gas fireplace to wood burning stove help/advice please

[mklanch]

hi,

we are buying a property that currently has a gas fire. i would like to change this to a wood burning stove.
i have no idea where to start or who to call to do the work.
i have attached a picture of the current fireplace and then a picture of what i want to do.
any advice would be greatly appreciated :)

gazco gas stoves are much cleaner, safer (health wise) and more practical. I loved our one with a remote control. instant fire and so easy to control the temperature. we'll be ripling out a multifuel stove in our new house and putting in a gas one

also no need for annual chimney sweep

We've had wood burgers/multi fuel stoves for years. I do like the look of them, but oh my god they make so much dust and dirt. There's also the issue of indoor and outdoor pollution which is concerning. All things considered, I'm not sure I'd put one in now, although it wouldnt put me off purchasing a house that already had one.

I have no gas. Never in a million years would I keep my filthy, pain in the neck (but yes, cosy) wood stove if I had the option of gas.
You need lots of wood, which is expensive. Somewhere dry to store it. You need to cart logs in and clean out the fire every day. You can't just flick a switch and have heat.

With all the talk about changing all the gas boilers over to heat pumps/ electric. There’s a lot of people on here wanting to install gas fires !! 😀. Maybe an electric fire is for you ?

I've had both and would say I preferred the idea of the wood burning stove but the reality of the gas stove. As people say, gas is cleaner and no smoke being sent into the air and no expensive wood to buy.

thank you for all your replies, i think we have decided to go for a gas stove instead

@Chumleymouse Yes, in an ideal world of course we should be considering 'green' options. But air source heat pumps are only fit for purpose in new, highly insulated homes. Electricity is very expensive compared to gas. Do you really think the Government is not going to go backwards on this, or at the very least explore other types of gas e.g. bio gas which is carbon neutral? Already a Government minister has admitted that air source heat pumps are not fit for purpose. This is a work in progress - millions of homes, including newly built ones, are fitted with gas boilers - there needs to be much more informed debate and tested options before gas is rendered obsolete. We have family who have installed (with a generous Government grant) an air sourced heat pump. On being quizzed about it they were very cagey (they have an old very large house).. But the results speak for themselves as they also have three woodburners and an oil fired aga as well!!!!!! So I think that speaks for itself.

@mklanch Glad we've all helped you make a decision so quickly - we've deliberated for months on the pro's and cons of both, definitely not helped by the Government's nascent green policies.

[quote DaphneduM]@Chumleymouse Yes, in an ideal world of course we should be considering 'green' options. But air source heat pumps are only fit for purpose in new, highly insulated homes. Electricity is very expensive compared to gas. Do you really think the Government is not going to go backwards on this, or at the very least explore other types of gas e.g. bio gas which is carbon neutral? Already a Government minister has admitted that air source heat pumps are not fit for purpose. This is a work in progress - millions of homes, including newly built ones, are fitted with gas boilers - there needs to be much more informed debate and tested options before gas is rendered obsolete. We have family who have installed (with a generous Government grant) an air sourced heat pump. On being quizzed about it they were very cagey (they have an old very large house).. But the results speak for themselves as they also have three woodburners and an oil fired aga as well!!!!!! So I think that speaks for itself.

@mklanch Glad we've all helped you make a decision so quickly - we've deliberated for months on the pro's and cons of both, definitely not helped by the Government's nascent green policies.[/quote]
:) thank you all

i never realised you could get a gas stove as i had never looked into it and always though gas fires were not as safe as other options.

gazco is a very nice brand. i just have to hope i can find someone to prepare the fireplace and then fit the new stove. getting trades people at the minute is a nightmare

@mklanch I absolutely agree with you about the issues with getting tradespeople. We had a false start over a year ago with sourcing a gas fire and left it until recently. The second time we approached a company who source and install both woodburners and gas fires. We had to wait a while for the gas guy to come over to do the survey - he came this week, so we're waiting {with trepidation) the estimate for the work!!! He said he thought it would be November/December time to do the work which is ok by us. Coincidentally we use a local guy to service our gas boiler and he fitted us in a couple of week ago and he told us that he is manically busy as everyone is making tweaks and improvements to their houses!!! I hope you manage to find a firm who will give you a good service, it's in their interests as the costs are not insubstantial.

