WhatStove?

Review of Stovax Riva 55 stove

Stovax Riva

Renee McDonald 9 years ago

3 years ago we installed our Riva in a room that is used as an office. during the winter months the fire is kept going 24 hours a day. We burn good quality smokeless fuel and it is closed down to its minimum overnight. This works very well and means we don't have to re-light a fire every morning. So far so good. BUT, about 6 months after installation, the glass became completely crazed; our fitter installed new glass which again only lasted a few months and was again replaced. However, he is not willing to replace it again and it is again crazed all over, completely spoiling the aesthetics of the fire. On reading some topics here, I find that the usual cause of the glass crazing is running it at slumber for prolonged periods. Nowhere in the manual or in the fitting is this mentioned as a caveat and I do feel somewhat aggrieved after spending the extra for a quality product, it falls short on a known issue that is not made clear to the client prior to purchase. We have another cheaper basic log burner in another room whose glass is as good as the day it was installed.

I am happy overall with the stove but this glass issue is completely unacceptable. This is not the cheapest stove on the market and I should not be having to replace the glass after every 6 months of use.

Overall rating:

3.5 flames

Build Quality 4 flames (avg 3.7)
Quality of finish 4 flames (avg 4)
Value for money 4 flames (avg 3.2)
Ease of use 4 flames (avg 3.9)
Ease of lighting 4 flames (avg 3.8)
Firebox size 3 flames (avg 4)
How well does the airwash work 4 flames (avg 3.6)
Controllability 4 flames (avg 3.7)
Handle operation 4 flames (avg 3.5)
How likely are you to buy it again? 1 flames (avg 2.9)
What is your overall satisfaction? 2 flames (avg 3.3)