Hi Alan,
Yes we have at last got our ESSE W23 installed. ESSE have told us that it is now called a WF25(!) apparently it can put out 25,000 btu's 'if you fill the firebox to capacity'. We're using it (or will be when it's sorted out properly) linked up to our existing oil fired central heating system. It currently provides our domestic hot water and a heat leak radiator - our plumbing team are still trying to sort out the 'system design' as provided by our dealer.

I too, am confused about the outputs! On paper the Rayburn 355SFW puts out a lot more heat to the water system. When we were looking at the ESSE W23 we were told that Rayburns btu ratings are based on a different re-fuelling cycle than ESSE use. I suppose the inference was that the Rayburn 355SFW puts out less btu's than stated in their literature"for the same amount of fuel as compared with the ESSE". My initial reaction to the efficiency of the W23 is pretty good - it burns a lot less wood than anticipated, and can be kept in indefinately without any problems.

I can't honestly comment about the W23 (WF25?) capability to provide full CH/DHW and cooking (although Tom B and others probably can) as ours is linked up with another heat source(or soon will be). However, 9,000btu's of the boiler output goes to DHW so that only leaves around 14,000btu's for your rads/underfloor, so depending on your size of system, it may well not be big enough.

I'm going to post a detailed appraisal of our W23 (or whatever it will be called by then!) when all the plumbing issues are sorted. Mind you, it will be mid summer by then and we'll probably just let it go out!
John.

Sorry, I'll try those links again: http://www.PelletBase.com" > PelletBase and http://www.PelletBase.com" > Rye Energy Pte Ltd