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

[HelpMeHiveMind]

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)

It would be a huge bonus for me. We sold our last house partly because it wasn’t possible to have one.

We’ve put three in our current house, replacing 2 old ones with newer and better ones.

Will have a significant impact on your indoor air quality as well. So even if people using them don’t care about anyone else or the environment they should at least consider the serious effects on their own health amp.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/18/wood-burners-triple-harmful-indoor-air-pollution-study-finds

I just can't understand all these people with plumes of smoke
We have no gas so it's our only source of heat.
If I stand outside when it's on I can see nothing and smell nothing from the chimney.
We burn seasoned wood at the right temperature. It's not complicated.
I do wonder if when people have them put in single storey extensions with just a flu they are too low to draw properly because you should not be in plume of smoke

Huge positive and selling point for me, nothing nicer than on a cold winters evening, woodburner on, nice glass of wine or hot drink, snuggled on the sofa, the only thing would be I’d want to make sure it was hetas installed and was a defra approved low particle emission model, or I’d factor upgrading it in.

Wood and coal burning in homes is estimated to cause almost 40% of outdoor tiny particle pollution

Yes, as I think they will be banned at some point as highly polluting.

We live rurally, and have an inset woodburner in the living room. We aren't on mains gas, so bulk buy LPG - we can't justify the cost of the heating running enough to keep the house warm all evening so rely on our fire. Wouldn't be without it, it's got a cleanburn system so you barely get any ash and we only burn seasoned wood.

Tbf they take next to no time to take out and can be done by anyone strong enough to lift them and with sufficient skill to nail a bit of wood over the flue. Not sure why they would put off anyone who is able to Google "how to remove a log burner"

[quote Aaaa1167336]Will have a significant impact on your indoor air quality as well. So even if people using them don’t care about anyone else or the environment they should at least consider the serious effects on their own health amp.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/18/wood-burners-triple-harmful-indoor-air-pollution-study-finds[/quote]
To be clear, these findings relate to so called low emission models. Anyone using these things should be ashamed of themselves.

Yes, it would put me off. I would never use it as I already have breathing problems.
I would also be put off buying a house if any of the neighbours had one.

It wouldnt put me off if it was in a fireplace. Likely though I wouldnt use it, but ok as a decorative feature.

I have seen modern homes on the market with them in and they look out of place to me, so in this instance would put me off.

Not at all. I'd want it to be a good, multi-fuel one though. Definitely a good back-up when the boiler packs in or to cut down on gas usage.

@Feelingoood

Er, just don’t use it? Stick a few fairy lights inside?

exactly what I've done. Moved into a house with one - haven't used it in the year I\ve been here. Bought some logs just in case of power cuts, but the central heating and insulation are so good that it's really not needed on top of that.

Looks lovely with a load of red fairy lights inside it though.

Having lived through power cuts in the past, when I bought a doer upper I installed electric underfloor in kitchen and bathrooms, gas living flame in lounge and logburner in kitchen, so that I had all options. I have been truly grateful for this as had umpteen power cuts in this house too and there is nothing more miserable than being cold☃️

Depends on how good it is. We inherited one with the house - ancient, smoky, inefficient. Installed a new very efficient one. No smoky smells or leaks whatsoever and its incredibly efficient.

Unless it's not properly installed I'm afraid I don't understand the issue. A properly installed and operated wood burner (ie with the right fuel burning in the right temp range) doesn't release smoke into the room and certainly not into neighbouring properties. I have asthma and it's not an issue with the wood burner - the smoke goes up the chimney.

OP - I would see it as a positive, I installed one in my house and love it. Wood is a renewable energy source and I burn waste wood wherever possible.

@Anothernamechange3 Where did you get these from please?? I need them for my non-working fire in the dining room!

As to the op’s question it definitely wouldn’t put me off buying a house as long as it wasn’t the only source of heating. Why bother ripping it out when you can just not use it?!

It didn't put me off buying a house with one. We later installed another and 20 years later when we sold that 2-stove house it had 15 bidders fighting to buy it.

A properly installed, properly used and maintained woodstove is not dangerous and not a fire risk IME. Ask Norway, Sweden etc.

It would be a big selling point for me.

I'd see it as a positive. We live rurally and don't use ours that often but it has been brilliant during power cuts when obviously the boiler won't work. And it's nice for boiling a kettle of water. I think it's always handy to have a back up source of power.

Am rural so positive, in fact would expect and be surprised to view a house without

We have one as a backup source on a night like tonight the heat pump is very inefficient (too cold stupid green con) and it's easier and cheaper to burn smokeless coal.

When electricity and gas prices continue to rise, as it looks as though they will, you may appreciate being able to chop up pieces of your furniture to bung in the wood burner to keep warm.

Huge plus for us. I think they're more of an issue in urban areas due to the type of particles expelled.

I heard they are going to be banned due to the pollution. Best check up on that.