Tincknell Plumbing and Heating

Tincknell Plumbing and Heating - Rayburn FAQ's

Do I have to leave my Rayburn on all the time?
Traditional models are designed for continuous operation

Will I have to relearn how to cook with a Rayburn?
No. You can use your Rayburn as easily as any conventional cooker. There are, however, several techniques open to you when cooking on a Rayburn that give better results that are just not possible on a conventional cooker. And each new Rayburn comes with a comprehensive Rayburn cookery book full of delicious traditional and contemporary recipes, plus hints and tips to help you get the very best out of your cooker.

Is a Rayburn controlled like a conventional cooker?
Yes, they all offer supreme flexibility and complete controllability for cooking, and on larger models hot water and central heating. Twin burner, rapid-response models are extremely fast to heat up, giving roasting oven temperatures in around 30 minutes. Models with integral programmes give total control to suit modern lifestyles.

Can I cook without running the central heating?
Yes. All twin-burner models have separate burners for cooking and heating. Certain models are also available with an electronic programmer so you can set the heating and cooker to come on independently in anticipation of your return home.

Can I have a Rayburn that is for cooking only?
Yes, there are cooking only models for all fuel types, and some don’t even require a chimney with the new power flue option. The Rayburn family of cookers is the largest range available and there is a perfect model to suit every home.

Do you make balanced flue models?
Yes. Unlike many manufacturers we recognise that a balanced flue installation is often an attractive proposition. Three sizes are available with different outputs.

How can I grill food on a Rayburn?
Grilling takes place in three ways. Bacon, sausages and tomatoes and so on are placed on a grill rack in a tin at the very top of a hot oven where they cook to perfection. A ridged grill pan is heated on the boiling end of the hotplate or on the floor of a hot oven for steaks, cutlets and chops.

Do Rayburns have to be positioned against an outside wall?
No. Balanced flue models are fitted against an outside wall, and models for conventional flues continue to be popular. With the introduction of the power flue, gas-fired and oil-fired Rayburns, cookers can now be installed in locations in virtually any position in the kitchen, including island and peninsular settings.

Where are Rayburns made?
The Rayburn is a British invention and all the castings are made in the Coalbrookdale foundry in Ironbridge, where we are proud of our history, having been at the birthplace of the industrial revolution from the very beginning. Every Rayburn is hand built in Shropshire by our master craftsmen and delivered to the home ready assembled for easy installation.

Will the kitchen get too hot?
The amount of insulation in a Rayburn, depending on model, is sufficient to provide some warmth to the kitchen as required. Traditional models give a gentle warmth at an idling setting, and more heat when at full roasting temperature. Rapid Response models are designed to be turned on and off as required, but may also be run on a low setting if required.

How quickly do they heat up?
Traditional models are designed for continuous operation. To bring the cooker from an idling setting to a moderate oven takes 20-40 minutes. Rapid Response models have a very fast heat up from cold, 20-30 minutes for a moderate oven.

Do the burners make much noise?
Models are available that are silent in operation, noise levels from most burners are low, pressure jet burners are audible when heating up, but are thermostatically controlled. Pressure Jet technology has improved greatly in recent years and the new burners are quieter than ever before.

Are Rayburns expensive to run?
Rayburns are made from cast iron, a medium that has excellent thermal properties which absorbs and retains heat, making the most of your fuel. The cookers are also well insulated making for efficient and economical running even when operated continuously. All models are controllable to give the total flexibility. As well as cooking, the gentle warmth provided is useful for myriad kitchen and domestic purposes – keeping the coffee pot hot, airing washing, drying herbs. The list goes on and on – ask any Rayburn owner.

Are both ovens for cooking?
All Rayburns have a large main cast-iron oven, which is large enough to accommodate a 28lb (13Kg) turkey. The lower oven is two-thirds the volume of the upper oven. Models with cast iron lower ovens operate at half the temperature of the main oven. Other models feature a warming oven, which is useful for warming dishes, keeping cooked food hot for latecomers and making meringues and drying herbs etc.

Do I have leave my Rayburn on all the time?
Traditional models are designed for continuous operation and are adjusted to provide the required temperatures. Rapid Response models are designed to be able to be turned on and off as required, and heat up is fast. If required these can also be operated on a special low setting to give a gentle warmth to the kitchen and for off-peak cooking.

How much does a Rayburn cost per year to run compared to a normal cooker?
Fuel costs are similar. Refer to the published fuel consumption comparison chart. Again, there are many variables, such as lifestyle, usage, model and system design. Bear in mind that the presence of a Rayburn in the kitchen will possibly eliminate the need for a radiator there and its space-warming feature is an important plus point.

What about cleaning?
The cast-iron ovens are genuinely self-cleaning and a wire brush can be used to remove any burned-on deposits and also on the hotplate. Most spills simply burn off when the oven is at a high setting. The vitreous enamel exterior is easily cleaned using an approved proprietary vitreous enamel cleaner.

Is fitting included?
All Rayburns are hand finished and delivered pre-built and fully tested, so do not need to be assembled on site. For cooking only models suitable fuel and flue connections need to be fitted, for hot water and central heating models a competent plumber will need to connect the cooker to your central heating. Your Rayburn specialist will be able to help you in arranging to have your cooker installed.

Will the chimney need lining?
Generally, yes, but it depends on the flue construction. A professional survey will determine this.

How much, approximately, does it cost to install a Rayburn Heatranger?
This will depend entirely on site requirements. A professional site survey will be required with any Heatranger installation.

What warranty comes with a new Rayburn and what does it cover?
Three years’ parts and 12 months’ labour. Certain components are chargeable consumable items and will need to be replaced at service intervals. Refer to guarantee documentation. Optional extended warranty covering labour costs is available.

Does the boiler have an extra warranty on the Heatranger models?
Yes, a five years’ parts warranty.

Will we need another cooker for the summer?
With the 400 and 800 Series, probably not, as it can be turned on during cooking periods only.

Is a Rayburn safe to use around children?
A Rayburn is generally safer than most conventional cookers as there are no naked flames or very hot electric elements to touch. Its controls are also hidden away. Although the ‘body’ of a Rayburn is hot to the touch, its surface temperatures are not likely to cause significant injury and children soon learn to avoid hot objects. But as a general safety matter, children should not be allowed to play with a cooker or its controls or to interfere with fires or burners.

What happens in a power cut when a Rayburn is in use?
Solid fuel models, as well as the 208G, 200K, 208K, 300K and 308K will continue to provide cooking and domestic hot water. The 368K has a manual override lever to also provide cooking and hot water during power cuts. All Rayburns will go into a safe mode when the electricity supply is interrupted and should automatically restart when it is restored. Neither the 400, 800 Series or the 200G, will operate during a power cut.

What is the noise level from a pressure jet burner in a Rayburn?
Compares favourably with any other pressure jet appliance and is probably quieter than previous generations of range cooker. Actual sound level readings (i.e. decibels) are pretty meaningless, due to other site factors such as property location and environment. Conventional flue models will generally be quieter than balanced flue, particularly if appropriate flue pipe materials are used. Balanced flue models are quieter in the actual kitchen but may create more noise at the vent outside. Noise acceptability is very subjective and therefore it is recommended that potential customers are invited to hear the product running and then make their own judgement.

Do you make a gas balanced flue Rayburn?
Yes, the Rayburn Gas Condensing 480CD features a balanced flue meaning there is no need for an existing chimney. There is also a power flue option for the 400G or Rayburn XT.