FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The thermo-cooker is a particular type of wood-burning cooker with a boiler, it can also work as heat generator for a plumbing and heating system. Therefore, it does not only cook and heat the room where it is located, it also allows to heat the whole house and to produce domestic hot water.

The stove is a combustion device for domestic use that allows to heat the room where it is located, it might be equipped with an oven for cooking.

The thermo-stove is a particular type of wood stove with a boiler, it can also work as heat generator for a plumbing and heating system. Therefore, it does not only heat the room where it is located and cook - if equipped with an oven - it also allows to heat the whole house and to produce domestic hot water.

Every comparison made between different traditional biomass fuels, pellets, woodchips and wood shows that wood is by far the cheapest combustible. It is not affected by the fluctuations of international markets, is always available, often not far from the user, it contributes to energy saving, local economy and national balance of trade

In general, Rizzoli's products are designed to burn wood. The use of compressed wood bricks or brown coal bricks is allowed only desultorily and with moderation. The use of other fuels is not allowed and can be harmful for the environment and the appliance.

The high-quality refractory bricks used in Rizzoli products allow a higher combustion temperature. For a better and highly efficient combustion. Moreover, if combined with a steel radiant plate, it allows to cook quickly and to maintain the residual heat, even after the combustion is over. 
Also for maintenance, the refractory bricks are better than cast iron, since they cause less thermal stress to the appliances and guarantee reliability and reparability even after many years.

That's completely false. Rizzoli, backed up by a century-long experience, is constantly evolving and improving, it creates products equipped with every technological device allowing for their best operation and reliability over time. Their unique care for design and finishes as well as their constant respect for the reference regulations, even the strictest which are put in place by the most careful European countries, makes Rizzoli products a forerunner in their sector.

Certainly, the wood-burning cooker was originally the only cooking appliance in a house, and it can still be used today. However, the most convenient and advisable solution is to combine the wood-burning cooker with other specific appliances. As a result, there are no limitations of use and a broader and more versatile hob. The cooking processes can be best differentiated to make the kitchen similar to a professional one.

Usually the wood-burning cooker is used with a specific load that must maintain the combustion for about an hour. This has to be the standard duration of the operation nominal conditions. Actually, the duration of the load of wood is deeply affected by the effective conditions of installation and use, and in particular of the chimney draught and of the quality, quantity and size of the wood load. Therefore, the user will decide how many times and how to load, based on their previous experience and the intended effect.

First, wood-burning cookers have to comply with specific certification requirements also about baking. This applies to every Rizzoli product.
The essential requirements to good cooking are that the appliance is well cleaned, even on the inside, that the chimney has the right draught and that there is the correct flow of air through the appliance. To quickly reach the correct temperature, we advise you to use good quality wood, cut in thin sections, to create a nice lively fire.

Since July 2007 in Italy, every solid fuel appliance must have a CE marking following the reference standards, establishing the obligation to carry out and pass a series of tests on a sample product of the product line production. These tests must be carried out by an external laboratory, notified and under strict control of inspection bodies. Based on the obtained certification reports, the manufacturer must show the CE marking including a series of mandatory technical data (power, efficiency, CO, safety distances, etc.) that must be the same as those measured in the laboratory. Without this marking the product should be considered nonstandard. Producers in good standing have no problem providing a declaration of conformity including technical data and the details of the test laboratory. Also the quality of the paperwork shows the reliability of the producer and the brand.

Rizzoli products are available in many models and with a wide range of choices and customizations whose cost is established by a fixed price list, but which is not available to the customers. The explanation of every change and option that could modify the price requires specifically trained staff. Therefore, we advise you to go to a certified retailer where you will get all the information you need and you could refine the purchase order. Our local agents are available to provide useful information about the sales network and you can contact our sales office during office hours or via the website.

