Review of Charnwood Island II stove
Classy and supremely efficient stove.
I installed my Island II with Charnwood's Flue Boiler about a year ago, but wanted to live with it for a while before posting a review. I positioned the stove centrally in an open plan kitchen/diner that occupies 2/3rds of the ground floor of an old Georgian cottage. \n\nMy local stove shop who supplied everything recommended the II, though I thought I should maybe go for the Island III...they were right!! Running at 260 C (using a stove thermometer) the stove very quickly turns a cold space into a warm and inviting one...given time the heat gets upstairs too. \n\nThe flue boiler is also a fantastic addition. It'll heat a 160L water tank from cold to piping hot in about 4 hours, a luke warm one much quicker. The 1.3KW heat loss rad in the bathroom keeps this room toasty too. I'd thoroughly recommend it as you're really getting hot water for free...the effect of the flue boiler on the stove output seems negligible and with a well insulated flue (I used chimwrap) there were minimal deposits when I swept it before this season's use. \n\nThe only proviso I would add is that you really must use well seasoned/dry wood to get the best from it...but that applies to any wood burning appliance. I use Oak offcuts from a joinery firm to get a good fire bed and then logs...Ash being favourite. I've found it best to keep a good bed of ash in the Stove (at least an inch or more) and only riddle it every other day or so. It burns so cleanly that there's minimal ash to clean out anyway. The controls on this stove and most of the Charnwood range are simple and really well thought out. The Quattroflow air control makes control of the stove ridiculously easy and the cool touch handle means you can open the doors without gloves...both advantages over the Clearview stove that I also considered. I also happen to think that the Island range has the best looking stoves out there.\n\nWhole heatedly recommended.\n\n
Stove expert replied: The flue boiler is certainly a great idea if the situation allows, lots of hot water from the flue gases which would otherwise be wasted heat!!
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