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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:
RebeccaManderley · 20/01/2022 13:31

I have a log burner which was here when I bought the house. I wouldn't have chosen to install one and I don't use it, but it is an attractive focal point for the room. Lots of people have them so they must be popular with quite a lot of people.

RoseSays · 20/01/2022 13:32

A log-burner is my dream feature in a dream house for me, but I'm living in a town not the country

notacooldad · 20/01/2022 13:34

So if it makes a difference, the one in question is 10 years old. It was installed properly at the time by a pro and the flue is lined / chimney gets swept yearly. Is a 10 year old burner too old to be OK?
I'd be ok with that.

Original poster
HelpMeHiveMind · 20/01/2022 14:10

@etulosba thanks for great tips. No CO alarms as far as I'm aware so are they needed in every room? In terms of not letting it slumber, how do you prevent that? Thanks

OP posts:
MidnightMeltdown · 20/01/2022 14:18

I bought a house that already had a log burner installed. I wouldn't have got one installed myself, but it's a nice feature. I only really use it over Christmas, or weekend evenings if it's particularly cold, it's nice to snuggle in front of the fire and watch a film Smile

I don't see why it would put anybody off - you don't have to use it!! I think it's good to have a alternative heat source, especially with energy prices the way they are.

AmberLynn1536 · 20/01/2022 14:25

My house has 2 they look gorgeous even unlit and add so much character, I don’t light them very often as I live in a well heated house but I really like the security they give me, if we have a power or fuel shortage in this country (which is a possibility) I can heat my home and boil a kettle, heat up food etc, for this reason alone anyone who rips one out is foolish, you may be very grateful for it at some point.

Franca123 · 20/01/2022 14:30

I'd be concerned that it indicated that the house was a nightmare to heat and that's why it was first installed. I wouldn't use one myself and so I would need to have it removed and replaced with something suitable. It would be a minus for me. If you're looking to sell, it's best to keep things neutral imo.

trumpisagit · 20/01/2022 14:37

I love a woodburner.
Much better than an open fire for my asthma.
I would see it as a benefit, although I might want to replace an older one with a newer one eventually.

gogohm · 20/01/2022 14:41

You don't have to use it! The house I just sold had an open fire, original to the building, I put candles in it

Sweptwindy17 · 20/01/2022 14:51

I have a wood burner in the kitchen which I used to light quite regularly. Then I happened on an air quality monitor and took some readings (as I mentioned in the other thread). Once you associate real live data with usage, it becomes clear it's not such a great idea. We stopped lighting it regularly

Here's a picture of a reading taken in the vicinity of a wood burning pizza oven.

PM2.5 is the ultra fine particle emitted by these stoves and diesel. A baseline number on a good day is about 5 so there's a heavy spike.

Log burner - would it put you off buying a house?
Fleur405 · 20/01/2022 15:10

You don’t need a co2 alarm in every room but definitely anywhere you have a gas appliance or a fire. So you should have one where your boiler is and also in the room with the wood burner. They are super cheap and much smaller than a smoke alarm so do look into getting some wherever you think they may be required. I have one in our nursery for example though in theory one of the ones close to the appliances should always go off first.

mrtumblesspottybg · 20/01/2022 15:46

@Anothernamechange3 where did you get the flickering flame lights they look really good

I've bought a house with a log burner recently. I haven't used it yet as I'm unsure whether I want to keep it, concerns about the environment and extreme anxiety about lighting a fire in the house eek! It didn't put me off buying the house but I probably won't keep it ultimately

Sh05 · 20/01/2022 15:58

If you use good seasoned wood then it shouldn't be very smelly so those complaining probably have neighbours burning any old wood.
If it's a lined chimney as it should be then taking the stove out isn't a massive job nor is it super costly

Sh05 · 20/01/2022 16:04

Ours was already in the house when we bought it. We have a carbon monoxide alarm in the same room and have it swept every few years as recommended by our local chimney sweeping company. It costs around £60 to sweep.
So it's around 16 years old now but we've had no problems with it and the only cost is the wood which we buy in a large quantity

CurtailingChaos · 20/01/2022 16:26

@HelpMeHiveMind

What about living in close proximity next door to one...I read they make it really unpleasant for the neighbours with smoke
They do. See my earlier response.

I wouldn’t buy a house where I could see a log burner flue sticking out of a neighbours property.
Our detached neighbours-so not even very close-stink our house out with the smoke and even our cat comes in with her fur smelling of smoke.

RidingMyBike · 20/01/2022 16:38

It would put us off. Wouldn't want the faff of getting rid of it (so it would have to be an especially lovely house in every other way for us to take it on). DH has COPD so there is no way we'd use one and not much point to it just sitting there.

HarrietOh · 20/01/2022 16:40

I got one installed as I love them. Only a couple years old and only burn kiln dried wood and there’s no smells or anything. Sadly selling the house now though!

Policyschmolicy · 20/01/2022 16:47

We have two, but one is almost never used and the other only sparingly used. It’s very handy when it’s very cold and you don’t want to heat the whole house. We live in an old cold house so that’s part of it. I don’t think I’d want one in a modern house.

If you burn well seasoned wood and burn it properly it makes a big difference.

Bunnyfuller · 20/01/2022 16:57

Absolute game changer. Looks gorgeous and saves having the heating on for too long.

canbage · 20/01/2022 17:04

I live in London so think they are pointless around my way, smoke control areas with various restrictions. I expect restrictions to keep getting tighter too.

pilates · 20/01/2022 17:12

As long as you are burning good quality very dry wood and it’s swept yearly you will be fine. I love them.

AmberLynn1536 · 20/01/2022 17:25

@RidingMyBike

It would put us off. Wouldn't want the faff of getting rid of it (so it would have to be an especially lovely house in every other way for us to take it on). DH has COPD so there is no way we'd use one and not much point to it just sitting there.
Why get rid of it? it’s not compulsory to light it!
drinkwithanumbrellainit · 20/01/2022 17:47

In a city or town would put me off. Not so much in a remote property.

Musmerian · 20/01/2022 17:49

I live in a terraced house - w3 have a log burner so do both neighbours. I can’t even smell smoke from my own never mind theirs. I’d put one in if we moved so for me it would be a big plus.

GoodnightGrandma · 20/01/2022 17:49

I would be taking into consideration the cost and mess of removing it, and what you’ll be left with after.

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