Comments

You must log in or register to comment.

LinearFluid t1_iurvsqv wrote

AGA stoves were designed to be always heated. They housed a boiler to provide the hot water. So hot water tap and drain.

362

epicmoe OP t1_iurwbai wrote

Thanks for the reply. We have a Stanley solid fuel at the moment with back boiler linked to out hot water tank - I'm wondering if this AGA can be converted to a more modern back boiler (linked into the hot water tank) without the drain cocks?
I'd be worried about hot water taps at such an accessible height for little hands!

88

rainforestparadise t1_iuu645y wrote

Why would you be concerned about the taps and not literally everything else? If a toddler has access to the taps they can also open the oven and even the fire place.

21

ol-gormsby t1_iuvfnrj wrote

Not really - those doors are cast iron, they're quite heavy. You've got to lift them up to open them.

But the front surfaces of the stove are hot enough to burn, and yes, the taps are an issue. Perhaps a fence or guard around the whole stove.

I've got a solid-fuel Rayburn but I never needed a kid-guard, when they started crawling, we went through a few lessons of what "hot" means.

5

alderhill t1_iuvl7h2 wrote

Can you replace the knobs/spouts for one with a square key? Then you can keep the key itself on a hook up high or something.

3

iamalext t1_iurnr4f wrote

Looks like a STANDARD MODEL E COOKER 1941 – 1972. Might find more information here: https://agaaustralia.com.au/about-aga/identify-your-aga/

180

epicmoe OP t1_iurp9av wrote

>STANDARD MODEL E COOKER 1941 – 1972

Wow! I love reddit. connecting so many people with knowledge and with knowledge of even where to look to find the answers, thank you.

​

I wonder can it be converted to a more modern back boiler without the drain cocks?

I have young grandchildren over a lot- and I'd be worried about hot water taps at such an accessible height for little hands!

102

iamalext t1_iurqnc1 wrote

I’m sure that it could be, and you might find some tech details concerning that in here: https://agaaustralia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/AgaDeluxeCCBESolidfuel.pdf

74

AntsMichigan t1_iurwa3j wrote

checks for free award…. Has none :(

32

iamalext t1_iurwlyk wrote

Thanks for the thought! No need though, just paying it forward since others have randomly helped me in the past too. Plus OP is clearly a person of discerning taste and deserves help just on that basis!

19

iamalext t1_iusunml wrote

Holy crap folks, thank you all for the awards.

4

arkofjoy t1_iuton5x wrote

You could perhaps change the taps to "vandal proof taps" they have a separate handle that comes off. Hopefully they are a standard thread. But plumbing fittings tend to be.

1

battraman t1_iusx6hu wrote

I did some research into the Aga stoves and yes they pretty much can be called buy it for life ... so long as you're okay with the massive amounts of fuel they require to run.

29

epicmoe OP t1_iusxy2z wrote

Yeah turns out that wood isn't ideal, the need anthracite - and I have a whole load of fuel - I guess it is a Rayburn for me.

9

Kadin2048 t1_iutyqlb wrote

They were frequently converted to run on "city gas" (carbon monoxide) and later "natural gas" (methane), at least in the UK. My family used to have one that had been converted to gas. They do take a lot of gas compared to a modern on-demand hot water heater, though. And having one running in an air conditioned space is just madness IMO.

8

limpymcforskin t1_iuun6b5 wrote

Also the fact that heat pump water heaters are 3-4x more efficient than gas this is not something I would use. My Rheem costs me 100 bucks a year in electric and that is with 2 people in the home.

5

killerstrangelet t1_iuwzww8 wrote

People here are tearing them out now. Even for the sorts of rich bastards who tend to own Agas, they have become mindbogglingly, ball-crunchingly unaffordable.

1

Scwalchy t1_iuvctld wrote

They can be converted to run on Oil, Gas or even electricity.

1

nahtorreyous t1_iurov44 wrote

Can I guess, for steam?

9

[deleted] t1_iurpyn2 wrote

[deleted]

8

nahtorreyous t1_iurzjjd wrote

If it's steam, it's not open all the time. You bleed the lines once in a while, like the old radiators in the house.

This is a complete guess though

4

kieppie t1_iusit60 wrote

Can't figure why our entire family didn't all just drop dead from the asbestos coming off our one is frankly a miracle

7

epicmoe OP t1_iuslb6z wrote

Is that in the insulation?

3

kieppie t1_iusnvcm wrote

Yup - on the old models at least.

Should be fine if left undesturbed.

Same with the lead in the paint

10

Atomicnes t1_iutsqjz wrote

personally i would be willing to deal with modern appliance bullshit to not have to deal with lead and asbestos exposure

4

hazeleyedwolff t1_iuuc9oj wrote

There's not really anything to deal with if the asbestos isn't disturbed and you aren't eating paint chips off it.

4

ol-gormsby t1_iuvfz69 wrote

I bought an old type 2 rayburn for fun, to restore it and use it as a cold-weather party stove.

I was petrified that it had asbestos for insulation. Imagine my relief when I found out asbestos was only used in AGAs, and Rayburns used rockwool.

3

alderhill t1_iuvm54c wrote

I mean, asbestos is pretty nasty as we now understand, but it's more of a long-term exposure danger and really only if it turns into little dusty fibre particles (don't break the insulation!). It's right to be weary, and wear a filter mask if it's exposed, but merely being in its presence inside another item won't harm you.

1

ol-gormsby t1_iuvo2k0 wrote

Well, I had to disassemble the rear of it where the insulation was located.

The previous owners had run it "dry", i.e. run fires in it without the boiler having any water in it, so this beautiful heavy-gauge copper boiler had a great big hole burnt in it, so that had to go. The plan was to replace the boiler with firebricks, so,

  1. the back panel had to come off. I swear it hadn't been unscrewed since it left the factory in the 1950s
  2. the insulation had to come out (this was the scary bit). It was still a bit nasty because it was all kind of decomposed. I think it was originally in sheets, but it came out in handfuls.
  3. the boiler had to come out
  4. I had to measure up the void and cut firebricks to fit (this is also scary, because firebricks need a diamond saw to cut, and you've *got* to keep it all wet because of a. heat, and b. danger of silica dust
  5. fit the bricks and secure them with refractory cement - also a silica dust risk when mixing
  6. apply sheets of rockwool or fibreglass insulation
  7. screw the back panel on
  8. test fire.
  9. damn, it leaks, there is smoke coming out everywhere.

I eventually got it working, though. It's not nearly as efficient as the one in my kitchen, but then there's about 40 years of design and manufacturing improvements between them.

2

alderhill t1_iuvyamp wrote

Man, just reading that gave me the shivers.

1

AutoModerator t1_iurm8bs wrote

Hello /u/epicmoe! Thank you for your submission! The AutoMod thought that your post might be a request type post and has changed the flair accordingly, but if this was wrong feel free to change it back!

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

1

[deleted] t1_iutio33 wrote

Looks like a hot chocolate dispenser :)

1

danja t1_iuswrq7 wrote

Get a spoonful of sugar and dump it in a pile on the left-hand plate. Close the lid. Wait until the smoke has subsided, lift and see the wonder! (My mother has one virtually identical)

−6