Wood burning stoves

[CazPaul]

I've used the welsh one, I think it is called Stovesse? (It is a little pricey). The one I am using at the moment is Burnwell Blend briquettes, I use a mix of both! The Homefire stuff is awful, i've found no heat at all and too much ash.

Yes they aren’t pure anthracite though only a small percentage
We use our anthracite on ours at home it’s the cleanest burning coal by far, we can’t even see any smoke it’s so clean.

 

[PixelNomad]

I think that's the case generally at home even less likely to get someone around to a camper unless you park in the same place all the time and the locals don't like it!

That's what I think too, I don't spend very long in one place so for me it isn't an issue. Anywhere I have been, the locals have been great! I got talking to an officer in the Netherlands (waiting for the ferry back) and he said he had had reports of a van on fire (just lit the burner in the morning!) he came to chat and he said it was a great idea and it is nice the locals were concerned for my safety, this was one night I stayed here because I was catching the ferry back in the early afternoon.

 

[PixelNomad]

Yes they aren’t pure anthracite though only a small percentage
We use our anthracite on ours at home it’s the cleanest burning coal by far, we can’t even see any smoke it’s so clean.

Where do you get it from? I like to try new items! That's the same for me with the burnwell! It's absolutely great! All I can see is the heat haze!

 

[Jim]

I would guess the worse they could do is say i'm a nuisance? There are no laws of having a bonfire or bbq in smoke-controlled areas. I'm not having a bonfire to dispose of waste though. I am also using authorised fuel so I think it is a grey area. I mentioned earlier that I have no smoke coming from my chimney (only on light up, which is normal), as soon as the flue is warm and the wood is caught (around 4-5 minutes) there is nothing. I still love my burner, provides great heat. If I ever get pulled for it, i will deal with it then, however at the moment not an issue so all is cool.

Yes, campers can pull up in caravans and make a wet pallet-wood fire for wire stripping and the police or council won't do anything about it, so I'm sure the tiny bit of heat haze from burning anthracite will not draw any attention from the authorities.

Just checked out their website, they make some great little burners, I would certainly consider one if I were specifying a van build for full timing.

 

[PixelNomad]

Yes, campers can pull up in caravans and make a wet pallet-wood fire for wire stripping and the police or council won't do anything about it, so I'm sure the tiny bit of heat haze from burning anthracite will not draw any attention from the authorities.

Just checked out their website, they make some great little burners, I would certainly consider one if I were specifying a van build for full timing.

Exactly!! I haven't seen anybody get a fine for bonfire night! I use proper approved fuels so atleast I am following MOST guidelines.

Yes!! You should! I love my Lenny burner, really is great! If i'd have known it would have gotten this much attention I'd have asked for a promo code hahaha.

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[enark]

Phurnacite i find to be the cleanest burning, least clinker (none) and most heat type of fuel.

Smokeless Coals - Porretta Supplies

 

[Happy Jack]

I would guess the worse they could do is say i'm a nuisance? There are no laws of having a bonfire or bbq in smoke-controlled areas. I'm not having a bonfire to dispose of waste though. I am also using authorised fuel so I think it is a grey area. I mentioned earlier that I have no smoke coming from my chimney (only on light up, which is normal), as soon as the flue is warm and the wood is caught (around 4-5 minutes) there is nothing. I still love my burner, provides great heat. If I ever get pulled for it, i will deal with it then, however at the moment not an issue so all is cool.

All is not cool, you are breaking regulations; don't know what the worst is that "they" can do but it's more than "Your a nuisance". And you are still ignoring the fact that your stove is too near combustible surfaces.
However, no one bothers these days so guess you can get on with it; just like vanners who are OK with travelling overweight; and people going off on their travels in Europe without proper insurance......crowd funding will sort it after all.

 

[CazPaul]

Where do you get it from? I like to try new items! That's the same for me with the burnwell! It's absolutely great! All I can see is the heat haze!

Yes not many coal merchants sell it these days unfortunately, still get it here in Teesdale.

 

[Brains]

My pennyworth comments:

I have a log burner at home which I love.
I'm a Scout Leader, I installed the sole heating in the Hut, a large log burner
I have a log burner in the Scout Tipi which gets used every Easter (and makes excelet Welsh Cakes)

I don't like the proximity of the cushions to your log burner.
A log burner belts out a lot of heat, that could cause an issue.

