multi fuel stoves v open fires

[JinglingHellsBells]

are stoves going to be non-pc in time? Would you bother to install one in an existing open fire place? I know that wet wood is going to be banned as fuel but not dried timber. Rough costs of converting a fire to a stove? £2k? £3K

We did ours about 3 years ago and used an approved defra installer to ensure it met required standards for where we live. We only burn logs that have dried out for a couple of years at least. It appears to generate much less particulate than an open fire and as an Athens sufferer I have noticed that my breathing is better than when we had an open fire going in the winter. However we do live on the coast rather than in a built up area.

It’s was c£3k for a high spec stove, re-lining chimney with top quality flue, carbon monoxide detector and labour. Cost will depend on what size stove you need. We bought one that can burn multi fuel and also cleans the glass.

It depends where you are. I am not sure I'd bother with the expense of a stove if I was central London, say. But there are loads of homes in the country for which stoves/ woodburners are the only form of heating. I can't see them being banned anytime soon in that situation?

And surely no idiot actually burns wet wood - that's one way to set your chimney on fire (the tars in the wood attach to the side of the chimney and then later can catch light).

In terms of conversion it depends on your chimney. There are new regulations which if I remember correctly relate to the fire retardant-ness of the chimney (sorry made up word). We recently replaced one of our woodburners and had to have the chimney relined (it's a funny shape and has a 90 degree bend in it). I think the labour/ materials for the chimney cost about £1,500 and the woodburner itself was about £900. There was a thread on here the other day about open fires vs woodburners.

YY the main cost is usually relining the chimney, not buying the stove.

Stores vary hugely in cost (and quality). A better quality one will burn efficiently and can stay alight overnight.
But, there’s a great disadvantage of a “quality” stove: it takes ages for the stove body to heat up (because it’s made of thicker material), so if you’re lifestyle is “get-home-at-7pm-and-light-stove for evening” then it’ll not throw out much heat until 8.30pm. Which isn’t helpful if you’re off to bed at 10pm!
For quicker heat you’re better with a thinner stove. But they will guzzle more fuel!

Our previous house had an”good” stove, current one has a much flimsier one. Personally I’d go for a better quality more efficient one, but the drawback isn’t just on cost.

We couldn’t decide for ages. I wanted a coal fire as that is what I’m familiar with. Dh wanted a wood burner. I didn’t as I think they will date and be the artex of the early 21st century. We ended up going with a gas fire. And love it! We got something like this, www.sensofireplaces.co.uk/product-page/verine-eden-he-gas-fire-cf?gclid=CjwKCAjwnK36BRBVEiwAsMT8WAoAm7K39Z_9goNKViBsbG4aFFaV_YgEWuQbRGuO8Ivn7N3JQDOugxoCqG0QAvD_BwE
But something like www.flames.co.uk/gas-fires/gazco-loft-gas-stove.html might suit what you are after ?

We’ve got an open fire and a multi use fuel stove downstairs (old house!). The stove is much better and keeps the room much warmer. I love it though.

But, there’s a great disadvantage of a “quality” stove: it takes ages for the stove body to heat up (because it’s made of thicker material), so if you’re lifestyle is “get-home-at-7pm-and-light-stove for evening” then it’ll not throw out much heat until 8.30pm

I’m sorry but that isn’t my experience at all - and we’ve had 7 different woodburners over the years (we currently have 3 where we are including in an annexe, and also had in previous homes). I’ve never found that they take longer than say 25mins tops to heat up. Unless you’re burning wood that’s not properly seasoned??

I’d love one of those esse warm heart/bake heart stoves so you could cook in a power cut, the idea makes me feel all self sufficient

Daisydoesn’t, our last house we put in a new wood burner and largely burnt oak that had been cut about 5 years before, so definitely not wet or green. Threw out loads of heat but did take a while to “get up to puff”. At the time we thought it was the effect of slow—growing hardwood. But currebt house has a much flimsier stove (esse or a cheap copy of one, but old). Heats up quick but inefficient. burning same type of wood equally seasoned.

Grew up with Jotul stoves (old ones, no window so couldn’t see the fire), which although good weren’t what I’d choose as couldn’t see the flames! Obviously there are other Jotul models.

I wouldn’t have either tbh. I have moved to a rural area because of my asthma and am less than delighted to find a lot of people burn wood or even coke. The smoke really bothers me.

I wanted a wood burner but I'm concerned about air pollution so I'm looking into a gas stove instead.

As of February you won't be able to buy coal for domestic use, so we are looking to change our open fire for a log burning stove.

Log burners are far more efficient than open fires. 70% compared with about 35% I think.

I love my wood burner (I have it lit now). It does heat the room nicely - I can put off turning on the central heating for a few weeks as we don't generally turn it on upstairs anyway.
But more than that it provides a wonderful focal point to the room and there's something very comforting about a fire.
My stove cost about £1200, I had to reline the chimney - the scaffolding alone was half the cost (big house)! All in all about £3000, but well worth it.
Open fires are a lot less efficient as most of the heat goes up the chimney.
You should get your chimney swept at least once a year too, but that is not expensive (£35 where I live).
There are regulations and you must get a stove that meets certain criteria if you live in a smoke free area.

It cost me £3000 to have a new hearth made, the old fireplace knocked about to enlarge it, bricks cleaned up, new lining and a lovely multi fuel stone put in. This was four years ago
I've had three stoves and countless open fire places, I'd go with stoves every time