Whats cheaper? Wood burning stove or heating oil?

[kaykkies]

Hi guys.

My house has 3 wood burning stoves. Although they couldn't heat the whole house and are unconnected to the heating system. They do let off some heat!

I dont use them much but im just wondering with winter coming ;) is it cheaper to have the stoves lit rather than turning on the central heating (oil)?

And if so by much? As they are a pain to keep lit

How big are the stoves and how big is the house? Oh, and how cold is winter ?
I am in Scotland and in a previous house we had 2 large wood burners and leaving the doors open they could heat the house, but we couldn’t sit near them 😁
I think they can top up your heat and cut your oil costs but without a pump and boiler attached, they won’t replace your radiators.
To make the best of them make sure the wood is well seasoned, at least 2 years. Kiln dried is great but can be expensive.
Bear in mind the oil price is low so shop around for oil too.

Emm each stove is about 700mm wide? House is an average 2 story semi detached but has an extension where the garage was converted to a second living area.

Winter is our beautiful irish weather id say we average 3 degrees but we all know how cold it can really get

Could they remove the need for radiators to be on?

Depends on how much (if anything) you pay for wood. We have two stoves that we heat half the house with because we are semi-rural with a big garden, chainsaw & trailer so can get wood cheaply or free from friends, our garden, local Facebook groups, etc and then store it to season for a couple of years. If you’re paying through the nose for kiln dried wood to be delivered to your house then it’s an entirely different calculation.

Oil is super cheap at the moment - I filled up at 20p per litre a couple of months a go - £200 for heating and hot water for a year is an absolute bargain!

Oh wow! £200 is amazing

Would a full tank last you a year?

Heating oil, especially right now. I've lived in both a house that only had a wood burner for heating, and now live in a house that only has oil for heating. Unless you've got your own supply of free/cheap, seasoned wood, I've found oil heating far more inexpensive!

@kaykkies yes - we have a 1000 litre tank which does a full year as long as we don’t have prolonged freezing weather. Small 3 bed detached house about 35 years old. Would be different in an older draughty property I’m sure. We use boiler juice to get the best price.

Honestly I would use them in tandem. They do different jobs. The central heating will provide controllable all round warmth, the stoves will boost the heat meaning the radiators will click off in those areas. I assume you have individual radiator thermostats.
You don't want to rely wholly on stoves and on freezing winter mornings have to get up to light the them.

Cost wise we pay about 27p/litre for oil. In the past it's been over 60p so the economics vary.

Go through this blog. It will clarify some of your thoughts.
wood-pellet-ireland.blogspot.com/2011/09/?m=0