Wood burner

[iloveyankeecandle]

Getting a bit paranoid about all this gas business. Anyway, it's got me thinking about a wood burner. Has anyone had one fitted recently? What was the rough price and has it been worth it? I have a chimney but it's blocked up at the bottom where the fire would go so I'd need that opening back up.

For me there are several elements to it.

Firstly there are genuine concerns about gas shortages/supply issues given the current world affairs.

Secondly, the price of energy is about to sky rocket - standing charges may be much lower % once the cap increases in October and then again in January.

Thirdly, I find it easier when there's a known cost and it's visible and tangible. If I bought a load of wood to last me the winter, I can see how much I have left and whether I'm going through it too quickly. I don't find that easy to do with gas or electricity - it's that visual assessment that I find easier. Also, I'd rather pay out a chunk at the start for a bulk load of logs.

So it's definitely a combination of things for me, which includes cost-savings, better control and reliability.

I don't know that we look at it as saving money - it'll be a good backup when we lose power (4 days following Storm Arwen - sadly before our stove was installed), and we won't have the central heating on in the evening, just the woodburner for 2-3 hours. It probably won't save money but it's good to have an alternative source of heating.

Spiders point about paying upfront for a load of logs and being able to see what's left and budgeting for the next load is a good one.

Be aware that it is no longer legal for suppliers to sell unseasoned wood. That will increase wood prices for lots of people.

thanks. That all makes sense. We’re not going to get one as it doesn’t suit our lives currently. We’re out most evenings in the winter. And we’re unlikely to be here for more than 5years. Sometimes I worry about power outages but we don’t have kids and we’ve done a lot of outdoor stuff so have loads of stuff for if you get caught in a snow blizzard or need to camp on a snowy mountain.

You can sell buy wet wood, so long as its more than 2 cubic meters.

Can I ask those experienced stovers, how much do you pay for wood. Prices around here seem to be a bulk bag - £130 (0.70cubic metres) for oak logs. How much do people use a month?

Seasoned oak £90 a bag. We paid £80 for a mixed bag of seasoned hardwood. We have 3 tonnes, depends on what kind of winter we have but would expect that to last 2-3 months, fire on for 3 hours most evenings.

We're in Kent, prices seem to be much higher than last year already. Looked up a mixed bag or chestnut, already £120 whereas last year it would have been about 60 and we've paid less than that before too.

Huge trigger for asthma, that’s why I would never have one.

Price rises are a bit bloomin' cheeky when you consider the number of trees that came down in last winter's storms - I know that wood won't be properly seasoned yet, but it does smack of profiteering, even given the rise in the price of diesel.

Ours was about 4k. I’d echo what pp have said you need lots of storage for wood. I’m rural so a lifesaver during annual winter power cut. I wouldn’t give
mines up for annecofriendly option unless it’d also work when the grid was off for three days.

We had ours done about 2 years ago and it cost about £1200. It was well worth it and I'm so glad we have it with the thought of all those energy prices going up again.

If I bought a load of wood to last me the winter,

Do you know how much wood you will need buy to last you the winter?

I ve friend who does logs, diesel rule change from red to white, availability of the stuff, cost of chainsaws and petrol/oil, delivery (he has had to restrict delivery range to new customers or charge more) plus of course he has also been hit with electricity/gas costs too.
Getting fallen trees out of inaccessible fields and hedge rows is not a cheap or easy task.

If you think its easy work try it? i can assure you it is not.

There hasn't been just one study on wood stove pollution in Greece, there have been many more than that. This review refers to 36 studies for starters:

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5556683/

Alexandra, I have no doubt it's a tough job, and as I said in my post, the increase in diesel price is obviously going to be reflected, but the increases year on year are incredibly high. It looks like log suppliers are taking advantage of the panic caused by gas and electricity price increases.

Of course and large suppliers with kiln dried, also have the costs of energy, which is not capped & is huge.

Doubtless there is some mark up, as you'd expect.

Personally, i'd rather have a go at Shell BP Tesco for the cost of greed crisis etc etc than a relatively small outfit.

I've got one and I don't use much wood, stick it on about 3pm it burns til 6/7then the embers stay warm til we go bed. Doesn't need to be burning the entire time to exude heat.

My dd has asthma and had a big flare last summer so I didn't use it last winter. Unfortunately there will be little choice this year - but I'm hoping with care it will be fine, it's never bothered her previously

Five tons of wood delivered in March. Split and stacked. Was lying in the woods for a year. Had log burner fitted in march too. There's now a two month waiting list for one. Our chimney was already lined etc soo was an easy job. Gone for an inset one less mess and more efficient.

About 4k for ours, including the fireplace being done and the new hearth. The wood is free. It literally grows on trees, although you need to chop, store and dry it for a bit. Wouldn't be without ours now. We love it in the winter and the partner enjoys the wood collection/prep bit too.