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Original poster

Log burner - would it put you off buying a house?

208 replies

HelpMeHiveMind · 19/01/2022 20:27

Sorry another thread from me tonight!

I hadn't realised log burners were quite so controversial in terms of health risks and housefire risk...and of course the environment. The cost doesn't put me off hugely, but the other factors do worry me.

Is a log burner in a property a deal breaker or not a problem? (It does have perfectly good central heating too but would be a shame to have a log burner and not use it when it's the main focal point of living room)

OP posts:
A580Hojas · 19/01/2022 21:02

Before too long people are going to wake up to the facts about wood burners and hopefully they will be banned in all but the most remote/rural environments. So, yes, it would be a wood burner would be

A580Hojas · 19/01/2022 21:03

a definite minus from me if house hunting.

Spilltheteaplease · 19/01/2022 21:05

It wouldn't put me off if I really liked the house but I would be ripping it out and I've have to factor that cost in.

I live next door to someone with a wood burner and it makes me feel unwell and stinks my house out.

PoshWatchShitShoes · 19/01/2022 21:05

I've just had a log burner installed. Haven't moved back in yet. But it looked so warm and toasty when the installer did a test fire to check flue working etc.

Didn't smell at all. I think people using cheap wet wood ruin it for everyone else.

vinoandbrie · 19/01/2022 21:06

I love our two, and would want them in our next house!

12345FishAlive · 19/01/2022 21:07

I would possibly still buy a house with one if the price was right to reflect the cost of removing it. Or maybe if it was my dream house in every other way I'd just make it into a useless feature. I truly can't see the appeal of them. Smoke stinks and is terrible for the environment and local air quality.

BiscuitLover3678 · 19/01/2022 21:08

They’re pretty bad for you but they look lovely and the occasional ones is ok

JustJam4Tea · 19/01/2022 21:08

We’ve got two, burn kiln dried wood. It’s a positive for me. When it’s not in use we stick a fake candle in it.

BillyandMargot · 19/01/2022 21:10

we've got one and so does next door. We can't smell when he's got his lit. He thought he could smell ours and went mental because his house was full of smoke and was so angry until he realised we were out, the fire was off and it was because his neighbours on the other side were burning things in their garden and he'd left the windows open so 🤷‍♀️

Runnerduck34 · 19/01/2022 21:10

Would be a positive for me, as long as there was also central heating!

About10thusername · 19/01/2022 21:10

I really depends. We live in the countryside in a very old house and we need another source of heat in the evenings as the central heating just doesn't do the trick. Choices are: wood burner, open fire or electric fire.
For us, a wood burner is the obvious option. They're ridiculous in newer (warmer) buildings where they're not needed.

BotterMon · 19/01/2022 21:11

I wouldn't buy a house without log burners or open fires. There is nothing better than a real fire. I am a rural person - the more remote the better so neighbours aren't an issue for me.

Our log burner and oil rads have been lifesavers this week as new boiler being installed so no CH.

godmum56 · 19/01/2022 21:17

@lljkk

is it gas cooker, too? Smells so much when I go in a house with gas hob, now.

A wood burner would make zero difference to me in an urban location house, I should think. When you think how much a property costs, just not important.

what can you smell? if you can smell gas, there is something wrong with the cooker.
lljkk · 19/01/2022 21:22

There's a peculiar smell, maybe it's a subtle trace of methane, in houses with gas hobs. You don't notice if you live with one. I can almost taste it... metallic. Gas boilers & hobs are quite linked with poor indoor air quality, but we never get threads about that. Just vent it out for your neighbours to endure instead, I guess.

Socialcarenope · 19/01/2022 21:25

Not at all. They look attractive even if you don't use them and they are not costly to rip out (free if you have a couple of strong people).

Jenjenn · 19/01/2022 21:27

Positive for me. I grew up in a house where log burner was the only source of heat and I haven't dropped dead yet Hmm

Worriedgranmasmithy · 19/01/2022 21:30

We have one. I’m not a fan, lounge is too hot, rest of house cold, fair bit dusty but not as dusty as the open fire it replaced. It wouldn’t put me off buying a house, I did put red lights in it last year for a nice glow but DP has lit it again this year.

getsanta · 19/01/2022 21:30

Honestly, I think only on MN would it be a negative. I understand the environmental issues around them and don't use ours, but I've never heard of anyone IRL worrying about it. Only positives.

Phelescent · 19/01/2022 21:30

I used to love them. We live rurally and had two in our old house. This time there is an open fireplace which we haven't used since we moved in (4 years ago) for health and dust reasons! The dust used to drive me mad!

I love what you've done there @Anothernamechange3 ! Good idea and it looks lovely!

womaninatightspot · 19/01/2022 21:35

I think log burners are a big plus but I think they need to come in properties with sensible storage for wood. You can get kiln dried wood for 60 quid a cubic metre delivered but it needs to be stored properly or space for a decent amount of windfall to season properly for a couple of years.

RitaFires · 19/01/2022 21:37

I've never been one of those people who say there's nothing cosier than a real fire, I like a heater that you can switch on and off instantly. My house had a log burner already installed when I bought it and I've found it surprisingly useful, it's nice to have a backup heat source in case of a power cut. It didn't factor into my decision to buy at all.

nordica · 19/01/2022 21:40

I wouldn't use it but it wouldn't put me off a house I otherwise liked.

Dontgetyerknicksinatwist · 19/01/2022 21:41

It would be a positive for me. I’m actually thinking of getting one because of rising gas and electric prices

Wombat98 · 19/01/2022 21:42

@PoshWatchShitShoes

I've just had a log burner installed. Haven't moved back in yet. But it looked so warm and toasty when the installer did a test fire to check flue working etc.

Didn't smell at all. I think people using cheap wet wood ruin it for everyone else.

You need to work out where the plume of fumes is & stand there. Our neighbours could not work out why we were complaining but it was because they were too twattish to discuss properly, so stood on the drive & declared it was fine. If our house had been 50m away, we would have agreed with them. As it was, we got ill & DH has not recovered.
Aaaa1167336 · 19/01/2022 21:44

@HelpMeHiveMind

What about living in close proximity next door to one...I read they make it really unpleasant for the neighbours with smoke
They are a disaster for urban air quality and should be banned. I would not buy a house with one. I also find them ugly so would be put off by that as well.
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