Jotul F 100 Hot

We bought this stove primarily because it had a huge firebox compared to other 5kw or smaller stoves. We also like the fact that it can push higher than 5kw if needed (7.1kw I believe is the max). It's an amazingly heavy stove, being entirely cast iron and glass. That means it takes quite a while to heat up and it might be nice to have a stove that transmits heat a little faster.

Really the only real negative is getting it lit. We have the wood only option, and it has no second vent for lighting. That means leaving the door open and blowing a lot. Once it is lit all's well, but getting it going drives us a little crazy.

One last note - someone mentioned that the door knob comes loose, and we have found this to be true and I have already tightened it twice in the less than a month we have had it. But the handle stays nice and cool and works great.

Compared to the alternatives there was really no other option below 5kw with a very large firebox, but I would probably look for something a little more technologically advanced if I were to put a stove in a future house.

Stove expert says: sometimes lighting some newspaper in the stove first will help heat the chimney. Then proceed as normal with lighting the stove and you may find it easier as the chimney will draw or suck a bit better.

This is a great stove:
I have had it installed with a stainless liner and flue pipe from the back.
I installed it half under the stone fireplace lintel and therefore it works great as a convector (although it's a radiant type stove) because the void under the lintel throws the heat out and it will heat half the house in 2 - 3 hrs.
Glass is always clean and the stove doesn't need much cleaning out (every month or so).
No smoke seen coming out of the chimney (apart from when newly lit).
Uses a very modest amount of wood considering the performance.
It can be a pig to get started but once going it's extremely easy to use.
I can't get it to burn over night, I always have to set the fire again next day but don't mind as it's a great stove and there's a good view of the fire always.

Incidentally - my neighbour has a f100 also - it's newer than mine - the difference is that jotul added a lower air intake and a grate.
He likes the f100 also but says it can be difficult to light and he also has to set the fire next day - but I notice that there's always smoke coming out of his chimney - I don't think he knows how to work a stove.

Stove Expert Replied: It can be a problem to keep some woodburning stoves in overnight depending on the flue draw and where the controls are set. Normally there would be enough hot embers in the ash to re-kindle the stove. It will also depend on the quality of wood being burnt.

We have had 2 previous Jotul stoves plus a Morso and 2 other brands of woodburners. We have had or have 3 other woodburners all installed in this property in similar height flues. The previous Jotuls and the Morso have been excellent. This stove is of excellent build quality and finish quality and looks great but in this installation it is a complete failure. The stove has a newly lined 10 to 12 m flue in an existing Victorian chimney stack. The stove will not light without filling the room with smoke and it is extremely difficult to get the output from the stove to start moving up the flue. We are using the rear flue outlet at the back of the stove and on this stove both the primary and secondary air inputs are at the top of the stove. The result is that unless the flue is already hot then the output from the stove finds it easier to escape through both of the air inlets than to exit the stove through the (lower and less direct pathway) horizontal flue outlet and start moving up the flue. Consequently the room fills with smoke exiting through the air inputs.

To my mind it's largely a design fault with the stove to have both air inputs at a higher point on the stove than the rear flue outlet. I doubt it would be a problem if using the top flue outlet as the hot gasses will take the easier path. Our previous Jotul and Morso stoves in similar installations have all had primary air inputs at the bottom of the stove door and have all been trouble free.

I would not recommend using this stove with the rear flue outlet.

Stove Expert Replied: How long is the horizontal flue run, it should not be more than 6". You have along flue system was it sized according to this or just the stove? Was the flue liner insulated as this will make a big difference? As you have other flue systems that are active in the property this can and will effect the way they operate with each other as some may have a stronger draw than this system you are having problems with. Is there an air vent in the room? Try to operate this model with the room door shut (providing you have a vent) as you say get some warmth into the system (possibly just a lit candle in stove for a while before trying to light it) this may help. If still having problems you could always get expert advice from chimney specialist.

Fantastic wee wood burning stove.

Turns my lounge (7m * 4m) into a sauna (one wall is glass) in 2-3 hours.

Owned one 2003 - 2011 - it has been just superb.

After nearly 8 years of operation I finally have a problem - the baffle plate at the top cracked - 60 quid to replace.

The ash build up is very slow - I typically run the stove most weekends during the winter and when I'm at home on holiday, I empty it every 2-3 months in the winter.

The glass is a pain to clean - but then again if you are careful and keep the wood away from the glass it burns the tar off itself.

I haven't owned any other stoves - but I prefer it to the multi-fuel stoves ma pals have. (Much cleaner and smells nicer than coal).

Never had a problem with wood supply. (I'm not picky)

The cracked baffle plate may well be due to the zero amount of maintenance and cleaning I have done in the last 8 years.

The air-flow over the lum is extremely variable (it can get very windy) this can make the stove very hot in windy conditions - another possible explanation of baffle plate damage. Reducing the airflow vent does help - but not much in stormy nights.

It is a wee bit more expensive that comparable products - but imo well worth the additional money. The build quality and the cast iron retains the heat for quite a while.

