Review of Broseley Hercules 30b boiler stove
10 years now,still love it!
Talking about our Hercules multi-fuel with boiler, not the other half, only thing we have replaced is a glass (that I broke) and a bit of the rope in the doors! (that some sticky stuff pulled to bits,again my fault) the bars at the front don't allow big logs to go in so I took the top 2 out, I've run it like this for the ten years, we renovated a cottage/country house and so while in the mess we built a fireplace and installed top to bottom liner, we have 3 different makes of quality burners in our house, this is my favourite, we burn coal and tons of logs that I cut myself, It heats about 6 rads plus 2 towel rails easily, and the hot water. If really cold out-side we run the oil boiler and top up with this beast at full/half chat, we have 20+ rads in total. It can't get/keep them hot just asking too much on its own, not to mention the graft filling it! Despite the claims it can't really manage this large type of heating system without it being a full-time hobby. Keep the air-wash system connected properly, working/clean, really get it blasting every now and then with really dry pallet type wood. Empty ash pans regularly. No cracks or anything to worry about with this piece of kit, bit surprised to read lids cracked etc on above forum, superb,xx Nigel,Market Drayton.
Stove expert replied: Great review for a hard working stove.
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Nicholas Willcocks said 8 months ago:
ok some 20 years on and issues from the start still remain. Ok it is heating hot water then when up to temp (60) an automatic valve opens and a pump activates to circulate the central heating. Down wash air vent poorly cast and spent ages and some cost burning out die grinders trying to remove casting residue. Downdraft airt vent much to small for air flow needed even after casting remedies. Result poor inefficient burn an dirty glass. It is hard to judge the room heat output compared with our other wood burners which do not have boilers. But my impression is than it burns 4x as much wood which is mostly 5y air dried covered oak with similar poplar and ash for quicker heat build up. How would I change it? Remove multi fuel grate to give a deeper bed this would increase down draft a deeper burning chamber is better than one with a large surface area. Stove has potential but when I thought I was buying English it turned out to be Chinese and delivery was delayed by months as ship sank and container with stoves failed to float. Verified through Lloyds better excuse than many.