle (as for me there is possibility in would drop that in wood basket and lose it). Also the glass door is large, so you have a good viewable area.

This is a nice stove that's easy to light and with good quality wood is really efficient. Seems like a very sturdy construction that would be easy to maintain. Does give off a fair amount of smoke when getting going and when not run hot though.

Easy to light, easy to manage, and within a short space of time the room is glowingly warm. Fantastic little purchase.

Loveley little stove and very efficient in the modern house it is set in.