Bergen stove Hot

We are delighted with this stove. It needs a good bed of ash and the logs need to be dry and preferably split. Compared to other stoves of the same output that we looked at the firebox takes at least twice as many logs. Using the door catch and the air control, we find it easy to set the rate of burning. If we shut it down overnight there are still red hot embers in the morning ten hours later making it very easy to relight.

Stove Expert Replied: 100mm diam logs will give the best performance in a closed appliance, moisture content of less than 20%. Good feedback.

Give this stove time to really get going. Its hot by one hour. Roasting by two. The handle allows the door to be left slightly open to allow more air but once roasting the flames don't turn off once the door is closed. It works absolutely fine then and provides amazing radiant heat. Just be patient with it.

Stove Expert Replied: Once a flue is warm it will work at its most effective, patience, so they say, is a virtue!!

I have had no major problems with our Bergen. I have read the comments about people struggling to get it started but I have had no problems with this once I had worked out what makes it tick. I ply mine with a full load to get it started and then once the embers are good and hot you can keep it going with a couple of logs an hour. It's a little hungry on wood as it does work best when there is a lot of wood in the chamber. An extra couple of notches on the door or a vent that lets you control the air intake a little better would make this brute a better fire. Once, she's up and running this thing kicks out some heat. Its going rusty around the hinges too but that's probably because we are in a very damp place rather than any design issue.

Stove Expert Replied: A damp environment can cause surface rust which can be easily covered when not in use. Otherwise a satisfied customer!

I've just installed a Bergen. Hetas check suggested I did not need a flexible liner.So have a one metre flue coming off the top only. I agree if you close the door there is a slight problem but the design of the door handle, such that you can leave the door open very slightly without the problem of anything coming into the room but the logs burn with extreme ferocity. It radiates huge amounts of heat. I do have a very very good draw in my chimney however the normal vent system is clearly not well designed. The problem is that the only similar looking contemporary design is the Contura 51L which is slightly more expensive. I got mine on ebay ex display for £550 so that's why I'm happy with my purchase.

Stove Expert Replied: Some times you get what you pay for, fair review.

A great looking stove but unfortunately does not work properly. The instructions state to leave the door ajar for the first few fires whilst moisture left over from production burns off. As such, we didn't realise initially we had a problem with the stove until the first time we had a fire and tried to close the door fully.

The fire died with the door closed even with the vent fully open. The installer returned on a few occasions to try to remedy the issue, even drilling further internal air holes (based on advice from the distributor) to see if that made a difference.

We have now found out, directly from the manufacturer, that there have a been a few issues with this stove and they are re-desiging it for re-launch in Feb 2012.

We are probably going to replace with a Westfire Uniq 23 as we have lost faith in this stove even if it is being altered to remedy the issue.

Stove Expert Replied: It is important for customers to read the instructions carefully before lighting any stove for the first time and not to get caught up in the excitement of something new! It is a shame that you have lost faith in the product, it may be worth trying for a little longer rather than going to the expense of purchasing an alternative stove. Good luck.

It is a lovely stove but only suitable for very good chimneys. The literature does not make this clear. I have lined my chimney but it still doesn't work, the fire goes out if the door is closed as air cannot enter the stove without strong negative pressure. I got more heat from an open fire. I have just wasted £2000 because the extra requirements were not made clear before I bought it and the Hetas engineer was also unaware it has greater requirements than a normal 5kw stove. Even the installation instructions are unclear.

Stove Expert Replied: I am sure that there will be a way to make this stove work better! Contact a chimney specialist for further assistance as it is shame if you are disappointed. Otherwise contact manufacturer for help as to how to overcome this problem.