Wood burner - talk to me!

Notjustabrunette · 2022-03-08T08:19:37+00:00

I’d like to cut down on the amount of gas we use and was thinking about install a wood burner. We have a fire place with a gas fire currently. And central heating. Was thinking on taking out the gas fire and replacing with a wood burner. Has anyone done this, how much did it cost and are you happy with it?

JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon · 08/03/2022 08:23

How will you get wood? How will you store it? Will you season it yourself?

Unless you have a supply of free wood and can dry it and store it then you may not save much, especially not as you have to account for the cost of installation.

Could you install a solar panel instead and use more electric to reduce your use of gas?

clarrylove · 08/03/2022 08:24

Yes, we did and are happy but only because we have a free supply of logs. To buy, wood is not cheap either. Use a HETAS installer. With chimney liner etc you are looking at 2k up.

Trixiefirecracker · 08/03/2022 08:27

We use something called hot max on ours burner, eco-friendly and sustainable briquettes. Burn for ages and easy to light.

AnnaMagnani · 08/03/2022 08:27

Do you have somewhere to store large amounts of seasoned wood/briquettes?
Do you live in an urban environment?
Do you have someone who thinks they will enjoy faffing about with the ashes each time you want to light a fire?
Does anyone in the house have asthma/respiratory problems?

All things to think about before you start. We have a wood burner, live in the middle of nowhere and if we could have gas it would be straight in there, regardless of prices.

Installation of the burner + chimney lining is expensive. The wood burner itself is v pretty but it's a pain compared to switching on a gas fire. Plus the pollution issue - if we burn wood it makes me cough, I'm only OK with briquettes.

We often end up wrapped in blankets as none of us can be arsed lighting it - which I suppose is money saving.

acatcalledjohn · 08/03/2022 08:33

Wood burning is actually pretty bad for the environment. Perhaps look at these links for alternatives.

https://www.fmb.org.uk/resource/wood-burning-stove-alternatives.html

https://www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/house-garden/best-log-burner-stove-wood-b1767986.html?amp

Mizydoscape · 08/03/2022 08:47

We've just had a wood burner installed OP. Not because of money saving because a) they're expensive to install and b) fuel isn't cheap. We have a good storage place under the house and can get cheapish wood but there isn't much saving as we still have to have the heating on a bit to heat the front bedrooms.

We wanted one though having had one in our last house. We didn't have a gas fire to remove, only the chimney breast to be reopened with a new lintel, chimney liner, pot, stove, hearth and mantel installed. Total cost was £3000. It is lovely though.

Lastqueenofscotland · 08/03/2022 09:32

Unless you have somewhere to store wood it’s probably more expensive!!!

Original poster

Notjustabrunette · 08/03/2022 10:03

Thanks for your replies. We have storage for logs, but not an unlimited source of logs so that’s something to consider. And one of the kids has asthma.

OP posts:

AnnaMagnani · 08/03/2022 10:09

If one of the kids has asthma don't do it.

I have asthma. If I go into a pub with a woodburner, we either walk out, or ask for a table as far from the woodburner as possible.

I can manage my own woodburner as 1. we don't have choice over our heating 2. we don't use it that much and 3. only burn briquettes. But honestly my lungs would rather we didn't have it at all. Walking down the street on a cold day when everyone has theirs going, my inhaler will be straight out from the chimney smoke and this is in a v rural village.

Northernsoullover · 08/03/2022 11:51

A cautionary tale.. a person I know installed a woodburner and complaints were received about smoke. It was found to be a statutory nuisance. They can't use it.
My neighbours flue is level with my bedroom window. I can't open it when she lights it but if I wanted to I could complain and she wouldn't be able to use it. Get advice from the fitter and the council.

sarahb083 · 08/03/2022 13:06

We have a woodburner and it's a real faff. It has to be cleaned out between uses, and the ash gets everywhere. Logs are expensive and take up lots of space.

I agree with PP about solar panels if that's an option - I believe there are government grants?

FourTeaFallOut · 08/03/2022 13:10

If one of your children has asthma then it really would be the heating method of last resort for me. It is terrible for those with respiratory illnesses, especially children.

beautifullymad · 08/03/2022 13:19

To heat our house using gas is about £2 a day ish at current prices.

I had a slightly oversized wood burner installed last year and it's very effective. I don't have to use the heating at all as I can leave the lounge door open and the heat from it hears the house easily.

