Review of Villager A
Caution
I have had woodburning stoves for 40 years now and they are my only source of heat. Currently I have a Villager A (installed 10 years ago) burning only wood, and a Hunter with back boiler.
The Villager is a good looking design with which, given its simplicity, you would expect little to go wrong. It is well constructed, with just an aspect letting it down. From the outset it has been impossible to control the heat. The single top mounted door latch is insufficient to keep the doors sealed at the bottom, and air leaks in. An increase in heat distorts the body of the stove and the gap becomes wider, allowing more air to enter starting a vicious circle that will have you opening the windows on the coldest day until the fuel is exhausted and the stove dies down again. I believe this model is no longer available, which is just as well. If contemplating one second hand you''d be advised to look elsewhere,fortunately I''ve not seen another type with such a hopeless method of keeping the door closed. I''ve spoken to two other owners who have encountered the same dangerous problem- the best way to avoid is to use only large pieces of wood and load little and often. I should add that I maintain the stove meticulously, burn only well seasoned wood, and have checked that there are no faults in the stove''s construction- I am a metal fabricator. I have a stainless insulated chimney with no wild variations in draught.Stove expert replied: These stoves are no longer available but were sold widely where a large heat output was required. There have been few problems of this nature that I am aware of. Perhaps tan excessive flue draw has been an issue that has led to the distortion.
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