WhatStove?

Review of Bergen stove

Huge disappointment

8 years ago

This stove looks great but is almost impossible to control. The installer has extended the insulated flue twice - now 6m long in total. I have "discovered" that you can double the draft from the front lever by pushing aside a flap (why don''t the instructions say that?. Even so, it is still really tricky to light and, once lit, the controls do not appear to be designed to provide good adjustment. I have another fire which burns the same wood (20% moisture) and one control lever gives total control - close it and the wood smoulders (without sooting the glass) open it and whoosh! it springs to life. This is not the case with the Bergen - it continually soots up, the temperature continues to rise if you do get it going well and close all the controls and, if it is not going fully, opening the controls doesn''t revive it. you have to fiddle about adding fire lighters, opening the door etc. This fire is unacceptable and is not of merchantable quality in my opinion.

Stove expert replied: The two controls and how they operate are explained on page 10 of the manual. As you have another stove in the property this may be affecting the flue draw on this flue system, did the installer do a flue draw test to establish that it meets at nominal effect there should be a negative pressure of 12 to 25 Pascal. Is there an sir brick in the room? Insufficient air supply can cause down-draught and thereby low combustion efficiency and the problems that this entails: soot stains on the glass, inefficient use of the wood and a soot deposits in the chimney. These are popular stoves and the problems you are experiencing are likely to be more to do with the installation than the stove itself.

Overall rating:

1.5 flames

Build Quality 3 flames (avg 4.5)
Quality of finish 3 flames (avg 4.7)
Value for money 1 flames (avg 3.8)
Ease of use 1 flames (avg 3.7)
Ease of lighting 1 flames (avg 3.6)
Firebox size 3 flames (avg 4.5)
How well does the airwash work 1 flames (avg 4)
Controllability 1 flames (avg 3.4)
Handle operation 2 flames (avg 4.3)
How likely are you to buy it again? 1 flames (avg 3.7)
What is your overall satisfaction? 1 flames (avg 3.8)