WhatStove?

Review of Stovax Riva 50 stove

Poor value for money

Mazz Black 10 years ago

From the outside with the door closed the interior looks much larger. In fact the interior is tiny!! I'm familiar with inset stoves having had one installed when I lived in Sweden. I wish I had never gone for this, but oops, too late! My installer H G Matthews told me that I would have to have my whole fireplace reworked if I had it removed. the interior is so small that you can just fit one short log, or two in such a way that you don't get enough air circulation around them. If you can go for the next size up, don't make the same mistake as me. The installer also told me that the output would be more than enough for the size of my room 20' x 14' which makes me wonder how many of this model they have installed into a barn conversions with a vaulted ceiling. My property has a B rating EPC, so it's not as if I have heat leaking out of the building. The heat output is sufficient with the doors to other rooms closed, but no more than that. Be warned..

Overall rating:

2.5 flames

Build Quality 4 flames (avg 3.7)
Quality of finish 4 flames (avg 3.9)
Value for money 2 flames (avg 3)
Ease of use 2 flames (avg 3.7)
Ease of lighting 4 flames (avg 4.3)
Firebox size 0.5 flames (avg 3.5)
How well does the airwash work 3 flames (avg 3.4)
Controllability 4 flames (avg 4.1)
Handle operation 4 flames (avg 4.1)
How likely are you to buy it again? 0.5 flames (avg 2.8)
What is your overall satisfaction? 2 flames (avg 3.1)