WhatStove?

Review of Clearview vision 500 stove

Vison 500 with Backboiler

Anne 11 years ago

We bought this product with a back boiler so that we could heat our water for the kitchen area. We run it 24/7 winter and summer but for it to be really effective you need to use 'ovals' which are a type of smokeless fuel that are used in a Rayburn, for example,otherwise you are having to feed it every hour during the day to keep the back boiler hot enough to heat the water. We find that the ovals run for several hours and keep it ticking over at a steady 300 F. Another point is that even though we clean the glass everyday it has seriously marked, although not on one side of the glass, it appears to be 'inside' the glass. Anyway, to conclude, we feel that the stove was not really made to have a back boiler and seems to be an option that Clearview have added to keep in that market. We wish we had gone with a Dunsley stove as Dunsley had a back boiler and created a stove for it. We all live and learn.

Stove expert replied: Discoloration on glass - smokey apprearance usually from over-firing or crazing that spreads over the glass due to under-firing of stove. How far away is the tank from the stove and what size is the tank as on this model the output to water is 10,000BTU's?

Overall rating:

3.5 flames

Build Quality 5 flames (avg 4.6)
Quality of finish 5 flames (avg 4.6)
Value for money 3 flames (avg 4.1)
Ease of use 3 flames (avg 4.5)
Ease of lighting 5 flames (avg 4.5)
Firebox size 4 flames (avg 4.5)
How well does the airwash work 3 flames (avg 4.5)
Controllability 4 flames (avg 4.5)
Handle operation 4 flames (avg 3.9)
How likely are you to buy it again? 1 flames (avg 4.3)
What is your overall satisfaction? 3 flames (avg 4.4)
  • Justin Trainor said 10 years ago:

    Hi Did the advise from the expert help? I am considering the vision 500 but am not convinced it is worth the extra hassle to include the back boiler to my tank. Would be really interested in people's experiences, good or bad about the back boiler on the vision 500. Thanks