In this blog, we will be taking a close look and offering an impartial review of the ACR Oakdale multifuel stove.
The ACR Oakdale multifuel stove first caught our eye when it was brought to the UK market in late 2014, by this time the stove market was saturated with appliances both new and old with manufacturers seemingly bringing out new models on an almost weekly basis. One point of view is that this swell in the amount of products on offer gave an excellent amount of choice for customers, but on the flip side it seemed that many of these new models did not offer any fresh ideas or styles, and in some cases some of the new products just did not appeal to the majority of customer needs or desires for a quality centrepiece within their home.
Style
Fortunately the Oakdale came with a look that made it stand out from the crowd, with its traditional but clean style this elegant room heater had just enough character to capture your interest, without being too twee and ruling out all but the country cottage homes.
With bold lines into the cast iron front door, and a slightly “Mottled” top and side panels, the ACR Oakdale really stands out against other plainer alternatives on the market. This style can only be achieved with a full cast iron stove as steel bodied equivalents will always have a plain finish.
Another quirky yet functional addition to the stove styling that I really like is the large brushed steel handle. It seems strange to mix such a modern finished handle with the more traditional feel of the Oakdale, but in my opinion it just works beautifully. This handle is also very functional, and unlike the smaller cast iron handles that are the norm with many stoves it is easy to get a firm grip and use with minimal effort.
Power
Another neat touch with this stove is the positioning of both the primary and secondary air controls. The usual setup for controlling the air entering the stove that in turn controls how intensely the fire burns, is that the stove will have a top and bottom air slider, however with the Oakdale both slider controls are situated at the bottom of the stove just under the ash lip. This setup keeps the stove front looking neat and tidy, and is a simple but effective feature.
Size
Internally the stove does not disappoint with it’s larger than average (for a 5kW appliance) chamber size which will easily take a 300mm log length. The fire is also supplied with a two stage log retaining bar set, which allows the user to stack fuel without fear of it tumbling out into the room when opening the door. Also featured inside is a powerful Airwash system which helps to keep the large glass viewing window clear, and the latest Cleanburn technology to ensure a clean and efficient burn.
The rear of the ACR Oakdale Multifuel Stove is a useful “Direct Air” spigot. This is designed to allow the use of a 100mm ducting to be taken directly from the stove and through an external wall. Thus allowing fresh air from the outside to feed the fire.
Stove Finish
You will notice from the images of the Oakdale that as well as the standard Matt Black finish there are three additional enamel finishes to choose from. These glossy colours bring a whole new style to this stove.
The enamelled colours can be wiped clean with a damp cloth alone. There is no need for other specialist cleaning products.
DEFRA Approved
Finally, along with the ACR Oakdale’s impressive features, the stove is smoke exempt. It is approved for use within smoke controlled zones as standard. Unlike other stoves where this is an optional extra, the Oakdale meets the requirements with the built-in design.
Find the full range of ACR products here.
In our next blog we will be answering a question that we are asked on an almost daily basis:
“Should I line my chimney?”
Let’s get that one answered!