Epping stove

[mrsmelly]

21 hours ago, Faceandedge said:

Never rated Squirrel stoves although I’m aware they are very popular.

Most of the squirrel stoves I see are look awful with blackened glass generally cause by a back boiler resulting in too low stove box temperature.

Don’t like the aesthetics either..

Granted I have never seen a Clearview in a NB either..

 

 

You may be able to advise me 😁 I will start by saying that I lived aboard for decades with the fantastic super amazing squirrel stoves, fantastic. However the proper ones are no longer made and I am moving to a house with an as yet unknown condition multi fuel stove so have been doing my research in case I need to replace it and came across, several times actualy, Clearview stoves which I had never heard of. Can you advise why you like them please as I dont mind paying their premium price going forward if they are worth the money 👍 

[Tonka]

10 minutes ago, mrsmelly said:

You may be able to advise me 😁 I will start by saying that I lived aboard for decades with the fantastic super amazing squirrel stoves, fantastic. However the proper ones are no longer made and I am moving to a house with an as yet unknown condition multi fuel stove so have been doing my research in case I need to replace it and came across, several times actualy, Clearview stoves which I had never heard of. Can you advise why you like them please as I dont mind paying their premium price going forward if they are worth the money 👍 

Our Ekol Carity 5 on the boat is brilliant. Stays in easy. Glass stays clean. DEFRA approved if that matters to you.

[Up-Side-Down]

13 minutes ago, mrsmelly said:

You may be able to advise me 😁 I will start by saying that I lived aboard for decades with the fantastic super amazing squirrel stoves, fantastic. However the proper ones are no longer made and I am moving to a house with an as yet unknown condition multi fuel stove so have been doing my research in case I need to replace it and came across, several times actualy, Clearview stoves which I had never heard of. Can you advise why you like them please as I dont mind paying their premium price going forward if they are worth the money 👍 

Back in the 80s there was an excellent solid fuel stove shop in Ludlow. The owner was disappointed by the way that the range of stoves he stocked all shared a common fault: the glass sooted up with little or no provocation on medium to low damper settings, spoiling the view of the fire and the flames which is something that his customers were keen to enjoy.

He therefore set about developing the 'airwash' system that ensured that smoke-free combustion occurred under all damper settings in the vicinity of the front glass door panels. And so the Clearview stove was born – as far as I'm aware the first effective system for maintaining a smoke-free view of the flames.

At the time I was installing a wide variety of solid fuel stoves in the area and his development was unique ... and consequently his stoves became very popular. How things have consequently developed I have no knowledge (as I moved on) but I think he deserves credit for what was effectively his invention. subsequently no doubt much copied!

[MtB]

55 minutes ago, Up-Side-Down said:

Back in the 80s there was an excellent solid fuel stove shop in Ludlow. The owner was disappointed by the way that the range of stoves he stocked all shared a common fault: the glass sooted up with little or no provocation on medium to low damper settings, spoiling the view of the fire and the flames which is something that his customers were keen to enjoy.

He therefore set about developing the 'airwash' system that ensured that smoke-free combustion occurred under all damper settings in the vicinity of the front glass door panels. And so the Clearview stove was born – as far as I'm aware the first effective system for maintaining a smoke-free view of the flames.

At the time I was installing a wide variety of solid fuel stoves in the area and his development was unique ... and consequently his stoves became very popular. How things have consequently developed I have no knowledge (as I moved on) but I think he deserves credit for what was effectively his invention. subsequently no doubt much copied!

 

So it actually works then? 

 

I've had a variety of stoves with a supposed airwash system and they all soot up the glass on low settings.  But never had a Clearview (or even heard of them until F&E mentioned them).

 

 

 

 

Edited July 19 by MtB
Clarify a point.

[mrsmelly]

42 minutes ago, Tonka said:

Our Ekol Carity 5 on the boat is brilliant. Stays in easy. Glass stays clean. DEFRA approved if that matters to you.

I view DEFRA similar to RCD compliance as in its a complete nonsense. However come future sale the bits of paper can be problematic even if nonsense. 

The stove at present fitted is DEFRA and has the HETAS bumff. Hey ho. 

[MtB]

I've just taken out a Stovax Stockton 8 from my hovel as it was so unsatisfactory. It has "Airwash" which simply does not work. 

 

Replaced it with a ten-year old Squirrel.

 

 

[canals are us?]