Often at the best Rizzoli retailers it is possible to directly see some products on display, unfortunately it will not always be possible to see every available model or finish. Anyway, we recommend seeing the quality of finishes and materials with your own eyes. In the catalogues or on the internet you can't feel these aspects that in real life make the difference. To view and touch Rizzoli products you can also go to the main trade fairs where Rizzoli participates, visit Rizzoli in Tour exhibition containers - the stages are available on the website - and finally visit our headquarters in San Lugano, Truden im Naturpark (BZ), where there are many products on display and the production line as well as the available variants and finishes are well represented.

The best way to purchase a Rizzoli product is to go to one of the stores, you can also contact our local agents, to find your nearest store or the most suitable store to your needs. In so doing, you can rely on professionals for the installation and for the necessary consultation.


Rizzoli products are extremely robust and reliable over time, they do not require inspections or specialized maintenance. Rizzoli's quality system is strongly oriented to prevent as much as possible the need for after-sales assistance. Moreover, all components that could wear or break are easily replaceable by non-specialist technicians thanks to technical data sheets and the direct advice of Rizzoli technicians. 
For small repairs, the retailers can help you, while, in the rare cases where major interventions are required, Rizzoli technicians are directly involved.

For spare parts and accessories you can always refer to the retailer where you originally purchased the product, in this way the purchasing and shipping procedures are simplified. Spare parts may not always be available from the retailer. Should it be the case, they will be ordered directly from the producer. To identify the necessary spare parts, it is essential to specify: the type of spare part, the reference model, the year of purchase and the serial number of the product, which identifies the specific product and how it was produced.

The serial number is on the original purchase documents (receipt of order, transport document and invoice), in the warranty or in the green booklet. On the wood-burning cooker, it can be found by the CE marking, normally on the external side of the wood box. On older models, it can be found on the upper part of the plinth, it can be seen by removing the wood box.

Again, you can always refer to the retailer where you originally purchased the product. If the products are not available they can be ordered directly to Rizzoli, by contacting the sales office.

Almost every Rizzoli wood-burning cookers and thermo-cookers can have the flue outlet on the left or on the right. This is a free choice, it doesn't entail any further cost to the client. On some products there is a standard configuration for the flue outlet both on the right and on the left. During the installation, you will have to choose which one will be connected. On most kitchens, however, the position of the flue outlet completely changes its assembly process and must be chosen during the order.

The kitchen hood is an important complement to a functional and modern kitchen. It can be combined with the wood-burning cooker, but not all the hoods on the market are suitable. You should choose an appropriate hood, capable of resisting to the heat of the radiant plate. Essential conditions are: not to have external plastic parts, to have stainless steel filters and suitable internal components. 
Rizzoli is an expert of hoods specifically designed for this use, also custom-made according to the customer's needs.

Yes, in Rizzoli product range there are many combinations and monoblocks with appliances. The appliances can be chosen from the Rizzoli range, coordinated with the kitchen's finishes and can be purchased separately by the client. In this case, Rizzoli has to be provided with the appliances or the technical data sheets to insert cutting holes.

It should be avoided setting up an out-of-standard flue outlet, as this may not guarantee the performance for which the appliance has been designed and certified. In some cases, it is necessary due to limitations of the installation premises. Therefore, after a feasibility check you can create a custom-made product.

Rizzoli is specialized in customized kitchens, personalized according to the needs and tastes of the client. The customized kitchens line establishes the creation of every detail required by the client and with the utmost artisanal care of every detail. Even for R range kitchens and partially for the S range, kitchens can be widely customized, thanks to the possibility of controlling every aspect of the creation and to an organization that is completely focused on satisfying our customers' needs.

Wood-burning cookers are also designed to heat, therefore they release heat. If flammable or heat-sensitive materials are close to the stove, safety distances have to be maintained or, at least, heat protection systems must be implemented, to avoid any problem. Safety distances are listed in the instruction manual and on the marking on the side of the appliance, these vary from model to model. In the Rizzoli product range there are special wood-burning cookers to be built into furniture that don't need any additional heat protection devices.

