Page 7 | Log burner - would it put you off buying a house?

HelpMeHiveMind · 2022-01-19T20:27:00+00:00

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)

lljkk · 20/01/2022 18:33

I happened on an air quality monitor and took some readings...

as someone who cycles on diesel-powered bus infested roads, that story really isn't going to put me off.

jfhguseorjgijaerigjarfgj · 20/01/2022 18:39

Only use ours occasionally

Would like to replace ours with a multi fuel stove at one point so can use more often with gas.

etulosba · 20/01/2022 18:48

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

Was the pizza oven connected to a flue exiting above the house ridge line?

There was similar thread where somebody had compared emissions from various things in their house, including a wood burning stove and scented candles. If I remember correctly, the worst culprit for generating particulates was cooking food, particularly frying.

ufucoffee · 20/01/2022 18:49

It would put me off because of the faff of removing it. Nothing to do with environmental reasons, I just hate them

Avacadoandtoast · 20/01/2022 18:57

Love them - would see it as a bonus having one! We recently had a power cut for multiple days and the wood burning stove kept us all warm when it was freezing outside!

quitecrunchy · 20/01/2022 19:03

It wouldn't necessarily be a deal breaker for me but I'd be factoring in that I'd plan to remove it eventually and the faff/costs involved. I wouldn't be happy long term keeping it but not using it as I'm not keen on the look of them, it's a bit rustic farmhouse for my taste.

caringcarer · 20/01/2022 19:32

I love a log burner. So warm and cosy.

RidingMyBike · 20/01/2022 19:38

@AmberLynn1536 they're big and in the way?! We've viewed two houses with them in the last month - one had storage heaters and then the stove took up quite a big space along one wall. We'd have taken out the whole lot and installed central heating.
The other had one sticking out of an otherwise smooth wall so a waste of space on that wall.

Neither was mentioned as a feature by the estate agent, interestingly!

leavingtime · 20/01/2022 19:45

I have a modern environmentally efficient log burner. I only burn kiln dried wood, burn it hot, and there is no problem with smoke or smell. If you passed my house you would see no plumes of smoke and not know I was using a log burner. I get very little soot after a winters use so know I'm burning it correctly.

I have no mains gas and I love my stove, it makes the place home and so cosy during dark, cold, damp winter evenings.

Problems with wood burners come from people who don't know how to use them properly and refuse to educate themselves, they chuck any old bits of damp wood and other rubbish on them. The wood has to be dry, no varnish, no wood treatments on it, not taken from beaches etc. etc. When that happens I agree the stink is awful. The problem is ignorance of the user and outdated stoves not up to present day standard. A good supplier or even the chimney sweep can advise on their correct use and what not to do. Even some smokeless fuels are bad to burn and damage flues.

AmberLynn1536 · 20/01/2022 19:55

[quote RidingMyBike]@AmberLynn1536 they're big and in the way?! We've viewed two houses with them in the last month - one had storage heaters and then the stove took up quite a big space along one wall. We'd have taken out the whole lot and installed central heating.
The other had one sticking out of an otherwise smooth wall so a waste of space on that wall.

Neither was mentioned as a feature by the estate agent, interestingly! [/quote]
Didn’t you spot them in the photos on the sales particulars if they were so cumbersome?

RidingMyBike · 20/01/2022 20:55

One yes there was a picture as it was a probate sale so clear we'd have had to do a lot to the house anyway - it was the one that also had storage heaters.
The other they'd cunningly avoided showing pictures of that wall!

AmberLynn1536 · 20/01/2022 21:33

Agents can be so sneaky with their pictures!

MrsJamin · 20/01/2022 21:39

They're awful for the local environment and very bad for your own health. I'm shocked that people on here are so naive to think that just because you don't smell smoke, you don't think there are particles that are harming your health from the fire inside your home. Tiny particles are released and enter your blood stream. I would never use any kind of fire inside and we have ripped out them from our last house and will be doing the same in our present home. Anyone using one when they have legitimate other means to heating a house is akin to putting your head in the sand and choosing not to listen to science. Like cigarette smokers in the 70s!

Yumperwumpee · 20/01/2022 21:51

Anyone using one when they have legitimate other means to heating a house is akin to putting your head in the sand and choosing not to listen to science

I agree, it's a bizarre middle class blind spot.

flippertyop · 20/01/2022 22:18

I would be more likely to buy it

Stripyhoglets1 · 20/01/2022 22:42

I wouldn't use one - I have a relative with lung disease who wouldn't be able to visit if I did - but I'd stick fairly lights in it. So it wouldn't put me off buying. But it wouldn't be a selling point anymore.

Comefromaway · 21/01/2022 00:17

Yes, it put me off when I was house hunting. I’d want to rip it out and out a normal gas fire in.

BashStreetKid · 21/01/2022 00:18

@Yumperwumpee

Anyone using one when they have legitimate other means to heating a house is akin to putting your head in the sand and choosing not to listen to science

I agree, it's a bizarre middle class blind spot.

So what other legitimate means were available for heating all those houses subject to a week-long power cut recently?

etulosba · 21/01/2022 02:24

So what other legitimate means were available for heating all those houses subject to a week-long power cut recently?

I want to know what the illegitimate alternatives are.

SummerLews · 21/01/2022 10:20

Would be a huge positive to me as I love mine. I often have the heating off all evening whilst I have it on.
Easy for future buyers to remove if they don't like it.

Sweptwindy17 · 21/01/2022 10:30

Wood burners are most definitely wonderful things....just don't look up 😊

Greenfields124 · 21/01/2022 10:33

It's a negative for me but if there's adequate central heating I just wouldn't put it on.

MidnightMeltdown · 21/01/2022 11:39

@MrsJamin

They're awful for the local environment and very bad for your own health. I'm shocked that people on here are so naive to think that just because you don't smell smoke, you don't think there are particles that are harming your health from the fire inside your home. Tiny particles are released and enter your blood stream. I would never use any kind of fire inside and we have ripped out them from our last house and will be doing the same in our present home. Anyone using one when they have legitimate other means to heating a house is akin to putting your head in the sand and choosing not to listen to science. Like cigarette smokers in the 70s!

There are plenty of things that are bad for our health. I don't drive, but have to live with traffic fumes that are bad for my health. Plenty of of foods are bad for our health but we will still eat them.

lagerandcigars · 21/01/2022 11:52

There are plenty of things that are bad for our health. I don't drive, but have to live with traffic fumes that are bad for my health. Plenty of of foods are bad for our health but we will still eat them. Agree - living till your 90's in over-rated.

juliainthedeepwater · 21/01/2022 11:59

it probably would put me off, yes. I'd never use one now, knowing what we know - both for the health of my immediate family and just guilt about doing something so unnecessary and polluting - but I think having one sitting unused would make me sad.. as I used to adore them and very much attached to that whole cosy aesthetic! I actually wouldn't be surprised if they go the way of diesel cars too in the next 20 years or so, so that would put me off too.