Clearview didn't want to comply with the new ecodesign rules and so were issued stop notices from sale for various models. They seem to of supplied the technical details and can now sell them. No idea if the stove internals have changed and efficiency and emissions have improved. 

OPSS enforcement actions 1 April 2024 to 30 September 2024 - GOV.UK

OPSS enforcement actions 1 October 2024 to 31 March 2025 - GOV.UK

 

Clearview never seemed to move with the times or updated their designs. Never had tertiary air supply or ever got their stoves CE tested for compliance. They do have a fan base, like the Squirrel, but really do like Woodwarm. Had 3 Villager stoves since 1991 plus an Arrow Hamlet, Hamlet Hardy 4. Villager was a budget UK brand and to be honest wasn't great at fuel efficiency (65%), airtight ness, air wash was useless. 2 used for central heating. Good boiler output though but went through the logs. My 14 year old pre eco design Woodwarm by far the best stove I have owned. Very controllable like a gas fire, very clean glass. robust construction and a really well designed riddling grate.

James.

22 minutes ago, MtB said:

I've just taken out a Stovax Stockton 8 from my hovel as it was so unsatisfactory. It has "Airwash" which simply does not work. 

 

Replaced it with a ten-year old Squirrel.

 

 

Of the age of the late 90's like the Yeoman Devon, Villager A and B range. Very open to the chimney with a baffle plate with large air flow through. Modern stoves are more highly baffled. Rear air flow, tertiary air holes in rear and secondary air not fully closable to prevent fire smouldering and prevent smoke/ poor emissions.  James.

[Faceandedge]

1 hour ago, mrsmelly said:

You may be able to advise me 😁 I will start by saying that I lived aboard for decades with the fantastic super amazing squirrel stoves, fantastic. However the proper ones are no longer made and I am moving to a house with an as yet unknown condition multi fuel stove so have been doing my research in case I need to replace it and came across, several times actualy, Clearview stoves which I had never heard of. Can you advise why you like them please as I dont mind paying their premium price going forward if they are worth the money 👍 

I can indeed speak about Clearview, I have 3, the 650 in my cottage, which runs all winter continuously solely on logs, no issues overnight, I leave for work still going some 10-12 hours when I return. I also have the 500 fitted to my parents house and the 400 which I have purchased for the NB. They all burn lovely and hot, no issues with dirty glass. What I like is that spare parts are readily available and they are pretty bomb proof plus they look lovely.

They are more expensive to purchase new, however they are available second hand on eBay and are easy to refurbish.

[mrsmelly]

47 minutes ago, MtB said:

I've just taken out a Stovax Stockton 8 from my hovel as it was so unsatisfactory. It has "Airwash" which simply does not work. 

 

Replaced it with a ten-year old Squirrel.

 

 

I am desperately looking for one like you dropped on but they simply are no longer ouy there 😢 most available now are so called refurbed but of very dubious origin. 

Edited July 19 by mrsmelly

[canals are us?]

4 minutes ago, mrsmelly said:

I am desperately looking for one like you dropped on nut they simply are no longer oit there 😢 most available now are so called refurbed but of very dubious origin. 

seen a few refurbed sellers on Ebay asking more for the stove now than when sold new 15 to 20 years ago! Crazy!

Edited July 19 by canals are us?

[mrsmelly]

Just now, canals are us? said:

seen a few refurbed sellers on Ebay asking more for the stove now than when sold new! Crazy!

Yes they are!!! They know its because they are unbeatable for a certain section of society and are extracting the urine. Its a simple case of supply and demand innitt. 😔 

[Russ T]

6 minutes ago, mrsmelly said:

Yes they are!!! They know its because they are unbeatable for a certain section of society and are extracting the urine. Its a simple case of supply and demand innitt. 😔 

Paid 600 quid for our last squirrel. I rang around all the chandlers asking if they had an ex display one.

 

Still quite a bit more that the original one we paid less than 500 for.

[canals are us?]

6 minutes ago, mrsmelly said:

Yes they are!!! They know its because they are unbeatable for a certain section of society and are extracting the urine. Its a simple case of supply and demand innitt. 😔 

Probably just remain unsold. Have a good selection of new budget stoves like the Ecosy Range. Believe designed here but made in China. Probably better than a Villager of 20 years ago. If I was renovating a house to sell on, I would fit one. A big brand like Clearview, Woodwarm so long as they stay in business then parts availability should be good. At least glass, vermiculite bricks are available anywhere. Like my Woodwarm steel boiler leaked after 13 years. Got Woodwarm to fabricate a bigger boiler in Stainless steel. 