The quality of the wood you are burning.
I make a point of banning 'found fuel' in my log burners
No palets. No flooring, No offcuts of wood with preservative. (Although old roof timbers may be ok)
I have a damp meter. Anything above 20% is not going in my log burners ever.
It means that the wood for winter 2026 is already stacked.

 

[Happy Jack]

My pennyworth comments:

I have a log burner at home which I love.
I'm a Scout Leader, I installed the sole heating in the Hut, a large log burner
I have a log burner in the Scout Tipi which gets used every Easter (and makes excelet Welsh Cakes)

I don't like the proximity of the cushions to your log burner.
A log burner belts out a lot of heat, that could cause an issue.

The quality of the wood you are burning.
I make a point of banning 'found fuel' in my log burners
No palets. No flooring, No offcuts of wood with preservative. (Although old roof timbers may be ok)
I have a damp meter. Anything above 20% is not going in my log burners ever.
It means that the wood for winter 2026 is already stacked.

Agree with you brains apart from one thing.
For a long time only HEETAS approved people are allowed to fit log burners. Are you ?

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[BouncyBoatFolk]

What happens if you need to move while it's burning?

Mike.

 

[Themselves]

It looks disastrously close to the seat fabric. It appears to me that when the stove door is opened it will touch the seating.

 

[Dutch 68]

Your burner still hasn't got an SE air control so strictly speaking you can only use it in areas that do not have smoke control orders.

There are lots of things we shouldn't do , the list is endless really, live and let live

 

[Mullet Man]

I have used a wood burner at home since 1999, and love it. What gives me the heeby geebies when I see them installed in a van is that they never seem to be secured in anyway. Now I know the average van fridge is only held in by a few screws, but adding to that danger by placing a heavy potential projectile behind the driver and passengers is mental. I would want a burner bolted through the chassis before I felt safe.

 

[Happy Jack]

It looks disastrously close to the seat fabric. It appears to me that when the stove door is opened it will touch the seating.

The OP is ignoring regulations in all ways.
Too near combustible surfaces.
Single wall flue in an open space instead of double walled.
Using stove in smoke control areas with air control which can be totally shut off.

There are lots of things we shouldn't do , the list is endless really, live and let live

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[Happy Jack]

The OP is ignoring regulations in all ways.
Too near combustible surfaces.
Single wall flue in an open space instead of double walled.
Using stove in smoke control areas with air control which can be totally shut off.

Good idea up to a point but now and then people doing their own thing causes grief to other people.

 

[Dutch 68]

All is not cool, you are breaking regulations; don't know what the worst is that "they" can do but it's more than "Your a nuisance". And you are still ignoring the fact that your stove is too near combustible surfaces.
However, no one bothers these days so guess you can get on with it; just like vanners who are OK with travelling overweight; and people going off on their travels in Europe without proper insurance......crowd funding will sort it after all.

Not so happy then

 

[Brains]

Agree with you brains apart from one thing.
For a long time only HEETAS approved people are allowed to fit log burners. Are you ?

No, the original installation was done over 25 years ago.
The building is not used for accommodation.
The building and stove are checked annually by the local fire brigade (CFO is one of the dad's)
The building has both carbon and fire alarms
The floor is concrete
The wall is bare blockwork
The roof is steel sheets
There are two fire extinguishers within 5m
Metal fencing can be put around the burner if required

.... and every time the fire is lit, all the kids are told not to touch it or play with it.

So far, after quarter of a century of use, I don't remember ever seeing in the accident book that we have had a single kid burnt (yet, touch wood)

Of course back when we were Scouts, it was an open coal fire.

 

[StillGoing]

Have you notified your insurance company?

 

[PixelNomad]

All is not cool, you are breaking regulations; don't know what the worst is that "they" can do but it's more than "Your a nuisance". And you are still ignoring the fact that your stove is too near combustible surfaces.
However, no one bothers these days so guess you can get on with it; just like vanners who are OK with travelling overweight; and people going off on their travels in Europe without proper insurance......crowd funding will sort it after

Have you notified your insurance company?

Of the burner? 100%, they were okay with it. They just wanted a photo of the burner and to show the flue out the roof!

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[PixelNomad]

Good idea up to a point but now and then people doing their own thing causes grief to other people.

Isn’t everybody unhappy with what somebody else is doing?

