Wood burning stoves

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PixelNomad

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Just thought some others might be interested. Bought a stove from a company called Little Burners last year and with the cold weather setting in thought some others might be interested to know how I have gotten on. I will list the pros and cons. I also have a diesel heater fitted.

For the stove I have the Lenny Burner installed with a 3" single wall kit. I purchased everything from them to just make it easier, decided against the insulation flue as I didn't want a giant flue pipe in the van and I wanted as much heat from it as possible. I will see if I can link the burner.

Lenny Burner from Little Burners
2m Flue System
Base to store wood
Heat shield to protect the walls

Wood Burner

Pros
• Nice dry heat so when the weather is wet it does dry the van out, especially when bringing wet clothes in.
• I can cook on it! Which I love, doubling the uses of it! Ha.
• It's like a tv - love the flames.
• Doesn't require a power source, when my batteries have been running low and the diesel heater wont work I can still be warm and cook dinner, dry my clothes out etc.
• Far more cost effective than using the diesel heater, I can collect trees/twigs and small logs, pop them next to the fire for the night and next day I can use them. I do love this routine!
• I haven't got to drive to the petrol stations to get fuel to keep warm.
• Back up heating for when my batteries are dead!
• It's cosy as ANYTHING!
• Low maintenance. I probably clean my flue pipe every 6 months (If that!), no replacement parts and no error codes hahaha
• Simple and easy to use!
• I have lifted the burner on a plinth so I can easily store the wood and coal underneath!
• I can use wood, coal, peat, pallets, twigs... iterally anything that will burn.
• Easy to clean out
• I can bank it up with coal over night and keeps the van lovely at 21 degrees.

Cons
• I have to collect the wood.
• I've got to clean it every few months
• More expensive upfront than a diesel heater, but this didn't make a difference too much because I wanted to be off grid more than anything.
• It does take up space in the van whereas my diesel heater is installed in a box under the van.
• If I collect the logs and they are still damp then the fire doesn't get as hot, but this is fine because I live in a luton and the burner is a little too big for my needs.
• Can get a little dusty inside but it's fine, I am a software developer so I am always on my computer and in my van and I'm protective over my laptop, but it's not bad at all!
• Took a while to find a decent bag of coal.

The pros will always outweigh the cons for me because it can be as cheap or as expensive as I want, whereas a diesel heater - I have to buy the diesel.

Onto the diesel heater, Initially this was the first thing I fitted because everybody said how great they were! And I do love it for quick heat, however there are a few issues.

Diesel Heater

Pros
• Diesel is easy to get hold of - unless were back in another lockdown and we're not allowed to drive anywhere.
• Okay fuel efficiency.
• It's outside under the van so no space inside except for the ducting and pipework under the seating and into the shower.
• Heats up quickly!
• Cools down as soon as the heater goes off.
• Low maintenance.
• Back up if I run out of wood.
• Cheaper to initially purchase.

Cons
• Smells and is noisy. The ticking!!
• Not as off grid as I would like to be. I have 1100w solar panels on my roof and when they're covered in snow, the battery doesnt charge! But I still need heat!
• Requires power AND fuel.
• Cools down as soon as the heater goes off.
• Error codes!!
• Maintenance.
• Damp heat so causes a lot of condensation issues in the van!

Overall, I wouldn't be without them, building another van I will always put both heating sources in because if one fails I always have the other. I like that I can have the quick heat from a diesel heater, but I prefer the feel of the wood burner, everything warms up. I can cook my dinner on it, boil a kettle and it keeps me warm. I have cooked jacket potatoes in the burner - can't do that with a diesel heater. However, the upfront cost of the burner was far more than the diesel heater, but in the long run the lenny burner is a far better alternative in the long run.
IMG_0623.webp
IMG_0685.webp
 
BusyBuilder said:
Aren't you supposed to have non flammable material under it ? in house you have to have at 300mm in front of the door for ash spills.
Click to expand...
The ash pan only has ash in it, there is a grill further up that you knock the ash down in to the ash pan and it has a lip at the back so it can't fall out. It is great to be honest. Yes, but i'm in a small luton van so i couldn't afford to have the massive amount of space at the front, i'd be kicking it all the time haha. I live and work in my van so it's never left unattended :)
 
PixelNomad said:
Just thought some others might be interested. Bought a stove from a company called Little Burners last year and with the cold weather setting in thought some others might be interested to know how I have gotten on. I will list the pros and cons. I also have a diesel heater fitted.

For the stove I have the Lenny Burner installed with a 3" single wall kit. I purchased everything from them to just make it easier, decided against the insulation flue as I didn't want a giant flue pipe in the van and I wanted as much heat from it as possible. I will see if I can link the burner.

