Property/DIY
Woodburning stove, or electric?
forcedfun · 20/02/2022 13:59
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)
womaninatightspot · 20/02/2022 14:13
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.
Hairyfriend · 20/02/2022 14:15
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.
bellac11 · 20/02/2022 14:22
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
MojoMoon · 20/02/2022 14:31
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.
forcedfun · 20/02/2022 16:30
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.
lljkk · 20/02/2022 18:07
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.
bellac11 · 20/02/2022 18:41
@lljkk
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.
euniceanddudley · 20/02/2022 18:48
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.
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