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?

[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.

[AndreZA]

Open fire place makes a house stink

And messed up your ceiling..........I'm thinking of a wall mounted gas fire place although wood is nice .......

[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.

[AfriqueDS]

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..

Very uneconomical - Eat wood like you cant believe and most heat goes up the flue.
Closed combustion is the way to go..

[JanB]

Here is an article on an interesting scientific study of air quality in houses with fireplaces. I have not worked through the whole thing in detail, but essentially they find that fireplaces cause air pollution in homes that can be detrimental to health. Closed (internal combustion) fireplaces are better than conventional kaggels, but still not perfect. Their sampling size was small, but from following one of the authors' research in the past it often builds up to very interesting new research, valuable knowledge and technological developments.

[Kamakazi]

Very uneconomical - Eat wood like you cant believe and most heat goes up the flue.
Closed combustion is the way to go..

Yes, closed combustion is more economical on fuel & probably the preferred option for smaller spaces, flats, etc (less wood to carry upstairs, and-and..) Might also be better from safety perspective as you can close the door and leave it unattended unlike normal open kaggels that comes with some responsibility to close the screen before going to bed.
The capital outlay is just a bit eyewatering if we talk R30k-R70k and it will take multiple decades to justify the fuel economy, but can understand paying for the convenience in some use cases.

The Jetmaster will use more wood, but once it gets going you can chuck the largest stump that will fit in there to burn all day long.
Comments that it smells or most heat goes up the flue are not so true as it is a stand alone unit that radiates heat from the exposed flue and steal unit itself over and above the additional benefit of the open fire. In large open areas of say 50-70sqm it actually produces more heat than closed combustion stoves.

I'm probably a bit of a caveman that enjoy the ambience of starring into an open fire with the sound of crackling burning wood, so each to their own according to your preference & enjoy your choice of burners. We are privileged in this country to still be allowed to burn wood at our properties, whether it is for Kaggel or Braai.

PS: Double insulated flue pipe is a must, dont skimp on this!

[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.

[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

[Jouko]

I have lived quite a few years in houses heated by wood. I checked all of the links. Not one of those are real heaters. Proper wood fired heater was invented in Sweden 17 hundred something if I remember right. They are made out of brick. Smoke goes up, then down and then out. This system was invented on king's orders as Sweden was running out of wood. Efficient. Chimney has a closure plate or two.

Most probably too expensive.

What ever type is installed the following has to be there:

- Carbon monoxide detector or two
- Smoke detector
- Roof/ceiling penetrations are causing plenty of house fires. It must be done correctly
- Fire extinguisher/s

Detectors must be able to wake up sleeping persons. (Location issue)

Heat pump is a better option

[JacoE]

I have lived quite a few years in houses heated by wood. I checked all of the links. Not one of those are real heaters. Proper wood fired heater was invented in Sweden 17 hundred something if I remember right. They are made out of brick. Smoke goes up, then down and then out. This system was invented on king's orders as Sweden was running out of wood. Efficient. Chimney has a closure plate or two.

Similar?


https://on-fire.co.za/wp-content/upl...ser-Manual.pdf

[Woody62]

Very happy with our combustion stove from Hydro Fire, more importantly the price of spares is not that exorbitant.

Annually you need to replace fire bricks