WhatStove?

Review of Hunter Herald 80b boiler stove

It works

Dolf Walg 10 years ago

I ordered the stove and installed it against an outer wall in the kitchen. We created an external chimney with dinak pipe and 12 meters up. I took the connection for the pipe on top to avoid an immediate curve in the pipe, so just above the stove I have a 45 degrees angle and just after the wall at the outside again a 45 degree angle and after that only straight up 12 meters as I also found some info on the internet further curves at the top really decrease the pull of smoke. I have the multifuel type but basically burn wood. The kitchen where it is has a volume of 80 m3 and gets easily very warm as we also have underfloor heating in the kitchen next to the direct heat from the stove. Thanks to the hole in the ceiling for the stairs to the next level the direct heat can also escape, otherwise the heat would near to kill us. The room above with a volume of 160 m3 with 4 larger radiators also gets warm. We have another 10 radiators more up in the house, but basically we hardly use them (hall, bedroom floor and loft). In all it is comfortably warm in the house and I really take the ch thermostat down to 15 degrees to save on gas which originally feeds the central heating system (ch). Basically I am quite satisfied about the stove. We decided to have some specific safety measures installed, so the circuit is closed till the stove reaches a certain minimum temperature and in terms of maximum if the temperature of the water reaches 90 degrees, the water is pushed out of the stove boiler outside and refilled automatically with cold water. I have a temperature gauge in sight always so I can get used to the way it responds. I created a space around the stove above and next to it so I can store quite a bit of wood for a couple days (above and both sides) so it really gets dry and even a bit warm. I have no problems with smoke although I was told by someone trying to sell another brand they do give smoke in the room (nonsense). As long as the wood is dry it functions fine. I do recommend to use a electrical paint burn off tool (I got a simple cheap one for 25 euros) to help initial burning of the oak splinters. The charm of lighting wood soon disappears in everyday life. The whole installation cost me about 1300 euro for the stove, 2000 for external piping and 2000 connecting and safety issues.

It also gave me a hobby in chopping wood in winter.

Stove expert replied: Not a good idea to store wood close to a stove to dry it out, it should be at least 450mm away as it is combustible!!

Overall rating:

4 flames

Build Quality 4 flames (avg 2.7)
Quality of finish 4 flames (avg 2.8)
Value for money 4 flames (avg 2.5)
Ease of use 3.5 flames (avg 3.1)
Ease of lighting 4 flames (avg 3.2)
Firebox size 3.5 flames (avg 4.1)
How well does the airwash work 4.5 flames (avg 3)
Controllability 4 flames (avg 3.6)
Handle operation 4 flames (avg 3.4)
How likely are you to buy it again? 4 flames (avg 2.5)
What is your overall satisfaction? 4 flames (avg 2.7)