Does anyone have an accumulator tank? If so...

[Katymac]

Where is it?
What does it do?
Does it save you money?
How?

Generally how does it work?

I keep reading about them while looking for log burners/stoves & I wondered if it would gelp my central heating system at all

TI
KMc

Can't help I'm afraid but happy to bump.
I've been watching this one - someone must know the answer. I want to know too!

Accumulator tanks are often fitted to log boilers rather than smaller wood burning stoves. An accumulator tank is basically an insulated water tank that acts like a battery, storing heat energy. Once your boiler has produced enough heat to heat your home any excess is stored in the accumulator tank ready for when you need it. It means you have to burn less wood thus cutting your wood fuel bills and also your emissions.

Unless you are going for a full on wood fired central heating system I don't think accumulator tanks are relevant to your situation. However, small stoves can be fitted with back boilers which provide hot water and maybe even some central heating??? This is where my knowledge falls down. I would speak to an installer if I were you. The Government Grants website www.lcbp.org.uk has a list of wood heating system installers in the UK, there's bound to be one in your area. If you go for a wood pellet stove you might even be able to get a grant! Hope that helps.

Also, this is an excellent site if you want information on wood fuel heating systems - www.nef.org.uk/logpile/

Sorry don't know how to make the link "live".

I love you Dieselten

I have a problem

We have no gas in the village (despite being about 30 miles from Bacton - where it all arrives from)
I want central heating
Wood is (apparently) the only way to go

I have a small lounge
The wood burner that would heat the central heating is too big for the loubnge and the hole in the fireplace

Will an accumalator tank help? or make things worse?

Tia
Kmc

Hmmmm. An accumulator tank, or back boiler in your, case needs to be sized correctly in relation to the stove. I think you are suggesting getting a smaller stove and a larger tank. I don't think this will work but please get advice from an installer on this. I would be happy to speak to some of the installers I work with just to check this out for you but it may take a couple of days as I only work part time at the moment. Tell me what type of stove you are looking at and what your heat load might be ie how many people live in your house and how many bedrooms/bathrooms you have.

In the meantime, an alternative to wood might be a heat pump either ground source or air source. Info on these can be found on the Government website i referenced earlier.

I did wonder about a heat pump in the chimney

But I'm not sure

No one round here knows much about alternative energy

Any help your installers could give would be very welcome

My fireplace size is 900 x 900 x 500 (deep)

And the stoves need a minimum of about 20 cma arround them (apparently)

The room is 17 x 11 (feet! sorry)and there is a connecting room 16 x 12

I want to run Domestic Hot water and about 5 or 6 small radiators

Don't worry if you can't find out - I am trying other sources too - but I appreciate any help

Thanks

I will definitely do some enquiring for you. You mentioned in your earlier post that the stove you need is too big for the space in your living room. What type of stove is this, do you have a make and model? Was it recommended by an installer? Knowing the type of stove you have in mind might help me to get more info.

I am now looking at

not yet sure which one

My dad has a clearview and that's what I wanted but it's too big

27000 btu boiler