Am wondering about changing my gas fire to the old style wood burning fireplace.....

[KaySamuels]

.... but have no idea
if this is possible

if it will be lots of hassle/ expense

My main reason for doing this would be to cut fuel costs, we do not have central heating, just a gas fire on the original (?) chimney breast, which is on almost constantly in winter to warm the house through.
Hearing fuel may be going up 40% means the thought of having gas fire on all the time is giving me nightmares!!

Is anyone in the know about these things??

Hi Mummyc, I found this website useful www.stovesonline.co.uk. With our woodburning stove we have to use seasoned wood, so around 2 years old, and with a 20% moisture content. We are currently getting our wood from the garden centre, purely for convenience factor.

thanks JJ72, that site kept me occupied for ages last night until DS woke up...

Wow I am pleased to see this thread is still going, I had forgotten all about starting it!

Still dreaming of getting a stove, it would definately be worth the outlay.

has anyone installed a harmony or a charnwood country please sent be your reviews
Thanks

have a Stovax too - someting like the smallest one but chucks out loads of heat - looks good too. The chimney guy that fitted ours did re-lining etc has the same so we both know they are good. We get logs delivered - around £50 a 'load' - last lot did 2 winters - this year maybe one - although now starting to burn the old staircase! Store the logs under a tarpaulin sheet sort of racked up between a fence and some hedging in front.

Deffo worth outlay and recently when heating was out if action was our only heat source. Fantastic to have running all through holidays though.

Dad - where do you get your logs from?

Look around on local shop message boards - although we live 2 dors down from a tree surgeon , we get a load from our ironing ladies' husband as thats what he does - as well as other odd jobs. Garden centres sometimes sell bigger 'sacks' too - seen small sacks in diy places - usually around 4 pounds - we'd go through one of those on a full days use easily.

Just installed a Much Wenlock multi-fuel stove and had chimney swept and flue liner installed but I am finding that there is a very strong smell of soot about the house each time I have the stove on - is this normal to start with or is there something wrong

I have an Aga Much Wenlock (just installed) before the installation the chimey was swept and a stainless steel flue liner was installed and a cowl, but each time I light the stove as soon as the heat builds up I get a bad smell of soot about the room - any ideas?

If its just been installed chances are its just the 'paint' stuff they put on the burner sorting itself out - our nice chimney guy told us about this - best to get it really hot and then open all the windows and run it like that for a few hours - should sort it out. Once thats done there should be no smells just a lovely warm glow about the place. If it continues get the installer back pronto!