WhatStove?

Review of Westfire Series One stove

Excellent Stove

Tony Johnson 8 years ago

This is a really good wood burner. However, I feel it needs careful attention to detail when installing. That is to say the correct flue diameter and length, and, although seemingly not a requirement on stoves of less than 5Kw, a through the wall air intake. Provision for such is provided at the back of the unit, I say use it if to can. The stove was fitted by a Hetas engineer, but I cut my own vent holes using a diamond core drill (make sure you get it exactly the right height to feed the air intake pipe though).

My only gripe is the lack of shorter legs, something I needed to fit the stove into the existing fireplace. To get round the problem (and following checking with Westfire in Denmark) I cut down the legs. I cut them in half, tack welded the two sections, one inside the other, so as to retain the foot and top bolt-on flange. Now the stove sits a couple of centimetres off the hearth with no problems. If you are going to do the same, don't take my advice directly, but check with Westfire.

In operation, with the air flow from outside (it has an external rail cowl/mesh grill on the intake), the control is perfect. From full blaze to gentle tick - over. I find you can adjust air flow and to flue damper for various wood types. It keeps our large living room very warm.

Recommended.

Overall rating:

4.5 flames

Build Quality 4 flames (avg 4.8)
Quality of finish 5 flames (avg 5)
Value for money 5 flames (avg 4.5)
Ease of use 5 flames (avg 4.8)
Ease of lighting 5 flames (avg 5)
Firebox size 4 flames (avg 4.3)
How well does the airwash work 4 flames (avg 4.3)
Controllability 5 flames (avg 4.8)
Handle operation 3 flames (avg 4.3)
How likely are you to buy it again? 5 flames (avg 5)
What is your overall satisfaction? 5 flames (avg 5)