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Original poster

Gas fire v Log burner

29 replies

Oldenglishedmixed · 28/04/2018 09:01

Just moved into a house and we are trying to decide whether to have a log burner or gas fire fitted. (The previous owners had a massive log burner that they abused and the chimney is full of soot and tar so needs sorting out whatever we go for so cost for either is roughly the same)
We are are busy family, 2 dc, 6 and 4, both working, little time for sourcing wood, sweeping ash, cleaning glass/dust etc, dealing with creepy crawlies that come in with the wood.
My head is saying gas fire for ease, convenience, instant/variable heat, less cleaning, safety... but everyone who has a log burner raves about them... what am I missing?
Do they really heat the whole house? And are they a massive faff? Its a 1930s detached with no cavity so I am worried its going to be cold in winter, supplementing the heating does sound appealing.
If we went for gas fire now how difficult is it to change it later? (We have a dining room/kitchen we could have one installed in/swapped to at a later date)
Please let me have your genuine opinions

OP posts:
Badgertastic · 28/04/2018 09:15

I've yearned for a log burner for years. We have an ugly open fire in the house we have just moved in to. I had in my head a roaring log burner there instead, however my next door neighbour has had an electric imitation wood burner put in and it has realistic steam - I think it's a dimplex. Now I'm giving the idea second thoughts because you get the look of a log burner, lovely heat but none of the mess or harm to the environment.

specialsubject · 28/04/2018 09:19

....and gas of course comes from unicorn farts and is carbon neutral.... Hmm

log burner clean up takes five mins. insects are a non issue if this isnt Australia.what you do need is space to store wood.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 28/04/2018 09:23

I love our log burner. But before spending money on one I'd look to spend money on making your house as thermally efficient as possible.

Luckingfovely · 28/04/2018 09:29

We have log burners, and I love them. There is just no question in my mind.

JT05 · 28/04/2018 09:53

Multi fuel log burner, get my vote. We have two. You can use smokeless fuel to keep it ticking over when you are out and keep it in overnight. Bliss on a cold day!

user1484830599 · 28/04/2018 09:53

We have a log burner but we have our own woodland so no need to buy wood. I'm not sure I'd have one if I had to buy wood. Do you have room to store the wood too?

I do like it, but we inherited it when we moved in and I'm not sure I would go to the expense of putting one in. It doesn't heat the whole house, but it does heat the room it is in and the adjoining room very well. If you do get one just make sure if is the right size for your room.

Original poster
Oldenglishedmixed · 28/04/2018 09:58

Thanks all for the advice so far. We do have room to store wood but wouldn't have regular access to free wood.

OP posts:
Gobbolinothewitchscat · 28/04/2018 10:00

We had a log burner at our old house. Now installing two new gas fires as part of this renovation at the new one. Apparently they are very efficient. I'm not so bothered about that. Just glad we don't have to clean out a fire again. With 3 DCS aged 5 and under and cream carpets it was a job I could do without

Scrowy · 28/04/2018 10:04

I agree with user we have a log burner but we also have a free supply of wood from our farm so it doesn't make sense not to use it.

They do create a lot of mess though and because everyone these days has one wood can now be quite expensive if you have to buy it.

I do love the lovely warm heat it gives off in winter though and that just can't be replicated with gas.

borntobequiet · 28/04/2018 10:06

I loved my (multifuel) log burner. But in another house I had a realistic looking coal effect gas fire and that was very cosy and warmed the place up quickly. With the log burner, if I got back late from work in the winter I went to bed early rather than light it and wait an hour for it to warm up properly.

user1484830599 · 28/04/2018 10:08

I still cannot fathom how to light the bloody thing either. I have to get my husband to do it!

AnnaMagnani · 28/04/2018 10:23

I have a log burner. If I had gas supply to my house, I wouldn't have another.

It is a faff. Fire does need monitoring. It doesn't heat the whole house, just the room you are in - although sometimes this is handy. It takes a while to get going and make the place even vaguely warm. It was v expensive to have put in and have the chimney lined, and that was with a massive discount on the stove.

You need somewhere to store logs. Free logs are great but actually burning briquettes is better as the logs go so fast - we now get a pallet delivered and it is much better and cheaper than logs.

Compared to a gas fire which you can just switch on and off and adjust the temperature. I'd have gas any time.

RealityHasALiberalBias · 28/04/2018 11:16

We have two multi fuel stoves and I love them, however they are a fair amount of work compared to gas. I happen to enjoy the work, but I don’t have kids or a long commute.

I particularly like heating the reception rooms from the fireplaces, because we don’t have wall space taken up with radiators. But obv a gas fire solves this problem too.

You can get gas fired stoves if you like the look.