Wood-burning cookers need oxygen to work, therefore air to feed the fire. If the air is taken from the room, it must be replenished by a vent in the same room which allows continuous air exchange. All Rizzoli wood-burning cookers and thermo-cookers models can be connected directly to a dedicated external air entry. Therefore, the vent in the room is not necessary.

Generally, it is not mandatory to link the kitchen directly to an external air entry. If you want to install the kitchen inside an energy-efficient house, where an external air entry is not allowed in the room, the direct connection of the wood-burning cooker with the external entry solves the problem.

There are special mechanical devices that allow the air to flow from the outside only if there's a depression in the inside, that is only when it's strictly necessary. Moreover, most of the models with an external air entry have a damper to regulate its flux.

To this purpose, Rizzoli has two types of customization on some standard products. The first solution, called "double chimney", allows the smoke produced by the stove to circulate directly from the combustion chamber into a heating system built specifically by an expert stove maker, placed in an adjacent room. The second solution, called "Hot air heater", allows hot air produced inside the wood-burning cooker to be conveyed into another room by a ventilation system, controlled by the wood-burning cooker.

To work at its best the flue pipe must have the right size corresponding to the model and to the installation conditions, it must not be too small or too big and must guarantee the right draught, in all conditions. In general, the flue pipe must be slightly larger (2-3 cm) than the flue outlet on the wood-burning cooker and must have a minimum height difference of 4-4.5 metres.

If there are any draught problems, there are most certainty external conditions that do not allow the proper functioning of the appliance. For this reason, you should check the whole path of the air and its transformation into smoke. Starting from the air entry in the room, the entrances in the wood-burning cooker, the paths of the smoke in the appliance and the connection with the flue pipe and the chimney.

Draught problems during ignition might depend on weather: low pressure or particular winds can cause the problem. Also an oversized chimney might cause the problem. A very big chimney has trouble in heating up, therefore it doesn't work well. In this case, you should install a more suitable flue pipe.

You can put dampers but with some warnings, since they can be a source of danger. The used dampers can't be airtight, they must allow an internal security opening of 20 cm minimum, opened at all times. If this is necessary, we recommend using special dampers as a draught limiters.

We generally advice to use well fixed non-flexible pipes to release the smoke. Corrugated Aluminium Pipes are absolutely prohibited for this purpose. The only pipes that can be used must be guaranteed specifically for this use and must have an internal smooth surface.

The flue pipe for a wood-burning cooker must be made of a material designed to resist to high temperatures to guarantee safety. It doesn't necessarily need to be metal, although this would allow to ensure its proper performance. Moreover, a metal flue pipe requires less maintenance.

Installing a liner is necessary when the current flue pipe is oversized compared to the actual need and with squared flue pipes, more difficult to maintain. When the flue pipe section is too big there might be troubles during ignition, there might be a scarce draught and the chimney might need frequent cleaning up.

A flue pipe with a smaller section might not be suitable for the appliance and might prevent the proper functioning at a nominal speed. In this case, the only solution is to lengthen the flue pipe by raising the chimney, to increase the chimney draught.

The nominal power corresponds to the average power actually produced in some power cycles in conditions defined nominal in a laboratory able to supply constant and regular conditions. 

At the customer's it will be impossible to have exactly the same conditions especially for the chimney draught and type and quantity of wood used. This doesn't mean the product will not work properly, on the contrary, if it is well installed it might even provide higher power and outputs than what has been stated.

In general, the expansion vessel is always necessary, but it is not only used for the thermo-cooker, it is used for the entire heating system as it allows changes in volume of the fluid contained in the heating system according to the temperature fluctuations without causing any breaks. Every closed system needs a suitable expansion vessel. The expansion vessel can be open or closed. The choice of the type of expansion vessel changes installation methods and safety requirements. In case of an installation in a preexistent system, the expansion vessel should already be present. In this case, it should be checked if it is suitable and has an appropriate size.

