Wood burning stove - keep or remove?

[Noeggsontoast]

We have bought a house with a wood burning stove in the lounge and are considering removing it and blocking the chimney and placing an electric fire in the hearth instead. No idea how much this would cost or whether we should just keep the wood burner for occasional use. Anyone have went experience of removing a wood burner? Thank you in advance

Fed up with being stuck indoors, I decided to have a day in the garden in the fresh air. I was really enjoying being outside, cutting the grass, collecting leaves, filling the bird feeders up, hosing the squirrel and bird poo off the garden furniture. I was about to sit and relax out there with a cup of tea and admire my work, when the air was completely thick with acrid smoke from neighbours' woodburners. My enjoyment of being out in the fresh air was short lived and I was forced to go back indoors. It reminded me of the 70s, when everyone had coal fires. It seems a step back for the environment however cosy they may be.

There is so much information on the risks of indoor air pollution from wood burners now that I wouldn’t have one but a lot of people are digging in their heels and resisting the science because it is inconvenient to them much like those who deny climate change.

They certainly look lovely and are very warm. Depends if that is more important to you than an avoidable health risk.

I would keep it for occasional use / emergency backup. We had a couple of (thankfully short) power cuts last year, it reinforced to me that I don't want to be dependant on one fuel source only. If you replaced it with an electric fire, what would be your back-up?

We were considering getting rid of ours, but this winter we've had a twelve hour power cut and a thirty hour power cut, plus a few three/four hour cuts. So it's staying for now.

Keep it . I’d love one . I’m all electric and it’s soulless

I’ve never heard a wood burning stove described as ‘ugly’ before. That’s a new one!

Keep it, it’s been a god send in freezing spells and it’s cosy at Christmas.

Check that it has been regularly swept and that the chimney liner is in good condition. Should have flue cleaned and checked annually. Our heating engineer does ours with the boiler service and adds £40. Liners wear out eventually but not that often - ours was last changed 12 years ago and is still good. Keep it, they are so nice in winter.

Sarcasm is lost on some people.