Lenny Burner from Little Burners
2m Flue System
Base to store wood
Heat shield to protect the walls

Wood Burner

Pros
• Nice dry heat so when the weather is wet it does dry the van out, especially when bringing wet clothes in.
• I can cook on it! Which I love, doubling the uses of it! Ha.
• It's like a tv - love the flames.
• Doesn't require a power source, when my batteries have been running low and the diesel heater wont work I can still be warm and cook dinner, dry my clothes out etc.
• Far more cost effective than using the diesel heater, I can collect trees/twigs and small logs, pop them next to the fire for the night and next day I can use them. I do love this routine!
• I haven't got to drive to the petrol stations to get fuel to keep warm.
• Back up heating for when my batteries are dead!
• It's cosy as ANYTHING!
• Low maintenance. I probably clean my flue pipe every 6 months (If that!), no replacement parts and no error codes hahaha
• Simple and easy to use!
• I have lifted the burner on a plinth so I can easily store the wood and coal underneath!
• I can use wood, coal, peat, pallets, twigs... iterally anything that will burn.
• Easy to clean out
• I can bank it up with coal over night and keeps the van lovely at 21 degrees.

Cons
• I have to collect the wood.
• I've got to clean it every few months
• More expensive upfront than a diesel heater, but this didn't make a difference too much because I wanted to be off grid more than anything.
• It does take up space in the van whereas my diesel heater is installed in a box under the van.
• If I collect the logs and they are still damp then the fire doesn't get as hot, but this is fine because I live in a luton and the burner is a little too big for my needs.
• Can get a little dusty inside but it's fine, I am a software developer so I am always on my computer and in my van and I'm protective over my laptop, but it's not bad at all!
• Took a while to find a decent bag of coal.

The pros will always outweigh the cons for me because it can be as cheap or as expensive as I want, whereas a diesel heater - I have to buy the diesel.

Onto the diesel heater, Initially this was the first thing I fitted because everybody said how great they were! And I do love it for quick heat, however there are a few issues.

Diesel Heater

Pros
• Diesel is easy to get hold of - unless were back in another lockdown and we're not allowed to drive anywhere.
• Okay fuel efficiency.
• It's outside under the van so no space inside except for the ducting and pipework under the seating and into the shower.
• Heats up quickly!
• Cools down as soon as the heater goes off.
• Low maintenance.
• Back up if I run out of wood.
• Cheaper to initially purchase.

Cons
• Smells and is noisy. The ticking!!
• Not as off grid as I would like to be. I have 1100w solar panels on my roof and when they're covered in snow, the battery doesnt charge! But I still need heat!
• Requires power AND fuel.
• Cools down as soon as the heater goes off.
• Error codes!!
• Maintenance.
• Damp heat so causes a lot of condensation issues in the van!

Overall, I wouldn't be without them, building another van I will always put both heating sources in because if one fails I always have the other. I like that I can have the quick heat from a diesel heater, but I prefer the feel of the wood burner, everything warms up. I can cook my dinner on it, boil a kettle and it keeps me warm. I have cooked jacket potatoes in the burner - can't do that with a diesel heater. However, the upfront cost of the burner was far more than the diesel heater, but in the long run the lenny burner is a far better alternative in the long run.View attachment 982325View attachment 982327
Click to expand...

You seem to have forgotten the disposal of the ash on the con side. 🤔
 
L' Hobo said:
You seem to have forgotten the disposal of the ash on the con side. 🤔
Click to expand...
Hmm true! But in the morning when it is cool I just throw it in a bag with my normal rubbish. Didn't think about that as it's so normal for me to empty my rubbish! I don't think I can edit the post now (first time poster!)
 
How is a diesel heater a wet heat?

The exhaust with the combustion products and water vapour should be outside the van, the heater should be drawing in van air to heat, no additional water vapour should be added.


But I do like your wood burner!

Any pictures from further back showing it in place?

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Jim said:
That looks like a clever design. I love the warming rail, and how the handle to open the door looks like it won't ever be too hot. We light a log burner most days from Nov to Mar. Well designed ones are only dusty when you clean them out.
Click to expand...
Yes!! I don't do much walking, but when I do, I can put my boots next to it and put my socks on the pan rail and it dries them so well hahaha. Maybe gross, but it works perfect! You're probably right there, the van is tiny so obviously gets dusty form general day to day activities - walking in and out, wind. I normally always have my door open. Fitting Lenny has been great!
 
dazandandrea said:
Used to live the coal/ log burner on the narrowboat. Very cozy feal about them.
Click to expand...
Oh yes! It took a couple of months to find a decent coal that didn't produce to much ash. I've locked onto one now (which was a recommendation from the company - Little Burners) and as the saying goes "you get what you pay for" i totally believe it. I love the warmth, don't even get me started on the orange glow.
 