James.

[Faceandedge]

On 17/07/2026 at 16:48, Faceandedge said:

Hi everyone, I have just purchased a Epping stove, yet to pick it up.

Externally looks ok.

Yet to look inside the firebox, seems slight corrosion in the top rear of the inside oven.

external collar looks fine visually.

no photo of the rear outside.

I’m aware spares are limited.

what do I need to look out for?

And here it is!

looks pretty good, a tad basic , looks although it has been refurnished quite recently.

I’ll probably strip it down, just to make sure I’m happy with it.

But no corrosion, all intact and quite lovely proportion wise.

[mrsmelly]

1 hour ago, Russ T said:

Paid 600 quid for our last squirrel. I rang around all the chandlers asking if they had an ex display one.

 

Still quite a bit more that the original one we paid less than 500 for.

Yes my last one in 2015 was about 500 or more squids, old ones today fetch more than that 😕 there is a cast tec in the house I am buying and it could be fine but I am doing my research. Along with kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, decor and landscape gardening 🤣😂 

[b00ke23]

2 hours ago, mrsmelly said:

I am desperately looking for one like you dropped on but they simply are no longer ouy there 😢 most available now are so called refurbed but of very dubious origin. 

 

Have you looked at this company? https://www.morsoheaven.co.uk/ They refurb the old twin door 1410 and 1430 models to what looks like a high standard. I've been seriously considering one for the house. 

[MtB]

9 minutes ago, b00ke23 said:

 

Have you looked at this company? https://www.morsoheaven.co.uk/ They refurb the old twin door 1410 and 1430 models to what looks like a high standard. I've been seriously considering one for the house. 

 

They also show a number of Clearview stoves in their gallery! 

 

 

[b00ke23]

9 minutes ago, MtB said:

 

They also show a number of Clearview stoves in their gallery! 

 

 

 

So they do! Hadn't noticed that and also hadn't heard of clearview stoves until this tread.

 

Edited July 19 by b00ke23

[mrsmelly]

18 minutes ago, b00ke23 said:

 

Have you looked at this company? https://www.morsoheaven.co.uk/ They refurb the old twin door 1410 and 1430 models to what looks like a high standard. I've been seriously considering one for the house. 

Looks ok?? No mention of VAT?? or it may be me?? Delivery on top of course but morso new models are well over a grand and inferior these days 😕 

[b00ke23]

6 minutes ago, mrsmelly said:

Looks ok?? No mention of VAT?? or it may be me?? Delivery on top of course but morso new models are well over a grand and inferior these days 😕 

 

Looks like the quoted price is the take away price, although I suppose delivery will add the thick end of £100 to the price.  

 

Just discovered they build a log store to fit Clearview stoves hence the pics on the website. 

 

I'll report back if I buy one....question is 1410 or 1430!

[Russ T]

16 minutes ago, b00ke23 said:

 

I'll report back if I buy one....question is 1410 or 1430

We have one of each on our boat. A 1410 with a custom back boiler and a 1430 at the back end. The 1430 is rarely used these days. It is supposed to have a better airwash system and be more efficient,but I can't say I ever noticed a huge difference. It has a slightly bigger viewing area iirc,but I think overall I prefer the look of the 1410.

 

We bought the 1430 secondhand.

[MtB]

The 1410 is the proper Squirrel. 

 

Known performance, well understood before they started mucking about with the decades-long proven design. 

 

Can't see how the airwash happens on the 1430 with no air wheel. 

 

 

[Russ T]

4 minutes ago, MtB said:

Can't see how the airwash happens on the 1430 with no air wheel. 

The air enters through the back of the stove via a hole that has a flap controlled by a lever at the front. The air is then diverted to the glass via ducting 

Edited July 19 by Russ T

[MtB]

Just now, Russ T said:

The air enters via the back of the stove via a hole that has a flap controlled by a lever at the front. The air is then diverted to the glass.

 

Ah thanks.

 

Hopefully that works better than the wheel thing, which made no difference on my old one that cracked and I replaced it with a Boatman Stove. 

 

The Boatman airwash didn't work either. 

 

 

 

 

[Russ T]

Just now, MtB said:

 

Ah thanks.

 

Hopefully that works better than the wheel thing, which made no difference on my old one that cracked and I replaced it with a Boatman Stove. 

 

The Boatman airwash didn't work either. 

 

 

 

 

It's supposed to. In reality I'm not sure it's much better,but I haven't used ours for years