WhatStove?

Review of Merlin Standard stove

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John Guncill 8 years ago

I bought this Merlin Standard as part of a deal, along with a slimline of the same make. (see my other report) I have now had a chimney installer fit it in my Italian farm house. It has taken a while as I wanted a wall removed. The stove is now in a large kitchen dinner that is open on to the hall way, stove sits in the hall. The twin wall flue goes up through the floor then through the exposed pitched roof of the upper hall to the outside. The fitters had no trouble fitting the stove, even with my poor Italian! I seasoned the stove over a few hot September days knowing I would need the full heat on my return in the winter. On arrival in the winter I filled the fire box with plenty of dry paper and kindling and got it going. This stove gives out some serious heat! So far I have loaded into it dead willow tree, burns well does not last long...Waste not want not it was in the garden, Also old roof beams, mainly large round pine tree trunks from the remains of the old roof! Plus some wood worm eaten oak. This stove will heat a large area with no problem at all. Upstairs to if the doors are open, the exposed twin flue helps in this as no heat is wasted outside. The standard has a large deep fire box, it needs large logs in it to get best results, or you will be refuelling often. It has a large viewing window that even when a log was too close and blacked up the glass it burnt off during the next fuelling no issues at all. It is a large stove and will need plenty of large logs but gives out an amazing heat! I would not put it in a small room, it will drive you out due to the heat output. However in a large room or open plan house it will work its magic. Fantastic heat, great view of the fire. Heats a 4 bedroom badly insulated farm house, with a insulated new roof very well with the the other fire as a back up when you arrive. Its my main heat source and does an amazing job looking forward to many years of warm inviting heat in the centre of the house.

PS I am taking a stove top fan to help get the hot air over to the other side of the dinning room as it takes a little time to get heat over a large area.

Overall rating:

5 flames

Build Quality 5 flames (avg 3.7)
Quality of finish 5 flames (avg 3.7)
Value for money 5 flames (avg 3)
Ease of use 5 flames (avg 4)
Ease of lighting 5 flames (avg 3.7)
Firebox size 5 flames (avg 3.7)
How well does the airwash work 5 flames (avg 3.3)
Controllability 5 flames (avg 3.7)
Handle operation 5 flames (avg 3)
How likely are you to buy it again? 5 flames (avg 2.3)
What is your overall satisfaction? 5 flames (avg 3)