Review of Fireline FP5 stove
fxp 5w with Defra kit after 3 weeks winter use
Reason for buying: bought this with DEFRA kit (free and included) which was very easy to fit, this prevents the top vents from being fully closed which helps reduce smoke emission. I am in a smokeless zone and wanted to be legal. I was weary of very cheap stoves but also didn't want to pay over a grand in total. This was about £650 including stove pipe for £35. fitted in place of old stove by HETAS engineer for £200 including chimney cowl and register plate (chimney o.k. no flue liner required) plus got chimney swept for £35 prior to fitting. I like the large glass for fire viewing and the wide fire box means I don't have to use tiny logs.
Initial use: First burn created a lot of fumes. (This is the paint curing and I believe is fairly normal) it set of my smoke alarms. (hard wired connected). Did the second burn a bit hotter in the daytime with all the windows and doors open (fumed again). Third burn, paint had cured so no more fumes. One smoke detector is in the same room as the stove. changed this from ionising to optical so less likely to set off by stove. detector works fine and has not been triggered by accident by the stove. Fuel: Initially planned to used just wood with the option of coal, however even with vents minimised, using kiln dried hard wood, and ensuring a layer of ash in the ash pan the wood burns pretty quick. Now I get it started with wood then use smokeless ovoids. these burn hotter and longer. I can add some at 8pm and minimise the vents (not totally as this is not good for the stove/flue and DEFRA kit doesn't allow them to close totally anyway). Some coal is still glowing at 8am and the ground floor remains reasonably warm. Temp: It heats the ground floor of my terrace house well and provides some warmth upstairs. Hardly using the heating now. I fitted a stove thermometer. burns hottest with ovoid's beneath and logs on top and can reach 400c on stove body but I've read its not good to run it that hot for long. just ovoids is about 50c lower and just logs around another 50c lower. where I live in the north west can get kiln dried hardwood for £90 cubic meter and ovoids for 37p a kilo. I ordered bulk and have been scavenging wood to dry for next winter from tree surgeons and during walks to top up. the glass does get a little sooty and more so with the vents minimised as is normal. I could prevent this with the airwash but would run out fuel much quicker and be too hot. I don't find this an issue, I just give the glass a quick scrub each morning. when the paint was curing it stained pretty bad and I had to use a metal pan scrubby thing and detergent. I am very pleased with this stove and so far I'm glad I didn't pay more though it's early days and time will tell. It has a 7 year warranty but I don't think this counts for much as doesn't include most of the parts as they are classed as consumables. It covers damage to the stove body however it needs to be correctly installed, run at at the right temperature with the right fuel. I imagine the manufacturer could say you have voided warranty by one of the above fairly easily. However this is speculation, I have no reason to believe they are not a good company. I'm just saying read the small print.- Be the first to comment
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