WhatStove?

Review of Stratford EB 12 HE stove

Poor Radiator performance

Robert Henderson 7 years ago

Just replaced open fire with Grants triple pass back boiler. Open fire heated 6 standard double radiators and 1 single, getting them to around 60 degrees.

Had the Stratford EB12 installed and downgraded a double to a single rad (bathroom). Sadly with 3 of the double rads switched off and burning smokeless ovoids (same as open fire) we cant get the rads much hotter than 50 degrees.

so after spending 4k getting this stove fitted its actually performing worse than the open fire!

The other thing we have noticed is the airwash system doesnt perform that well, having to clear the glass door on a daily basis as it gets dirty each night. even when burning the stove full out it gets very dirty quickly.

Heat to room is poor but as this is our first boiler stove we cant say whether this is normal. I would say 6kw to room is some exaggerated figure! we have a double radiator fitted to the room within the stove.

Stove expert replied: Did you have the heat load calculations carried out to check that the 12HE boiler is large enough to drive the system you have? The stove will give between 2 - 6kW's of heat to room so the average would be about 4kW. Have you an airbrick in the room? Is the chimney lined? What height is your flue system? The installation as a whole needs to be looked into so that you can ascertain if the stove is performing as expected or if perhaps you are asking it to do too much. The glass should not blacken with the air wash control fully open and hence my question about an airbrick. Was your flue draw checked to ensure it meets the manufacturers requirements. On what number are you keeping your thermostat? Further investigation suggested as it may not be the fault of the stove.

Overall rating:

2.5 flames

Build Quality 3 flames (avg 4.3)
Quality of finish 3 flames (avg 4.3)
Value for money 1 flames (avg 3.5)
Ease of use 3 flames (avg 4.2)
Ease of lighting 5 flames (avg 4.4)
Firebox size 5 flames (avg 4)
How well does the airwash work 1 flames (avg 3.6)
Controllability 3 flames (avg 4.2)
Handle operation 3 flames (avg 3.8)
How likely are you to buy it again? 1 flames (avg 3.6)
What is your overall satisfaction? 2 flames (avg 3.6)