CAB96 said:
How is a diesel heater a wet heat?

The exhaust with the combustion products and water vapour should be outside the van, the heater should be drawing in van air to heat, no additional water vapour should be added.


But I do like your wood burner!

Any pictures from further back showing it in place?
Click to expand...
I don't know to be honest, but it seems to get way more condensated. I think it is probably because the surfaces stay cold even with a diesel heater, whereas the burner heats surfaces up slightly so theres no condensation.

Thank you! Lenny is very sweet and he works great!

Sure, I will add a photo.



IMG_0554 2.webp
 
Guigsy said:
What happens if you need to move while it's burning?
Click to expand...
I turn the air intake down and close the ash pan up, then drive. Never had an issue with it burning and I can't get into my cab from the living space. I don't go above 50mph anyway as i'm in no rush, I don't see it as any different when the wind is blowing at gusts of 50. Obviously I wouldn't go to a fuel station, but then I shut it down, goes out pretty quickly when completely closed. That's what I like about these rather than a house burner! You can turn the air intake off completely with these burners, but on house ones they burn all the time because they have a permanent air intake.
 
The Lenny burner website states they are not certified by any organisation, to be installed at your own risk.
Our house multi-fuel stove is 4KW Smoke exempt and although only slightly taller than yours and slightly deeper it is more than twice as wide as yours, so I guess yours is no more than 2KW output at full fire.
Also, I notice yours does not have an air control vent which cannot be fully closed. This normally means it cannot be used in smoke control zones, and in any case coal cannot be used in smoke control zones.
Also, your stove is too near to combustible surfaces, in the worst case your insurance might not pay out.
The non flammable stand does not protrude far enough.
 
Happy Jack said:
The Lenny burner website states they are not certified by any organisation, to be installed at your own risk.
Our house multi-fuel stove is 4KW Smoke exempt and although only slightly taller than yours and slightly deeper it is more than twice as wide as yours, so I guess yours is no more than 2KW output at full fire.
Also, I notice yours does not have an air control vent which cannot be fully closed. This normally means it cannot be used in smoke control zones, and in any case coal cannot be used in smoke control zones.
Also, your stove is too near to combustible surfaces, in the worst case your insurance might not pay out.
The non flammable stand does not protrude far enough.
Click to expand...
Hi! Yes, when I asked them about this they said they can't get them certified because they can turn the airflow off permanently. I was looking at other far cheaper options before I found Little Burners and to be honest they were so thin they wouldn't see me through a season, and they also turned the air off completely. Yes, Lenny is around 2.5kw, which is perfect for my space, they do have a smaller burner which would have been way more suited to the size but I wanted to have the extra space above the grill so I can bank it up with coal. It has an air control at the front on the ash pan and it can be fully closed down, which is what I wanted. You can't burn wood (unless approved) in smoke controlled zones either, you can only burn smokless coal. You can burn smokless coal in a non approved appliance also, so this is why I can burn this IF I wanted to go into a smoke controlled zone, generally I burn anthracite.

The back of the burner I have a 232mm gap (this is WITH a heatshield too), the right side is just shy of 540mm and the left hand side is 220mm. I've had the burner fitted since last year and never had an issue, material is fine, foam is fine and I sit next to the burner to watch TV. It's a small space so heats up pretty quickly with a small amount of wood, keeps burning for hours with a few pieces of coal!

I know, as i said in a previous reply - I live in a van... If it sticks out anymore I will constantly be kicking it hahaha, and the ash pan holds the ash and never had anything fall on the floor. Blimey! If I had a 4kw heater i'd melt!!! One thing I have learnt is that it would have been better to have the smaller burner and run it higher than run this one lower as the flue gets sooted up so I have to clean it between 6-8 months. Nevermind, the next van build I will fit a Little Lenny! It's all about learning.
 
PixelNomad said:
I turn the air intake down and close the ash pan up, then drive. Never had an issue with it burning and I can't get into my cab from the living space. I don't go above 50mph anyway as i'm in no rush, I don't see it as any different when the wind is blowing at gusts of 50. Obviously I wouldn't go to a fuel station, but then I shut it down, goes out pretty quickly when completely closed. That's what I like about these rather than a house burner! You can turn the air intake off completely with these burners, but on house ones they burn all the time because they have a permanent air intake.
Click to expand...
Oh no they dont, in smoke control areas which in the UK is all towns and cities you can only use SE stoves which have a air intake which can be closed but also one which cannot be fully closed.

