Fireplace recommondations

[Tiaan Pot]

The wife recons its cold here in Johannesburg. My built in layer of extra insulation makes Johannesburg winters feel rather pleasant to me. At this stage she is spinning the electricity meter`s disc faster than a Ranger Raptors rear tires on Northrand road with all the heaters she has on to "survive" this unbearable cold.


Seems like I'm in for a few pounds so I need to make sure I chose wisely. I did the google thing for a few days and read a few reviews online, but firsthand experience and feedback is always more trustworthy than some paid for online write-up by Vijay in India.


One thing that bothers me is that a few of the place have identical products and websites but under different names.

https://gcfires.co.za/product-catego.../freestanding/

https://hydrofire.co.za/product-tag/...ing-fireplaces

Im looking at spending about R20k for a free-standing wood fireplace, it seems like the flute and installation is an additional R10k.

Any advice would be highly appreciated.

[Iggi]

Look at Kratki, we have this one, it is now 4 years old and still looks new, ....and we are 900m from the sea. They have dealers all over and a very good parts replacement if necessary.

https://kratki.co.za/shop/kratki-k6/

160 – 275m3

Also a good one for smaller spaces.

https://kratki.co.za/shop/kratki-k7/

110 – 190m3

[Karol]

When we lived in Randburg our house had two Morso fireplaces,

one in the lounge and one in the bedroom.

pricey but very good

https://www.morsoe.co.za/product-category/fireplaces/

[mikealan]

Hi,
I got an indoor wood burning fireplace from Hydrofire.
I am very happy with the way it works and the amount of wood that it uses..
I did the DIY thing and installed it myself and all the bits needed were purchased with the fireplace.

One warning though, the cost of the fireplace is the same as the cost of the s/steel chimney and components !!

enjoy the heat !!

[Kamakazi]

Probably not expensive enough & way below budget at just over R5k all-in with flue pipe; ceiling plate & rotating cowl:
https://lavafires.co.za/product/half...SAEEgKWovD_BwE

These kaggels are just awesome & you could probably buy +/-20 000 pieces of wood with the spare change to last a couple of winters..

[Morne - Skip]

Probably not expensive enough & way below budget at just over R5k all-in with flue pipe; ceiling plate & rotating cowl:
https://lavafires.co.za/product/half...SAEEgKWovD_BwE

These kaggels are just awesome & you could probably buy +/-20 000 pieces of wood with the spare change to last a couple of winters..

Dont they smell your house?

We're also planning on having a fireplace next winter. Our biggest concern is stench. On a recent trip to clarens, i could not sleep and thought its a good idea to give the fireplace a go at 3am

Its an enclosed log burning one. Im sure it's due to operator error, but i could not get it going and was smoking myself and the unit to an internal of 95, ready for basting

So there I was at 3.15am, all doors open in the clarens mountains freezing my snitz off

The wood pellet burning one's are very nice, but just way too expensive

[eagle eye]

Open fire place makes a house stink

[Morne - Skip]

Open fire place makes a house stink

But surely the closed ones too? If they smoulder? Smoke comes out the gaps?

[eagle eye]

But surely the closed ones too? If they smoulder? Smoke comes out the gaps?

Airflow is very important...does take some fine tuning

[mullerza]

But surely the closed ones too? If they smoulder? Smoke comes out the gaps?

Not if they are installed and used correctly, we have 2 in the house that are used daily with no smoke or smell.

Open fireplaces pull so much fresh air in (from outside) that they dont heat up a house, close combustion draw less air in so less cold air from outside and by controlling the fire speed you get much better combustion and heat generated in the house vs pumped out the chimney.

Try and run the chimney as far as possible inside the house.

I was going suggest using Rudie Conradie from Fireplace company, but I see the website is down and he is no longer active on the forum. Still some good advice on that post:

https://www.4x4community.co.za/forum...ight=fireplace

[Stranger]

Probably not expensive enough & way below budget at just over R5k all-in with flue pipe; ceiling plate & rotating cowl:
https://lavafires.co.za/product/half...SAEEgKWovD_BwE

These kaggels are just awesome & you could probably buy +/-20 000 pieces of wood with the spare change to last a couple of winters..

I have had one of these in my lounge for the last 20 odd years, mine does not stink. In saying that the chimney is straight up and a I can adjust the draw. It is without doubt the most powerful heat distribution of all the appliances. When it gets really cold the gas heater does nothing unless you are sitting on top of it.

I have over the years used wood, coal and coke in this fire and for the past few years have used those compacted sawdust rolls. I remember when I bought it that I had a choice between a double skinned one and a single. I went double and have never regretted it.. The advice I was given was not to over pack it but rather add wood as you go. I also got a fire guard with mine for over the front.

I believe what they said the fire heats the fire and the chimney and the heat radiates, it is not like outside where you need a big fire. I have a big lounge (upstairs) with a staircase so I am not completely enclosed and as with all indoor fires I make sure there is airflow, open windows.

It is not instant heat, you need a good 30 mins from lighting to getting the full effect. Your biggest worry is that you fall asleep, you are so warm and comfy and the thing goes out before you wake up.

[Derik Strydom]

I would recommend a closed fire place. The open ones shoot burning coals out and that is an issue, and they can smell of soot when not in use. I also have a very small closed one from Hydrofire, and they are fantastic. The flue is expensive but it is a once-off buy that will last you 25 years easily. Just ensure the seal is good and proper on top to prevent any water ingress. They heat the room up in no time and even do a very decent job of raising the house temperature a few degrees.
A big advantage is that there is absolutely no smell of smoke or soot in the house. We have four Jack Russels, and they love the heat as well.

[JacoE]

I was VERY happy with our Godin Fontemont closed combustion fireplace we had!

[bigboy529]

Left field idea, why not spend the same money on a aircon/s for the house, which is something you'll at least use for more than 2 months of the year.

[mullerza]

Left field idea, why not spend the same money on a aircon/s for the house, which is something you'll at least use for more than 2 months of the year.

Personally I hate heating a room with the AC, nothing beats a fireplace IMHO

[Die Rooi Lorrie]

When we lived in Randburg our house had two Morso fireplaces,

one in the lounge and one in the bedroom.

pricey but very good

https://www.morsoe.co.za/product-category/fireplaces/

I second this!
Not cheap but worth it.
Very efficient and doesn't smell like smoke at all.

[Quiksilver]

Recently had this unit installed and very happy so far.

https://firefrog.co.za/collections/f...ully-installed

[WillieJimny]

https://gijimabraais.co.za/

a 100 times over

[Gelände]

Also very happy with my Morso. Fantastic efficiency.

Also look at Jotul and Godin (suggested above).

Whatever brand you decide
1. Use proper cured wood
2. Don’t skimp on the flue ! Its as important as a proper stove

[Greenhorn]

If I had to do it again I would put in a pellet stove.
Not the nice flame you get from a closed combustion stove, but easier for swambo to start