 

[PixelNomad]

I have used a wood burner at home since 1999, and love it. What gives me the heeby geebies when I see them installed in a van is that they never seem to be secured in anyway. Now I know the average van fridge is only held in by a few screws, but adding to that danger by placing a heavy potential projectile behind the driver and passengers is mental. I would want a burner bolted through the chassis before I felt safe.

Totally understand!! The base is bolted through the floor (25mm board!) and two strips of supports, so definitely isn’t moving! The burner is bolted to the plinth. Behind the drivers seat I have the van wall, the body wall, steel sheet, insulation, internal board, oh and the drivers seat was never a worry for me, but I completely understand what you’re saying!

 

[PixelNomad]

There are lots of things we shouldn't do , the list is endless really, live and let live

You’ve got it! I have a wood burner to keep warm. Someone will always put their nose is somewhere and offer “advice”. I live in a van, I don’t drink, don’t smoke. So therefore I’m never driving under the influence. I bet half of the Nellie’s here can’t say that got to enjoy life, and mine is with my cat, a wood burner and a good film.

 

[PixelNomad]

It looks disastrously close to the seat fabric. It appears to me that when the stove door is opened it will touch the seating.

Nowhere near close! It’s 220mm away…. Lenny is 150mm wide, the door is maybe 120? he’s touching nothing! Except my kettle for a hot cuppa.

 

[PixelNomad]

All is not cool, you are breaking regulations; don't know what the worst is that "they" can do but it's more than "Your a nuisance". And you are still ignoring the fact that your stove is too near combustible surfaces.
However, no one bothers these days so guess you can get on with it; just like vanners who are OK with travelling overweight; and people going off on their travels in Europe without proper insurance......crowd funding will sort it after all.

I’m not ignoring it. You’re right, but I wanted a stove, it was my decision. When I spoke to the company they told me not to, but I wanted the burner in my van and it couldn’t go anywhere else Don’t worry, if my van is on fire I will be sure to give you a special shout out I’ve had it fitted for 12 months and the ONLY person who has an issue is (other than the stove company) you you’ve got it! I will get on with it. I’m not overweight, I’m actually 742kg under (how amazing!). Im not a driving hazard in a sense of I have underrated brakes etc - my vehicles is serviced and legal on the road. I have insurance, I have standard insurance, tool insurance and contents insurance. Both companies are well aware of the stove neither had an issue. Just had to search up crowd funding for vanlife that just shows how much attention I pay to others lives? I don’t have social media so that’d be a non starter also! But I guess you’re right, if others want to give other people money based off a bad circumstance then surely that’s their choice, after all it is their money and their life

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[Happy Jack]

I’m not ignoring it. You’re right, but I wanted a stove, it was my decision. When I spoke to the company they told me not to, but I wanted the burner in my van and it couldn’t go anywhere else Don’t worry, if my van is on fire I will be sure to give you a special shout out I’ve had it fitted for 12 months and the ONLY person who has an issue is (other than the stove company) you you’ve got it! I will get on with it. I’m not overweight, I’m actually 742kg under (how amazing!). Im not a driving hazard in a sense of I have underrated brakes etc - my vehicles is serviced and legal on the road. I have insurance, I have standard insurance, tool insurance and contents insurance. Both companies are well aware of the stove neither had an issue. Just had to search up crowd funding for vanlife that just shows how much attention I pay to others lives? I don’t have social media so that’d be a non starter also! But I guess you’re right, if others want to give other people money based off a bad circumstance then surely that’s their choice, after all it is their money and their life

Have another look at all the replies and you will see a number of people have raised concerns!

 

[Ridgeway]

I think you need to change your forum name to cosy camper a cat and a stove, the ultimate cosy camper set up, love it

But need to see a picture of the cat now

Now trying to work out how to squeeze the Rayburn into our euro ice cream van

 

[Dutch 68]

I think you need to change your forum name to cosy camper a cat and a stove, the ultimate cosy camper set up, love it

But need to see a picture of the cat now

Now trying to work out how to squeeze the Rayburn into our euro ice cream van

Would be amazing to have a 26t conversion with a full size Aga lol,

 

[Ridgeway]

Would be amazing to have a 26t conversion with a full size Aga lol,

Some nutter will do it, I’m sure

 

[PixelNomad]

Would be amazing to have a 26t conversion with a full size Aga lol,

I wouldn’t be surprised at all!!!

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