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PixelNomad said:
Hi! Yes, when I asked them about this they said they can't get them certified because they can turn the airflow off permanently. I was looking at other far cheaper options before I found Little Burners and to be honest they were so thin they wouldn't see me through a season, and they also turned the air off completely. Yes, Lenny is around 2.5kw, which is perfect for my space, they do have a smaller burner which would have been way more suited to the size but I wanted to have the extra space above the grill so I can bank it up with coal. It has an air control at the front on the ash pan and it can be fully closed down, which is what I wanted. You can't burn wood (unless approved) in smoke controlled zones either, you can only burn smokless coal. You can burn smokless coal in a non approved appliance also, so this is why I can burn this IF I wanted to go into a smoke controlled zone, generally I burn anthracite.

The back of the burner I have a 232mm gap (this is WITH a heatshield too), the right side is just shy of 540mm and the left hand side is 220mm. I've had the burner fitted since last year and never had an issue, material is fine, foam is fine and I sit next to the burner to watch TV. It's a small space so heats up pretty quickly with a small amount of wood, keeps burning for hours with a few pieces of coal!

I know, as i said in a previous reply - I live in a van... If it sticks out anymore I will constantly be kicking it hahaha, and the ash pan holds the ash and never had anything fall on the floor. Blimey! If I had a 4kw heater i'd melt!!! One thing I have learnt is that it would have been better to have the smaller burner and run it higher than run this one lower as the flue gets sooted up so I have to clean it between 6-8 months. Nevermind, the next van build I will fit a Little Lenny! It's all about learning.
Click to expand...
You can burn wood in smoke control zones as long as it has a moisture content below 20%.
 
Happy Jack said:
You can burn wood in smoke control zones as long as it has a moisture content below 20%.
Click to expand...
Otherwise solid fuels only. The burner doesn't smoke, only on light up, which is normal. As I said before, I use anthracite, which is smokeless.
 
I'd be very careful to use a CO alarm and ensure adequate ventilation but it does look very cosy.
 
PixelNomad said:
Hi! Yes, when I asked them about this they said they can't get them certified because they can turn the airflow off permanently. I was looking at other far cheaper options before I found Little Burners and to be honest they were so thin they wouldn't see me through a season, and they also turned the air off completely. Yes, Lenny is around 2.5kw, which is perfect for my space, they do have a smaller burner which would have been way more suited to the size but I wanted to have the extra space above the grill so I can bank it up with coal. It has an air control at the front on the ash pan and it can be fully closed down, which is what I wanted. You can't burn wood (unless approved) in smoke controlled zones either, you can only burn smokless coal. You can burn smokless coal in a non approved appliance also, so this is why I can burn this IF I wanted to go into a smoke controlled zone, generally I burn anthracite.

The back of the burner I have a 232mm gap (this is WITH a heatshield too), the right side is just shy of 540mm and the left hand side is 220mm. I've had the burner fitted since last year and never had an issue, material is fine, foam is fine and I sit next to the burner to watch TV. It's a small space so heats up pretty quickly with a small amount of wood, keeps burning for hours with a few pieces of coal!

I know, as i said in a previous reply - I live in a van... If it sticks out anymore I will constantly be kicking it hahaha, and the ash pan holds the ash and never had anything fall on the floor. Blimey! If I had a 4kw heater i'd melt!!! One thing I have learnt is that it would have been better to have the smaller burner and run it higher than run this one lower as the flue gets sooted up so I have to clean it between 6-8 months. Nevermind, the next van build I will fit a Little Lenny! It's all about learning.
Click to expand...
When you say you burn Anthracite do you mean pure anthracite or those smooth duck eggs ones?
 
The Wino said:
I'd be very careful to use a CO alarm and ensure adequate ventilation but it does look very cosy.
Click to expand...
I do have one! I have a cat so I was worried about him if I went into the shops. It permanently registers 0, which is great! I have a 100mm vent behind the burner so it has it's own ventilation! Don't fancy fighting for oxygen, because i'd definitely lose! But i've had him in for a year? Maybe more? Never been an issue.

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PixelNomad said:
Otherwise solid fuels only. The burner doesn't smoke, only on light up, which is normal. As I said before, I use anthracite, which is smokeless.
Click to expand...
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.
 
CazPaul said:
When you say you burn Anthracite do you mean pure anthracite or those smooth duck eggs ones?
Click to expand...
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.
 
Happy Jack said:
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.
Click to expand...
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.

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