WhatStove?

Review of Esse 125 wood burning stove

Esse 125SE: an excellent choice

Anthony Dunn 13 years ago

The Esse 125SE (smoke exempt) is fully approved for use in smoke-control areas under the Clean Air Acts. \n\nOur installation, through an HETAS installer based in NW London, represented such good value that it would not have been possible for me to better the cost and ease of installation if I had done it myself.\n\nThe stove itself is a fantastic fit if your fireplace recess is relatively shallow. This lack of depth is compensated for by greater width than is found in many other 5kW rated stoves. The advantage of this is that it enables wider logs to be used than is the case with many other stoves. The airwash system works superbly and delivers an almost hypnotic view of the firebox when the stove is in full burn. The almost complete lack of smoke (I am using properly seasoned wood) is almost disconcerting. The previous posting from Sarah Pennington about the glass door smoking up owes nothing to the quality or operation of the stove, this is entirely caused by using logs that are either green or too damp. Consequently, I consider her ratings unfairly downgrade the performance and value for money of this product.\n\nI have found the burn rate to be very controllable through the top control albeit that it is not possible to achieve a full overnight burn with this stove. But we didn't buy it for that. What is also impressive is the level of warmth generated for a 6 metre by 6 metre by 3 m high living room - we plan on improving on this by buying an Ecofan to direct warm air away from the stove.\n\nThe product appears to be very solidly constructed with use of stainless steel for the legs and cast iron for all the main body panels. Made in Lancashire, should parts ever be required in future, it should be pretty easy to obtain them. The build quality and finish are also excellent. The extremely stylish contemporary look has already induced many complimentary remarks: it really does not look like the staid, tired old "country barn" styled stoves that are so prevalent.\n\nNeither my wife nor I have any form of commercial or non-commercial relationship with Esse but we are extremely pleased to have made this purchase: it's a genuinely good product at a value for money price. Just get it properly installed and use adequately seasoned wood!\n

Overall rating:

5 flames

Build Quality 5 flames (avg 4.1)
Quality of finish 5 flames (avg 4.4)
Value for money 5 flames (avg 4.1)
Ease of use 5 flames (avg 4.7)
Ease of lighting 5 flames (avg 4.6)
Firebox size 5 flames (avg 4.7)
How well does the airwash work 5 flames (avg 4.2)
Controllability 5 flames (avg 3.7)
Handle operation 5 flames (avg 4)
How likely are you to buy it again? 5 flames (avg 3.9)
What is your overall satisfaction? 5 flames (avg 4.2)