WhatStove?

Review of Esse Ironheart cooking range

Excellent all round stove

Colin Ives 9 years ago

We live on a big old barge and had is stove fitted about ten years ago. Our flue (double-wall) is quite short (3m) but we never have a problem lighting it or keeping it in overnight. Coal is messy and there is no riddler to keep the grate unclogged (biggest oversight) /but/ it burns wood a treat, is beautiful to use and provides all our heating and cooking needs (without a back boiler). It's reasonably controllable but, as mentioned elsewhere, doesn't really allow you to shut it down for a super-slow burn. Having said that we shut the controls down (including the flue damper in the collar) and it can slumber along for many hours without any tending and holds it heat very well. Elsewhere a comment mentioned that the only cast iron, other than the doors, is the top but I don't see this as a problem - the stove is already incredibly large and heavy and any more cast iron would result in significant mounting problems due to the weight. The main downside is that it always gives off plenty of heat which means we have to use alternative cooking in summer!

My hot tip for lighting it from cold is to open the collar damper, take off the front cover and blast a blow torch in for a minute - this preheats the flue enough to get rid of the cold 'bubble', prevents smoke coming the the room and gives the embryonic fire something to work with!

Stove expert replied: Good feedback and handy lighting tip!

Overall rating:

4 flames

Build Quality 4 flames (avg 3.4)
Quality of finish 4 flames (avg 3.6)
Value for money 4 flames (avg 3.6)
Ease of use 4 flames (avg 3.8)
Ease of lighting 5 flames (avg 3.7)
Firebox size 5 flames (avg 4.3)
How well does the airwash work 5 flames (avg 3.5)
Controllability 3 flames (avg 3.6)
Handle operation 3 flames (avg 3.6)
How likely are you to buy it again? 4 flames (avg 3.5)
What is your overall satisfaction? 4 flames (avg 3.6)