Lucisky · 28/04/2018 15:00

We have got a multi fuel stove and it is certainly efficient. I suppose it depends on your house layout, but the heat from ours rises up the stairs in the adjacent hallway, so while keeping the sitting room very warm it also takes the chill off elsewhere. It only takes a few minutes to clear out, tidy up and re-lay ready for lighting. We burn mostly coal though as you can put a load on and leave it for hours. Logs seem to burn through really quickly and you are forever feeding it.
It is lovely on a cold morning to come down and find downstairs still lovely and warm, and the coals still glowing that were put on the previous evening.

Jonbb · 28/04/2018 19:29

Logs can be bought and delivered for around 65 quid a load.

OctoberOctober · 28/04/2018 20:43

Cost of wood depends on where you are, we have certainly never paid £65 a load.. we tend to use briquettes and wood or coal when really cold. I don't find it much of a faff to clean and light but it is obviously more work than flicking a switch. But much nicer too Grin

We recently installed a second wood burner so we are pretty sold on them. Personally I would never have a gas fire over a wood burner but the points about wood storage and cost are valid.

EmmaC78 · 28/04/2018 23:40

I have recently installed a log burner. I love it and don't find the cleaning any hassle but am surprised at how expensive logs are and how quickly I am going through them.

I would still install another though.

123fushia · 28/04/2018 23:47

I have an ancient gas fire with back boiler, so not easy to replace with a wood burner without changing al radiators etc. Have covered fire up with latticed frame.😕. I would LOVE the chance to have a log burner, whatever it takes!!

kmmr · 29/04/2018 00:02

Just took our log burner out and have a new gas fire. We just didn't feel it gave enough heat and went through so much wood. And was a faff. Loving the more gentle but pervasive heat through the whole living area. And I can put it on a timer for the morning. Love it.

Maryann1975 · 29/04/2018 20:59

I love our log burner and as we have a supply of free wood, it is free to heat the house. But obviously the log burner was far more expensive than a gas fire to install, so I guess it will be a few years before we break even. But, the room looks lovely and is warm and cosy with the fire on.

We do spend a lot of time, collecting free wood, chopping it up with the saw and then the axe, moving it, stacking it, it’s a bit of a faff, but we all help and the kids enjoy log splitting days. Cleaning it and relaying it takes maybe 5 minutes a day, so quite quick once you know how to get the fire going.

MovingAgainOhWhy · 29/04/2018 21:41

I have a multifuel and use smokeless ovoids (which kind of look like coal but are perfectly oval anthracite, do not use 'house coal' in a burner as it eats away at the chimney lining). They produce very little ash or smoke so the cleaning is minimal, I occasionally chuck a log on too. The ovoids burn for hours and produce good heat, they keep us warm in our 300 year old cottage in the Scottish wilderness during winter. Much nicer than gas

MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 29/04/2018 22:12

I wouldn’t be without my wood burner, I love it. A gas fire is never going to be the same, although I’m tempted by the idea of the timer. Grin Wood is easily sourced and delivered and you can buy wood stores anywhere, although my Dh knocked a couple up out of some old wood pallets and a bit of roofing felt. It takes a couple of minutes to brush the old ash through, lay some paper, kindling, wood and a bit of smokeless coal and you’ve got a lovely roaring fire. Ours has never been any trouble.

user1484830599 · 29/04/2018 22:24

Will one of you woodburner aficionados PLEASE, for the love of God teach me how to light the damn thing!

specialsubject · 29/04/2018 22:35

method here

  1. make sure wood is really dry
  2. roll up sheet of broadsheet , tie in a knot. make five of these and line bottom of burner.
  3. add one fireli ghhter, split in two
  4. build small pyramid of kindling
  5. open bottom vent fully and top half way
  6. light firelighters,close door.
  7. when kin dling burning, open door slowly and place bigge r bits on. close door.

gradually add mo re.

excuse spaces, crap mn coding.

MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 29/04/2018 23:02

I just screw up a few good handfuls of newspaper - or that nice brown packing paper if you have any, I have loads - chuck in a handful of kindling, one or two firelighters are handy as they keep it burning nicely, and light the paper. Push the door to so the air fans the flames and when it’s caught chuck in a bit of wood or two and a shovelful of smokeless coals. Shut the door and gradually close the vent. Chuck another lump of wood on it every so often.

I keep a scuttle full of coal, well the smokeless stuff, a fireside set of poker etc, a wood basket and a kindling basket on the hearth so everything is to hand. We’ve got a little stove top fan that blows the heat out a bit and a temperature gauge on the pipe that tells you when it’s at effienct burning temperature.

Before you go to bed shovel the ash over the hot coals and bed the fire in. It will keep it warm all night and hopefully the room will still be warm in the morning. Brush some of the ash through and start again.