The installation with a closed expansion vessel is convenient, because it is easier to perform and easily allows to combine other heat generators. 
The installation of closed expansion vessel thermo-cookers has been allowed in Italy since November 2006 according to the technical standard UNI 10412-2. To ensure safety, the creation of a special auxiliary thermal discharge system is mandatory, which allows, in case of an emergency, cold water to leak inside a special serpentine inside the boiler of the appliance. Therefore, the thermo-cooker must be set up for this purpose. Every thermo-cooker and thermo stove is also designed for a closed vessel installation.

In general, together with a solid fuel appliance it is always advisable to install a boiler to produce domestic hot water. In addition to the advantage of producing hot water, it is a thermal flywheel that allows to store the excess heat and to have a more fluid functioning of the system. Anyway, the boiler is not mandatory. Rizzoli also produces the STP, STK and TSK thermo-cookers and thermo-stove models which have a special function for direct and immediate production of domestic hot water and are therefore specifically designed to be installed without a boiler.


Rizzoli provides some generic installation plans to give only an idea on how to implement the system. The plans are both in the catalogue and in the instruction manual. However, the generic plans can't replace the work of a specialized heating design engineer: the only one able to design in detail the most suitable system with all the changes and devices that are suitable or necessary, case by case.

There are many aspects to be considered, but the main two are the simplicity of installation and the production of domestic hot water. If you don't need immediate domestic hot water, you want to install a storage boiler and installing a plumbing and heating system is not a problem, it may be more advantageous to prefer a standard version. Conversely, it may be more advantageous to choose an STP or an STK thermo-cooker, or a TSK thermo stove.

To prevent the condensation in the boiler, the water temperature must not drop below 55–60 ° C during the operation of the appliance. Below this temperature, the condensation might damage the boiler and compromise its durability.

In this case, the set up of the right water temperature may not be enough to avoid the return of cold water. It is suggested to install a specific anti-condensation valve in the system, which makes a bypass controlled by the water temperature. In this way, the returning cold water is conveniently mixed with how water when necessary.

This is a difficult question to answer. First of all, we must keep in mind that the height of the apartment significantly changes the area to heat. Then, we must remember that the place of the installation significantly changes the energy demand: an apartment in the mountains will require much more heat than one in the lowlands. So we need to evaluate the quality of the insulation of the house, its solar radiation exposure, if there are heated rooms nearby, aspects that can significantly affect the actual heat demand. Finally, we must always consider that what people require in terms of comfort can vary quite a lot based on both objective and subjective needs. Therefore, only an exact evaluation of a Heating Design Engineer can precisely evaluate every specific case without making a series of hypotheses that may not correspond to reality.

Not all the radiators are the same, the power they absorb depends on the model, height and the number of elements they are made of. Once the power absorbed by the single heating component is established, it is possible to know the total absorbed power. In order to ensure the proper system functioning, the power absorbed by the system should be less than the nominal power supplied to the water by the appliance or slightly higher, at most.

In a heating system there may be more than one heat generator, if a suitable system is created. When there are more than two heat generators, the simplest way to combine them is to set up a puffer that stores the heat. Therefore, all the heat generators heat the water in the puffer, and when that is used for heating or for domestic use it is taken from the puffer.

From a theoretical point of view underfloor heating isn't different from traditional radiators. The only peculiarity of the underfloor heating is that water circulates at a temperature lower than 40 ° C. At this temperature it is too cold to circulate directly in a combustion boiler - such as the one used for thermo-cookers or thermo stoves - therefore a heat exchanger or a three-port valve system must be set up to have water circulating at different temperatures in the system and in the boiler.

The thermo-cooker can be used at any time. However, we must keep in mind that some of the heat is always transmitted to the boiler water. Therefore, the heat has to be disposed to prevent the appliance from overheating. To take advantage of this opportunity, you should choose an appliance where the height of the fire grill is adjustable and you should also set up in the system a domestic hot water boiler that absorbs excess heat production.