Property/DIY
Wood burner
lovemycar · 17/03/2023 12:59
I have an open fire but lose a lot of heat up the chimney. I am thinking about investing in a wood burner. For anyone who has a wood burner what are the positives, negatives, and potential cost of making this change. TIA for any advice.
Casilero · 17/03/2023 17:43
I can't comment on the initial costs as my ex installed ours. It's in the cellar which we use as a bit of a hang out area - so we light the fire if we're down there. It does heat the whole house up pretty well - but we do also have radiators. Helps with damp too I think as the dehumidifier is pulling out a lot less water these days. It's really helped with the heating bills as my monthly direct debit has actually dropped this winter- although of course we've also bought fuel on top of that as we ran out of free logs. It has massively cushioned us against the price hikes though.
Badger1970 · 17/03/2023 17:43
We've got an inset woodburner, and love it. Ours leaves barely any ash, and you don't have to empty it unless you've been burning something you shouldn't. It was around £5k installed but that included knocking out the chimney breast and the granite surround (Stovax Riva model). The only downside is that it has cracked some of the plaster above it...
A full load of seasoned wood costs us £200, and we get through about 1.5 per year. We're on bulk LPG so the woodburner is our main source of heat.
wherethewaterisdarker · 17/03/2023 17:45
@Ricco12
a couple of articles (from two ends of the political spectrum) that completely undermine your claims. It's really important not to let self-interest cloud your judgement/understanding on this:
www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-11760893/HARRY-WALLOP-Whats-truth-wood-burning-stoves.html
www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/dec/27/wood-burning-stove-environment-home-toxins
I wouldn't even open a article by that rag.
borntobequiet · 17/03/2023 18:18
EstherHazy · 17/03/2023 13:36
Love a wood burner but the biggest annoyance for me is the glass getting dirty. Despite them all saying they stay clean, they really don't unless you use really 100% dry top quality wood - if you want it down low / burning out naturally overnight, the glass browns up on about 95% of the stuff we use and it is a bugger to clean - just awkward angles, the muck can get really stuck on etc.
I used to use a damp kitchen scourer and a drop of washing up liquid, weekly. Then wipe with kitchen towel or a cloth. Very effective.
sheeplikessleep · 17/03/2023 20:04
www.sheffield.ac.uk/news/indoor-wood-stoves-release-harmful-emissions-our-homes-study-finds
They’re beautiful but release particulates. I wouldn’t risk it myself, but you’re frowned upon for daring to say they may not be safe by anyone with one.
EffortlessDesmond · 17/03/2023 21:36
As there's no gas locally, our wood burning stove is quite important in the winter. We buy logs green and stack them to dry for about two years before the wood is burned. We have a top energy/efficiency/pollution rated stove and only light it when it's quite chilly.
Aposterhasnoname · 17/03/2023 22:03
Got ours fitted over the summer, cost £4000 but that included extras like brick slips. As for running costs, we’ve used it all winter and not had the heating on much. Used around £70 worth of seasoned wood a month. In that time we’ve run up £700 of credit on our energy bills. Just had that refunded and our monthly payment dropped by £60 a month. Keeping in mind the £70 wood cost is only over winter whereas the £60 a month reduction in energy costs is year round, it’s a decent saving.
Babdoc · 17/03/2023 22:12
I have an open fire in a Victorian fireplace and think it looks nicer than a stove. I only use it in the winter to supplement the central heating. When it’s not lit I close the flap to shut the chimney, so there are no draughts or cold air coming down it. The ashpan is big enough to hold three days’ worth, so I only empty it about twice a week.
Fragrantandfoolish · 17/03/2023 22:42
I agree I actually think an open fire is nicer, but they are so utterly inefficient, 80 percent of the heat up the chimney and rhe amount of particles in the room,it’s not really a great option. When you use one of the defra approved wood burners, which effectively seal the unit in, and the correctly seasoned wood, it’s a much healthier and cost effective option.
we are self sufficient in wood, but you need to literally burn 5 times as much wood to get the same heat. So the slight improvement in aesthetics for me isn’t worth the very signficant down sides.
FurierTransform · 18/03/2023 08:47
It will cost between £200 and £4000 to fit, and will make a big differance to the amount of heat you get in the room. Internal pollution concerns are basically equilavent to a properly functioning open fire, so if you have no concerns at the minute it's no issue.
Mix56 · 18/03/2023 09:33
Mine heats our entire house. I only have electric radiators in bathrooms on a timer. Si basically no heating bills
It has a small oven on the top, so I can cook & reheat fir free.
It keeps in all night, lights from the hot ashes from the night before. A good blast cleans the glass
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