[quote DaphneduM]@mklanch I absolutely agree with you about the issues with getting tradespeople. We had a false start over a year ago with sourcing a gas fire and left it until recently. The second time we approached a company who source and install both woodburners and gas fires. We had to wait a while for the gas guy to come over to do the survey - he came this week, so we're waiting {with trepidation) the estimate for the work!!! He said he thought it would be November/December time to do the work which is ok by us. Coincidentally we use a local guy to service our gas boiler and he fitted us in a couple of week ago and he told us that he is manically busy as everyone is making tweaks and improvements to their houses!!! I hope you manage to find a firm who will give you a good service, it's in their interests as the costs are not insubstantial.[/quote]
maybe its alot of people that couldn't get work done during lockdown or something. i need my roof replaced but everyone is fully booked until April!!
i need a stud wall put in and flooring. i'm just hoping i can find someone to do most the work quickly.

I hope you manage to get most of your work sorted - so frustrating!

Do you have space to store a decent amount of wood?
I have a wood burner and wouldn't be without it but I live in an area without a gas supply.
I wouldn't bother in a town with gas.
It needs to be under 5kw or you need extra ventilation. Consider the size of your firebox if you don't want to split your own logs.
How does it connect to the rest of the house? Bear in mind you won't be able to close the door without the room being unbearably hot unless it is enormous. Again, good for us as basically heats whole house but not so good if you want peace to watch telly

Sorry I missed your update on first read! Well hopefully the above helps you to know it's the right decision!

@mklanch that Hereford stove you linked to is the one we’ve got .

@Chumleymouse

If you’ve got smoke in your room when your running a wood burner , then you either have a really old leaky one or your running it incorrectly.

We never get any smoke in the house.

It’s not about visible smoke. It’s particulate matter that is really bad for your lungs inside, and the environment outside from the smoke.

www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/01/avoid-using-wood-burning-stoves-if-possible-warn-health-experts

I would not have one.

I would not have one, they are actually quite dangerous. I know someone who died in a fire caused by one, and there are many people who burn unsuitable things in them, without caring that they are polluting the neighbourhood.

MIL had an ancient gas fire removed, and changed it for an electric fire, which is basically a fan heater set into a fake log burner. The cable has been cleverly concealed, so at first glance it actually looks quite real. It's also pretty quiet, and has a remote control. She often runs it on the light effect setting, which really gives a cosy look to the room. She loves it and there are no maintenance issues. She has a gas heater in another room, so uses that for background heat, with the electric fire to boost if needed. Electric fires can be pricey to run, but there is not the initial £2K to £3K that installing a wood burner can cost.

I see you're already looking at gas options which is what I have.

I love it.

It was chosen deliberately after understanding the PITA "real" wood burners are to run and maintain thanks to PIL (who got rid of theirs about a year after we installed our gas one and replaced with similar).

As pp's have said, pollution aside (which frankly should be enough to put you off in the first place) it costs a fortune in wood and the hassle of storing it and constantly replenishing the supply next to the fire in winter.

They are basically fashion accessories that are a pretty risible version of alternatives that offer the same benefits cheaper, safer and with less pollution.

--The same as Agas basically but I know that will have some posters clutching their pearls, but I'm still bloody delighted to have tipped out the Aga in my house and installed electric ovens/gas and induction hob, especially now in Peri I'm not sweating over a blisteringly hot box.

Don’t get one till after January 2022 as regulations are changing then

A local Environmental Health officer has likened the emission levels to those from a diesel car.

[quote Floralnomad]@mklanch that Hereford stove you linked to is the one we’ve got .[/quote]
how do you rate it?

I must admit we don’t actually switch it on very often as I generally just use the central heating , but it looks lovely , it heats up quickly and looks good when it is on and the customer service from Broseley is excellent .