Another neigbour getting a wood burner

[JoSFry]

Come on …. When will people wake up to the pollution these things cause!

No, we are certainly not more important at all. I do not enjoy the fact that in order to keep my home (and family) warm it may possibly have an impact on other people’s health issues ( although I live rurally and not in a town or city) but on the flip side are you happy for a family to suffer cold and possibly the effects of a damp home because currently it’s the only way they can affordably warm their home because greedy energy bosses are making millions pound profits each year and not sending that down to the masses who need cheaper fuel bills?

I don’t know what the answer is but both you and I are victims of this government’s and private companies greed. It’s not us who are up against each other. I’d be happy to warm my house via other means if I could afford it.

And what about those in urban areas who can’t afford to keep their houses warm via any other means? I agree, it’s not ideal but what are they supposed to do.

It's posters on here who are the snobs. There's whole threads on what clothes, looks, furniture etc are chavy. If this was anything else that caused air pollution, posters would be condemning it, but because it isn't something commonly found in social/lower income housing, it's an outrage to suggest people shouldn't have them.

https://www.actionforcleanair.org.uk/files/wood_burning_faqs_-_october_2025.pdf

Worth a read.

https://www.actionforcleanair.org.uk/files/wood_burning_faqs_-_october_2025.pdf

My main takeaway
The report’s central argument is that wood burning is not simply a personal lifestyle choice because the resulting pollution affects neighbouring households and the wider community.
Three findings are particularly significant:
1. Health: The estimated 2,500 premature deaths annually make domestic burning a potentially substantial public health issue.
2. Necessity: If only 8% of people burning indoors lack an alternative heating source, much of the pollution could potentially be avoided.
3. Neighbours: Even someone who never lights a fire can be exposed to emissions from surrounding properties.
One important limitation is that the report focuses on the harms of wood burning. It does not provide a comprehensive assessment of competing evidence or a detailed discussion of the circumstances in which wood burning may be necessary.
Bottom line: The authors believe that reducing domestic wood burning, particularly where households already have alternative heating, could improve air quality and public health substantially.

I agree with the report. As you say, it doesn't cover necessary use of wood though. I live rurally and have a very large stone farmhouse. I had a quote to convert to a heat pump but the due to the size of the property, it would require 3 phase electricity and the pump alone is 15k and that was with the 7k government discount. Not feasible. I own a woodland and manage my own wood supply. I also have internal and external filters to minimise particulates. I'm continuing to burn wood.

Find me a study that shows this please. Everything I'd read suggests that unless you are foraging for your own wood, it's more expensive.

For me this is the interesting part of the report:"Only 8% of those burning indoors have no alternative source of heating – and most of these people live in rural areas and are on lower incomes. This means that the vast majority of people burning indoors have another way to heat their home."

Now I am in the 92% that does indeed have another way of heat my home. However what the report fails to mention is the cost of the alternative means of heating my home which in my case is a gas fired boiler. Whereas my cost of logs is zero (plus a shit load of effort).

If those complaining of air quality want to personally contribute to my gas bill (and no that doesn't mean the tax payer) then I will happily forgo lugging big bags of logs from the bottom of my garden.

Incidentally I have on average 2 trees fall down each year (possibly starting this weekend with the weather forecast). Currently they are recycled into heating - what would the objectors suggest I do with them instead?

New on here? MN will defend anything if it isn't popular with the lower classes. It doesn't matter what damage it does, or if it affects health.

Your post is derogatory and also wishing harm to people on council estates. What a horror you are.

Ive got one, my house is freezing, despite a modern boiler, insulation and new windows.

Like a lot of people i cant afford to run the CH much. I use a cubic metre of wood each winter, its fully dried and I use the burner correctly and get it swept/serviced every year. It's a modern, approved burner.

Im not MC, nor do I live in a posh area. Im just trying not to freeze to death in winter.

You not able to tell that poster is being sarcastic?

Did you even read the report?? It has a whole massive section titled “cost” with various stats to challenge the idea that wood burning stoves are less costly.

What if the wood is incinerated in an industrial burner instead and rhe heat wasted?

Depends on the size of your house, burner and how you use it. As a comparison, oil is in our area around 108p a litre. If we relied solely on oil then with our quite efficient boiler we would get through around 1500 litres a year. This is us being quite stingy on how we use it. Using the log burner to heat the main areas downstairs we can reduce heating oil by around 5-700 litres. We do buy in wood, usually one load at around £150-175. So the saving is very considerable. If you do have the time it is usually possible to gain access to wood for free, but that is time consuming and needs proper drying.

I am struggling to see how my zero cost wood is more expensive than my gas boiler using very costly gas.

Could you explain that one to me?

Jeez a cubic metre of wood per winter.

I am close to a cubic metre per month!

Cost:

Log burner & flue liner in 2013 - £1500
Chimney sweep - £75 p.a. from 2014
Wood £0 (a felled 60' sallow and a dead ash tree)
Replacement firebrick in 2025 - £85

Gas bill reduced by £200 in year 1
Gas bill reduced by £300 in year 2
Gas bill reduced by £350 in year 3
Gas bill reduced by £350 in year 4
Gas bill reduced by £350 in year 5
Gas bill reduced by £350 in year 6
Gas bill reduced by £350 in year 7

Since 2020 my log burner has saved me £350 a year. In 22/23 it saved £475 because the gas price was much higher. I know my own household budget.

I used to love ours untill I read about how bad they are for your health even with dry seasoned wood.

I love ours. The chimney is being swept today. We get it done every year. I do need to get more logs in though . We have a big log store but it’s nearly empty. I can’t wait to use it again. Cosy and warm!

Look at who commissioned those studies and why.

I live in a single glazed 18th century cottage on the edge of hills and woods. It's freezing and oil prices are crazy. We have and open fire and a multi fuels stove that are near constant in this weather. We own part of the woodland so it's the a natural lifestyle to us.

Im not jumping in the wood burner is bad band wagon.

A neighbour had one and used to put any old rubbish in it. It stank and blew soot all over my garden and washing.

Same here. We sound very similar! 😁