But, and it's a big one, a bag of wood that you get everywhere costs a minimum of £4 max of £7 and lasts 1.5 - 2 days tops if heating all day and into the evening. So it's costing more to burn wood than use gas.

The only way it's cost effective is if you have a stock of free seasoned and dried wood on hand. You can't burn treated timber as it gives of toxins. So excess wood from a build isn't suitable or safe to burn.

I do have access to free wood from fallen trees but it's sawing it, storing it and drying it out for 9-18 months before it's suitable to burn on a wood burner.

The wood burner also doesn't run the hot water so I need to burn gas anyway to heat water.

At the moment it's not a cheaper option overall unless the wood is free.

bonkersbirdie · 08/03/2022 13:27

We had one installed over the summer and I love it. It was about £3000 all in for the installation as well as all the stuff needed but I love mine. It's compliant with the new rules and doesn't ever need cleaning out - the instructions for it say it burns best with a layer of ash in the bottom so all we've ever had to do is clean the glass and the "throat plate" once a month. Super low maintenance and just love watching it.

chillipenguin.co.uk/chilli_products/stock-cube-wood-only/ this is the one we bought. It's been fab. Only complaint is sometimes I'm too warm!

FourTeaFallOut · 08/03/2022 13:38

If you have £3k to put towards reducing your utility bill then I'd look at getting battery storage and switching to a a tariff with a decent night rate.

liquidrevolution · 08/03/2022 14:02

We have one.

But then we dont have any other source of heat and we have free wood we season ourselves for 2 years.

If you are in the country - yes. In a town - no.

StrongTea · 08/03/2022 14:10

Ours is multifuel so can burn logs/briquettes and coal. We put shovel full of coal on last thing a night if really cold. Keeps house warm enough. No gas supply as on outskirts of village.

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 08/03/2022 14:12

I did, it was the best thing I ever did. I ordered seasoned wood in and heating for a whole winter generally costs about £70-£100. They deliver it to your doorstep in a very big builders bag.
You can pick up your own wood around the place easily but it generally needs to be kept in a dry place for around 2 years before you can use it and it musn't be sappy.
I've moved to Somerset and the first thing on my list is a new woodburner, it saved me thousands. I used to boil a metal kettle on it and cook on it too so it's great in a power cut.

Ohshitiveturnedintomymother · 08/03/2022 14:14

I love my wood burner! MN is funny about them but I think mine is great. I buy a load of logs at the start of the winter for about £100 and they last easily with enough left over for summer fire pit usage. Dh built a wood store for free out of pallets which is down the side of the house and keeps them dry.
I clean mine out every couple of weeks and use it most nights so it’s not messy like a fire is, they actually burn better with a base of ashes to protect the firebricks.
You can get eco ones now which are clean air approved or whatever the term is.

Original poster

Notjustabrunette · 08/03/2022 14:30

I live in a town, but at the edge backing into woods and farmland. Have a large garden and some fallen trees from the storm. So possibly have a source of wood. The asthma issue is definitely a factor.
Thank you all for your input, lots of helpful points and very much appreciated.

OP posts:

JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon · 08/03/2022 15:14

@FourTeaFallOut

If you have £3k to put towards reducing your utility bill then I'd look at getting battery storage and switching to a a tariff with a decent night rate.

@FourTeaFallOut
I have a tariff with a reduced night rate. I have never heard of using battery storage with it. Do you have any more information?

Wnikat · 08/03/2022 15:18

Wood burners are the biggest source of air pollutants

FourTeaFallOut · 08/03/2022 15:21

This is 4 months old so the figures look different but the principle stands to store night rates with a home battery system to mitigate the cost of your daytime usage.

Hoppinggreen · 08/03/2022 16:12

@Notjustabrunette

Thanks for your replies. We have storage for logs, but not an unlimited source of logs so that’s something to consider. And one of the kids has asthma.

In which case it’s probably a bad idea. DD has mild asthma but it really flares up if we visit someone with a wood burner

Octomore · 08/03/2022 16:17

@AnnaMagnani

If one of the kids has asthma don't do it.

I have asthma. If I go into a pub with a woodburner, we either walk out, or ask for a table as far from the woodburner as possible.

I can manage my own woodburner as 1. we don't have choice over our heating 2. we don't use it that much and 3. only burn briquettes. But honestly my lungs would rather we didn't have it at all. Walking down the street on a cold day when everyone has theirs going, my inhaler will be straight out from the chimney smoke and this is in a v rural village.

100% agree with this. Woodburners are a nightmare for asthma - indoors and outdoors