WhatStove?

Review of hunter Herald 5 slimline stove

Hate this stove!

Gaynor 11 years ago

We have two wood burners: our Charnwood is fab but the Hunter Streamline is a dirty dusty beast in comparison. The firebox is too shallow to be practical so every time you open the door piles of ash fall out. Also, when you open the door, sometimes it sucks smoke into the room. Certainly, when the doors are open and you are trying to load it up with more fuel it will often smoke the room too. Our Charnwood is totally clean in comparison. The mantel is covered in sooty dust and needs to be cleaned on a daily basis. It seems like its internal areodynamics are poor.

We too have had problems with the internal firebricks cracking, and we are on our third set in four years. We also have found we need to replace the rope seal quite often too. Only the doors are cast iron so it doesn't radiate heat like other stoves we have had in the past. It is only because they are such expensive things that we haven't ripped it out and replaced it yet. I intend to replace it with a Franco Belge next time.

Stove expert replied: The problem with the smoke coming back in the room may be caused by the Charnwood flue having a stronger draw on it that the Hunter one and when the doors on the Hunter are opened the flue gases do not have enough lift to get them away from the firebox and they get drawn back into the room. Often when more than one chimney is used probelms can occur. Speak to a Chimney Expert for further advice.

Overall rating:

2.5 flames

Build Quality 2 flames (avg 3.9)
Quality of finish 2 flames (avg 4)
Value for money 3 flames (avg 3.7)
Ease of use 1 flames (avg 3.9)
Ease of lighting 5 flames (avg 4.3)
Firebox size 3 flames (avg 3.6)
How well does the airwash work 3 flames (avg 4.2)
Controllability 2 flames (avg 3.8)
Handle operation 3 flames (avg 3.8)
How likely are you to buy it again? 1 flames (avg 3.5)
What is your overall satisfaction? 1 flames (avg 3.6)