Woodburning stove, or electric?

[forcedfun]

We have an ancient gas fire in our sitting room and I am just starting to think about renovations to that room.
I grew up in a Victorian house so am used to log burners /open fires. And if it wasn't for the environmental /air pollution considerations I would get one in a heartbeat. But the various reports around air pollution are making me very hesitant.

Are there alternatives that give the same benefits? (I love the heat from a fire and also the relaxation of just being in a room with a crackling fire to watch)

Love my wood burning stove but am sure there will be lots of posters who are against them. I only burn kiln dried wood, wouldn't dream of burning any old rubbish in it.

How about a “log burner” that runs off gas? I know somebody who has a Morso one and it’s indistinguishable from the real thing.

I like having an alternative source of heat so love a wood burner. We live in a rural / semi rural area and use kiln dried or very well seasoned wood.

Woodburners not great for the air. Do you need it as primary heat source? I would consider a gas one. The electric ones are pretty realistic these days if you get a decent one.

I have a wood stove (2 in fact) and wouldn't be without. I am rural and there's the annual power cut to consider though. I think the dry heat they give off is good for older buildings whereas gas fires give off water vapour unless properly vented( I might have that wrong but was advised in a previous property to give up the gas heater and use woodburner and it cured a damp issue.

I should have said, I'm not keen on gas as would prefer a (potentially) renewable source.

We are looking into this exact thing and debating between gas, electric or possibly log burner. So far I've learnt:

• Need a storage for wood for the log burner and it its a long walk from the lounge, it can be a pain to cart wood and ash in and out
• Bugs warm up when the logs are brought inside and escape into the room

• Electric doesn't need a flue and you can have just the light on, giving the illusion of a fire but without the heat. Cost alot to run though

• Gas fire needs a flue, but modern ones look great and can pump out alot of heat. Cheaper than an electric one. We were quoted £2800 to install a flue in our 2 storey house, South East

I've seen some lovely looking slim line gas and electric ones.

We don't need it as a heat source but I did love growing up that we could be warm even when there were power cuts. And I have a condition that means I get ill quickly if I get cold so a warm house is important

We have a log burner and I have to say its one of the best things we have done. Its on now, we love it

We use seasoned wood that we get delivered in the autumn and just store it outside in the porch (exposed somewhat) and built another log store in the front.

OH goes out to bring the wood in, with a bag for life so he carries it in without spilling bits of wood everywhere.

Its not cheap to install or run but worth it in my opinion

Have a look at

Doctors and Scientists Against Wood Smoke
woodsmokepollution.org

MumsForLungs
www.mumsforlungs.org/our-campaigns/wood-burning

In particular, if you are pregnant or have children please give it some serious thought. Would you smoke in a room with them in it?

Even "eco stoves" burning dried wood release higher levels of PM2.5 particulate levels into the vicinity (eg your room) than is safe.

To clarify- this is not about carbon emissions so it doesn't matter if this is homegrown wood foraged yourself etc. It is about particulate pollution in your homes and local neighbourhood.

@mojomoon I fully appreciate the distinction between the air pollution issue and the climate change one. Hence why I am interested in alternatives, but wouldn't want gas.

How much heat do you need from it? How much are you prepared to spend? Bio-ethanol is another solution (cheaper installation).

Was about to suggest same as @bunfighters - how about a bioethanol stove? No install costs, no need for a flue. They're no good as a main source of heat, but as secondary, or just for a lovely effect, they're fab.

Oh I haven't heard of those! I shall take a look.
House is fairly warm, double glazed etc but fairly large with a large sitting room.

@forcedfun

Oh I haven't heard of those! I shall take a look. House is fairly warm, double glazed etc but fairly large with a large sitting room.

A nice example. You can even have a fake flue for it

How often do you have power cuts?
Do you need the fire as back-up heating?
Do you have a source of free or cheap local wood?

How physically close is your house to your neighbours?
How is your house placed - on the top of a hill or in a dip

Large detached house on a big plot, on a small hill by the coast.

We don't have power cuts any more than anyone else,.but I am well aware that there is a lot of energy insecurity at present and I am not overly keen on being reliant on any one source.

After having multiple power outages this last few months , one for 5 days

100% wood stove.

I wouldn’t want to be without my wood burning stove

I love the heat from a fire
Other things can give off heat or make you feel relaxed.

a crackling fire to watch
You can't see a lot of the fire inside the burner, just a little window, and it easily gets dirty.

I don't know why you don't just make the fireplace a nice feature...
We have a burner, btw, I'm happy with mine, but they are expensive to install, need regular feeding, hassle to procure fuel, expensive to run if you don't scavenge (we do), and you have air pollution fears already.

Your gas fire probably gives off lung irritants,. too.

You can't see a lot of the fire inside the burner, just a little window, and it easily gets dirty.

I beg to differ.

@lljkk we have never used the gas fire. I'm not keen on them at all

@lljkk

I love the heat from a fire Other things can give off heat or make you feel relaxed.

a crackling fire to watch
You can't see a lot of the fire inside the burner, just a little window, and it easily gets dirty.

I don't know why you don't just make the fireplace a nice feature...
We have a burner, btw, I'm happy with mine, but they are expensive to install, need regular feeding, hassle to procure fuel, expensive to run if you don't scavenge (we do), and you have air pollution fears already.

Your gas fire probably gives off lung irritants,. too.

We have a landscape window and its so bright sometimes that the light activated bulbs in our lamps turn off.

I've got a Dimplex optimist stove because I couldn't have anything else here. Obviously no good in a power cut but it looks ok with a flue. It has a 'smoke' effect, created with water. Part of me thought it was a bit naff when I bought it but it filled a space that needed something in and now I've got used to it I'm happy with it.

I've always had a wood burner and agree that it is good to have an alternative heat source (despite current thinking), I'd have one again if I could.

This is my stove.

Link to 'effect' video here.