Well im in the middle of doing my kitchen and I fancy a Aga/rayburn soild fuel cooker that also does the heating. I have been looking at them on line and there seems to be a massive differance in price's so im confused what i need to look out for?

 

Any help i would really appricate.

 

Thanks

My parents have had Aga's for years. First one that was already in the house was a 2 oven late 60's model which was coal fired. You have to watch the thermostats on them as they are supposed to self regulate the fire, often the fire burns out of control and it gets far to hot. Our neighbours had a 4 oven coal fired and if you turned the kitchen lights of the hot ring used to glow!

 

My parents replaced the 2 oven with a 4 oven oil fired one which has been in for about 14 years, its been brilliant and generally very reliable. The oil fired one burns from central heating oil but is NOT connected to our heating or hot water circuits. Of the 4ovens they are all at different temperatures, top right is roasting oven, bottom right main cooking (hot) top left is fairly cool and can be used for slow cooking. Bottom left is a warming oven for plates or keeping food warm etc. The 4 oven model comes with a "hot plate" which we always kept a kettle on for fast boiling. The two main rings, the left hand one is VERY hot and the right hand one is not AS hot, but will still boil a kettle.

 

Things have come on a bit since these earlier models, the electric ones and I think the modern oil ones can have a "sleep" mode where they shut down patially during the day. Remember though from stone cold they can take 12+ hours to get back to opperating temperature. Which means unless you have it on throughout the summer (like we do) the kitchen will be warm, and if you have no other cooker then turning it of will mean you cant cook. They are also quite expensive to run, dad thinks it costs about £5/£6 a day in oil, depending on how much cooking you do that could be more. We do use it as an airer for clothes as well.

 

My understanding is that a rayburn (again another neighbours had a coal fired rayburn) is more aimed at heating and hot water and cooking as a secondary thing.

 

Difference in price will be for perhaps new a reconditioned ones, and wether it burns oil, coal, gas (i think there are some gas models?) or electric. Also depending on if its 2 or 4 oven etc etc.

 

Thats about my knowledge expired!

thats great thank you. I currently have a small oven which ill probably keep for convience and use the aga for xmas and heating. I was looking to get a soild fuel one as im surrounded by coal and trees so thought it would work out a lot cheaper in the winter

thats great thank you. I currently have a small oven which ill probably keep for convience and use the aga for xmas and heating. I was looking to get a soild fuel one as im surrounded by coal and trees so thought it would work out a lot cheaper in the winter

 

I doubt they will burn wood very well but coal is OK, but you have to fuel them probably twice a day depending on how much work your having it do. Rayburns from memory tend to run on coke tablets but I think it is a choice depending on the grate type.

 

Not that I know anyhing about the model in the link, but perhaps better to use something like this?

 

http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/110856187429?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&adtype=pla