If you were to design a perfect stove with glass it would probably look allot like the F100, it would be even better if the firebox was 10cm wider (allow 50cm logs).

Copes very well with a wide variety of firewood - from green to well seasoned to pallets.

If your looking for a stove - you could do allot worse.

Stove Expert Replied: If the stove shows signs of becoming very hot in windy conditions it may mean that the stove is being exposed to higher than normal working temperatures and yes this can cause distortion to the internal components. This should be rectified by either a damper or stabilizer installation. This should not be left unchecked as further damage can occur.

This is my first wood burning stove and it is superb. Living in a smoke control area i needed a Defra approved stove, so bought the multi fuel kit to go with the fire, although i read a review someone wrote saying the wood only stove worked better than the multi fuel version i have no issues it's simplicity itself to light this fire and although i only burn wood it is nice to know i could if I wanted burn coal as well.
Don't expect this stove to burn over night it won't, most modern wood burning stoves are not designed to do that any way with there permanently open air supplies.
If you are undecided on a wood burner and are considering this stove believe me you will not be disappointed with the F100.

Excellent allround woodburner, price is good in comparison to clearview aga esse etc for similar size.
It lights effortlessly couple of firelighters kindling and a couple of logs leave the door ajar for 5 mins and away you go.
For similar priced woodburners the firebox is good value and by no means small. Averages sized logs will do but like any woodburner the more seasoned the wood the better, overnight burn is not great its still warm in the morning but you would have to relight again however i knew this before purchasing. The heat this thing gives off is incredible doors open after 15 mins, all round excellent buy!

We looked at alot of stoves before deciding on this one. Obviously it's difficult to predict how well a stove is going to perform before you've got it installed but just seeing it in the shop was enough to convince us of the build quality. They're expensive, but you get what you pay for. As far as ease of lighting goes there are those who can set a fire and those who can't, it's nothing to do with the stove. The firebox is a bit small but it has to be bourn in mind that it's concieved for burning a small quantity of wood at a time with frequent refill, not good if you're putting in a great big lump and expecting to come home to a lovely fire eight hours later. As for overnight burning alot depends on what you put in it before going off to bed, or out for the day, same thing. I put aside the driest, knotiest bits of ash for the night and we always have enough embers to light kindling in the morning.
I've no problems with the airwash, see previous comment about shutting down at night. Handle operation is great,very firm and smooth. I'd certainly buy it again.
For anyone considering a woodstove remember that the quality of the wood that you put into it is vital, it MUST be dry (stored, covered and aired, for at least two years after felling)

We spent months looking at the different styles/manufacturers and investigating fitment(I fitted the liner and stove). After looking at much less expensive models, we saw a F100 working in a shop and decided to spend the extra cash.

I was initially disappointed in the poor heat output but this was down to burning damp wood. Got this sorted last weekend and now find the heat virtually unbearable (in a room 16' by 25'), had to open the door.

As we bought an ex display model it came with the multi-fuel grate. I've tried the stove with coal but think it runs better on thoroughly dried wood, as well as ticking the sustainability boxes.

Overall, now very pleased. All controls easy to use and the door handle feels like it will last years, reflecting the overall quality.

Money well spent.

This is the the third Jotul stove we have owned and in fact still have a Jotul No.1 operating daily after 37 years! The quality of the F100 stove, which we purchased in 2005, is no different. It does everything it is supposed to do. We purchased the wood burning version as we don't burn anything else and are used to shovelling out ash from the firebed occasionally. If you use it every day some ash would need to be cleared out every 4 or 5 days. The door mechanism is brilliant and the air control simple to operate although it does get hot. Because the firebox is relatively small we never really attempt to keep it in overnight and anyway it's easy to light the next morning on a warm bed of ash.
As long as you like the style I don't think you can beat the quality of this simple to operate small stove.

Best little burner we have used - heats up the dining room without a problem to the point that we have to open doors to let the heat out!

I've used the F100 for one winter in a previous property and it is a good stove. Only real downside is the absence of an ash pan, which if you are using the stove a lot can be a bit of a pain. Cleanburn works, glass stays clear with the airwash. There is nothing really negative about the stove, but the typical Jotul 'not quite so easy to light' situation requires you to leave the door ajar for a little while after starting the fire. Good product, well made.

Brilliant - I have two of these !

I have marked it down a little because I think Jotul (and others) are a little pricey and the firebox size doesn't allow it to be loaded up for all night burning. I stopped trying in fact as not only did it go out but with the register closed there is of course no airwash and the glass would be an absolute pain to clean. In normal operation this fire is superb and very efficient, the register is very controlable (though needs care as it gets very hot). The method we now adopt is to keep a good fire all night but let it die down for bedtime and not rekindle, shut the damper and by morning the fire is still radiating heat due to its cast iron construction. It can also be relit by just placing dry kindling in amongst the ash. It dismantles inside for thorough cleaning, 2 side walls and a top baffle all remove. If the flue is to rear then the top of the stove can also be lifted straight off to assist cleaning. This top has heat transfer 'stalagtites' that need wire brushing so I would see this as being very difficult if the top could not be removed.